Guitar killswitch?!

Guitar killswitch?

ive seen several musicians use a guitar killswitch. the press kind, not a switch and im wondering if anyone has an explanation of how to install one. please explain alot, because i dont speak electronics haha. i have no idea what the "hot" and the "ground" mean and all that. so describe what it looks like or give pictures.

1 week ago
when you said solder wires from the poles on the switch, where/what do you solder them to? does anything need to be cut? and i heard about a popping noise when you stop pressing the switch. is this true?

I use one on my guitars. You will need the following type of switch: "momentary pushbutton, normally open" that means, at rest, the connection is NOT connected (this is important, make sure you get this one). It is also important that you get a switch that requires little pressure, much easier to play than the ones that have resistance.

To mount the switch, you will have to drill a 3/8ths hole into your guitar, just make sure it aligns with the cavity (and that it's in a spot that is ergonomic [ie. put some tape there and pretend to hit it and make sure it's comfortable]).

Once the switch is mounted, open the electronics cavity, you will see the output jack that has two wires connected to it, one is ground, one is hot. You solder a wire from each to one of the poles on the switch (which goes where doesn't matter). Make sure the wires don't touch each other.

Done! Now how this works is, when you push the button, it connects the ground & signal wires, shorting out the connection.

I use nexxtech part #2751566 available at radio shack. I believe this is the same square pushbutton Buckethead uses. I could mail it to you if you paypal me.