Non-destructive way to mount switches on a Les Paul

[Natman]

Hi all, I have a slight dilemma. I want to add some switching options on my LP using the 4-conductor wiring without drilling if possible. And the catch is I'm not a fan of push-pull pots. Have any of you come across a way to do this? If I could drill somewhere inconspicuous that might be ok. If I really must I may put mini toggles but where's the best place to put them?
thanks for your help!

[scottish]

the only thing i can think of would be to use switches rather than toggles...you know the kind that slide up and down rather than switch as it were, lol, hard to explain. you could mount them on the back of your guitar, on the control cavity cover plate for example. this was at lelast you wont be drilling into the wood itself.

it does depend on how easily accessible you need them to be though.

[MikeS]

Pioneer the first toggle/strap holder. Your on your own as far as engineering that one is concerned. Otherwise, deal with the push/pulls or get out the drill.

If push/pulls are really that bad and you need the switching options, then you're pretty much limited to elsewhere in the control cavity. There's always master volume, master tone, and using the remaining two holes for a couple toggles.

[devastone]

How about small push buttons under the pickguard? Didn't the Jimmy Page LP have these?

[ericmeyer4]

Or maybe even on the pickguard? I've thought about this. I don't know if you would have enough clearence between the guard and the guitar though.

[ArtieToo]

Barring Mike's suggestion of master vol/tone, you could use a dual-concentric vol/tone temporarily. Then use the remaining holes for switches. That would all be un-do-able.

[msplines]

Erm, have you tried push-push controls? We find push-pull a pain in the posterior, but push-push is no problem on stage and the height is different, so you can easily tell if they are up or down.

[Natman]

I do have push-push pots actually but they're not long shaft and I've noticed the mechanism is all plastic, looks like it won't last long. Anyway I need a 3 position switch so it has to be sliders or mini toggles. I do not have a pickguard on this guitar but I thought of maybe trying it under there. Then again, maybe I should just be a man and drill if I'm going to get more versatility out of this guitar! Do keep your suggestions coming if you have anything to say. thanks everyone

[MikeS]

Barring Mike's suggestion of master vol/tone, you could use a dual-concentric vol/tone temporarily. Then use the remaining holes for switches. That would all be un-do-able.

I like that better. Pretend I said that first.

[xxxplorer]

Every time I try and make a Gibson too complicated...it never ends well... the single coil sounds never sound great and the phase stuff is cool but too many buttons to play with during jamming. Takes time away from playing and bandmates look at you wierd. My advice is ask your drummer and bass player what they want in ure guitar sound. They either say HUH? or play more and fiddle less!!! It is boring for us guitar players, but in a band situation less is more sometimes! I have a spin-a-split mod on my explorer and while it is fun on my own, in a band sit, it is barely noticable except for a volume decrease or when I have a clean passage to myself. It is fun to tinker though.

[metlking]

I stumbled onto this one on ebay......check it out!

[blueman335]

Erm, have you tried push-push controls? We find push-pull a pain in the posterior, but push-push is no problem on stage and the height is different, so you can easily tell if they are up or down.

I like push-pulls & have them on most of my guitars.

However...I've never seen any push-push pots for sale, but I'd like to try them. Where can you get them? Is the cost similar to a push-pull?

[blueman335]

Every time I try and make a Gibson too complicated...it never ends well... the single coil sounds never sound great and the phase stuff is cool but too many buttons to play with during jamming. Takes time away from playing and bandmates look at you wierd. My advice is ask your drummer and bass player what they want in ure guitar sound. They either say HUH? or play more and fiddle less!!! It is boring for us guitar players, but in a band situation less is more sometimes! I have a spin-a-split mod on my explorer and while it is fun on my own, in a band sit, it is barely noticable except for a volume decrease or when I have a clean passage to myself. It is fun to tinker though.

I have the 21-sound Jimmy Page system on some of my guitars (4 push-pulls). When I want to change my sound, I know in advance where I want to go to, and don't experiment mid-song. I try to limit it to one move, two max. If you're searching for a tone while the rest of the band is playing, they're not going to be happy about it. Its not very considerate. If you know what your guitar sounds like in single coil, phase, etc, then you go directly to that, without any detours. That's not a problem, extended fiddling is. Moral: fiddle at home and get it out of your system, then you know exactly where to go when you're with a band.

[Natman]

Metlking -that's what I had in mind! Nice to see it might work.

blueman335 -the push-push cost alot more if memory serves! Can't even remember where I got them... Antique Electronic Supply? I bought them simply because I had never seen them before and thought they would be better.