Why do all the 'boutique' pedals have the silver knob footswitch?

[BrandonBass]

I much prefer the boss style footswitch, larger area to stomp and it seems more durable as well.

[Spencer!]

Most boutique builders don't have the money to have their own enclosure molded.

[fenderhutz]

It's heavy duty (more than you think) and easy to replace if broken without getting a specialized part.

[Jared Lash]

There are two things that every pedal maker must use if they want to be a part of the fraternity of "boutique builders".

One is the secret handshake. The other is that footswitch.

True story.


The truth is that it's a functional switch that they can purchase from a parts supplier and use with no issues. Doing something like the Boss/Maxon/DOD footswitches would require building their own switches (which the vast majority of builders don't have the machining tools for) or contracting out those parts.

And since the margins are generally very thin for pedal builders as it is, it makes no sense to have a "luxury" part like that.

[the_fooj]

In my experience, the silver footswitches hold up better than the Boss style ones. The Boss style ones can get pretty loose and lose their "give" or resistance after a few years.

[rob_thebassman]

i've never seen the big issue about footswitches, thou i wish tc electronic would make a better switch for the polytune pedal

[BrandonBass]

Then how about MXR and EHX? Im sure they can be passed as 'mass produced' since I see them in every GC. Yet they still stick with the tiny silver knob.

Its really frustrating when during a crucial part of the song you have to stomp and it at the exact beat but miss it(sometimes because it seems so fragle I dont wanna risk stomping on it too hard). It never happens with my boss pedals

[Smurf-o-Deth]

Those switches are tough. Stomp with abandon--it'll be fine.

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Originally Posted by BrandonBass

Then how about MXR and EHX? Im sure they can be passed as 'mass produced' since I see them in every GC. Yet they still stick with the tiny silver knob.

Its really frustrating when during a crucial part of the song you have to stomp and it at the exact beat but miss it(sometimes because it seems so fragle I dont wanna risk stomping on it too hard). It never happens with my boss pedals

Those switches are going to hold up fine. They don't put them on a pedal expecting people to gently press them with lily white gloves and extended pinky. They're meant to be stomped on them. Stomp 'em.

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by BrandonBass

Then how about MXR and EHX? Im sure they can be passed as 'mass produced' since I see them in every GC. Yet they still stick with the tiny silver knob.

My point was that smaller companies can't afford to have custom stomp switches. But you're right, MXR and EHX could if they wanted to, which is actually a point in the favor of those stomps. Companies that certainly COULD go a different direction and manufacture thousands of pedals think they are good enough to us on their line.

As a side note, even though I don't currently own any of their pedals I think the best stomps available are on Tech 21 products. The Boss are nice and easy to stomp but sometimes I'm not sure if I engaged them. As much as I love their pedals, Maxon are even worse for this. But Tech 21 has very standard looking switches with a much smoother action and good bypass.

[walker rosewood]

yeah, those 'silver' stomp switches come in various level of quality. Some are sturdier, some are more/less noisy, and then there are the 'soft touch' ones.

fwiw, I've never had one fail, whereas the boss style ones I've had the spring fall out or bend, the actual little plastic switch break, and even (on a very old pedal) the metal around the hinge screws eroded so the entire top of the 'switch' came off.

[RCCollins]

i've had the "silver" switches fail. Happens a lot on wah pedals but can happen on any pedal of any build quality - doesn't seem to matter how hard or how often you stomp though, it can happen with near-new switches as well as well-worn ones.

The boss-type switches are easy to fix when they wear out, and I personally think it's a shame that such systems aren't available to the garage market

[Rimshot]

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

They don't put them on a pedal expecting people to gently press them with lily white gloves and extended pinky.

So I've been doing it wrong.

[jwr]

I prefer the soft touch ones personally to the ones you have to literally stomp on. Makes it easier when switching effects during a song/jam (whatever).

[Spencer!]

The so-called "soft touch" switches aren't actually switches at all, they're switch caps that actuate a switch mounted on the circuit board.

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Originally Posted by Spencer!

The so-called "soft touch" switches aren't actually switches at all, they're switch caps that actuate a switch mounted on the circuit board.

Guess I have another reason to not like those now.

[walker rosewood]

really? Like these ones? Momentary SPST "Soft-Touch"

[Plays_For_Dog]

Play with shoes on and the silver button-switches are no issue.

I really like feeling the "click" under my toe. Gives me that reassuring feeling the effect's going to be there when I play it.

[Spencer!]

Originally Posted by walker rosewood

really? Like these ones? Momentary SPST "Soft-Touch"

That's not what pedal guys are using for bypass switching. If you take a look inside a Tech 21 pedal, you'll see this:

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by Spencer!

The so-called "soft touch" switches aren't actually switches at all, they're switch caps that actuate a switch mounted on the circuit board.

Interesting. Learn something new every day.

Thanks for that info Spencer.