Abstract:
The Advanced Pickup Switch is a lever-style switch that will allow any guitarist, with a minimal amount of technical skill, to alter the pickup wiring configuration of their electric guitar for altering the tonal choices available without the need to manually hard-wire each connection. The tonal alterations are effected via rotationally and axially displaceable multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) discs that contain pre-determined tracings for specific pickup coil configurations. These are attached to the outboard sides of the switch with a single screw, thereby allowing for complex wiring alterations with the use of a screwdriver alone. The lateral movement of the switch and corresponding axial displacement of the PCB&#39;s allows for the expansion of the number of combinations without the use of a secondary switch. A robust two-pronged resilient detent arm cooperates with gearage for providing a switch with the tactile feedback that is familiar and comfortable to guitarists worldwide.

Description:
PRIOR HISTORY 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/742,540 filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on 13 Aug. 2012. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention generally relates to a lever type pickup switch apparatus for use with instrumentation. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pickup switching apparatus or switch assembly for electric guitars for enabling the user to alter tonal characteristics of the instrument via rotationally and axially displaceable multi-layer printed circuit board discs that contain pre-determined tracings for specific pickup coil configurations. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Electric guitars enable the musician to create a great variety of tones. In this regard, electric guitar musicians often prefer to selectively use: pickup(s); pickup configurations; additional electrical circuitry and types of amplification in different combinations so as to produce those tonal qualities suitable to their respectively preferred playing styles. Changing between such tonalities may be a frequent requirement and can involve multiple switch operation. 
         [0006]    On a two pickup guitar, both 3-position lever and 3-position toggle switches are common, and provide the primary means of selection and will connect either pickup alone at its extreme index positions, or both pickups in parallel in its central index position for resultant amplification. This switch element is now a long-established feature of electric guitars. 
         [0007]    On a three pickup guitar, a conventional five-position switch is the primary means of selection and will connect bridge pickup alone, bridge and middle pickups in parallel, middle pickup alone, middle and neck pickups in parallel, and neck pickup alone for resultant amplification in respective index positions. This switch element is now also a long-established feature of electric guitars. 
         [0008]    Some of the more pertinent art relating to means for altering tonal characteristics of instruments and the like are briefly described hereinafter. U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,854 (&#39;854 patent), issued to Dugas, for example, discloses a Control for Musical Instruments. The &#39;854 patent describes a control mechanism usable in combination with an electrical stringed and fretted musical instrument which has at least two pick-ups and a bass boost filter means and a high boost filter means. 
         [0009]    The output of the instrument is a combination of the magnitude of the pick-ups and the magnitude of the filter means. In accordance with the invention, a single joystick control varies all of these magnitudes simultaneously so as to simultaneously vary the entire combination with a single control. In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, a second joystick control will simultaneously control volume and panning between two speakers. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,918 (&#39;918 patent), issued to Riboloff, discloses a Guitar pickup switching system for selecting between and within two standard tonalities. The &#39;918 patent describes a switching system for an electric guitar using bridge and fingerboard humbucker pickups and a single coil intermediate pickup wherein distinct groups of GIBSON tonality and FENDER tonality can be readily selected. The system uses a two-gang, five position switch for tone selection, the switch employing two, double contacting wipers; and, for mode selection either a toggle or push-pull double pole, double throw switch is utilized. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,208,673 (&#39;673 patent), issued to Bryce, discloses a Bi-Directional Switch Apparatus with Electric Guitar Applications. The &#39;673 patent describes a selector switch for musical instruments, such as electric guitars, having a single, manually operated toggle member adapted to perform greater functionality. A selector switch is disclosed which indexes longitudinally for the electrical connection of pickup(s) for resultant amplification but will additionally provide further associated connectivity by means of a transverse indexing motion thus availing expanded switching function from a single switch apparatus. The &#39;673 patent describes a bi-directional switch arrangement that can provide up to ten positions for a pickup switch application in an electric guitar. The key limitation is that once the pickup coils are hard-wired to the switch, there is no means to easily change the output combinations of those pickup coils. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,754,985 (&#39;985 patent), issued to Gordon et al., discloses an Electronic Switch Assembly with Configurable Functionality. The &#39;985 patent describes an electrical switch assembly comprising a generally planar substrate. A functional switch and at least one identification switch are mounted to the substrate. A switch body supports a switch actuator which is movable between multiple positions. An arrangement of one or more projecting members extends from the switch body. The switch body is mounted on or to the substrate such that the switch actuator operatively engages the functional switch, and the arrangement of projecting members operatively engages at least one of the identification switches to create a unique electronic identifier for the electrical switch assembly. 
