Most rugged stomp switch

[B9 Robot]

I noticed that Small Bear is selling a stomp switch made by Alpha which is described as small and rugged. I was wondering if I would be better off buying this or going with the Carling 316. Any suggestions?

Thank you.

[troubledtom]

I noticed that Small Bear is selling a stomp switch made by Alpha which is described as small and rugged. I was wondering if I would be better off buying this or going with the Carling 316. Any suggestions?

Thank you.

i've had better luck w/ anything other than carling. if small bear sells them and that's the best you can do $$$ wise, get them from steve. he offers a great service and he's a hell of a nice guy!!!!!!!!!!!
    peace and good luck ,
        - tom

[zachary vex]

i would steer away from that particular alpha switch.  it's the one used in the new MXR reissues, and it's kinda failure-prone... the plunger sometimes has a piece break inside which causes the switch to do nothing at all (no click).  i have heard of 3 or 4 switches like this at just one store here in town.

the carling is tougher, but many carlings fail by not making good contact.  about 10% of the carlings i have used have had to be replaced... very bad ratio.  i caught most of them before shipping, but it's been a big headache with returns.  there is a wonderful dpdt stomp switch by Eaton if you can find it... i presently use a custom switch from NKK in Japan, and i've recently received a batch of 3pdt switches from another source which i am evaluating for LED switching in fuzz factories and such.

[ExpAnonColin]

i presently use a custom switch from NKK in Japan, and i've recently received a batch of 3pdt switches from another source which i am evaluating for LED switching in fuzz factories and such.

I actually saw that logo on your site, in the "reality check section", and counldn't find it anywhere on the net.  Go figure that it's custom!

I've had about a 5% with carlington, and have never used alphas.  Carlington's aren't bad.  I've had maybe 50% with the taiwanese x wings...

-Colin

[zachary vex]

actually, that picture is of the really heavy-duty eaton cutler-hammer switches.   i stopped using them because eaton had difficulty supplying my dealer on time, so at one point i couldn't make anything for weeks because they screwed up.  it was so much of a headache that i decided to move to the carlings.  the problem with the carlings is that there isn' t much oversight of the manufacturing which is now done in Mexico... the guys down there don't understand that the tooling for those carlings is old and worn, and needs constant tweeking to make it work correctly.  those switches have been manufactured since the 50's... some of the tooling is that old, i've been told.

[Zito]

Has anybody seen or used this switch and if so, is it any good?

http://www.cascadesurplus.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/46

[troubledtom]

at this point the stomps i get i deploy as to use or need.
  cool
  tom

[The Tone God]

Are we talking about the mini-alphas ? I remember reading somewhere from Mr. Huge that Line 6 is using them in their products with good results. I also remember someone posting a pic of an alpha that had failed on them while others were saying that they have been fine.

Andrew

[zachary vex]

i think so.  i have personally held in my hand two of the failed mini-alpha dpdts and neither of them did anything when i pressed the plunger.

[mikeb]

The new 3PDT alphas are worth a look - metal plunger, clone of the Fulltone / blue 3PDTs and soon to be available locally here down under.

(tugs collar to release steam built up from thinking about new stompswitches)

Mike

[The Tone God]

i think so.  i have personally held in my hand two of the failed mini-alpha dpdts and neither of them did anything when i pressed the plunger.

Were these switches you tested ? If so, how many were in the batch that the two failed out of so we can have an idea of sampling size ? What tests did you perfom ? Which tests did the switches fail under ?

Thanks for any info. This applies to anyone else who has tested the alpha of course.

Andrew

[Rory]

Zito,
   That switch looks identical to the taiwanese DPDT.  These are great for prototyping, BUT, they will break!  I haven't had any luck with these and I know lots of other people on this board feel the same way.  The price is definitely great, but you will more than likely have to put more into the pedal by buying a second switch after it breaks.

Rory