3 Way Switch? (Jazz Bass Content)

LeatherDaddy · #1 09-15-2011, 10:27 PM

Hi everybody! I want to wire my Jazz-type bass (a Japanese ESP Edwards E-UT-85b) to have a 3-way switch in place of the bridge pickup's volume knob e.g. Master Volume > 3-Way Switch > Master Tone > Output. However, two problems exist; one, I'm not sure if the 3-way switch I was given (read: stole from Guitar Center) would work and two, I have no idea what I'm doing!

Here is the switch in question:

I've been considering the box-style 3-way switch specifically for its small(ish) footprint, considering the limited space in which I'm working with. Would this work for what I'm hoping to do or am I barking up the wrong tree?

Can any of you folks help guide me in putting this wild idea of mine together? I figure it's simple but I'm much better at soldering than I am understanding WHY I'm soldering what-to-what. Know what I mean?

Pre-emptive edit: Yeah, I REALLY stole the switch from Guitar Center. Times are tough and GC is evil incarnate. Lets not get hung up on that tidbit though, okay?

Tommorichards · #2 09-16-2011, 06:08 AM

Its very easy to do. Ive put together a rough wiring diagram for you, but it should suffice.

Thats about it. If you have any questions, just say.

Bob C · #3 09-16-2011, 07:44 AM

Why didn't you just steal a bass that already has a 3-way switch installed?

ZolkoW · #4 09-16-2011, 08:13 AM

in a circuit with one volume control, you should use the side lug of the pot for "input" (left one on the picture) and middle lug for "output".

**line6man** · #5 09-16-2011, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZolkoW

in a circuit with one volume control, you should use the side lug of the pot for "input" (left one on the picture) and middle lug for "output".

+1.

You're putting a variable impedance load against the pickups with the wiper terminal as an input. While this is necessary with two-volume setups, when a single volume is used, you can instead vary the resistance against the output while the pickup sees a constant load.

LeatherDaddy · #6 09-16-2011, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

+1.

You're putting a variable impedance load against the pickups with the wiper terminal as an input. While this is necessary with two-volume setups, when a single volume is used, you can instead vary the resistance against the output while the pickup sees a constant load.

Whoah. I'm lost, you guys lost me. What would those changes look like in the schematic Tommorichards so kindly whipped up for me?

Gah, I hate wiring. Can't I just duct tape the switch to my bass and PLAY?

**line6man** · #7 09-16-2011, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeatherDaddy

Whoah. I'm lost, you guys lost me. What would those changes look like in the schematic Tommorichards so kindly whipped up for me?

Gah, I hate wiring. Can't I just duct tape the switch to my bass and PLAY?

A simple swap of the first and second terminals of the volume pot.

Tommorichards · #8 09-16-2011, 07:19 PM

Its been fixed.

walterw · #9 09-16-2011, 08:06 PM

mostly.

run the tone pot to that input lug with the pickups instead of the output (center) lug, and you'll avoid weird interaction between the two pots.

LeatherDaddy · #10 09-16-2011, 11:01 PM

Gonna give it a shot tomorrow and see what comes of it. I'm totally blown away by how friendly and informative you TB'ers have been. Thanks a ton!

Nev375 · #11 09-16-2011, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeatherDaddy

Pre-emptive edit: Yeah, I REALLY stole the switch from Guitar Center. Times are tough and GC is evil incarnate. Lets not get hung up on that tidbit though, okay?

Sorry, can't let it go.

Even though I dislike guitar center, no one in their right mind cannot honestly claim they are evil incarnate. You confessed to being an unrepentant thief. Who are you to call anyone evil?

And seriously... You would risk legal prosecution over an item worth less than $20? Plus, once you got away with it, you would boast about it on a public forum where employees of GC also post? Your IP can be used to track you down you know...

It's a good thing for you stupidity isn't a crime.

**line6man** · #12 09-16-2011, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nev375

Sorry, can't let it go.

