Troy van Leeuwen JM upper switch mod COMPLETED

[natthu]

Any thoughts, suggestions or alternate ideas on this would be greatly appreciated

I was lucky enough to get a new old stock oxblood TVLJM from my local guitar store. I particularly wanted it for the colorway. It plays beautifully (better than my ECJM) and sounds great... However, the upper switch is kinda annoying, it's completely in the way of my playing, and I'd like to get rid of it.

I'm still trying to decide what course of action to take. I could:

1) Buy a new pickguard and a switch to de-mod it back to a traditional JM setup.
2) Tape the switch in the normal position to the underside of the existing pickguard (I don't use the rhythm circuits in any of my offsets). Either leaving a hole or 2a) maybe making a tiny tort plug to close it.
3) Fit a different switch to the existing pickguard. I have a push button round silver switch which would be almost flush, or 3a) use a tiny toggle switch with a washer (might look a bit provincial).

Whatever I do, I'd like to not ruin the stock pickguard so it would be possible to return it to stock setup if need be in the future.

[timtam]

Push button switch in the existing hole sounds like an efficient solution to me.

[JVG]

I’d say
Option 3 if you like the current pickguard.
Option 1 if you prefer a different colour guard.

[Embenny]

I’d say
Option 3 if you like the current pickguard.
Option 1 if you prefer a different colour guard.

I'm on board with these options.

I think mint looks amazing on TVLs. Spitfire, too.

[Fatrabbit]

I had the same problem and chose to get a new pick guard and classic switch.

[natthu]

I'm going with option 3 with the push switch. It should look relatively classy assuming I do a good job.
Option 3 has the bonus that I already have all the necessary components and don't have to spend money...
I can eventually change to option 1 if I don't like the result I guess.

After unstringing the guitar, unscrewing the pickguard and freeing the upper switch, I realised that the push switch I have actually requires a slightly bigger hole than the original. Unfortunately all my stepping drill bits are at work. It'll have to wait until tomorrow.

One thing I did notice (fortunately) is that the new push switch does not work the same way as a toggle switch. Where the toggle switch has the centre pole as the common lug, the push switch has the lugs at one end as the common lugs and switches between the middle lugs (in) and the opposite end lugs (out/flush). I think the push switch is intended for automotive purposes (dash switches), maybe that's a standard for car stuff.

[natthu]

I'm pretty happy with the result. I had to extend one of the wires, it's all very tight in there... but all good in the end.
Switch out is normal circuit, switch in is rhythm circuit.

[BoringPostcards]

Looks really clean. Good solution indeed.

[Nick and the Noise]

That's so cool!

[Embenny]

Honestly, that looks like it should have come that way from the factory. The stock switch is very bulky and clunky. This one is just great.

[higgsblossom]

You're a genius. Great solution!

[Bradley-Jazz]

Honestly, that looks like it should have come that way from the factory. The stock switch is very bulky and clunky. This one is just great.

+1

An already great-looking guitar is looking better!

[natthu]

Thanks guys!

This mod has taken what was (for me) a very nice guitar with an annoying quirk, to a perfect player.

[antisymmetric]

Looks so much better than original. My friend has a TVL, I'm going to show this to him. Well played!

[Fiddy]

Go with a white switch instead?