Whammy buttons....

Eric Stumpf · Post by **Eric Stumpf** » 20 Dec 2002 4:25 am

OK, I'm fairly certain this isn't the correct name for these devices but you know what I mean: those "door bell switches" that were spring loaded and incorporated into the volume and tone circuits of 50's vintage steel guitars. I want to splice one of those into my guitar's volume control ciruit but I can't find a source. Any suggestions? ... and just what exactly do people call these, anyway?

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 20 Dec 2002 12:07 pm

I had one on my guitar but everytime I pushed it I had to stop playing to see who was at the door.

....Some guy offered to make and sell a small box with this circuit here on the forum a couple of years ago. Unforunately he took a few people's $$ and disappeared. I never did quite follow what this unit was supposed to do besides give this guy some dogtrack money. Is it just a circuit interrupter for, like, machine gun stutters?

Eric Stumpf · Post by **Eric Stumpf** » 20 Dec 2002 3:53 pm

Yep....that's exactly what it does. I once had a dreadful Gibson Multiharp with these on it and they were the only redeeming aspect of the guitar.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 22 Dec 2002 1:01 pm

Actually, they're nothing but a doorbell switch hooked up so that it shorts out the pickup (usually right at the jack of the guitar). People used doorbell switches because they had an "easy push", and they were available in a wide variety of sizes and types. A building supply place (like Lowe's, or Home Depot) would be the best place to find them.

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 22 Dec 2002 11:58 pm

I just put a Yamaha push/push switching pot in the tone control position of my 65 D-8 Stringmaster.The trick is to carefully remove the spring clip retainer from the switch so it doesn't stay down after you push it - it then becomes a momentary switch.I wired it up to disconnect the hot wire from the output jack and the pot section is wired up normally as a tone control.Works great and doesn't deface a classic guitar. -MJ-

Tom Olson · Post by **Tom Olson** » 23 Dec 2002 11:14 pm

Sorry, but I'm a bit mystified as to what this button thing is actually used for. I don't think I've ever heard any "machine gun" stuccato effects before unless I just wasn't aware of it. Are there any examples of the effect of this thing in any of the more or less better known recordings that someone could point out? Or perhaps just explain it in more detail so a dense guy like me will understand. Just curious -- thanks