         [0013]    The &#39;985 patent describes an arrangement whereby the functionality of a particular switch can be configured as desired by the use of different identification switches in conjunction with a functional switch. One of the limitations of this arrangement is that only single throw or double throw switch can be used as a functional switch. Also, considerable amount of space will be required to implement such a switch arrangement. In the context of an electric guitar application, this would be considered a severe limitation since a very compact yet tactile switching is required. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 8,445,770 (&#39;770 patent), issued to Jacob, discloses a Programmable Switch for Configuring Circuit Topologies. The &#39;770 patent describes a programmable switch for configuring circuit topologies. The switch can be any type of mechanical or electronic switch. Every setting of the switch can be programmed by a user, selecting topologies such as circuit elements in series, in parallel, in phase or out of phase. In a dual switch embodiment, the first switch selects the circuit elements to be used, and the second switch configures those selected elements in a wide variety of topologies. This division in switch circuit design between element selection and then topology provides an extremely wide range of circuit topologies available, unlike prior art designs. 
         [0015]    The primary idea in the &#39;770 patent is that of a program bank that allows the selection and combination of various pickup elements. This invention provides a means for a very wide variety of combinations, but also introduces complexity with regards to everyday usage, especially when applied to an electric guitar. A guitarist will be required to have basic knowledge of programming and appropriate tools, software and hardware to be able to change the output configurations of this switch. 
         [0016]    From a review of the prior art generally and the foregoing disclosures particularly, it will be seen that the prior art perceives a need for an advanced pickup selector switch assembly having rotationally and axially displaceable multi-layer printed circuit board discs that contain pre-determined tracings for specific pickup coil configurations usable in combination with a robust two-pronged detent mechanism for enhancing tactile feedback to the end user when changing switch positions. Accordingly, the present invention provides such a switch assembly, as summarized in more detail hereinafter. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The ‘Advanced Pickup Switch’ (APS) described in these specifications with a view toward being specifically applied on an electric guitar. The APS can be readily adapted to other applications requiring multiple switch positions with a discernible tactile feedback during position changes and an arrangement wherein a subset of switch positions can be readily re-configured as desired by the end user. Prior art reveals existence of multiple position switches for similar applications, albeit without a capability to allow re-configuration of the switch by the end user. 
         [0018]    A switch that allows the end user to readily re-configure the behavior of a subset of the switch positions is highly desirable because of the flexibility provided by such a switch. Specifically, in relation to its application on an electric guitar, the guitarist (end user) may desire to change the tonality of the guitar by placing the various pickup coils in series, parallel, and/or out-of-phase configurations on an as-needed basis. The present invention provides that level of flexibility to the end user. 
         [0019]    To achieve this primary objective, the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention is designed for use with an electric guitar enables a user to selectively alter pickup signal output. The pickup switch assembly according to the present invention basically comprises an arm assembly, a switch base plate, opposed terminal base plate assemblies, first and second circuit board assemblies, and a resilient Y-shaped or two-pronged detent member. 
         [0020]    The arm assembly preferably comprises a central hub structure and an arm structure. The central hub structure preferably comprises a detent-engaging first hub half and a second hub half, which first and second hub halves are axially aligned, the detent-engaging first hub half comprises a lower hub structure, the lower hub structure comprises a series of radially extending detent teeth for engaging the two-pronged detent member. The arm structure preferably comprises an arm that extends in a direction opposite the lower hub structure. 
         [0021]    The switch base plate preferably comprises an inverted U-shaped transverse construction, which construction comprises opposed lower wall sections and an upper wall-spanning section. The upper wall-spanning section interconnects the lower wall sections and comprises an arm-receiving or arm-letting aperture. The arm of the arm assembly extends through the arm-receiving or arm-letting aperture. The wall-spanning section interfaces or attaches to a guitar structure for mounting the switch to the guitar, and the arm enables a guitarist to manually select switch positions. 
         [0022]    The terminal base plate assemblies each comprise a terminal base plate and a series of terminals. The terminal base plates each comprise an upper base plate attachment portion and a lower board-engagement portion. The base plate attachment portions are linear at one edge thereof and attached to the lower wall sections. The board-engagement portions are each rounded and comprise a hub-receiving aperture. The terminals are attached to the board-engagement portions and extend radially therefrom. The hub-receiving apertures receive the first and second hub halves, which hub halves are axially displaceable as received by the hub-receiving apertures. 
         [0023]    The circuit board assemblies each preferably comprise multilayered, current-conductive circuitry, and are attached to axially opposed ends of the first and second hub halves. The Y-shaped or double-pronged detent member comprises opposed, upwardly extending detent-engaging arms and a lower base portion. The upwardly extending detent-engaging arms resiliently and simultaneously engage arc-spaced or longitudinally-spaced sets of detent teeth of the lower hub structure for selectively positioning the arm assembly in a select arm position. 
