Removable Guitar Killswitch

If you're not ready to drill up your guitar to install a killswitch, here's an easy way to make one that you can take right off if you don't want it.

If you don't feel like reading, you can watch this video. Also, I played a little demonstration in the video.

Step 1 Materials

Here's what you need to make this.

Wire
Guitar Cable
Small Project Box
Button
Electrical Tape
Guitar (Obviously)

Tools:
Soldering Iron (optional)
Wire cutter/stripper
Drill

A note about the button. I got mine at RadioShack. MAKE SURE that the button is usually open. That means that when you aren't pressing it, it's off. If on the back of the packaging the button came in it says "Usually Closed" DO NOT buy that button!

Comments

[Trainguyxx]

Wow, I can't tell you how great this tutorial is! I have an ok quitar, but i didn't want to drill into it just for the killswitch. I used speaker wire, so it wasn't as streamline, so I had to use electrical tape over the solder-ed spot, but it worked very well none the less.

Thanks for a great and simple kill switch alternative!

[stratattack]

The button used turns Off or On when pressed?

[jairwhipple]

Last night i built your kill switch :) Though instead of a button, I used a toggle switch. It rocks. Thanks for this instructable!

[cdousley]

so cool i love this

[cdousley]

i love projects were u can get all the parts at rs i have one in town

[kobezbro]

ooh ooh ooh!

i saw you before a couple years ago when i made that cardboard head! i thought you looked familiar!


still have that thing lying around. i put a wig and sunglasses on it and called it Wally.   but thats for another day...

[kobezbro]

i wouldnt do an invasive switch for my FIRST tele but i would love to start playing around with my second guitar.  I am a Sentimental packrat so i have a first everything that i wouldnt touch. first CD, first CD with that sticker, first CD with that sticker and a mark on it.   i am talking about the same album.

so i would like to do stuff with guitars. i would want to make my own one day but i am young and poor.


oh, BTW you would make a cool teacher.  cause really we are all talking about the rubber thing and not the flux capacity or whatever its scientifically called.

[cubester808]

the kill switch works great, but when i put on high gain for a scratching solo like tom morellos, i get a really loud hum, is there anyway to eliminate this?

[shop dweller]

Cool. You should do a heavy metal cover of "Dr Who"

[Pei0172]

Hey Camera, could you be a nice fellow and post the guitar tab for "Jordan", or show me how to play it? I'm having a hard time near the end of riff 1, and pull-offs are kinda hard with my quiet amp. Thanks!

[Omega13Shadow]

Go to www.ultimate-guitar.com... it has any guitar or bass tab you could ever want.

[Flash19950]

how much does the guitar cable cost?????????????????

[thisiscastro]

it cost 5.95

[peach_fart]

lier, i got a 18.5 foot cable at guitar center and it costed almost 50 bucks.

[BrandAid23]

he isn't a liar.....that just means you spent your money on a more expensive cable.....mine was 8 bucks and something, and the killswitch works the way it should.

[rada194]

is this jack above me

[BrandAid23]

That's very awesome.....I built this for my SG, and it only costs about 12 bucks.....it works perfectly, and i love using it now!! Thanks!!

[Inderpal88]

can't you just get it drilled and stuff at the store?i dont wanna break it!

[maxxxem]

Can this short circuit your amp? don't you want to open the circuit?

[maxxxem]

Because all your doing is sending the electricty back to the amp, aren't you????

[peach_fart]

electricity goes back to the amp without this killswitch, thats how the signal gets sent.

[othertonywilson]

I would use a normally closed switch in series with the jack. Instead of the normally opened switch in parallel with the jack.

[itsachen]

noo you want to send the electricity back to the amp but through the ground :D that means that the signal is lost, and u get no sound, when you press the button

[maxxxem]

k

[jpguitardude]

Is there any chance my guitar equip. could get damaged if i make and use it? I'm not worried about the process of making it.

[peach_fart]

no chance, its just like unplugging your guitar (without the noise). all it does is create a circuit that closes before the power reacheas the guitar.

[Canas]

This is awesome! I need a killswitch effect for an upcoming show, yet I feared I would have to drill a whole in my Dean. Will be starting this tomorrow after the snow lets up! Thanks!

[beauwalker23]

no duct tape! use a suction cup or someting. that would work better and not damage your guitar! great instructible by the way. me and my dad are going to try this tomorrow.

[kneecaps]

alcohol will remove any leftover adhesive left on your guitar. i believe it doesnt damae ur guitar when u put alcohol.

[st.paul]

i finally got around to making one of these myself using this guide and it turned out great, so thanks for the awesome Instructable! oh and for the wire going from the guitar chord to the project box i used a curly phone line that i liked the look of.

[IPlayGuitar]

Great instructable, makin it now. Quick question, if you made it with a switch instead of a button could you leave it on?

[fearme36]

yup

[st.paul]

great idea. i was thinking about putting it on my bass too! a microphone would be cool too.

[4ng3l]

nice dude thanks so much

[IPlayGuitar]

forget the last part of that comment does yours stay off whenever you push the button or is it off just while is pressed in?

[Super Cameraman]

It only stays off when the button is pushed in, but you can get a button that you can push to turn it off, then push it again to turn it on, if that's what you want.

[guitar guy551]

can u do this with any guitar or cable?

[rada194]

what if your top of cord doesn't screw off

[Johnne]

nice job of esplaining your noninvasive momentary guitar off/on switch...as for teaching, everyone has their own way to teach, yours my friend was very cool, kept me interested - as for cost of guitar cables...you may purchase these for less than $10bucks depending on quality and length..the cable you used is a nice choice by-the-way...so peeples, get a momentary contact switch, a box, size is dependant upon personal choice, wire up to the silver thingy, tape galore, and make awesome new sounds with your homemade noninvasive guitar switchy thingy!

[emachine]

It's not completly removeble is cause it would just be hanging if you took it off the guitar right?