DiMarzio Series/Parallel confusion

alexit · #1 04-15-2007, 10:17 PM

So the dimarzio model J pickups have a 4-conductor wiring type that allows series/parallel. The 4-conductor installation instructions shows how to wire one to a push/pull pot. Confusion is, if you want the series/parallel option, do you need 2 push/pull pots, one for each pickup? Ability to control it for each pickup would be nice.

RAT TAT TAT · #2 04-15-2007, 10:37 PM

you dont need the 2 pots. the standard series parallel wiring diagrams you are going to find are for your standard pickups that have 2 wires showing you how to make a series parallel switch for the circuit. you can however have one for each pickup, as a matter of fact i have a p bass with a dimarzio model p and j in it and i have a series parallel for each pickup and a series parallel for the circuit. i can get a ton of different sounds out of it. i totally dig it. best part is those push pull pots, cause you dont need any extra holes or anything at all..

alexit · #3 04-16-2007, 02:40 AM

Cool, so you can do it either way...how did you wire in the individual mods and the 'master' circuit mod at the same time? An extra switch? And I'm curious what the bridge pickup sounds like solo'd in series. MM tone?

Anyone else do this?

alexit · #4 04-17-2007, 06:02 PM

*bump* anyone know how to wire this?

bassgiant15 · #5 04-27-2007, 11:29 AM

250k push/pull pots or 500k for series parallel?

i_got_a_mohawk · #6 04-27-2007, 11:38 AM

e-mail dimarzio and ask for the wiring diagrams

I used to have all the extra ones (which are very useful!), but i am not sure where they are now.

Is your jazz bass Volume/Volume/Tone?

If so i'd suggest using three push pull pots, the most noticable series/parallel wiring is to switch between the pickups being in series or parallel with each other.

250K is darker sounding than 500K (250K looses some high end), so its up you as to which you choose.

bassgiant15 · #7 04-27-2007, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Is your jazz bass Volume/Volume/Tone?

My jazz bass is vol, vol, tone.

Thanks for the info about the pots!!!!!

I will probably go with the 500k

GeoffByrne · #8 04-28-2007, 06:15 PM

DiMarzio has the diagrams on their site.........somewhere.

Go to www.dimarzio.com, click on the 'Bass' tab at the bottom, click on 'Standard Basses', then on the 'J' bass tab, finally on the 'Installation tab bottom right. You can download all the info.

G.

G.

i_got_a_mohawk · #9 04-29-2007, 03:00 AM

If you email DiMarzio they have some full wiring diagrams which arent downloadable from thier website.

I do agree tho, everything you need to know is in the 4-conductor pdf

bgavin · #10 05-01-2007, 05:36 PM

Each Model J can be switched to series or parallel. The pair of Model J can also be switched series or parallel.

You need a switch for each pickup (2), and a 3rd switch if you want to series/parallel the pickup pair.

This is a lot of wiring, and tiny soldering. I've done the switch installation for a DiMarzio DP146 P pickup. Doing three switches in a J will be a boatload of wiring. You had better be good at micro soldering, and very organized. There are a LOT of wires involved.

My old Fender RB5 had series/parallel switching on each pickup, using two switches. The pickup pair was wired in series (standard) if I remember correctly.

.:chuck:. · #11 05-02-2007, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgavin

This is a lot of wiring, and tiny soldering...Doing three switches in a J will be a boatload of wiring. You had better be good at micro soldering, and very organized. There are a LOT of wires involved.

yeah, i've been trying to do the 3 push-pull mod with my model j's and it's a pain in the @$$ ! i was succesful in wiring each pup in series-parallel (with 2 push-pulls) but decided to rewire it with all 3 to try how the circuit sounds in series-parallel since there wasn't much difference in only having each pup in series-parallel(besides a little bit more output & little more bass). btw, if it's any help here's the diagram dimarzio sent me...

i_got_a_mohawk · #12 05-03-2007, 04:02 AM

The wiring isnt too difficult, you just need to work away slowly making sure you know whats going where (knowing why things are where they are help too)

Here's a picture of the insides of my P/J bass (Model P and Model J), its got a series parallel mod for each pickup, and for between the two pickups (the 3 switches), it also has a concentric volume and a tone control on a push pull pot, pulling it put out puts the pickups out of phase.

62Walnut · #13 05-03-2007, 03:51 PM

Could somebody please help me understand all the options and permutations available in series/parallel switching in a P/J. I think the best way I'll get it, is if they are written as a list...

* P - solo series
* P - solo parallel
* J - solo...etc

Thank you

Walnut

i_got_a_mohawk · #14 05-03-2007, 03:59 PM

* P - solo series
* P - solo parallel

* J - solo series
* J - solo parallel

*P+J - parallel together (typical pickup wiring (ie can have individual volumes)
*P+J - series together (puts the pickups in series, essentially making them one big pickup, and you can only use one volume)

*P+J - In Phase (typical)
*P+J - Out of Phase, with this option it the pickups will cancel out each other, leaving only the sonic differences between the pickups, a generally weak sound, but pretty cool at times!

You can also make the individual pickups either series or parallel whilst they are in series or parallel with each other, i.e.

*P+J in series, J pickup in series, P pickup in parallel.

etc etc etc (this give finer changes in sound)

Hope that helps

62Walnut · #15 05-03-2007, 05:52 PM

Me head hurts!

Thanks Mohawk, this really helps spell out the options I didn't know were possible. One thing I'm a little confused about, is the solo Jazz being either series or parallel. I don't understand (nae ken) how one single coil can be either series or parallel, unlike the P, where they are two units as one.

Walnut

shwashwa · #16 05-03-2007, 06:24 PM

the dimarzio model J is essentially a "P" pickup under a J cover. its an inline split coil.

i_got_a_mohawk · #17 05-03-2007, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 62Walnut

Me head hurts!

Thanks Mohawk, this really helps spell out the options I didn't know were possible. One thing I'm a little confused about, is the solo Jazz being either series or parallel. I don't understand (nae ken) how one single coil can be either series or parallel, unlike the P, where they are two units as one.

Walnut

Quote:

Originally Posted by shwashwa

the dimarzio model J is essentially a "P" pickup under a J cover. its an inline split coil.

Thats it pretty much, but.

I wouldnt say its a P, tonally its pretty different to a P, its just a dual coil J pickup. IMO it sounds like you would expect a J pickup to sound (tho a bit darker, but thats the "Model" pickups for you!)