         [0024]    The arm is longitudinally and laterally positionable via the arm-receiving aperture and the first and second hub halves are respectively rotatively and axially displaceable via said longitudinal and lateral positions. The current-conductive circuitry is selectively engageable with the terminals via select arm assembly positions for enabling signals to pass through said circuitry. The terminals are in electrical communication with a plurality of guitar-based pickups for directing signals from the guitar-based pickups through the terminals and said circuitry for further signal output. 
         [0025]    In contrast to the &#39;673 patent, the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention, by contrast, provides certain means to easily “hot swap” printed circuit boards that dictate the effective combinations of the pickup coils in addition to providing up to ten positions. This provides a significant advantage to a performing musician who may have a need to change the tonal characteristics of the guitar without needing extensive tools and in a time-effective manner. 
         [0026]    In contrast to the 985 patent, the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention achieves a configurable switching arrangement in a compact space and yet provides the necessary tactile feedback during its operation. A 5-position lever switch is quite common for electric guitar applications. Switches currently available in the market have a fixed configuration which cannot be changed without complete disassembly of the switch. 
         [0027]    The key invention in the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention is the placement of two printed circuit boards (PCBs) with pre-determined electrical traces on the outboard side of the switch. These PCBs are held in place with screws and easily replaceable without the need for a complete disassembly of the switch. One of the two PCBs will be active at a given time depending on the lateral position of the APS switch. In this way, a 10-position configurable switch arrangement is provided in approximately the same space as a 5-position non-configurable switch currently available in the market. 
         [0028]    In contrast to the &#39;770 patent, the key innovation in the APS design is the use of a printed circuit board (PCB) with electrical traces on multiple layers that provide a unique set of combinations. The design uses two ‘hot-swappable’ PCBs on the outboard sides of the switch, each held with a screw. Either of these PCBs can be replaced with another PCB that contains a different set of traces providing different combinations of the pickup elements. No knowledge of programming is required on the part of the guitarist and no special software or hardware tools are required. A guitarist can have a collection of such PCBs with pre-determined set of output configurations. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]    Other features of my invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following brief descriptions of drawings: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of an electric guitar outfitted with a pickup switch assembly according to the present invention, which guitar comprises a series of three pickup coils juxtaposed adjacent vibratory strings. 
           [0031]      FIG. 1A  is an enlarged fragmentary top perspective view of a section of the guitar and switch assembly, the switch assembly being exploded from the guitar to show structures for enabling electrical communications therebetween. 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  is a first enlarged top perspective view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is a second enlarged top perspective view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  is a first longitudinal or end view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention showing the arm assembly in a first lateral indexing position with the arm of the arm assembly being in a vertical orientation. 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  is a second longitudinal or end view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention showing the arm assembly in a second lateral indexing position with the arm of the arm assembly being in an oblique orientation. 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged side or lateral elevational view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention showing the arm assembly in a first extreme longitudinal position with the arm in the first lateral indexing position. 
           [0037]      FIG. 6A  is an enlarged sectional view of the pickup switch assembly as sectioned from  FIG. 6 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged side or lateral elevational view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention showing the arm assembly in a first extreme longitudinal position with the arm in the second lateral indexing position. 
           [0039]      FIG. 7A  is an enlarged sectional view of the pickup switch assembly as sectioned from  FIG. 7 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 8  is a third longitudinal or end view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention showing the arm assembly in a first lateral indexing position with the arm of the arm assembly being in a vertical orientation. 
           [0041]      FIG. 8A  is an enlarged sectional view of the pickup switch assembly as sectioned from  FIG. 8 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 9  is a first top exploded perspective view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0043]      FIG. 10  is a second top exploded perspective view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0044]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged top exploded perspective view of an arm assembly of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0045]      FIG. 12  is a first side or lateral view of the arm assembly of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0046]      FIG. 13  is a longitudinal view of the arm assembly of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0047]      FIG. 14  is a second side or lateral view of the arm assembly of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0048]      FIG. 15  is a first sequential side or lateral view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention showing the arm assembly in a second extreme longitudinal position with the arm in the first lateral indexing position. 
