Okay, so I am making a V type bass, along the lines of the Gibson or Jackson. Quilt maple top, mahogany body. Top will be stained green, body will be black, white binding, gold hardware. 35" scale, will be tuned BEAD. The object of this bass is to make an all out, straight forward rock bass. It needs to be super simple and strictly functionary. A set and forget type instrument. I planned on initially not even having a tone pot. Either a traight up volume pot, or simply a volume kill switch. It will have dual pups in extreme bridge and neck positions, similar to Gibson Les Paul placement.

My questions are:

1. Which pickup? Need something really hot, but also needs to have a ball-sy tone.

2. If I opt for a kill switch for volume, I planned on running a 100Mohm resistor across the jack, to avoit any popping when the switch is used. Does anyone see this as necessary, and if so, will 100M be large enough? That is what I use in my bypass circuits, never done it on a bass though.

3. Think not having tone control on the bass is corny? I never use it on any of my basses anyway. Even the 8-string I built with a nice Bart pre got set and left. All this bass will have is a switch and pickup selector.

I know V shaped guitars are cheesy, that's not the point. But I think I can pull off a nicely finished one that will be fantastic. Nothing says hard rock like a V and a mullet...

Any constructive ideas besides V's are cheesy?

Really hot and ballsy tone brings to mind "Kent Armstrong Humbuckers":bassist: Either the soapbar or Musicman shape. I have played Metal most of my life, and they are all I personally use. They are crystal clear, and have that punch that is to die for, not to mention that bottom end grunt that will rattle your guitar player out of tune...LOL

I think for your electronics, the volume and kill switch is the epitomy of "In Your Face" Bass. Dual concentric pot as your volume/ Kill switch and your pick-up selector. As far as the "no tone zone goes"....who cares:eyebrow: , if you never use a tone control....why have one. It's all about what YOU want.

Oh and GREEN figured Maple top.:D ....OUTSTANDING.....most of my personal instruments are green maple tops...LMAO So I'm biased.:p
Good Luck with it.............Rock On:bassist:

If you want serious, in yer face, grunty humbucker tone, Rio Grande pickups makes some nice chrome jobbies that will wet yer whistle. And they'd look real nice on a V type bass, imo.

Mon