Strat pickguard non-switch help

[faizal]

Hi all, just got a Strat HH pickguard and only when I got home and upon closer inspection, I noticed it did not have the hole to put the standard Strat 3/5 way pickup switch, instead there is a big hole around the area where the Strat pickup switch is supposed to be. The pic is below:



Is there any other pickup switch I can use? Can a mini-switch solve the problem?

Appreciate ur help, guys/gals...thanks!

[GuitarToma]

seems to me that a standard HH 3 way switch would fit that hole - like a Les Paul...

[faizal]

GuitarToma: Really? You mean a standard Les Paul 3 way switch can fit in the hole? I don't think I ever saw that on a Strat before...:P

[GuitslingerTim]

Originally Posted by faizal

GuitarToma: Really? You mean a standard Les Paul 3 way switch can fit in the hole? I don't think I ever saw that on a Strat before...:P

A 5-way switch is overkill for a two-bucker guitar, the LP switch is a better option.

[Martian]

Originally Posted by faizal

GuitarToma: Really? You mean a standard Les Paul 3 way switch can fit in the hole? I don't think I ever saw that on a Strat before...:P

Yes. FYI, there are 3 types:

There is a long switch like this:
http://img227.imageshack.us/i/switch2.jpg/
which might not be too long for the Strat body.

There's a box switch like this:
http://www.byoguitar.com/Images/LP-g...switch-med.jpg
which is outright garbage and should be avoided at all costs.

And then there's this shorter switch:
http://www.epiphone.com/images/N_LPfeat3.jpg
which would be best for your purposes.

[faizal]

Originally Posted by Martian

Yes. FYI, there are 3 types:

There is a long switch like this:
http://img227.imageshack.us/i/switch2.jpg/
which might not be too long for the Strat body.

There's a box switch like this:
http://www.byoguitar.com/Images/LP-g...switch-med.jpg
which is outright garbage and should be avoided at all costs.

And then there's this shorter switch:
http://www.epiphone.com/images/N_LPfeat3.jpg
which would be best for your purposes.

Thanks for the suggestions! I guess I'll be choosing the 3rd one but was wondering why the 2nd one should be avoided.

[Soapbarstrat]

2nd one usually doesn't hold up for a long time as well as the other kind. I've actually got one of the "right angle" 3 way switchcrafts about 1.5" to 2" inches closer to the bottom pot hole than yours. I think if mine was located where yours is, I'd be accidentally hitting it too much. I guess mine is about where a regular strat switch would be. I seem to favor Gibson electronic guts from A to Z.

[Martian]

Originally Posted by faizal

Thanks for the suggestions! I guess I'll be choosing the 3rd one but was wondering why the 2nd one should be avoided.

Typically, the shaft will snap off from the base and/or the inner mechanism simply falls apart from even just casual repeated use.

[faizal]

Originally Posted by Martian

Typically, the shaft will snap off from the base and/or the inner mechanism simply falls apart from even just casual repeated use.

Thanks for the clarification

[Martian]

Originally Posted by faizal

Thanks for the clarification

Glad to help and to spare you some grief!