           [0049]      FIG. 16  is a second sequential side or lateral view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention showing the arm assembly in a second longitudinal position next in sequence to the second extreme longitudinal position with the arm in the first lateral indexing position. 
           [0050]      FIG. 17  is a third sequential side or lateral view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention showing the arm assembly in a third longitudinal position next in sequence to the second longitudinal position with the arm in the first lateral indexing position. 
           [0051]      FIG. 18  is a fourth sequential side or lateral view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention showing the arm assembly in a fourth longitudinal position next in sequence to the third longitudinal position with the arm in the first lateral indexing position. 
           [0052]      FIG. 19  is a fifth sequential side or lateral view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention showing the arm assembly in a fifth longitudinal position (i.e. the first extreme longitudinal position) next in sequence to the fourth longitudinal position with the arm in the first lateral indexing position. 
           [0053]      FIG. 20  is a first sequential top plan view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention showing the arm assembly in the second extreme longitudinal position with the arm in the first lateral indexing position. 
           [0054]      FIG. 21  is a second sequential top plan view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention showing the arm assembly in the second longitudinal position next in sequence to the second extreme longitudinal position with the arm in the first lateral indexing position. 
           [0055]      FIG. 22  is a third sequential top plan view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention showing the arm assembly in the third longitudinal position next in sequence to the second longitudinal position with the arm in the first lateral indexing position. 
           [0056]      FIG. 23  is a fourth sequential top plan view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention showing the arm assembly in the fourth longitudinal position next in sequence to the third longitudinal position with the arm in the first lateral indexing position. 
           [0057]      FIG. 24  is a fifth sequential top plan view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention showing the arm assembly in the fifth longitudinal position next in sequence to the fourth longitudinal position (i.e. the first extreme longitudinal position) with the arm in the first lateral indexing position. 
           [0058]      FIG. 25  is a sixth sequential top plan view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention showing the arm assembly in the second extreme longitudinal position with the arm in the second lateral indexing position. 
           [0059]      FIG. 26  is a seventh sequential top plan view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention showing the arm assembly in the second longitudinal position next in sequence to the second extreme longitudinal position with the arm in the second lateral indexing position. 
           [0060]      FIG. 27  is an eighth sequential top plan view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention showing the arm assembly in the third longitudinal position next in sequence to the second longitudinal position with the arm in the second lateral indexing position. 
           [0061]      FIG. 28  is a ninth sequential top plan view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention showing the arm assembly in the fourth longitudinal position next in sequence to the third longitudinal position with the arm in the second lateral indexing position. 
           [0062]      FIG. 29  is a tenth sequential top plan view of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention showing the arm assembly in the fifth longitudinal position next in sequence to the fourth longitudinal position (i.e. the first extreme longitudinal position) with the arm in the second lateral indexing position. 
           [0063]      FIG. 30  is an enlarged elevational view of a printed circuit board assembly of the pickup switch assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0064]      FIG. 31  is a circuit diagram diagrammatically showing the pickup switch assembly in electrical communication with a series of pickup coils, volume and toner controls, and amplification means. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0065]    Referring now the drawings with more specificity, the present invention essentially provides a pickup switch assembly as at  10  for enabling a musician to selectively alter tonal qualities of his or her instrument (e.g. an electric guitar  11 ). A pickup as at  12 ,  13  or  14  basically consists of a permanent magnet with a core of material such as alnico or ceramic, wrapped with a coil of several thousand turns of fine enameled copper wire. 
         [0066]    The pickup is most often mounted on the body of the instrument, but can be attached to the bridge, neck and/or pickguard, as on many electro-acoustic archtop jazz guitars and string basses. The permanent magnet magnetizes the steel strings  16  above it and the steel strings  16  essentially become moving magnets when they vibrate thereby inducing an alternating current through the coil of wire. This signal is then carried to amplification or recording equipment via a cable. There may also be an internal preamplifier stage between the pickup and cable. 
