[player99]

You could also add a kill switch to a pedal separately or within a pedal then, it could work with any electric guitar, as long as that pedal is on your board.

I've definitely thought about that. However I think there's an advantage to using my picking hand instead of my foot. But it being universal is attractive for sure. Adding the switch to an existing pedal is interesting. I wouldn't have thought of that. Smart idea.

 

[Milkman]

That wouldn't work because when I turn the tone down on the bridge pu to match the neck pu it would also turn the neck pu down so they wouldn't match.
The idea is flipping back and forth when playing their different but more in the same ballpark.

Sounds like the tone pots are much more important to your style of playing than a Kill switch.

My suggestions are based on the assumption that you wouldn't want to drill an additional hole in your SG.

Maybe the plug in type device would be better for you?

 

[Milkman]

I've definitely thought about that. However I think there's an advantage to using my picking hand instead of my foot. But it being universal is attractive for sure.

Of course, that would require you to be standing at your pedal board in order to use it. That's not necessarily a big deal, but some players like to wander around the stage a bit.

 

[player99]

Sounds like the tone pots are much more important to your style of playing than a Kill switch.

My suggestions are based on the assumption that you wouldn't want to drill an additional hole in your SG.

Maybe the plug in type device would be better for you?

I had installed the buzzy switch in the pickguard of an SG. It was some time ago, but I don't think I had to drill the body, there's room in the cavity. It just needed to be a lower profile than some switches I had.

Whenever I see guitars with 2 pickups and one tone I always think they are missing a big part of the guitar. Same with one master volume.

 

[Milkman]

I had installed the buzzy switch in the pickguard of an SG. It was some time ago, but I don't think I had to drill the body, there's room in the cavity. It just needed to be a lower profile than some switches I had.

Whenever I see guitars with 2 pickups and one tone I always think they are missing a big part of the guitar. Same with one master volume.

Like I said, it's a matter of your playing style (and shared by many others). For me however, a tone control only takes away. It doesn't give.

 

[Paul Running]

advantage to using my picking hand instead of my foot.

Use a reed switch and you will not have to drill...it could be installed under the pickguard and would not be visible...people would wonder how you are killing the signal, without a kill switch.

 

[Milkman]

Use a reed switch and you will not have to drill...it could be installed under the pickguard and would not be visible...people would wonder how you are killing the signal, without a kill switch.

Would you mind explaining this type of switch for us?

Do you just touch the right spot on the pickguard and it kills the signal?

Interesting.

I found this, but remember, I'm no genius.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reed_switch

 

[mhammer]

I've definitely thought about that. However I think there's an advantage to using my picking hand instead of my foot. But it being universal is attractive for sure. Adding the switch to an existing pedal is interesting. I wouldn't have thought of that. Smart idea.

Hands are more nimble than feet. I've described in past how I wired up a photocell to use with the Line 6 expression pedal input. The photocell is mounted to the guitar, face-outward, with double-sided tape, and placed
where I could easily reach it with the pinky finger of my picking hand. I could cover/uncover it with my pinky FAR faster than I could sweep an expression pedal with my foot. Of course, one's foot is more stable, and movement smoother than one's finger. Whether that provides an advantage or disadvantage depends on the sonic goal/application. I can see virtues for each approach.

Certainly one wants to have any kill switch situated where it is not accidentally actuated, or where it might interfere with the desired fluidity of motion.. Similarly, one wants it situated where a certain fluidity of actuation is possible, to allow it to be expressive and not simply a random glitch. I think of the REM tune "What's the Frequency Kenneth?", where guitarist Peter Buck uses it in a strategic way.

Haven't tried it myself, but it stands to reason that one could also have a partial killswitch that provide a severe treble cut, on demand. So, for instance, a 0.1uf cap in series with a 1M resistor to ground. That resistor provides a way for any charge in the cap to constantly bleed off and prevent any switch-popping. The killswitch would connect to the junction between them and go to a 220R resistor to ground, allowing the cap to drastically reduce mids and highs, when you press the switch. Think of it more like a tremolo-on-demand, rather than kill. Could be interesting.

 

[Paul Running]

Would you mind explaining this type of switch for us?

Do you just touch the right spot on the pickguard and it kills the signal?

It's magnetically activated. You could wear a mag ring or bracelet or whatever to activate it.
The wiki you linked is a good article and there are many other resources, including manufacturer websites that may provide applications...there are many; the sensor on most bicycle speedometers use one.