3pdt switches possible deal?

[pazuzu]

hey all, i am browsing ebay over here and i came across this. i personally am wary of anything on ebay but i thought some of you may appreciate this. i have been out of the loop on these things for a while now but i happened to be browsing for an au7 for a valvecaster i am going to throw together. sorry it this topic has been covered somewhere else.

http://cgi.ebay.com/3PDT-True-Bypass-Switch-RoHS-Boutique-Effects-QTY-10-/180568291270?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2a0ab577c6

http://cgi.ebay.com/3PDT-True-Bypass-Switch-RoHS-Boutique-Effects-QTY-25-/180495014061?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2a065758ad

http://cgi.ebay.com/3PDT-True-Bypass-Switch-RoHS-Boutique-Effects-QTY-50-/180499857938?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2a06a14212

[trjones1]

I don't think those are much of a deal if you have to buy 50 before the price goes under $4.  Last switches I bought were from Mammoth at $3.50 a piece and they seem to be very good quality: http://www.mammothelectronics.com/4SFS3PDT-LS-p/800-1005.htm

On ebay you never know if you're getting a switch with very stiff action or one that uses no epoxy on the lugs or some other random problem.

[kvandekrol]

Pedal Parts Plus has them for 3.80 each (off-brand) or 4.30 for Cliff. A little more than Mammoth but their shipping is loads cheaper if you only need a couple.

[pazuzu]

they have come down since my last order than? i seem to recall 3pdt's costing upwards of 10$. maybe my memory is not correct.

[StereoKills]

Yes prices have dropped drastically in the last 1-2 years.

[Barcode80]

they have come down since my last order than? i seem to recall 3pdt's costing upwards of 10$. maybe my memory is not correct.

they are still pretty high at smallbear and in aron's store, but that is mainly because they are tested (and likely in aron's case, because he isn't buying in the quantities steve or mammoth are).

also, john lewman (effectsconnection.com) has his at 3.99, but an order of 100 drops the price to 2.99  a piece.

[trjones1]

I have to warn about the pedal parts plus Cliff switches.  I originally liked them because they had nice smooth action and minimal mechanical clicks, but they are actually the worst quality 3pdt switches I've come across.  They're very unreliable and the mounting hardware was a constant problem. 

[StereoKills]

I have to warn about the pedal parts plus Cliff switches.  I originally liked them because they had nice smooth action and minimal mechanical clicks, but they are actually the worst quality 3pdt switches I've come across.  They're very unreliable and the mounting hardware was a constant problem. 

Interesting. I have had no problems with the handful I've used so far. How long into use did you start having trouble with them?

[trjones1]

After just a few weeks I had a couple that would switch by just touching the actuator, not actually pushing it down.  Maybe it has something to do with that smooth action that I thought was good. 

They were also a complete pain to install because the nuts on the switches could get over-torqued so easily, so it was a choice between not tightening the switches enough or having the nuts slip over the threads, either way leaving the switch not tightly mounted.  Did you ever see this, SK?  I've never run into that problem with any other 3pdts I've ever used.

[StereoKills]

I haven't run into either of those problems. I was pretty careful not to over-torque them because I was installing them over clearcoated transparencies, but they've been nice and snug with no slipping. I also have a nice solid click when I'm actuating them, don't get me wrong they're smoother than other stomp switches I've used, but nothing like you're describing.

[Barcode80]

Also, I can't pass an opportunity to mention that the black, more expensive switches from Mammoth are total garbage. The thread/plunger assembly isn't attached very well to the switch body. I had bought two on one of my orders just to check them out. One failed and came apart after about 20 or so clicks (studio work too, not even hard stomps), and the other came apart as I was HAND TIGHTENING the switch into a build. However, their blues seem pretty good.

[mikemaddux]

I know for a fact that some sources have them cheaper with no minimum order.....