         [0067]    A pickup switch basically enables the end user to alter tonal qualities of the instrument because it controls which pickups or which combinations of pickups are on at any given time. The ‘Advanced Pickup Switch’ (APS) or switch assembly  10  according to the present invention is preferably designed for application on an electric guitar  11 . The APS, however, can be readily adapted to other applications requiring multiple switch positions with a discernible tactile feedback during position changes and an arrangement wherein a subset of switch positions can be readily re-configured as desired by the end user. 
         [0068]    As is noted hereinabove, the prior art reveals the existence of multiple position switches for similar applications, albeit without a capability to allow re-configuration of the switch by the end user. The switch assembly  10  according to the present invention allows the end user to readily re-configure the behavior of a subset of the switch positions is highly desirable because of the flexibility provided by such a switch. 
         [0069]    Specifically, in relation to its application on an electric guitar, the guitarist (end user) may desire to change the tonality of the guitar by placing the various pickup coils in series, parallel, and/or out-of-phase configurations on an as-needed basis. The switch assembly  10  described in the following provides that level of flexibility to the end user or musician. 
         [0070]    In an electric guitar as at  11 , there are generally three pickup coils as at  12 - 14 . Such coils may include a bridge pickup coil  12 , a middle pickup coil  13 , and a neck pickup coil  14  and are so named according to their location on the guitar body  15 . It is noted that current pickup switches on the market generally provide 3 or 5 positions (indexed longitudinally). These provide a limited number of configurations to a guitarist. 
         [0071]    Prior switches also describe arrangements that provide twice as many (6 or 10) positions by allowing the switch arm to be indexed laterally, in addition to the longitudinal indexing. Although an improvement on the original design, these switches still do not provide a level of flexibility desired by guitarists. Extensive and cumbersome re-wiring is involved if a subset of the switch positions needs to provide different tonalities. 
         [0072]    The switch assembly  10  described herein not only provides 6 or 10 positions, like prior art, but more importantly provides an arrangement wherein a guitarist (end user) can easily and quickly change the tonal characteristics of the guitar. This is achieved by using an interchangeable or laterally displaceable printed circuit board (PCB) arrangement which can be interchanged or laterally displaced without needing to re-wire any of the pickup coils  12 - 14 . 
         [0073]    The pickup switch assembly  10  according to the present invention is designed for use with an electric guitar  11  for enabling a user to selectively alter signal output from guitar-based pickups as at  12 ,  13 , or and/or  14 . The pickup switch assembly  10  preferably comprises an arm assembly  17 , a switch base plate  18 , first and second terminal base plate assemblies  19 , first and second printed circuit board assemblies  20 A and  20 B, and a resilient or spring biasable, Y-shaped detent member  21 . 
         [0074]    The arm assembly  17  preferably comprises a central hub structure  22  and an arm structure  23 . The hub structure  22  is preferably transversely non-circular, the transversely non-circular hub structure  22  is received in a non-circular aperture  54  formed in the arm structure  23  of the arm assembly  17 . The non-circular hub structure  22  and noncircular aperture  54  direct rotational force(s) into the hub structure  22  when re-positioning the arm  27  longitudinally. 
         [0075]    The central hub structure  22  preferably comprises a detent-engaging first hub half  24  and a second hub half as at  25 . The first and second hub halves  24  and  25  are axially aligned, and the detent-engaging first hub half  24  preferably comprises a lower hub structure or portion, which lower hub structure or portion comprising a series of radially extending detent teeth  26 . 
         [0076]    The arm structure  23  preferably comprises an arm  27 , which arm  27  extends in a direction opposite the lower hub structure or detent teeth  26 . The arm  27  may be preferably outfitted with a tip  28 . The first and second hub halves  24  and  25  of the hub structure  22  are pin-fixed relative the arm structure via pins  53 . The pins  53  essentially function to transfer force from the arm structure into the hub structure  22  for axially displacing the same when positioning the arm assembly  17  laterally. 
         [0077]    The switch base plate  18  preferably comprises an inverted U-shaped transverse construction, which inverted U-shaped transverse construction comprises opposed lower wall sections  29  and an upper wall-spanning section  30 . The upper wall-spanning section  30  interconnects the lower wall sections  29  and comprises an arm-receiving aperture as at  31 . The arm  27  extends through the arm-receiving aperture  31  of the wall-spanning section  30  which wall spanning section  30  attaches to a guitar or instrument surface or body as at  15  via (pan head screw type) fasteners  32  such that the arm  27  enables a guitarist or end user to manually (i.e. with one&#39;s fingers) select switch positions. 
         [0078]    The first and second terminal base plate assemblies  19  each preferably comprise a circular segment-shaped or D-shaped terminal base plate  33  and a series of terminals, including signal/ground terminals  34 , bridge/HSS  1  terminals  35 , HSS  2  terminals  36 , middle terminals  37 , and neck terminals  38 . The D-shaped terminal base plates  33  each comprise a flattened upper base plate attachment portion and a lower board-engagement portion. 
         [0079]    The upper base plate attachment portions are basically linear and attached to the lower wall sections  29  via pan head screw type fasteners  39 . The board-engagement portions are each preferably rounded and comprise a hub-receiving aperture as at  41 . The terminals  34 - 38  are preferably attached to the board-engagement portions via terminal rivets  40 . The terminals  34 - 38  extend radially from the board-engagement portions of the terminal base plates  33 . The hub-receiving apertures  41  receive the first and second hub halves  24  and  25 . The first and second hub halves  24  and  25  are axially displaceable along axis  100  as received by the hub-receiving apertures  41 . 
