I just had a toggle from BLMS fail really quickly. I dont remember where I got these much nicer switches... so where do you all get high quality switches for cheap (toggles and footswitches though Ive never had too many problems with footswitches)
I used to use Tayda until I had a few fail. Now I only get them through BLMS. I would Email Lawrence and let him know you got a bad one. He's a stand up dude and will probably set things right.
The Tayda ones and the BLMS ones seem very similar to me. I wasn't terribly impressed with either, but they are inexpensive.
Small Bear has better quality switches as does Mouser.
BLMS here also, I have had one fail and Lawrence made it right. He is a cool guy to work with. Like others have said, just email him.
Cody
Depends on how you define "cheap." Smallbear's toggles are noticeably better (more robust and also just better feel) than the ones I've gotten from BLMS,*, which I didn't find to be different from the ones I had gotten from Tayda in the past, but they're certainly more expensive. Genuine Mountain switches are also noticeably better, but they cost a fortune.
*Apparently I'm not a bitch. Proof at last.
Quote from: midwayfair on January 21, 2015, 08:48:21 PM
Depends on how you define "cheap." Smallbear's toggles are noticeably better (more robust and also just better feel) than the ones I've gotten from BLMS,*, which I didn't find to be different from the ones I had gotten from Tayda in the past, but they're certainly more expensive. Genuine Mountain switches are also noticeably better, but they cost a fortune.
*Apparently I'm not a bitch. Proof at last.
I found that the pricing for some of the Mountain switches can be reasonable, especially if purchased in a decent quantity.
For example, the standard SPDT switch (PN: 108-1MS1T2B3M2QE-EVX ) is $1.90 for one but goes down to $1.24 in quantities of 100. At 1000 pieces, it's all the way down to a dollar.
I'm not offering to run a group buy, but this might be the sort of thing that makes sense as everybody here uses them and getting a high quality switch for $1 each would be cool.
For
someone who is not me should do this group buy. I am in for 50.
I buy toggles from Small Bear and PPP. The price isn't cheap but the quality is good. I think I have bought from Mammoth once and the quality seemed the same as the others. I tried BLMS. They are cheap but the look and feel is just not quite there imo. I've used a few in a build I did for myself but I wouldn't for something I'm selling.
For stomp switches, my current favorite is the Alpha 3PDTs. They seem to be of very good quality, they come with a thin metal washer, and you can get them at PPP for $3.50. That's a steal.
http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/toggles-1/
Are those the switches you guys are talking about? The red ones? I get those from Tayda and BLMS and they're all about the same quality.
Electronics Goldmine has some good quality C&K switches for a decent price - the mounting arrangement might not work for you though.
http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/products.asp?dept=1184 (http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/products.asp?dept=1184)
I have got some switches from them in the past (as well as some cool jfets)
Andrew.
Quote from: electrosonic on January 22, 2015, 12:24:16 AM
Electronics Goldmine has some good quality C&K switches for a decent price - the mounting arrangement might not work for you though.
http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/products.asp?dept=1184 (http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/products.asp?dept=1184)
I have got some switches from them in the past (as well as some cool jfets)
Andrew.
Love Goldmine! They have lots of less common stuff, the blowout section always have interesting stuff.
Quote from: mremic01 on January 22, 2015, 12:16:12 AM
http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/toggles-1/
Are those the switches you guys are talking about? The red ones? I get those from Tayda and BLMS and they're all about the same quality.
Just because something has the same appearance doesn't mean it's the same manufacture. They aren't identical. Smallbear's have stiffer action when switched, and the casing is heavier duty. The nuts are slightly different sizes compared to the Tayda/BLMS ones. The epoxy requires less heat to melt. The contact seesaw inside is a slightly different size.
Quote from: midwayfair on January 22, 2015, 01:32:28 AM
Quote from: mremic01 on January 22, 2015, 12:16:12 AM
http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/toggles-1/
Are those the switches you guys are talking about? The red ones? I get those from Tayda and BLMS and they're all about the same quality.
Just because something has the same appearance doesn't mean it's the same manufacture.
This.
If you directly compare the look and feel of a switch from SB/PPP against one from BLMS, you will see and feel that there is a difference. To some the difference is subtle, but it's a big deal to a picky guy like me. I really noticed it with the on-off-on switches. The middle position of the BLMS switches I tried was really vague and easy to overshoot. I'm not surprised that the internal structure is different too. Also, if there are differences in the aesthetics, you can bet that the metals and contact platings are also different.
