In Defense Of Kill Switches

[levis76]

Think of Buckethead working the killswitch on his LP, then drop it a couple of octaves?

Dimebag Darrell of Pantera used to have an arcade style push button installed on some of his guitars as a kill switch he used as an effect. A buddy had one a long time ago, it was different. When used while rolling volume or tone it could produce some pretty cool sounds/tones.

 

[vvvmmm]

I'd like a kill switch with a "stun" option. And a strap-mounted Tri-corder, with a "beam me out of here" option for when the Red Shirts arrive.

 

[JW56789]

Although I will say that EMG and others who make active pickups systems where the battery is not saved UNTIL you UNPLUG the guitar cable, they'd sell a boatload of a standby / 9v OFF combination switch.

OK, I hear what you're thinking so it needs to turn off or on without a big THUMPS, POP, or my favorite, SCREEEEEE-THWACK raging through the amp / PA and waking up the drunk slumped against the back wall.

 

[Plain Old Barry]

I have to ask again...

NONE of you folks use a tuner pedal? They make great mutes, no bass controls are changed, you can easily touch up your tuning very accurately while muted, can be set up for any reference tone, work with any axe, stay in the circuit (muted! ) while you switch instruments, require no special cables or connectors, don't look silly on your headstock, and they offer a great place to plug in up front near your mic, or wherever you happen to stand, even if you use no pedals.

They even work in church...

Aside from those who would use a mute switch artistically, why not? I ask seriously, not flaming or funning at all...

 

[MrUsefulAlien]

I have to ask again...

NONE of you folks use a tuner pedal? They make great mutes, no bass controls are changed, you can easily touch up your tuning very accurately while muted, can be set up for any reference tone, work with any axe, stay in the circuit (muted! ) while you switch instruments, require no special cables or connectors, don't look silly on your headstock, and they offer a great place to plug in up front near your mic, or wherever you happen to stand, even if you use no pedals.

They even work in church...

Aside from those who would use a mute switch artistically, why not? I ask seriously, not flaming or funning at all...

I use it in some shows, mostly a clip tuner. Easier to have the standby switch on the bass.

 

[MrUsefulAlien]

I have to ask again...

NONE of you folks use a tuner pedal? They make great mutes, no bass controls are changed, you can easily touch up your tuning very accurately while muted, can be set up for any reference tone, work with any axe, stay in the circuit (muted! ) while you switch instruments, require no special cables or connectors, don't look silly on your headstock, and they offer a great place to plug in up front near your mic, or wherever you happen to stand, even if you use no pedals.

They even work in church...

Aside from those who would use a mute switch artistically, why not? I ask seriously, not flaming or funning at all...

I use it in some shows, mostly a clip tuner. Easier to have the standby switch on the bass.

 

[vvvmmm]

So ... does it work for yer stereo rig?

 

[Bassamatic]

Ok a mercury switch is freaking amazing!
If you shook it would it stutter? Cause that's right where my brain went.
Also I like to throw around my basses on stage so maybe encapsulate it in foam, Hmmm....
Can you still buy a mercury switch?

 

[Bassamatic]

Mercury switches aren't known for stuttering/chatter. The action is slow.

I suppose if you jump around a lot you might want a longer one, but I've not had any false triggering.

 

[Bassamatic]

I bought 10 of them on eBayfor a few $$! I did a little experimentation and the secret is to get one that is long enough that it doesn't more easily by accident, but not too long. Mine is 10mm long - about 1/2". The angle of mounting is critical - For best results, if the bass is upright, the angle should be about 4 o'clock pointing down.
I mounted mine directly to the terminals on the output jack. Please note - you can't do this with an active bass - it will short the preamp.

 

[vvvmmm]

 

[stratovani]

Here's my kill switch...

 

[Killing Floor]

VVT control and a kill switch.

 

[MrUsefulAlien]

Here's my kill switch...

View attachment 3908230

Not sure how that fits in a bass control cavity!

 

[jazzyvee]

My Alembic for all intents and purposes has a kill switch. It's the pickup selector.

It goes off/bridge/bridge neck/neck.

Works well.

Bones

I use mine all the time but not during quiet moments in a gig as in the heat of the moment it's too easy to forget and start playing with it in the off position. Made that mistake once.

 

[MrUsefulAlien]

I use mine all the time but not during quiet moments in a gig as in the heat of the moment it's too easy to forget and start playing with it in the off position. Made that mistake once.

I made that mistake for an entire song, with a mute on the amp and IEM. In my ears I was rocking out. Knuckle-dragging bandmates thought it was somehow intentional.

 

[The Expendable Clay]

If you have a kill switch in an active bass and flip it to off position, does it stop battery drain? Just wondering if that can be done instead of unplugging the cord.

 

[seanm]

I bought a push-pull pot to add a kill switch. I don't plan on using the pot, it is just to make it look right I want to get the pot out of the signal chain since I like straight to the jack... but need to be able to quiet the bass.

Haven't done it yet (it's only been a couple of years), but I should during this down time.

I do have a tuner, but we used to play one gig where I was at the back of the pub facing the band. I used a wireless, couldn't reach the tuner.

 

[MrUsefulAlien]

If you have a kill switch in an active bass and flip it to off position, does it stop battery drain? Just wondering if that can be done instead of unplugging the cord.

No it doesn't, unfortunately.

 

[seanm]

If you have a kill switch in an active bass and flip it to off position, does it stop battery drain? Just wondering if that can be done instead of unplugging the cord.

It could... you could have it cut the signal and the power at the same time. I bet most don't though.