         [0080]    The first and second circular segment-shaped or D-shaped circuit board assemblies  20 A and  20 B each comprise current-conductive circuitry or contacts as at  42 . The current-conductive circuitry or contacts  42  come(s) into contact with select terminals  34 - 38  as selected by the end user by manually choosing from the positions shown in  FIGS. 20-29 .  FIGS. 15-19  depict side views of the positions otherwise shown in  20 - 24 . The circuit board assemblies  20 A and  20 B are each attached to the first and second hub halves  24  and  25  via wave springs  43 , washers  44 , and pan head screw type fasteners  45 , rotating about axis  100  when the arm  27  is re-positioned longitudinally, and axially displacing along axis  100  when the arm  27  is re-positioned laterally. 
         [0081]    Believed central to the practice of the switch assembly  10  is the resilient spring-biasable Y-shaped detent member  21  as it cooperates with the detent teeth  26  of the lower hub portion for providing a robust tactile feedback mechanism or means for the end user or musician. In this regard, the reader will note that the Y-shaped detent member  21  preferably comprises opposed, upwardly extending detent-engaging arms as at  46 , and a lower base portion  47 . 
         [0082]    Each detent-engaging arm  46  preferably comprises a detent-engaging tooth or nipple  48  for engaging the arc-spaced sets of detent teeth  26  of the lower hub structure for enhancing tactile feedback from the select arm position. The detent teeth  26  of the lower hub portion comprise first and second gear halves as at  49  and  50 , and a tooth-interconnecting center ridge as at  51 . 
         [0083]    The tooth-interconnecting center ridge  51  essentially functions to provide structural separation between the first and second gear halves  49  and  50 , which provided structural separation further enhances tactile feedback from the switch assembly when positioning the arm assembly  17  laterally. The detent-engaging arms  46  may further preferably comprise arched sections as at  52 , which arched sections  52  reduce stress and enhance the response in the detent-engaging arms  46  when positioning the arm assembly  17  laterally. 
         [0084]    The lower base portion  47  of the Y-shaped detent member  21  is fastened to the lower board-engaging portions of the terminal base plates  33  via a standoff structure  57  as fastened to the plates  33  via pan head screw type fasteners  39 . Together, the wall-spanning section  30  of the switch base plate  18  and the standoff structure  57  maintain the terminal base plates  33  in parallel relation to one another. The terminal base plates  33  thus define parallel plate structures fastened via three axes extending through the fasteners  39 . 
         [0085]    The upwardly extending detent-engaging arms  46  resiliently and simultaneously engage arc-spaced or longitudinally-spaced sets of detent teeth  26  of the lower hub structure for selectively positioning the arm assembly  17  in a select arm position as comparatively depicted in  FIGS. 15-29 .  FIGS. 15-24  depict the various longitudinal positions of a first indexing position with vertical arm; and  FIGS. 25-29  depict the various longitudinal positions of a second indexing position laterally offset from the first indexing position with oblique arm. The vertical arm position is further depicted in  FIGS. 4 ,  6 A, and  8 , and the oblique arm position is further depicted in  FIGS. 5 and 7A  for comparison purposes. 
         [0086]    The arm  27  outfitted with the tip  28  is longitudinally re-positionable as generally depicted in  FIGS. 15-19  (showing five successive longitudinal positions) versus  FIGS. 20-24  (showing the same five successive longitudinal positions) versus  FIGS. 25-29  (showing five successive longitudinal positions laterally offset from the those shown in  FIGS. 20-24 ). The arm  27  is laterally re-positionable as generally and comparatively depicted in  FIGS. 20-24  (showing a first lateral position wherein the arm  27  is oriented vertically) versus  FIGS. 25-29  (showing a second lateral position wherein the arm  27  is oriented obliquely). 
         [0087]    The arm-receiving aperture  31  provides an upper boundary defining the extent and longitudinal and lateral movements or displacements of the arm  27 , which boundary restrictions cooperate with (1) the spacing of the detent teeth  26  longitudinally, and (2) the displacement extents of the hub structure  22  relative to the hub-receiving apertures  41  and contacts between the printed circuit board assemblies  20 A and  20 B and the terminals  34 - 38  laterally. 
         [0088]    The first and second hub halves  24  and  25  are respectively rotatively and axially displaceable via said longitudinal and lateral positions as selected by the end user or musician. The current-conductive circuitry  42  is selectively engageable with the terminals  34 - 38  via the selected arm assembly positions for enabling signals to pass through select circuitry chosen by the end user. The terminals  34 - 38  are preferably in electrical communication with a plurality of guitar-based pickups as at  12 - 14  for directing signals from the guitar-based pickups  12 - 14  through the terminals  34 - 38  and circuitry of the printed circuit board assemblies  20 A and  20 B for further signal output (e.g. via amplification means  60 ). 
         [0089]    The switch assembly  10  according to the present invention thus enables a user to selectively alter signal outputs from guitar-based pickups as at  12 - 14  by enabling the user to select the pickup arrangement (as selected from the group consisting of those positions set forth in Tables 1 and 2 below) he or she prefers with a robust tactile feedback mechanism provided by the longitudinally opposed detent-engaging arms  46  in gear communication with the detent teeth  26 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 First Lateral Indexing Position (vertical arm position) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Switch Position 
                 Combination 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 (FIG. 20) 
                 Bridge only 
               
