Problem with my Series/single/parallel switching??

[xkimsungminx]

Hey guys, I got my Roscoe about 2 weeks ago and I've only had the chance of playing it at home, but I like it so far =).

There's one question I have though. So my basses ended up getting the Series/Single Coil/Parallel switch Per pickup and it does give me a lot more options to try out, BUT there was one thing I noticed yesterday night [don't know why I didn't notice it before].

I know I read here that when you go into Single Coil mode on the Nord DC's, there is a drop in volume output, but I noticed that it is like that when I switch it into Series as well. I thought Parallel and Series were supposed to be similar in volume with Single Coil being the quietest, but while in Series or Single coil, the volume is practically the same.

I'd really appreciate it someone could let me know if this is normal or if I need to get the wiring checked out [I kinda assumed this wasn't normal from having 2 switches instead of 1 switch as I originally intended on having]

Thank you.
- Paul

[klorence]

series will be louder - it 'adds' the output of each coil.

parallel should be a bit louder than single coil, but not as loud as series. it's a 'sweeter' sort of tone...

i'm not an ohm meter, but that's what's going on...


i actually use them as "volume switches" sometimes for a quick boost or cut on either pickup.

[Gard]

Order of output, highest to lowest:

Series
Parallel
Single coil

Parallel will sound a bit "thin" compared to series as well as a bit quieter.

[xkimsungminx]

hmm... Gard you said the switches in UP is Series MIDDLE is Single and DOWN is parallel right??

DOWN is the loudest, and Middle (single coil) and UP (series) are pretty much the same in volume except it has the buzz when in Single Coil

[Gard]

Well, I may have mis-spoke...don't listen to me, listen to the BASS!



The fact is, series will be louder and "fatter" sounding than parallel, so wherever the "loud & fat" tone is, that's series!

[xkimsungminx]

hm.. well I'm not really sure I can tell if it's "fatter" sounding when switched in the down position, even though it is the loudest. When switched up, it sounds growlier than when it's in the down position. I looked at the sheet Keith signed and it said exactly what you said [up = series, middle = single coil, down = parallel]... so does it just mean it was wired incorrectly?

I ask because when in the Up position where it's supposed to be series, "to me" it seems growlier and i guess fatter, but it doesn't seem like the wiring was just flipped upside down because the down position "parallel" isn't "thin" sounding. Sorry I'm not sure if that made any sense.

So then.. is parallel supposed to be similar in volume to single coil, because it seems like it's practically the same volume just with the buzzing being evident in single coil mode.

I feel really helpless cuz I don't even know what parallel or series is supposed to sound like since I've never had any real experience with a switching system like this. -_-

[klorence]

here are some links that may help you understand the wiring and why the different modes have different sounds/outputs:

http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/serpar.php

http://www.musicplayers.com/tutorial...Pickups101.php

basically, like gard said, use your ears. louder isn't always better - some folks like the sound of parallel better than series, some swear by single coil, some like the hot output of series along with it's 'fatter' tone...

and yes, parallel will be closer in volume to single coil than to series.
and no, it wasn't wired incorrectly if all the positions work. (mine is actually opposite -- 'down', or toward the ground is series, middle is single coil, and up is parallel) on my switches.

keep in mind also that your sound depends on so many factors (fingers/strings/neck/body/pickups/electronics/cable/preamp/amp/cab/etc.!).. but don't worry, the physics behind pickup wiring is constant.

[Gard]

Paul -

The sheet should be correct, I write those and check the electronics out before we ship, so if it's on the sheet that way, that's how it actually is. The differences can be fairly subtle, but the series setting will be somewhat louder/fatter/growlier than the series or single coil. The biggest difference to my ears between single coil and series are exactly what you mentioned - the 60 cycle hum when you are in single coil and the pan pot is not centered.

The links klorence gave you will definitely help to explain things a bit, but I'm willing to bet that after a while you'll end up with the switches in one place and not moving them very much...which is why about 99% of the basses we make are "hard wired" in series mode.

[xkimsungminx]

Thanks guys for explaining everything. I don't know much about this so it confused me because the sheet said one thing, but was the other way around on my bass, so it made me worry that something might be wrong.

I know I still have a lot to learn from messing around with the settings on the bass so I'll keep trying them out.

And Klorence, I'll definitely take some time to look over the links you gave me and study them a bit .

- Paul

[klorence]

Originally Posted by xkimsungminx

[...]the sheet said one thing, but was the other way around on my bass[...]

maybe just turn the sheet upside down?