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Pickup selector switches, Gibson style


Mr. Foxen
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[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='1026320' date='Nov 16 2010, 08:20 PM']The ones that go through a round hole, what is a good sturdy make to go for, I bought some cheap ones a while back, and they sorted the dead switches, but they are dying already, what ones are good. Or anyone got some spares?[/quote]

Gibson and DiMarzio use custom branded Switchcraft switches - those seem to be the top quality end.
Copies are available from cheaper manufacturers but the reality is that those are probably all made in the same factory and are of the same quality.

Aren't Les Paul switches open chassis?
If so then you could just give them a squirt of switchcleaner/WD40 and bend the contacts (if needed) with a small pair of long nose pliers...

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[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='1027339' date='Nov 17 2010, 09:22 PM']They are open chassis, but once they go, seems they don't last, I have been doing exactly that, but never seems to keep them going for long. The problem with this one is the switch is totally slack, so time to source decent replacements. Might just go switchcraft.[/quote]

Yeah - the metal contacts provide the latching as well and, as with all metals, every time you bend it the metal it becomes weaker and bends easier the next time round.

From an engineeering point of view the design of that type of switch was pretty much a miniturised version of those big clanky switches that Dr Frankenstein used to use in the horror films.
In my opinion, if someone were to design the Les Paul from scratch nowadays, that sort of switch would certainly not be seriously considered.

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