               
                 2 (FIG. 21) 
                 Bridge &amp; Middle in 
               
               
                   
                 parallel 
               
               
                 3 (FIG. 22) 
                 Middle only 
               
               
                 4 (FIG. 23) 
                 Middle &amp; Neck in 
               
               
                   
                 parallel 
               
               
                 5 (FIG. 24) 
                 Neck only 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Second Lateral Indexing Position (oblique arm position) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Switch Position 
                 Combination 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 6 (FIG. 25) 
                 Bridge &amp; Neck in 
               
               
                   
                 series 
               
               
                 7 (FIG. 26) 
                 Bridge &amp; Middle in 
               
               
                   
                 series 
               
               
                 8 (FIG. 27) 
                 Bridge, Middle &amp; 
               
               
                   
                 Neck in series 
               
               
                 9 (FIG. 28) 
                 Middle &amp; Neck in 
               
               
                   
                 series 
               
               
                 10 (FIG. 29)  
                 Bridge &amp; Neck in 
               
               
                   
                 parallel 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0090]    Current-conductive leads  55  from the terminals  34 - 38  may be preferably directed through a first matable wiring harness as at  56 , which wiring harness  56  may be quickly and easily placed into electrical communication with a second matable wiring harness as at  57 , which second matable wiring harness  57  is in electrical communication (as at current-conductive means  70 ) with the pickup coils as at  12 - 14 . The basic circuit diagram is presented in  FIG. 31  for the reader&#39;s further consideration. The pickup signal output may be directed through volume and toner controls as at  58  and  59  to certain amplification means  60  via an output jack  61 . 
         [0091]    The illustrated pickup coil and wiring configurations provided in these specifications are exemplary. In other words, the provided descriptions and views are essentially examples of how the switch assembly  10  can perform. It is contemplated that the switch assembly  10  can work with a variety of coil configurations by simply modifying the design (adding contact points) to accommodate the additional leads from each additional coil. 
         [0092]    The actual wiring configurations themselves are not a center piece of the invention as much as the use of a multi-layer printed circuit boards  20 A and  20 B used to attain the wiring configurations. Naturally, the printed circuit boards  20 A and  20 B are not identical to allow for the pickup coil combinations set forth in Table No. 1 versus Table No. 2 above. Referencing  FIG. 30 , the reader will note that each line style  62 - 66  represents a separate electrical trace. Each trace is on a separate layer of the printed circuit board  20 . Only the connecting pads or current conductive circuitry  42  are on the surface  67  contacting the terminals  34 - 38 . 
         [0093]    While the foregoing specifications set forth much specificity, the same should not be construed as setting forth limits to the invention but rather as setting forth certain preferred embodiments and features. For example, it is contemplated that the foregoing specifications essentially support a pickup switch assembly for use with an instrument such as an electric guitar for enabling a user to selectively alter pickup signal output. 
         [0094]    The pickup switch assembly according to the present invention is believed to essentially comprise an arm assembly, a switch base plate or instrument-interfacing plate or instrument-interfacing means, laterally opposed terminal base plate assemblies, laterally opposed printed circuit board assemblies, and a resilient detent member. 
         [0095]    The arm assembly preferably comprises a central hub structure and an arm structure. The central hub structure comprises a first hub half and a second hub half. The first hub half comprises a lower hub structure, which lower hub structure comprises a series of radially extending detent teeth. The arm structure comprises an arm, which arm extends in a direction opposite the lower hub structure. 
