Mini LED Killswitch (No Drilling Required)

"Kill Your Signal, Not Your Tone."
Pro-Level Stutter and Mute Effects With a Single Press

• Description
• How They Work
• Compatibility
• Features
• Warranty

• A killswitch lets you turn silence into part of your playing. With the Mini LED Killswitch, you get that same tight, stuttery mute effect as the full-size switches in a compact format that drops into an existing potentiometer hole, so there is no drilling and no permanent scar if you change your mind later.

  You replace a tone or volume pot you are not using with a low-profile momentary switch that sits right under your picking hand. Tap it and your signal cuts out; release it and your sound snaps back in, ready for the next chord, riff, or run. It feels <em>immediate and physical</em>, almost like adding a rhythmic trigger to your guitar rather than another pedal to your board.

  The mini housing keeps your control layout clean, and the LED gives you a clear visual target on dark stages or in low-light rooms. If you prefer a more understated look, you can leave the LED unwired and use it as a purely tactile mute.

  Each switch ships pre-wired with leads so you or your tech can focus on placement and clean joints instead of decoding terminals. It is designed as a reversible mod, so you can move it between guitars or return a guitar to stock later with minimal fuss.

  For wiring logic, power options, and jack diagrams, see the How They Work and Compatibility tabs.

  
  
  

• A mini killswitch does the same job as the full-size version: when you press the button, your guitar signal mutes; when you release it, your sound comes right back.
  
  Electrically, it is a momentary mute that briefly sends your output signal to ground at the jack, giving the signal a safe path away from the amp for as long as the button is held.

  Inside this model you are dealing with two separate wire pairs:

  • Two black wires for the killswitch (mute) function

  • Two white or colored wires for the LED

  The two circuits do not interact with each other. You can leave the LED wires disconnected if you do not want light; the black pair still handles the mute at 100 percent.

  Because this is a hard mute at the output, it is intended for high-gain, distorted, or heavily processed rigs, where the mute feels tight and any small mechanical noise is naturally buried in the mix.
  
  On very clean tones at high volume, you may hear a bit of popping as the signal cuts in and out. That is normal for this style of effect, not a defect.

  
  
  

• This Mini LED Killswitch is designed to work with both passive and active setups, and to drop into most standard potentiometer holes for a clean, often reversible install.

  Basic wiring logic

  • Black pair (killswitch):

    • One black wire to tip / hot at the jack

    • One black wire to sleeve / ground at the jack

  • LED pair (white/colored):

    • Choose one LED wire as LED+ and attach the resistor to that wire

    • The remaining LED wire becomes LED– and returns to ground

  Passive vs active guitars

  • If your guitar already has a 9 V battery for active pickups or a preamp, you can usually power the LED from that source using the included resistor and correct wiring.

  • If your guitar is fully passive, you can add a dedicated 9 V or a compact coin-cell pack to run the LED.

  • For higher-voltage systems like 18 V or 24 V, just leave a note in the order comments with your planned voltage and I will include the appropriate higher-value resistor. If you want the full breakdown of values, you can also check the LED Voltage Guide.

  Mono vs stereo jack behavior

  • With a mono jack, the LED will stay on whenever it has power, unless you add a separate on/off switch (as in the installation kits).

  • With a stereo jack and proper wiring, you can have the LED turn on automatically when a cable is inserted, just like a typical active pickup setup.

  If you prefer not to run a light at all, cap the two LED wires and leave them disconnected; the killswitch pair still handles the mute function on its own. For jack-first layouts and diagrams, see the How To Install page, and for EMG or Fishman Fluence setups, you can also reference the dedicated EMG/Fluence Install guide.

• No-drill, drop-in design
  Sized to fit most standard potentiometer holes, this mini switch lets you replace a tone or volume pot you are not using instead of breaking out the drill. It is one of the cleanest ways to test-drive a killswitch on a favorite guitar.

  Compact footprint, full effect
  You get the same momentary mute behavior as the 16 mm models in a smaller housing that stays out of the way of your main controls while still sitting under your picking hand.

  LED visibility when you want it
  The LED gives you a clear visual reference in low light and makes the switch easy to find on a dark stage. If visible light is not your style, you can leave the LED unwired and run the switch as a non-lit, stealth mute.

  Pre-wired for faster installs
  Each unit ships with leads already attached so you or your tech can focus on routing and solid solder joints instead of decoding bare lugs. Two wires handle the mute, two handle the LED.

  Reversible mod
  Because it uses an existing pot hole, you can return the guitar to stock or move the switch to another instrument later. That makes it ideal for players testing the waters or rotating gear.

  Clear specs

  • Install diameter: 7.5 mm (drop-in killswitch)

  • Depth required: approximately 30 mm

  If you need a stereo jack, dedicated LED power, or an LED on/off toggle, the killswitch installation kits include the jack, I/O switch, and battery options to complete the setup.

• Every Iron Age killswitch is backed by a 365-day functional warranty. If this switch fails under normal use within the first year, I replace it. That’s the baseline: we stand behind what we ship, and if the part is at fault, you get a fresh one.

  Most issues that come up are install-related, so I’ll usually start with a quick wiring check or ask for a cavity/jack photo to troubleshoot the circuit with you. If it turns out to be a defective switch rather than the install, I send a replacement instead of giving you the runaround.

  For change-of-mind situations, standard 30-day returns and exchanges apply to eligible, non-custom items as long as they’re still in mint condition. If you ever have a question about whether something is covered, reach out with your order number and what you’re seeing, and I’ll look at the facts and handle it on the merits.