Even though I dislike guitar center, no one in their right mind cannot honestly claim they are evil incarnate. You confessed to being an unrepentant thief. Who are you to call anyone evil?

And seriously... You would risk legal prosecution over an item worth less than $20? Plus, once you got away with it, you would boast about it on a public forum where employees of GC also post? Your IP can be used to track you down you know...

It's a good thing for you stupidity isn't a crime.

Yeah. Even if you feel that stealing is ethical, it is still an illegal activity. Bragging of your crimes on a public forum is quite a dumb move.

What on earth compels you to deliberately point out that you have stolen an item, when such information is of no relevance to anything?

majortoby · #13 09-16-2011, 11:45 PM

I sum up your plan/actions thusly: Tip of the hat, wag of the finger.

Kwesi · #14 09-16-2011, 11:46 PM

Had you stolen a toilet I would have praised your actions. Alas, you did not.

LeatherDaddy · #15 09-17-2011, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kwesi

Had you stolen a toilet I would have praised your actions. Alas, you did not.

The restroom didn't have the Kohler 60's-spec reissue I have serious gas for, or at least I HOPE it's gas.

truebenjaman · #16 09-17-2011, 01:32 AM

I'm an absolute noob when it comes to electronics but I'm planing to do the same mod on my PJ. This switch looks like an On-Off-On type which would allow you to run either pickup but not both together. Am I wrong?

bassbenj · #17 09-17-2011, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeatherDaddy

Gah, I hate wiring. Can't I just duct tape the switch to my bass and PLAY?

Yes you can, but then you'd probably constantly be mistaken for a guitar player...

**line6man** · #18 09-17-2011, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truebenjaman

I'm an absolute noob when it comes to electronics but I'm planing to do the same mod on my PJ. This switch looks like an On-Off-On type which would allow you to run either pickup but not both together. Am I wrong?

It is a center-on switch, which allows the use of both pickups in the middle position.

Note that "Center-On" is usually distinct from "On-On-On." "On-On-On" switching is usually termed to SP3T switches, which often take the form of DPDT switches with external jumper wires added. "Center-On" switching is termed to three-position double-throw switches, in which both throws contact the common in the center position.

Edit: Oh, and "xPxT" refers to "x-pole-x-throw." "SPDT," for example, means "single-pole-double-throw," which is a switch with one pole, and two throws.

LeatherDaddy · #19 09-17-2011, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nev375

Sorry, can't let it go.

Even though I dislike guitar center, no one in their right mind cannot honestly claim they are evil incarnate. You confessed to being an unrepentant thief. Who are you to call anyone evil?

And seriously... You would risk legal prosecution over an item worth less than $20? Plus, once you got away with it, you would boast about it on a public forum where employees of GC also post? Your IP can be used to track you down you know...

It's a good thing for you stupidity isn't a crime.

I appreciate the effort you put into white knighting a nation-wide, multi-million dollar retail chain such as Guitar Center. I will no longer take lightly the theft of a part graciously provided to me, the consumer, at several hundred times its actual worth. Thank you internet user "Nev375", thank you for showing me the error of my ways. You're like a modern-day Jesus Christ, or a real-life Wonder Woman. Tomorrow I will drive to Westlake Village and turn myself in at Guitar Center HQ.

And so, this is how my illustrious posting career on TalkBass ends. Not with a bang, but with a wimper.

Goodbye all.

**line6man** · #20 09-17-2011, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeatherDaddy

I appreciate the effort you put into white knighting a nation-wide, multi-million dollar retail chain such as Guitar Center. I will no longer take lightly the theft of a part graciously provided to me, the consumer, at several hundred times its actual worth. Thank you internet user "Nev375", thank you for showing me the error of my ways. You're like a modern-day Jesus Christ, or a real-life Wonder Woman. Tomorrow I will drive to Westlake Village and turn myself in at Guitar Center HQ.

And so, this is how my illustrious posting career on TalkBass ends. Not with a bang, but with a wimper.

Goodbye all.

Am I supposed to laugh or scorn? This is easily the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen on this forum.