by Jerry Catanescu, March 2023
updated March 2026
Here's a tutorial showing how to make a low profile, no contact, smoooooth-feeling magnetic footswitch that should outlast us all. As featured in the very limited JTEX Rock Mania pedal!
1. Start with a footswitch actuator (Alpha SF12030F, Daier PBS-24-MP or similar). They're like momentary stomp switches minus the actual switch part.
2. Take it apart (unscrew the bottom cap):
3. Inside you'll find a large conical spring, as well as a plunger with a little spring attached to its bottom nib. Remove the little spring. Cut (or grind off) the nib end, shortening the plunger to 11mm, with a flat bottom. I used a Dremel with a cutoff wheel.
(side note: the plunger and little spring are meant to work with a tactile switch on the PCB, as in some Line 6 pedals. In practice, it does not seem to be a very reliable combination -- they've had quite a few field failures. We can do better).
4. Glue a 4x1mm disc magnet (eBay, Amazon..) to the bottom of the plunger using epoxy (not crazy glue, it won't hold well). Make sure both the plunger and magnet are squeaky clean and degreased before epoxying them together. Use pure alcohol or acetone to clean/degrease. Don't touch them with your bare oily fingers once they're clean.
5. Put the actuator back together. When pushed all the way, the magnet should be flush with the bottom:
6. Your pedal PCB will need to have a reed switch installed just under the magnetic actuator. Do not center the magnet above the reed. It should be above one of the reeds' ends for proper operation:
7. Of course, you'll need some logic circuit on your board that reads the reed switch state and uses it to toggle the circuitry that does the actual switching, such as relays, JFETs, or an analog switch IC.
(8) Dear Alpha or Daier or somebody, if you're reading this, will you please just make this part, so I don't have to? Thank you!
