Volume and tone for each pickup?

[Oysterman]

I know as much about bass electronics as I do about building H-bombs, why my question might seem stupid to those who are familiar with the subject.

Is it possible, in a passive bass, to have separate volume AND tone controls for each pickup? Say, in a Jazz bass you'd have 2 volume and 2 tone controls, without any battery-powered EQ involved. If so, wouldn't this be a cool idea? And if it is a cool idea, why am I yet to actually see a bass with that setup?

[rickbass]

I think your idea is very cool, Oyster (if you put any value in the opinion of a tech-moron like me).

But, I think the limitations are imposed by the companies who manufacture our pots. Even with Blend controls, the pots I know of seem to dictate more of an "either/or" mentality. Subtleties don't seem to be their forte'.

From my very limited knowledge, I would think the volume controls wouldn't take an Einstein, but the tone controls could be problematic because "taste" enters into the equation so heavily.

Nonetheless, I really like your thinking!

[Monkey]

I recently modded my old Carvin fretless in exactly that way. I put a volume and tone for each pickup (DiMarzio Model One in neck and a stacked Carvin jazz at bridge). It didn't work nearly as well as I thought it would. Each tone control works fine with just one pickup on, but when they are both on, they seem to interact; in other words, if I try to turn the treble down on the neck p.u. and leave the bridge up, it doesn't sound like you might think. It is muddy. I wouldn't do it again, but I will leave it for now.
As for how to do it, I just followed an online diagram for a Les Paul without the switch.

[merlin]

There is theoretically a volume for each pickup. They use a Dual Gang pot, eg 100kohm dual ganged pot is two pots of 100kohm joined together, rather than having 3 pins it has six.

If you go to my thread in this forum "Damn volume!" my bass has a dual gang pot on it. So yeah rather than two separate pots it is easier to combine them, saves space and money.



Merls

[notduane]

Originally posted by Oysterman
...Is it possible, in a passive bass, to have separate
volume AND tone controls for each pickup? Say, in
a Jazz bass you'd have 2 volume and 2 tone controls,
without any battery-powered EQ involved. If so,
wouldn't this be a cool idea?...

That's exactly what I had planned to do when I stuck a pair of
DiMarzio Ultra-Jazz' in my yamaha bbn4f, using these here...

 

Each pot is independent of the other; one can function as a
volume, the other as a tone control. Little buggers ain't cheap
though (~$22USD/pop at Stew-Mac).

My bbn4f has 3 topside holes for controls (like a J) and a side-
mounted output jack. I was gonna' put a 3-way, Les Paul type
pup selector in the third hole . Anyhoo...those plans fell through
when I realized I needed pots with 3/4" bushings. Those dual pots
have 3/8" bushings.

I'm still gonna' give it a go whenever I get a Yammer RBX270F .
Hopefully, I won't need the "long shaft" pots. My first thought
is to wire it like a mono Ric with 2 pups...

 

Even on a bass with 2 holes available for control pots, it could be
wired as if the 3-way switch was in the middle or "both" position.

[The Mock Turtle Regulator]

Originally posted by Oysterman
Is it possible, in a passive bass, to have separate volume AND tone controls for each pickup? Say, in a Jazz bass you'd have 2 volume and 2 tone controls, without any battery-powered EQ involved. If so, wouldn't this be a cool idea? And if it is a cool idea, why am I yet to actually see a bass with that setup?

um, isn't the original 1960 Fender Jazz "stack-knob" design exactly that? ie. volume and tone for each pickup (using stacked pots)?

Rickenbackers and some Gibsons also have 2volumes + 2tones.

[feckn_eejit]

My Rick 4003 certainly has this configuration! It's pretty darn impressive for a passive system, as far as I'm concerned...

--jeff

[notduane]

Originally posted by The Mock Turtle Regulator
um, isn't the original 1960 Fender Jazz "stack-knob" design exactly that?
ie. volume and tone for each pickup (using stacked pots)?...

gahhhh! That's it! I'm officially senile

I was checkin' this out just the other day at Mr. Gearhead...

[hujo]

Originally posted by Oysterman
And if it is a cool idea, why am I yet to actually see a bass with that setup?

I've seen lots of guitars and basses like this, i thought it was pretty common?