Post by Tony Ravenscroft on Feb 17, 2020 0:45:48 GMT -6
When Switch Music originally hit the market, their three founding models quickly blossomed. With this rapid expansion, there were a few oddities along the way. The following images were scanned in from the first print catalogue.
The oddest concept was owned by the original Signature guitars -- the fretboards had dot inlays at where you would normally expect them, but the majority were in colors: white (3rd fret), blue (5th), red (7th), yellow (9th), green (12th), yellow (15th), red (17th), blue (19th), white (21st). This was used only on upgrade versions of the more Strat-like guitars; I suspect it not only didn't catch on, but may have undercut Switch's efforts to have their plastic axes perceived as serious instruments rather than gimmicky toys.
The three with pickguards were also toned down with less colorful plates.
Sharp-eyed readers may have noticed the origin of an error that bugs the heck out of me.
Namely, the claim that the Signatures had fretboards made of Ebonite. No, no, no -- Ebonite is hard black rubber, most commonly used to make inexpensive bowling balls. The material actually used is Ebonol, a phenolic laminate of layers of thin black paper bedded in clear resin, and most often used in fretless-bass fingerboards like the Squier VM Fretless Jazz.
Apparently realizing that such a new company really couldn't sustain so many models, Switch shelved some very nice instruments. Here's three that didn't make it to the 2005 catalogue.
The Futur series survived, renamed the Revolution in support of a -- oh, I still can't believe these words go together -- a professional paintball team.
However, the doubly unique triple-P90 Futur-II disappeared (though I have seen them on the market).
More evidence of the near-crazed Switch ambition: they probably set a permanent record in building FOUR models that were factory-loaded with the Roland hex-pickup kit. Three, however, were soon dropped.
Some finishes were also cut. I presently own a Signature version of one of these beasts, and I promise you that photograps cannot do justice to the gloriously eye-killing brightness of Orange Burst.
The Ultima-I, a straight-up Telecaster clone, had a third pickup added by 2005.
This is a truly unique guitar: it had TWO 1/4" outputs, one for the humbuckers, the other for a piezo bridge run through a three-band EQ.
The base model was also cut.
I've heard that Mylie Cyrus (as Hannah Montana) played an Innovo-IV Custom (in Green Firemist) on her program. Note the thumb-rest slots.
The standard version had some fierce-looking active pickups. They exist, as one is presently up for sale.
Last up are three models, and I want them ALL -- actual Vibracell acoustic guitars!!
The oddest concept was owned by the original Signature guitars -- the fretboards had dot inlays at where you would normally expect them, but the majority were in colors: white (3rd fret), blue (5th), red (7th), yellow (9th), green (12th), yellow (15th), red (17th), blue (19th), white (21st). This was used only on upgrade versions of the more Strat-like guitars; I suspect it not only didn't catch on, but may have undercut Switch's efforts to have their plastic axes perceived as serious instruments rather than gimmicky toys.
The three with pickguards were also toned down with less colorful plates.
Sharp-eyed readers may have noticed the origin of an error that bugs the heck out of me.
Namely, the claim that the Signatures had fretboards made of Ebonite. No, no, no -- Ebonite is hard black rubber, most commonly used to make inexpensive bowling balls. The material actually used is Ebonol, a phenolic laminate of layers of thin black paper bedded in clear resin, and most often used in fretless-bass fingerboards like the Squier VM Fretless Jazz.Apparently realizing that such a new company really couldn't sustain so many models, Switch shelved some very nice instruments. Here's three that didn't make it to the 2005 catalogue.
The Futur series survived, renamed the Revolution in support of a -- oh, I still can't believe these words go together -- a professional paintball team.
However, the doubly unique triple-P90 Futur-II disappeared (though I have seen them on the market).More evidence of the near-crazed Switch ambition: they probably set a permanent record in building FOUR models that were factory-loaded with the Roland hex-pickup kit. Three, however, were soon dropped.
Some finishes were also cut. I presently own a Signature version of one of these beasts, and I promise you that photograps cannot do justice to the gloriously eye-killing brightness of Orange Burst.
The Ultima-I, a straight-up Telecaster clone, had a third pickup added by 2005.
This is a truly unique guitar: it had TWO 1/4" outputs, one for the humbuckers, the other for a piezo bridge run through a three-band EQ.
The base model was also cut.
I've heard that Mylie Cyrus (as Hannah Montana) played an Innovo-IV Custom (in Green Firemist) on her program. Note the thumb-rest slots.
The standard version had some fierce-looking active pickups. They exist, as one is presently up for sale.
Last up are three models, and I want them ALL -- actual Vibracell acoustic guitars!!