Building a passive system.

[pandathe3]

Now, personally i prefer passive systems. No need too worry about batteries dying, no need too worry about your signal being too hot (the list goes on....)

But, i am starting too find my basic passive system limiting (Volume/Volume/Tone)


I want too be making my own custom passive system sometime in the near future. So, i just wanted too know what options i have.

Currently this is how i want my system:

First nob: Master Volume (Is a push/pull for series/parallel wiring)
Second nob: A pickup blend nob (Allows for blending the volumes of each single coil pickup)
Third: Mid cut tone nob (By using a Kent Armstrong ToneChoke, this nob will scoop mids.)



What do you guys think? It'd be pretty cheap too get the parts, will just be a hassle wiring it. Is their anything I'll need too think about when doing this?

[seanm]

I'm interested in how you are going to do the blend and the series/parallel switch, do you have a schematic?

But other than that, you are basically switching out the treble cut for a suck, sorry mid-scoop, knob? That looks pretty easy. Just make sure the inductor is right for bass. You might need to get a different sized pot.

[pandathe3]

I was thinking about that, it will be hard too do. I have never liked the idea of 2 volumes though. I may have a master volume tone pot, and instead of a push/pull pot use a DPDT switch too go between series and parallel. Not sure what my second knob could be though.

The ToneChoke inductor is fine for bass according too WDmusic. I have asked them too e-mail me a wiring diagram. It is also possible too use a DPDT switch and use it as a mid-range booster by the flick of a switch, which seems interesting. Them maybe use a normal tone pot?

[Jazz Ad]

To achieve parallel/series and blend pot on the same bass, you need a 3PDT. They may exist in push/pull form but I've never seen them. Other than that it's a pretty easy mod.

[RyreInc]

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

To achieve parallel/series and blend pot on the same bass, you need a 3PDT. They may exist in push/pull form but I've never seen them. Other than that it's a pretty easy mod.

That's not true, you only need a DPDT, regardless of whether it uses 2 separate volumes or a blend.

[randbguy]

I was curious as to what you use the different configurations for musically. I have a bass with series parallel wiring as well as coil selection on a MM style p/u. This is an active circuit though. But here's my quandry, I checked out the tone at the back of the room with my wireless on several occasions and could hear the single coil select, but not much difference with the series parallel change. Just sharing my experience, and wonder if I'm missing something.

[Jazz Ad]

Originally Posted by RyreInc

That's not true, you only need a DPDT, regardless of whether it uses 2 separate volumes or a blend.

I will believe you. If you provide schematics.
I'm curious to see how you reinvented physics by switching 3 wires with 2 channels.
Or maybe you found a clever trick ? Anyway I want to see this.

[Diogenes]

Originally Posted by randbguy

I was curious as to what you use the different configurations for musically. I have a bass with series parallel wiring as well as coil selection on a MM style p/u. This is an active circuit though. But here's my quandry, I checked out the tone at the back of the room with my wireless on several occasions and could hear the single coil select, but not much difference with the series parallel change. Just sharing my experience, and wonder if I'm missing something.

My franken-jazz has a parallel/series select and the difference is very noticable. So too with my active ATK's custom MM style humbucker with a series/parallel option.

[seanm]

I have only had experience with series/parallel with P basses, so take this with a grain of salt for a J bass setup. But basically, there is a reason that the P bass is series, even ignoring humbucking: basically setting it parallel sucks. It's that simple YMMV, dealer may sell for less.

[CptanPanic]

Here is a post about this:
J in series with separate volume knobs. Schematic.