62 reissue J bass stack knob mod questions

Aragorn35016 · #1 11-26-2008, 03:34 PM

Hey guys, I hope this hasnt been asked before, I hadnt had luck finding it if it has, but Ive got a US 62 reissue J and a P. The P's tone roll off (tone knob all the way off) is awesome. The J cant seem to keep up with that, the treble doesn't roll off as much. I know we are talking 2 different basses and it may be just the nature of things, but I noticed that the P has a .1uF cap in the tone circuit, and the j bass has a .03 and an .05 in its tone circuit(s) (cant remember which cap was where) If I up the values should I see a dramatic improvement in its tone rolloff capabilities? If so what is the tradeoff?

Thanks for you advice

John

Kubs · #2 11-26-2008, 03:48 PM

I think values of caps and its impact on sound could be pretty subjective - so you maybe should buy few caps of different values and spent one afternoon with soldering

but generally I think I wont be wrong if I say higher value of cap more highs tamed

(i presume this from experience that cables with higher capacitancy(those cheapo crappy cables...) acts like tone itself

If I am right and it seem so from your experience too - you P has higher valued cap - so its able of more high roll off.

JohnDavisNYC · #3 11-26-2008, 04:35 PM

i took the stock electronics out of my '78 jazz bass, bought a '62 reissue control plate, and wired it in series with a .1 cap... basically a P bass wiring, with the two jazz pickups acting like one giant pickup... it sounds amazing, and i can get all the tonal variation i need with my right hand dynamics and position and touch. the .1 cap cuts off at something awesome, like 300hz, so you can REALLY get a dub sound easily.

i hate treble...

john

Aragorn35016 · #4 11-26-2008, 06:04 PM

I appreciate the replies, since I have essentially two tone control circuits, (though they dont act totally independent of each other) I wamted to make sure I didnt over do it. Its been a long time since Ive worked out an RC circuit, so I was trying to cheat and see what some of you guys might have put in you basses to achieve a better rolloff. I do find it kind of odd that the tone circuits arent exactly the same. I assume that if the circuit was a true reissue of the original (having the isolation resistors installed) that the pickups were individually voiced. It seems kind of pointless to put two different cap values in if they no longer work independent of each other anyway. I was going to just forget this all together and drop in the 3 knob set up, but for some reason the one I have doesnt want to line up with the pickguard and the mounting holes. It came off another jazz, I dont get it???

Kubs · #5 11-27-2008, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn35016

(though they dont act totally independent of each other)

this is quite surprise for me.
I think its nice idea to have two tone control each for one pickup - it gives you far more sound options...

I still have idea in my head to wire only bridge pickup to tone and neck keep "un-toned"

4Mal · #6 11-27-2008, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn35016

I appreciate the replies, since I have essentially two tone control circuits, (though they dont act totally independent of each other) I wamted to make sure I didnt over do it. Its been a long time since Ive worked out an RC circuit, so I was trying to cheat and see what some of you guys might have put in you basses to achieve a better rolloff. I do find it kind of odd that the tone circuits arent exactly the same. I assume that if the circuit was a true reissue of the original (having the isolation resistors installed) that the pickups were individually voiced. It seems kind of pointless to put two different cap values in if they no longer work independent of each other anyway. I was going to just forget this all together and drop in the 3 knob set up, but for some reason the one I have doesnt want to line up with the pickguard and the mounting holes. It came off another jazz, I dont get it???

It may be that we were looking for different things but I used .047 cap's on both pickups last time I wired a stacked knob. I liked the results ... IIRC that was what came on my MIA AV 62 as well. It's been gone a while to tough to tell.

Aragorn35016 · #7 11-29-2008, 07:37 PM

I found a set of .1uF caps that I had stowed away, Im gonna see how that goes (Now if I can only find my flux!) I also found some 220K resistors, though Im not sure if Im gonna install those yet. I hope putting the .1's in there wont be overkill. Im hoping essentially (though I know there will be a difference just because of the different PU types) that rolling the bridge off that the neck pickup will be a little closer to my P with the tone knob rolled all the way off.

John

Aragorn35016 · #8 12-01-2008, 06:25 PM

Well the resistor addition really does work! It isolated the tone knobs! I also replaced the .05 and .03 caps with .1uF caps and Im really happy with the results. Wide open I still have the treble bite with just a little more low end, and rolled off I have the more P'ish roll off tone that I was after. I have to say that the volume drop, if there is one is to me pretty minimal, and nothing the amp volume cant compensate for. It sounded pretty good with my SVT3 pro, but the real test will be with my B15, just got to swing by the practice space tomorrow to pick it up!

Aragorn35016 · #9 12-27-2008, 06:31 AM

Im a little late with a follow up, but in the end it still wasnt what I was looking for, I swapped my plate all together for a VVT setup and so far Im pretty happy with it.