LPs and toggle switch plates

[hannaugh]

I'm torn on if I should use one or not.  I kind of like them, but I kind of don't.  They're part of the iconic LP to me... but I think they're kind of cheesy.  A guy on ebay makes them out of buffalo horn, which is kind of cool.  But you can't buy a single, you have to buy them in packs of 3 or 5.  So yeah, I thought a poll was in order cause I can't decide.

 

[Mor Paul]

Depends on the build. Some look fine without, but some I feel are missing that something. What's your build going to be?

If nothing else, buy them, try them out, and if you don't like them, take em off.

 

[blue313]

For me its all about the finish its going on.  Solid colors, definitely.  Bursts and transparents, usually not.

 

[dbw]

I think mine looks good without, though I'm thinking of trying one because I can always throw it out if it's ugly.  If you're RIGHT on the fence I'd say get it!  You can get rid of it later if you want.

 

[hannaugh]

My LP is blue burst on a wild maple top.  Should be arriving next week. 

I went to the guitar store today and looked at them, and the cream seemed ridiculously creamy to me... like not actually cream but medium gold-ish color, almost like a gamboge.  I didn't like it, I thought it would be less yellow and closer to white. I asked the guy if they came in white and he said "No, that's the only color they come in."  Of course, then I looked at the LPs they had there and all the switchplates were 3 shades lighter than the plate he showed me. 

 

[blue313]

The one on my Gibson is stock and its pretty much Titanium white.  I have no idea why they don't sell it aftermarket.

Warmoth does though.
http://www.warmoth.com/LP-Switch-Plate-White-P830.aspx

 

[hannaugh]

Thanks Blue for restoring some of my sanity.  The guy at Guitar Center looked at me like I was smoking crack when I insisted that the ones that come with the LPs are lighter than that yellow one he showed me. 

The binding on my LP is ivoroid, so I think that yellowy cream color would look silly. 

 

[GoDrex]

I felt like mine needed one  - looks like it's missing something without it.

 

[Lucky #7]

I think something like a cherry burst on plain or flamed maple would need one.  Or a gold top like Drex has.  I went without one on my Bengal Burst and will do the same on my Blue Flame Maple LP.  If I were building yours I wouldn't use one, but that's just my opinion.  With figured woods and a non-standard LP finish, I'd let as much wood grain show as humanly possible.  Wild Maple is crazy looking too.

 

[nathan a]

For me its all about the finish its going on.  Solid colors, definitely.  Bursts and transparents, usually not.

:icon_thumright: I think I agree with this. Bursts and trans finishes - by warmoth anyway - are too nice to add an extra chunk of plastic.

 

[Soylent]

I'm a weirdo on my toggles.. I twist them up so they go left and right instead of up and down.. no matter where they are on which of my guitars (I have 3 with toggles) if I don't do that, I'll manage to hit them during my seizure style playing.. apparently..

That being said on my LP I took the time to rub off the words on the plate, because I like them clean..

 

[hannaugh]

Couldn't you just flip the plate over?

 

[dbw]

Couldn't you just flip the plate over?

Usually plastic parts only have one side with a nice finish... probably depends on where you got the pad.

 

[Soylent]

yeah on my LP the other side is crap and been foiled up for wiring.. reasons.. I suppose.. same with the SG.

 

[hannaugh]

Ah, good to know.  Well that at least explains a function of the plates a little better; "shielding".  Though I doubt that little tiny bit of foil would do all that much. 

 

[GoDrex]

actually the toggle plate thing I got from warmoth is like a decal - it's sticky on one side

 

[rockskate4x]

the toggle switch plate protects the wood from the switch when it's being screwed on. I couldn't care less for how pretty my epi SG is so I took it off and let the finish and the wood get raw and eaten, cuz I think that the switch by itself looks cooler.

 

[blue313]

Thanks Blue for restoring some of my sanity.  The guy at Guitar Center looked at me like I was smoking crack when I insisted that the ones that come with the LPs are lighter than that yellow one he showed me. 

The binding on my LP is ivoroid, so I think that yellowy cream color would look silly. 

The guy at Guitar Center is the one that needs to put down the pipe.  The text on mine even matches the finish to a degree.  And yes, the pickup rings are also the same white.

 

[dbw]

It does protect the finish a bit, but the only damage that could happen is from the washer pressing against the finish.  Not visible unless you take the switch off.

If the wood around your switch is all chewed up you're doing something seriously wrong!  :tard:

 

[rockskate4x]

ok then, good to know...