The Mars-Tronic Perfecto Clean Switch is not a pedal. It is a small circuit that installs on your guitar and gives you a pre-set volume drop: you dial in a reduced volume setting, then use a mini-switch to jump between that quieter setting and your guitar's full output. Guitar World's Dave Burrluck describes it as a simple way to pre-set a reduced volume "sweet spot"1.
What it does to your sound
The idea will be familiar to any player who has wished for a rhythm-and-lead or clean-and-loud switch on the guitar itself. Mars-Tronic's website, quoted by Guitar World, says the circuit "ensures a seamless transition to a cleaner sound without sacrificing clarity or dynamics"1. Because the quieter setting is pre-set rather than swept with a pedal, it works like a one-step volume preset you can hit mid-song.
The unit also includes the variable Treblemaker circuit, a treble bleed that lets you subtly tailor the notched-back sound1. A treble bleed addresses the common problem of a guitar turning dull as its volume is rolled back, so the reduced setting can keep its top end.
Controls and installation
The control layout is minimal:
- A board-mounted mini-switch that toggles between the pre-set reduced volume setting and full output1
- A variable volume control to dial in the reduced setting1
- Series and parallel resistor values adjustable from 10k to 500k1
- A pre-wired 1nF capacitor for the treble bleed circuit1
Installation calls for basic soldering and somewhere to mount the unit on the guitar1. It sits in the instrument rather than on a pedalboard, which sets it apart from foot-controlled volume pedals such as the Ernie Ball MVP or Boss FV-50H: those give continuous control under your foot, while the Perfecto Clean Switch gives a fixed second volume at the flick of a switch.
The Perfecto Clean Switch Pro, also £25, takes a different approach: it includes six capacitors ranging from 470pF to 1.5nF for the treble bleed circuit but no switch1. Choose between them based on whether you want the switching function or the ability to try different capacitor values.
Background and price
Guitar World reports the circuit was designed by Ben Marshall and developed in partnership with Perfecto de Castro, the guitarist whose name it carries1. Mars-Tronic's website calls de Castro a "legendary guitarist"1. The unit is designed in the UK and made in China, and lists at £251.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's review, by Dave Burrluck, lists the simple way to pre-set a reduced volume sweet spot among its reasons to buy1.
Videos
Perfecto De Castro
Questions
Does the Mars-Tronic Perfecto Clean Switch require soldering?
Yes, but only basic soldering. Guitar World's Dave Burrluck lists the skill level as requiring only basic soldering and somewhere to mount the unit on your guitar. It is not a pedal that sits on a board: it installs inside or on the instrument, so you will need to be comfortable with a soldering iron or know someone who is.
What is the Treblemaker circuit?
The Treblemaker is a variable treble bleed circuit included in the Perfecto Clean Switch. A treble bleed keeps high frequencies from being lost as a guitar's volume is turned down. Here it lets you subtly tailor the notched-back sound, so the pre-set quieter setting does not have to sound duller than your full output.
What is the difference between the Perfecto Clean Switch and the Pro version?
The standard Perfecto Clean Switch includes a board-mounted mini-switch and a pre-wired 1nF capacitor for the treble bleed. The Pro version, also £25, includes six capacitors ranging from 470pF to 1.5nF for the treble bleed circuit but no switch, so it suits players who want to experiment with capacitor values rather than switch between two volume settings.
Who designed the Perfecto Clean Switch?
Guitar World reports that the circuit was designed by Ben Marshall and developed in partnership with guitarist Perfecto de Castro, whose name it carries. Mars-Tronic's website describes de Castro as a legendary guitarist, and the product is presented as the result of that collaboration.
Where is the Perfecto Clean Switch made?
According to Guitar World's review, the Perfecto Clean Switch is designed in the UK and made in China.
Sources (1)
- Mars-Tronic Perfecto Clean Switch review, Guitar World, 2025-02-25
