Vintage/Large/Novelty/Interesting stomp switches

[Widows]

I'm looking to get some stomp switches that look different from the regular old blue/black 3pdt ones in use on so many pedals. I really want to find some like the big bubble switches on some of the old big muff pi models, or the big square one from the old tubescreamers, but I'm having realy trouble finding any. They'd need to be 3PDT as I will be using them for true bypass with an LED, but the wilder or more unusual the better.

Does anyone know any suppliers I should check out? I've tried the usual ones like pedalparts, small bear, ggg, musikding, etc but they just have the regular sort n that's it.

Cheers

[Mark Hammer]

Don't confuse the appearance and the underlying mechanism.  As far as we know, the "old Tube Screamers" used SPST momentary switches, just like the current ones.  The big square was simly the actuator used to push the small momentary switch, and wasn't the actual switch.  Similarly, the big round things on some EHX boxes may have just been the heads perched atop another more mundane switch.  The Russian units, for example, have used the sort of soft-touch push buttons employed on older cassette decks and cheaper stereos throughout the 80's.  I found some DPDT push-button switches in a surplus place some years back that had a little rectangular window with a sort of mechanical shutter inside.  Push it once and it was black.  Push it again and it would "turn" bright orange.  Great way to indicate status if you were unable to see how far out or in the switch was sticking.

[tubegeek]

Those switches are called Schadow switches - they are sort-of-common pro audio replacement parts for consoles etc. Should be reasonably available - a good resource might be the Black Market and White Market sections of the GroupDIY forum.

The format for those switches is PCB mount, and the PCB would have to be oriented edge-on to the surface of the stompbox. This is obviously not standard stompbox practice - it might require a daughterboard to set up, also I have no idea whether a Schadow switch would survive the kind of abuse we usually take for granted in a "stomp" situation.

When I Googled "schadow switch" I found some links, including a Google Patents page which tells us that Rudolf H. Schadow invented it, hence the name.

This link seems like the OP might enjoy it:

http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/category/716/switches-pushbutton/1.html

[merlinb]

When I Googled "schadow switch" I found some links, including a Google Patents page which tells us that Rudolf H. Schadow invented it, hence the name.

Do you have a link for that? I'd like to see it, but haven't been able to find it even on google patents.

[davent]

Has anyone experimented with arcade switches? Would need to use it in conjunction with electronic switching.

[tubegeek]

Do you have a link for that? I'd like to see it...

Here you go, O Wizard Of Stomp!

https://www.google.com/patents/US3715548

This just popped up for me on a Google search BTW - perhaps it shows up higher in the results of US searches? I seem to recall you are not in the US....

[smallbearelec]

Further to Mark's note, the switch mechanism itself could be a tactile switch like this:

http://www.smallbearelec.com/servlet/Detail?no=33

and they are inexpensive and readily available in DPDT or 4PDT/latching or momentary. What you then need is a distinctive-looking and rugged actuator like what Visual Sound had made:

http://visualsound.net/

If you can describe what you want to a local machine shop, you might be able to get some made without breaking the bank. Or you might try molding pieces from acrylic resin or Bondo.

[closetmonster.]

I could see the novelty of having a big 'ol arcade switch as a momentary trigger for a feedback loop.

"Whatever you do, don't press the big red button."

[PRR]

> haven't been able to find it even on google patents

Google is being grumpy about finding his stuff.

Rudolf had a LOT of switch patents.

The one tubegeek came across is an Indicating switch, mechanical flappers, what we used before easy LEDs.

A few more I found:

www.google.com/patents/USRE27963

www.google.com/patents/US3722313

www.google.com/patents/US3673365

www.google.com/patents/US3855961

www.google.com/patents/US4046982

www.google.com/patents/US4144419

www.google.com/patents/US4152556

www.google.com/patents/US4118609

www.google.com/patents/US4283609

www.google.com/patents/US3867596

In reading these, a "key switch" is not a lock, it is telephone system jargon.

Many of Rudolf's later patents are assigned to ITT, which is who I remember being the largest supplier of such designs. I've had patchbays full of them... a previous designer was in love with them.

[Widows]

some EHX boxes may have just been the heads perched atop another more mundane switch.  The Russian units, for example, have used the sort of soft-touch push buttons employed on older cassette decks and cheaper stereos throughout the 80's. 

....aaaaaahhhhhhh ok! I thought they were just fancy switches. THanks for the links guy, I'll check em out. :-D