Mechanical footswitch noise

[Rhodesplyr]

I've noticed that many guitar stomp-box footswitch manufacturer choose stiff switches that require fairly a good bit of force to operate and that make loud clicks. In fact, I've had several clients ask me if I could replace these switches with lighter-action, quieter switches, especially when adapting them for use by organ clients for Leslie speed controls or for use in recording studios.

Are most of these switches intended for use under conditions of high stage volume where guitar players really "stomp" on them and want to feel some sort of positive click through their feet? Is that why stiff switches seem to be the norm?

You can, by the way, order switches made by the same manufacturers as the stiff ones that require less force to operate and that don't make nearly as much noise.

David

[Ronsonic]

I've replaced switches for guitar players specifically to get a solid "clacky" feeling switch. Yep, they want to feel that thing click under foot. IME, the footswitches that Fender is selling these days are extremely quiet and have little "on" feel. I've done a number of Fender Reverb and Trem pedals just so the player "can tell that it's on."

Guitar players like that positive feel both high volume and low volume gigs. A lot of times it is when a guitarist is expected to be quiet between songs (think church gig) he wants to just hit the switch and know it is connected for the next tune without having to look for a light (if there even is one) or having to listen for the difference. Usually at a high volume gig, there's more latitude, you're allowed to make extraneous noise. But even there in full roar, it's nice to get that positive feedback.

[Enzo]

Positive feel and elimination of nuisance triggers. SOmeone brought me a wah pedal once with a super easy push switch. You get to going on the wah and next thing you know you just turned it off. A stiff switch won;t trigger when you are just feeling around. You don;t want to trigger an effect early when you are getting your foot in position.

[Guitarist]

I'd actually like to get a few of those easy 3pdt switches! If you guys have a few I'll buy them! In a Twin Tube Mayhem the stiff switches were clicking mechanical noise into the tubes but adding rubber washers largely fixed the problem.