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On-Off Pot Switch for Onboard Buffer/Booster?

Started by Micpoc, January 02, 2017, 03:58:32 PM

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Micpoc

Hi all, and happy New Year.

I am considering building an MXR/CAE MC-401 stripboard clone (http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2014/03/mxr-mc-401.html) to use as an onboard buffer/booster in a solid body guitar. There is plenty of room in the control cavity, and I already have a battery case installed.

What I would like to do is use a pot that acts as an on/off switch for the buffer/booster, i.e., when it is "off", the circuit acts as a buffer, and when it is on, it switches to "booster" mode, increasing gain as the pot is turned. I do not really know if this is possible OR what kind of pot to use for such an operation, other than a push/pull pot, which I'd rather not use. Is this doable? Would a reverse taper no-load pot, if available, do this? Thanks.

mjg

What about using a pot with inbuilt SPDT switch?  They're quite common for off/volume on little portable radios, car stereos, computer speakers, etc.   Turn the pot all the way left, and it clicks off, changing the SPDT at the same time. 

e.g.:  http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/1523874.pdf

Micpoc

#2
That's pretty much what I was thinking about using; just have to find it in the labyrinth of Mouser.com.