Introduction, EB-4L, and some advice

[toddbooster]

Hi everyone. I'm new here, but I've been lurking on and off for years (I first discovered this forum about 10 years ago when I was briefly obsessed with Gibson basses), and I've finally decided to make an account so I can pick your brains for a little advice.

Recently, I picked up a walnut, 1972 EB-4L on impulse. It's a bit banged up, but it plays and sounds wonderful. Anyway, on to the meat of my post: the three position switch.

Mine works, but is missing it's knob. I tried to pop a Strat knob on there, but it seems that the blade has been broken off at some point and is too short, so that with the knob on, it won't switch fully over to the left or right (the knob bumps into the screw heads on either side).

Anyway, I searched high and low, and even found reports of a mysterious "Nighthawk" switch which would work, but that was from 5 years ago, and there is nothing left for sale anywhere. What I can't find is any info about what kind of switch it is, who makes/made it, or if there is a modern switch which could replace it.

So, if anyone can help with some pointers or advice, I would really appreciate it.

Todd

[Granny Gremlin]

Welcome!

The only EB4L wiring diagram I could findis on pg116 of this german PDF:  http://161589.homepagemodules.de/file.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffiles.homepagemodules.de%2Fb161589%2Ff2t29p70n2_KCIhpUwM.pdf&r=&content=RE%3A_Cadfaels_kleine_Schaltplan-Sammlung_f%26uuml%3Br_passive_E-B%26auml%3Bsse_

That is not going to be an easy part to replace - 3P3T (a Tele switch is 2P3T).  Ebay will find you one eventually.  You could replace it with an EB3 style rotary 3P3T (easy to find) but it won't be the same - not sure if that plastic minipanel it's mounted in is big enough to take a 1/4" shaft.

There was a parts guy on ebay selling Triumph bass switches which will work (4P3T IIRC - just leave the last pole unused - this will not give you an emopty switch position, that would be annoying, the T number = the number of positions, the poles are like how many switches are controlled by the same lever).  If those are gone, then I'm sure someone here bought 1 more spare than they really need....

[Nocturnal]

Welcome aboard!!

[FrankieTbird]

Welcome!

I may have a spare switch.  I bought two off eBay years ago & only used one.  I'll have a look for it and let you know.

[toddbooster]

Thanks everyone for your warm welcomes, and help. I've learned more about this switch here in a few short paragraphs than I did from a whole day of searching!

@FrankieTbird: If you could have a look, I'd appreciate it.

[Granny Gremlin]

I just dug mine out - turns out I grabbed 2 of them; indeed 4P3T.  If Frankie has a spare the shipping from him will be cheaper (also we have a potential postal strike starting this weekend).

It looks exactly like this one:



Turns out these may have been EB4L switches after all - the switch tip is very different from my Triumph (though they'll work fine for that too - maybe that was all that was different and otherwise same part).  Note how the inner connections aren't being used (there's 2 poles per each of those turqoise wheels, so they had to order them with an extra pole even though they only needed 3 - a Tele switch would have only one of those wheels).   The lever is also rather long (to reach thru the wood panel).

Might be a good idea to double check the measurements:

mounting hole spacing (Center to center): 1 1/4" exactly

mounting depth: 1" (maybe +1/32nd or something, when wires are solderred to it it'll be a bit more)

[toddbooster]

Thanks for all this info Granny, it's always good to have options. Curiously, we're about to have a postal strike too (unless you're in Canada too, in which case it's not curious at all really). I can certainly wait until they have it sorted out.

I'll double check my measurements tonight when I'm home from work and get back to you.

[FrankieTbird]

Go ahead and get the switch from Granny since y'all are both in Canada, and I might have a coronary trying to locate that thing.  Good luck with it!

[godofthunder]

   If all else fails I believe I have one as well.

[toddbooster]

Ha! You guys are great. Two days ago I was like "Where the @#&! are all the switches?" The answer all along was "Why, they're all right here."

[TBird1958]

Welcome Here!

[BTL]

Welcome, and congrats on finding the needle in a haystack.

[toddbooster]

For the record: screw holes on mine are 1 1/4" apart as well. Here's the inside:



Also, here's a shot of the slightly bent and shortened blade of the switch:



Apologies for the camera quality.

[toddbooster]

While I'm waiting on results for the switch I have another question, if you'll indulge me. It's about my Evertilt bridge.



That's about as good as I could get it. Is that what one would consider too tilted? It seems to me like the action is almost perfect, even with that amount of lean. I'm not opposed to installing a Hipshot, but I'd like to keep the original, if it's not going to cause any harm like that. The only trouble then is that two of the ends of the intonation screws are broken, so I'd have to replace those.



Again, any and all advice is appreciated.

Thanks.

[Basvarken]

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