         [0096]    The switch base plate or instrument interfacing means comprising opposed lower wall sections and an upper wall-spanning section. The upper wall-spanning section interconnects the lower wall sections and comprises an arm-receiving aperture. The arm of the arm structure extends through the arm-receiving aperture for enabling a musician or guitarist to manually select switch positions. 
         [0097]    The terminal base plate assemblies each comprise a terminal base plate and a series of terminals. The terminal base plates are each attached to the lower wall sections and comprise a hub-receiving aperture. The terminals extend radially from the terminal base plates. The hub-receiving apertures receive the first and second hub halves, which first and second hub halves are axially displaceable as received by the hub-receiving apertures. 
         [0098]    Each circuit board assembly comprises select electrical tracings or current-conductive circuitry for enabling the user to select pickup signal combinations. The circuit board assemblies are attached to opposed ends of the first and second hub halves. The detent member resiliently engages the detent teeth of the lower hub structure for selectively positioning the arm assembly in a select arm position. The arm is longitudinally and laterally positionable via the arm-receiving aperture and the first and second hub halves being rotatively and axially displaceable via longitudinal and lateral positions. 
         [0099]    The current-conductive circuitry of the PCB&#39;s are selectively engageable with the terminals via select arm assembly positions for enabling signals to pass through said circuitry. The terminals are in electrical communication with a plurality of guitar-based pickups for directing signals from the guitar-based pickups through the terminals and select circuitry for further signal output, the switch assembly thus for enabling a user to selectively alter pickup signal output. 
         [0100]    The detent member is preferably Y-shaped. The Y-shaped detent member preferably constructed from resilient spring materials comprises opposed, upwardly extending detent-engaging arms and a lower base portion. The upwardly extending detent-engaging arms simultaneously engage arc-spaced sets of detent teeth from longitudinally opposed directions for directing force into the gears from opposite directions for enhancing tactile feedback from the select arm position. 
         [0101]    Each detent-engaging arm preferably comprises a detent-engaging tooth, which detent-engaging teeth gear-engage the arc-spaced sets of detent teeth (i.e. the teeth mesh for resisting gear movement) of the lower hub structure for enhancing tactile feedback from the select arm position. 
         [0102]    The detent teeth may preferably further comprise first and second gear halves and a tooth-interconnecting center ridge. The tooth-interconnecting center ridge provides structural separation between the first and second gear halves for further enhancing tactile feedback from the switch assembly when positioning the arm assembly laterally. 
         [0103]    The first and second hub halves of the hub structure are pin-fixed relative the arm structure via pins. The pins effectively function to transfer force from the arm structure into the hub structure for axially displacing the same when positioning the arm assembly laterally. The hub structure is transversely non-circular. The transversely non-circular hub structure is received in a non-circular aperture formed in the arm structure. The non-circular hub structure and noncircular aperture cooperably direct rotational force into the hub structure when positioning the arm longitudinally. 
         [0104]    While the preferred embodiment in these specifications has been shown and/or illustrated and providing 10 overall switch positions (5 longitudinal positions×2 lateral positions), it is contemplated that the switch may also be configured to provide 6 overall switch positions (3 longitudinal positions×2 lateral positions). The central features of the present invention are believed to be the axially displaceable printed circuit boards for enabling the user to easily select pickup coil combinations, and the detent means for enabling a robust tactile feedback mechanism when moving between select switch positions. 
         [0105]    Accordingly, although the invention has been described by reference to certain preferred and alternative embodiments, it is not intended that the novel arrangements be limited thereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosures and the appended drawings.