Alternative options instead of the "TONE" knob?

Graham Monette · #1 05-21-2007, 11:28 AM

Hey guys, I'm about to get a pair of Seymour Duncan "Hot Jazz" pickups installed on my cheapy Peavey Millenium series 4 string (passive pickups). However I have no use whatsoever for the tone knob; I always leave on the "lowest" setting for the most clarity, so while I'm getting the pickups installed, what else should I put in its stead? I was thinking perhaps a "kill switch" since that would definately be unique on a bass.... but what other options are there? I'll be staying with a passive set-up. Any ideas would be great, thanks.

middy · #2 05-21-2007, 11:45 AM

If I'm reading you correctly and the tone control is always set on the "lowest" setting (all the way counter-clockwise), then you are actually cutting out most of the highs. On a passive bass you can't add gain to frequencies, only cut them by sending them to ground through a capacitor acting as a low pass filter. If you always want to cut all the highs you can wire the capacitor inline in place of the tone pot, I think. If you always run the tone full on (all the way clockwise) then you can do away with the tone pot and the capacitor altogether.

Jo6Pak · #3 05-21-2007, 11:57 AM

I'd wait and see how the new pups sound before removing anything. You might find find that you'll want to run them differently than you are currently accustomed. If not, then I'd go with middy's instructions above...

middy · #4 05-21-2007, 12:09 PM

What to put in place of the tone knob? Kill switch sounds cool! I would also replace the two volume knobs with a master volume and a blend knob while I was in there...

Graham Monette · #5 05-21-2007, 12:21 PM

^ Hey Middy, thanks, I meant with any "Tone" modification off, whereas its not being used at all. Your right about the clockwise turning, I should've mentioned that.
Is that "Kill switch" just a generic switch that you can get from any electronics store, that distrupts the circuit when you push the button in? or is there a specific place that a person can get these?
After hearing that song by Buckethead called "Jordan" I thought this would be definately innovative if used on a bass.

GeoffByrne · #6 05-21-2007, 12:32 PM

FWIW:

I haven't done this with a bass, but I did it with my Stratocaster.

I replaced the middle knob pot on the Strat with a 'varitone' rotary click switch, similar to that on a Gibson 345 etc. I replaced the bottom tone pot with a mids-boost circuit. It all works very well for what i want to do with it.

I got the Varitone from www.torresamps.com and the mids booster from Guitar Fetish (GFS.com).

I don't know how the cap values would work with bass, but they are pretty effective on the Strat.

Geoff

middy · #7 05-21-2007, 01:11 PM

Just get a SPDT (on,on) switch from Radio Shack. Connect one tab to both the output from the volume pot and the output jack, and the other to ground.

Willem · #8 05-21-2007, 01:26 PM

maybe a series/parallel switch

Beta · #9 05-22-2007, 08:05 AM

Maybe look here at some of these threads.

The thread "Bass Wiring Problem" doesn't look like it will be of help to you, by the way. The guy did wire a kill switch into his bass, but his problem is pickup output/phase.

I saw a thread on another guitar forum where someone got a momentary switch from somewhere other than Radio Shack; it was from a supply company that makes them for industrial applications (like to operate machinery daily). I can't exactly remember where though. I'll see if I can dig it up, because if you go the kill switch route you'll probably be able to get a more durable one than what RS has.

lbwdog · #10 05-23-2007, 05:59 AM

Why would you need a kill switch when all you need to do is turn the Volume control down?
You can wire the pickups without a tone control so they will be delivering a full range signal all the time. I would use the extra hole for a series/ parallel switch if it were me.

middy · #11 05-23-2007, 07:19 AM

You can get some some cool effects with a spring-loaded momentary kill switch. How well it would work for a bass, I don't know.

Willem · #12 05-23-2007, 07:58 AM

that's very cool for guitar, for bass?

prokfrog · #13 05-23-2007, 10:31 AM

Take a look at the Baritone module from Stellartone. It's a little expensive, but really provides lots of different (useable) sounds. I have one in my Schecter Elite-5 along with a mid-control from Has Sound.

All passive

Baleen · #14 05-23-2007, 01:37 PM

There are some switches that'll make a pop sound that'll make you very unpopular with the sound op if you're going direct. I found this out from trying to make some signal routing pedals of my own years ago. Never really solved it.

Don't know if the key is using a switch with the right make/break mechanism or if it's just grounding the hot leg, instead of leaving it open when engaging the 'kill'.

Tostenbass · #15 05-23-2007, 05:50 PM

When i swapped the pickups in one of my basses recently,
i removed all the pots (vol,blend,tone,tone) and put in a single on/off toggle switch. Perfect!