Is it possible to install a 5-way Selector Switch on an electric guitar that doesn’t use a pickguard?
Does a five-way selector switch require a pickguard? How exactly is it (the switch) attached to the guitar body? Would a switch completely destroy the look of a guitar with a HSH pickup configuration that uses a series of knobs for tone and volume control?
You can buy selector switches of different attachment methods, either screw them in or glue them into your guitar. You don’t necessarily have to have a pick guard. In terms of looks that’s a personal preference, but I don’t think it would look that bad. You’d likely have to cut into your guitar a bit to install one, but if you’re comfortable with that and the electronics work, or you’re paying someone to do it and you want a 5-way switch that badly, I think it’d work aesthetically.
The selector switch isn’t singly responsible for selecting different pickup configurations though, depending on the switch you will likely have to at least rewire the connections to the switch, and you may need different components to interface the new switch to your electronics in your guitar. I hope this helps, and good luck.
Projekt HSH Stratocaster – Rebuild
