PRS Switching: Blade vs Toggle vs Rotary

[Herr Squid]

My favorite system is the big toggle plus mini toggles arrangement on the Paul's Guitar. Second favorite would be the 594 setup. I've never cared for the extra sounds a 5-way offers, so that's no loss in my mind.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I like ‘em all!

However, the placement of a blade on a Custom just sucks.

 

[JasonE]

I like the sounds the rotary switch gives you. I hate the rotary switch itself. I find it difficult to twist it during a song and get it where I want it. I have only owned 1 PRS with the rotary switch, I still have it. I much prefer the blade switch, which gives you the same or very similar tones. I have played many strats over the years and am used to the blade. The middle ground for me is the 3 way toggle with a coil tap. I would take a 3 way toggle or 5 way blade before the rotary. I would probably take the blade over the rotary just for the out of phase tones that get into some strat territory.

 

[RedGuitars]

Three way toggle with horizontal mini switches.

 

[Bogner]

How About A Single Humbucker McCarty With No Switch And A Single Volume Knob And No Switches or Blades, etc.?

 

[László]

Depends on the guitar.

I like the toggle, the toggle/minis, the blade and blade/miinis best, because they're easy to work with and I can switch by feel very quickly. I always know where I am.

I don't have a preference between the toggle, the toggle/minis, the blade/minis and the blade. I guess all of them work for me and are functional, but each one seems to go naturally with different models.

 

[Gtrbldr]

I like ‘em all!

However, the placement of a blade on a Custom just sucks.

Main reason for my strong STRONG dislike of the blade on a PRS

 

[frankencat]

I wonder why they changed over to the blade switch. It is much easier to drill a hole than cut a slot and two holes, although cnc makes this a non-issue I guess. Still, it seems to be and unpopular choice.

 

[Faded]

I don't mind a blade on a strat or a tele, but I dislike the implementation of the blade on a core PRS. The location isn't the best and I don't like seeing a beautiful maple top sliced through like that.

 

[John]

Toggle with coil splitting capabilities. I don't mind the blade switch for recording purposes, either. I used the rotary switch for years and I've grown to not be a fan of it.

 

[watelessness]

toggle toggle toggle!

 

[68reissue]

I like the blade, but I come from decades of playing Strats. The blade with the pull-up coil split on the tone pot is really intuitive for me.

 

[Mozzi]

I don't mind a blade or a toggle myself, but couldn't get used to the Rotary at all. I think it also depends on what you get used to, what other instruments you are used to playing etc. The biggest issue I have with swapping between guitars is getting used to a different layout. If you are used to a Les Paul type layout with the toggle at the top, a blade anywhere along the bottom is not so easy to get used to.

I prefer mini-toggles to push/pull pots - it's also easier to see at a quick glance what position these switches are in and easier to use with hot sweaty fingers. That being said, its not a deal breaker for me.

 

[BrianC]

Toggle. I hate my blade switch, except for my SS. It makes sense to have it there.

If I was just playing in my house it wouldn't matter, but for gigging simpler is betterer!

 

[Jazzedout]

Meh... I don't see an option for 2 blade switches...

 

[Lewguitar]

Toggle. I hate my blade switch, except for my SS. It makes sense to have it there.

If I was just playing in my house it wouldn't matter, but for gigging simpler is betterer!

Yup. I don't gig with my old CE22's because of the rotary switch.

I love those guitars and the sounds that the rotary switch provides. But instantly finding the 2, 3 and 4 settings is almost impossible for me onstage and a PITA with the rotary switch.

I usually gig with my Strat or Silver Sky.

 

[RobRiggs]

Normally I’m a toggle guy. I do like the rotary on my ‘99 Custom 22. It gets some unique sounds that I like.

 

[doublescale1]

My first PRS was a CU 24 with the 5-position rotary switch - hated it - when I was playing on stage my hands would be sweaty and I could not know for sure if I had a good grasp on that knob to turn it, most often it just slipped around in my hand - I sold that guitar and got a McCarty and life was good.

 

[László]

There's nothing like a 5-way blade, because the switching positions all have a different voice.

Position 1: You suck
Position 2: WTF, You still suck
Position 3: Just stop already
Position 4: You're no better on this setting
Position 5: C'mon man, give up.

 

[RobRiggs]

There's nothing like a 5-way blade, because the switching positions all have a different voice.

Position 1: You suck
Position 2: WTF, You still suck
Position 3: Just stop already
Position 4: You're no better on this setting
Position 5: C'mon man, give up.

That about covers it