Troy van Leeuwen JM upper switch mod COMPLETED
- natthu
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 2740
- Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2011 4:30 am
- Location: Adelaide, Australia
Troy van Leeuwen JM upper switch mod COMPLETED
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.
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.
Last edited by natthu on Mon Mar 29, 2021 3:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
- timtam
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 2739
- Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2017 2:42 am
- Location: Melbourne
Re: Troy van Leeuwen JM upper switch mod
Push button switch in the existing hole sounds like an efficient solution to me.
"I just knew I wanted to make a sound that was the complete opposite of a Les Paul, and that’s pretty much a Jaguar." Rowland S. Howard.
- JVG
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 1412
- Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2015 9:54 pm
- Location: Sydney, Straya
Re: Troy van Leeuwen JM upper switch mod
I’d say
Option 3 if you like the current pickguard.
Option 1 if you prefer a different colour guard.
Option 3 if you like the current pickguard.
Option 1 if you prefer a different colour guard.
- Embenny
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 10363
- Joined: Tue May 24, 2016 5:07 am
Re: Troy van Leeuwen JM upper switch mod
I'm on board with these options.
I think mint looks amazing on TVLs. Spitfire, too.
The artist formerly known as mbene085.
- Fatrabbit
- PAT PEND
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Sat May 23, 2020 4:10 am
- Location: Frogland
Re: Troy van Leeuwen JM upper switch mod
I had the same problem and chose to get a new pick guard and classic switch.
- natthu
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 2740
- Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2011 4:30 am
- Location: Adelaide, Australia
Re: Troy van Leeuwen JM upper switch mod
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.
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
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 2740
- Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2011 4:30 am
- Location: Adelaide, Australia
- BoringPostcards
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 7091
- Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 8:50 am
- Location: Newfoundland
Re: Troy van Leeuwen JM upper switch mod COMPLETED
Looks really clean. Good solution indeed.
Det er mig der holder traeerne sammen.
- Nick and the Noise
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 350
- Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2014 6:23 am
- Location: The Hague, the Netherlands
Re: Troy van Leeuwen JM upper switch mod COMPLETED
That's so cool!
- Embenny
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 10363
- Joined: Tue May 24, 2016 5:07 am
Re: Troy van Leeuwen JM upper switch mod COMPLETED
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.
The artist formerly known as mbene085.
- higgsblossom
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 1067
- Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2014 2:55 am
- Location: Mannheim, Germany
Re: Troy van Leeuwen JM upper switch mod COMPLETED
You're a genius. Great solution!
"500€? That's the price of a J Mascis Jazzmaster!"
- Bradley-Jazz
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 796
- Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2016 12:00 pm
- Location: Sheffield, UK
Re: Troy van Leeuwen JM upper switch mod COMPLETED
+1
An already great-looking guitar is looking better!
All the cheeses....
- natthu
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 2740
- Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2011 4:30 am
- Location: Adelaide, Australia
Re: Troy van Leeuwen JM upper switch mod COMPLETED
Thanks guys!
This mod has taken what was (for me) a very nice guitar with an annoying quirk, to a perfect player.
This mod has taken what was (for me) a very nice guitar with an annoying quirk, to a perfect player.
- antisymmetric
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 3605
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 11:32 pm
- Location: New Zealand
Re: Troy van Leeuwen JM upper switch mod COMPLETED
Looks so much better than original. My friend has a TVL, I'm going to show this to him. Well played!
Watching the corners turn corners
- Fiddy
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 12396
- Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2007 11:38 am
- Location: Canada Dry
Re: Troy van Leeuwen JM upper switch mod COMPLETED
Go with a white switch instead?