Stratoblaster ?

[Arn C.]

Howdy All and Happy Friday!

I am installing a stratoblaster in a friends guitar.   Could I hook up a 3pdt switch that will put the circuit either in or out and also to turn the battery on and off at the same time? (As to not wear out the battery)


Thanks!
Arn C.

[petemoore]

Howdy All and Happy Friday!

I am installing a stratoblaster in a friends guitar.   Could I hook up a 3pdt switch that will put the circuit either in or out and also to turn the battery on and off at the same time? (As to not wear out the battery) 
  >>You will get Loud Popping when using the Sw.
  I read about 'super caps'...which can work like a battery...
  Perhaps using a SC, and charging it up just before a gig by charging it w/9vdc before each use?
  Or seeing if the PS defeat via Stereo Jack/mono plug switch can be installed instead of the guitars present output jack and related wiring.

Thanks!
Arn C.

[Arn C.]

Thanks Pete for your reply!

I already had the notion for the stereo jack, just thought maybe a way to do this without the popping with a switch, so you wouldn't have to unplug it each time a break comes up.   Otherwise the battery is always on.

Thanks,
Arn C.

[Mark Hammer]

Unless the intent is to either use the guitar with or without preamp for that entire session, it would be unwise and ultimately annoying, to use the switch in that manner.  The same cap that stabilizes the battery power supply ends up tacking on some lag time when you initially connect the battery.  The upshot is that it would not provide the same instant on/off that a regular stompswitch does.

I also think that if the power connection is determined by a toggle on the guitar, you run the risk of stuff like putting the guitar in your gig bag or case, throwing the strap in, and the toggle gets flicked, draining the battery all the while you think the power is safely off. 

The other thing to consider is that many of these single FET preamp circuits use so little current in the first place, that the limiting factor in battery lifespan can often simply be the shelf life of the battery.  I don't know where the Stratoblaster ranks in amongst all the single FET boosters, but my hunch is that current drain is well below what you'd expect from any conventional op-amp-based floor pedal.

Best thing to do is to simply wire up a stereo output jack on the guitar to power up the circuit when you plug in, and use the toggle to bypass the circuit without tampering with power, the same way you do with floor pedals.

[Arn C.]

Thanks Mark and Pete, I will go with the stereo jack!!!!

Peace!
Arn C.

[Gilles C]

The info about the Blaster is there

http://alembic.stores.yahoo.net/blaster.html

100uA as correctly stated in the PDF file

Gilles

[Arn C.]

Thanks Gilles!!!

Peace!
Arn C.

[petemoore]

  St Jack /Mono Plug PS Switching is by far the best/easiest...as long as it can be made to fit, on guitars w/jackplate it should be pretty easy.