3 PICKUP WIRING QUESTION

[lowphatbass]

So I'm toying with the idea of running a pair Jazz pickups along with an 80's Split-P Aria Pro II pickup...I know it's pretty silly. Ultimately I would like to have the Jazz pickups wired traditional V-V-T and the split-P V-T. So that's 3 volumes, one for each pickup and two tones, one for the Jazz pair and one for the Aria.

Is this going to be as straightforward as it sounds or am I going to run into issues. I would prefer not to have toggles or other switches.

Thanks for listening, and please forgive my lack of knowledge in this area.

[line6man]

You can do three volumes, but having multiple tone controls will cause interactions.
It's best to stick to one tone control.

[lowphatbass]

Originally Posted by line6man

You can do three volumes, but having multiple tone controls will cause interactions.
It's best to stick to one tone control.

Thanks!!

That's what I was concerned about. I was thinking of puting the split-P right up against the neck in "mudbucker" position and was hoping to be able to add bottom with it with it's highs rolled-off. Sounds like I'll need to get more creative with the layout.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by lowphatbass

So I'm toying with the idea of running a pair Jazz pickups along with an 80's Split-P Aria Pro II pickup...forgive my lack of knowledge in this area.

Originally Posted by lowphatbass

I was thinking of puting the split-P right up against the neck in "mudbucker" position

sorry, but i have to say it.

there's a reason these kinds of hodge-podge pickup ideas usually come from players with a "lack of knowledge in this area", and are never seen on production instruments: they don't sound that good.

TB is full of posts where people want to stuff 5 pickups on a bass, or have a bunch of switches and knobs for every kind of series/parallel in-phase/out-of-phase option; the assumption is that there's some magical new tones hidden in all the new variations that will sound wonderful.

the truth is, there's a reason those weird configurations don't tend to show up in the marketplace of instruments; they sound indistinct, or just plain bad.

[RedLeg]

a mudbucker worked for billy sheehan and the eb0. its not that far out of reason is it Walter?

BTW the thumb you worked on a few years back is alive and kicking. truly el basso numero uno.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by RedLeg

a mudbucker worked for billy sheehan and the eb0. its not that far out of reason is it Walter?

define "worked"! the EB-0 was neat for its muddy, sludgy tone, but it wasn't a pimple on the ass of a regular fender bass in terms of universally getting the job done.

as for billy sheehan, i suspect a regular P-bass split into two rigs (clean and crunchy) would serve him every bit as well.

Originally Posted by RedLeg

BTW the thumb you worked on a few years back is alive and kicking. truly el basso numero uno.

wait, the one with the delano pickups? you're in japan now? how is that going?

[RedLeg]

haha. yup that is the one! i went to germany then to iraq and now in japan. the army sure has been good to me! Everyone that comes into contact with that thumb immediately loves the sound. I recently put a detuner on it and now she is truly a work of art. But japan is the sheiot! great place, but jam sessions are a little different and takes some getting used to. there definitely is a "japanese" way of doing things!

as for the eb0 competing with the "fender bass", it couldnt. but there were some diehards that swore by them. definitely more of a novelty.

[lowphatbass]

Yea, I mentioned in my first post that this configuration may seem a bit silly. I'm not looking to change the world, and I'm certainly not attempting to improve upon proven designs . I'm just looking to experiment with some different tones, use up some parts I have around and have a little fun.

[RedLeg]

well low, there is a guy in portsmouth VA that has a modded jazz bass with a p pup in the neck and it is wired to an on off switch and he likes it. just remember more pots darkens the sound.