6 Position Varitone Switch For Guitar And Bass With Longer Thread
Based on the Stellartone Tonestyler, a longer threaded version just as good to fit through the body of hollow body jazz guitars
6 position Alpha brand rotary switch for guitar and bass. This model has the longer thread (approx 10 mm) for use in hollow body instruments and deeper control compartments in Les Paul types guitars where the controls are mounted through the body instead of a control plate.
Brand new unit made by myself in my small workshop. The 6 position switch offers a well balanced range of attenuation on a passive circuit.
This switch works in much the same way as the very popular but very expensive Stellartone Tonestyler.
The dimensions of this unit are as follows: 25mm x 31mm with 17mm depth (so some rerouting may be required if replacing mini pots) and a solid shaft can accept 1/4 inch (6.35mm) knob of your choice, knob not included. Knurled shaft is 8.84mm wide so needs a hole drilled 9mm to fit.
The VARITONE is easy to fit into your bass or guitar and replaces the conventional tone pot, instructions are provided. No battery required...
The 6 positions are from right to left:
1 BYPASS (full range of sound from pickup/s)
2 BRIGHT (slight attenuation above 1.4Khz)
3 MID BRIGHT (attenuation above 900hz)
4 MID (attenuation above 600hz)
5 LOW MID (greater attenuation above 450hz)
6 LOW (greatest attenuation above 300hz)
6 position rotary pot where the first position is bypass or 0 and then there is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, increasing value capacitors removing the higher and upper mid frequencies. I make 2 varitones the one pictured above, the standard model which is more popular and the alternative model which is more for fretless bass perhaps because it targets the lower mids too; I prefer this one. Both work well alone or added to an existing wiring harness.
Either of these varitone switches can be attached to another rotary pot (control space permitting) so you can dial in as much of each value cap as you would like.
I have made a (bass guitar) demo for this switch which be found below:
In recent weeks, many people have asked if this unit can be wired together with a regular rotary tone pot. The good news is yes it can and it's quite simple. Just remove the capacitor from the tone pot in your guitar or bass and solder the red and black wires to the first lug and the back of the tone pot as shown in the diagram at the top of the this page. I hope this helps...
I can make them to your own specs if you know which cap values you would like - contact me here to enquire.
(As always if you would like to know how to wire a varitone switch or need anything explained about installing my pre wired rotary tone switches and wiring looms, or require clarification on any aspect of the diagrams or schematics I have provided in my listings, then please feel free to use the contact link above and ask.)
Creating great quality custom wiring looms and Varitone switches since 2012