I'm not trying to be preachy against BLMS. Lawrence is well respected here. I think it's just a matter of getting what you pay for in this instance.
Yeh after flippin so many switches over the years and being used to tayda and blms switches i hit a nicer dpdt and it just felt so good. made me wanna just go home depot DBA style switches... but then again... i've seen a lot of failed amp switches
NKK make nice switches, good selection of bats you get to choose from. I usually choose toggles by actuator height and good sized solder lugs, Digikey. Mouser would have many of the same i'm sure.
Those red switches are great regardless of where I get them from. I can't feel any difference between the ones I've bought from various suppliers, and they're all marked the same. Never had one fail and the epoxy is much better than Tayda's old blue switches. The blue ones they used to sell would melt right away. Those were the same ones that Futurlec sells.
It doesn't sound like we're getting the same switches. On the other hand, I regularly feel shafted on enclosures and knobs. The ones I get are always dented and scratched up no matter who I order from. That's fine for people who are going to paint them, but it's not cool getting what seem like factory seconds. Knobs are like that too. Only once in three years have I gotten knobs that looked like what you'd get on a commercial pedal straight out of the box.
Main problem with Tayda stomps are the occasional one where the QA failed completely on the nut, and it will strip if you look at it funny.
Also, decent test of SPDT/DPDT toggle switches are whether you can do the first nut down to the switch itself. The switches I got with my Klee sequencer kit are AMAZING quality.
Quote from: davent on January 22, 2015, 04:05:40 AM
NKK make nice switches, good selection of bats you get to choose from. I usually choose toggles by actuator height and good sized solder lugs, Digikey. Mouser would have many of the same i'm sure.
would you mind linking some of the switches you like to use?
after feeling an alpha stomp and some nicer toggles I feel bad for how many pedals I've traded or sold out to my friends and acquaintances. whoops... I guess I can fix em with nicer ones if they ever go bad. I'm gonna go ahead and committ to a large order of alpha 3pdts and I'd be down to commit to a large amount of toggles ina group buy- a lot of options though so i dont know if it would work unless people could agree on dpdt's.
anyone know where to get some large quantity discounts on alpha 3pdt's? or something of similar quality and price? best I can find right now is PPP for real... crazy.
I do love bitches love my switches- that dude is legit for sure. And actually the low profile 3pdt's he sells are a lot higher quality than his regular stomps from what I have felt. They have a nice sturdy, non squeaky action and just feel much better. Anyone have problems with those? I just hate the tiny mounting holes. Maybe a trick to make em easier to work with would make that the buy of choice as they are only $3
http://www.bitcheslovemyswitches.com/#!/Low-Profile-3PDT-Footswitch-Latched-Solder-Lugs/p/33283018/category=5027572 (http://www.bitcheslovemyswitches.com/#!/Low-Profile-3PDT-Footswitch-Latched-Solder-Lugs/p/33283018/category=5027572)
Alpha's from pedal parts plus are $3.10 each if you buy 100. I could go for 50 and be set for the next 3 years or so! anyone else wanna go in on a bunch?
Like these, nice short actuator, beefy solder lugs, solid action.
http://www.digikey.ca/product-detail/en/M2012S2S1W01/360-1795-ND/1006874
(http://media.digikey.com/Photos/NKK%20Switches%20Photos/MFG_M2012S2S1W01-RO.jpg)
I use 22awg wire, for those switches with tiny solder lugs i wrap the wire around the lug, crimp tight and solder.
Bottom right switch is wrap/crimp/solder.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/davent/IMG_6898_zpsfb97969e.jpg)
dave
That's bloody neat. What's that pedal?
Thanks! JMK Standard Fuzz, my first (and only so far) build with a commercial pcb.
Build report's over here...
http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=18797.msg181341#msg181341
That is a beautiful build, wow, I suppose I'd use $3.80 toggles if I was building a work of art like that. Man some day I'd like to take all of my top favorite circuits I've ever built and try to get them at least halfway as good looking as that. I am just clueless when it comes to this sort of design. i'm just trying to get my stamps straight and my hammertone spray painted evenly!