Jazz Bass with pickup selector switch

erikmilan1987 · #1 02-28-2010, 09:10 AM

I was thinking about this mod from a long time since i dont really hear munch difference on the sound when you "Blend" the pickups at different volume levels, so i wanted to take the pickup switching to 3 way toggle switch to make a quick change to my sound live.

I want the config to be like this:

1 - Master Volume
2 - Master Tone
3 - 3 Way Toggle selector switch.
4 - Output Jack (Of Cource)

1st Position: Bridge
2nd Position: Both pickups (In Series)
3rd Position: Neck

Does anyone have a scheeme or diagram of this config that can help me out to do this ? Its also valid to supply one with parallel wiring on the 2nd position.

Thanks in advance.

**line6man** · #2 02-28-2010, 09:52 AM

erikmilan1987 · #3 02-28-2010, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

Wow !... thanks bro!...
a few questions i need to ask:

1. is this for parallel or series on the 2nd position ?
2. The bridge PU is selectable by it self ? I ask this because i see that it dosent have a independent pole on the switch.
3. You did this by your self or you have an interesting resource that you can share for future needs ?

**line6man** · #4 02-28-2010, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erikmilan1987

Wow !... thanks bro!...
a few questions i need to ask:

1. is this for parallel or series on the 2nd position ?
2. The bridge PU is selectable by it self right ? I ask this because i see that it dosent have a independent pole.
3. You did this by your self or you have an interesting resource that you can share for future needs ?

1. Series.

2. Yes, the bridge pickup is selectable by itself.

3. I do these myself in MS Paint.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrkdesi...7616015420655/

LowerBeef · #5 02-28-2010, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

I do these myself in MS Paint.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrkdesi...7616015420655/

Lot's of nice diagrams there, thanks for drawing and sharing them.

erikmilan1987 · #6 02-28-2010, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

1. Series.

2. Yes, the bridge pickup is selectable by itself.

3. I do these myself in MS Paint.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrkdesi...7616015420655/

Dude you rock

, thanks for the info...

Just for couriosity do you have this same diagram wired like this Neck - Parallel - Bridge ?

**line6man** · #7 02-28-2010, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erikmilan1987

That jazz bass you have on your avatar is wired with a 3 way switch also ?

The bass in my avatar has a 3 way Strat/Tele style blade switch used for pickup selection.
1. Bridge
2. Bridge + Neck Parallel
3. Neck

Band Dad · #8 02-28-2010, 11:19 AM

In order to keep the original look of the bass, is there available a three-way rotary switch that would accept the stock knob?

erikmilan1987 · #9 02-28-2010, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

The bass in my avatar has a 3 way Strat/Tele style blade switch used for pickup selection.
1. Bridge
2. Bridge + Neck Parallel
3. Neck

Can i do the series wiring with a gibson style switch just by not using the other side of the DPDT and moving the ground to the respective ground tip on the switch ?

**line6man** · #10 02-28-2010, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erikmilan1987

Can i do the series wiring with a gibson style switch just by not using the other side of the DPDT and moving the ground to the respective ground tip on the switch ?

A Gibson style toggle switch is SPDT On/On/On. You would need On/Off/On, which AFAIK does not exist.

**line6man** · #11 02-28-2010, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Band Dad

In order to keep the original look of the bass, is there available a three-way rotary switch that would accept the stock knob?

3P3T (or 4P3T) Rotary toggle.

erikmilan1987 · #12 02-28-2010, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

A Gibson style toggle switch is SPDT On/On/On. You would need On/Off/On, which AFAIK does not exist.

Damn !, do you know any on/off/on switch that could be thick enough to fit on a jazz bass control plate hole ?

**line6man** · #13 02-28-2010, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erikmilan1987

Damn !, do you know any on/off/on switch that could be thick enough to fit on a jazz bass control plate hole ?

Just use a big washer.
It works fine.

Jefenator · #14 02-28-2010, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Band Dad

In order to keep the original look of the bass, is there available a three-way rotary switch that would accept the stock knob?

Dingwalls have this awesome 4-way rotary switch that does neck/series/parallel/bridge. I really love that setup and would be stoked if I could replace the 2nd vol on my Jazz bass with that.

Alas, it looks like Dingwall doesn't sell parts anymore. I wonder if there's another source out there somewhere?

**line6man** · #15 02-28-2010, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jefenator

Dingwalls have this awesome 4-way rotary switch that does neck/series/parallel/bridge. I really love that setup and would be stoked if I could replace the 2nd vol on my Jazz bass with that.

Alas, it looks like Dingwall doesn't sell parts anymore. I wonder if there's another source out there somewhere?

Yeah, IMO, if you are going to be doing a rotary toggle, there is really no reason not to take full advantage of a 4 way switching scheme instead of a 3 way.

If it's difficult to find a 4 position rotary toggle, you could opt instead for a 5 position, with the fifth position used to mute the output of the bass.

Jefenator · #16 02-28-2010, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

Yeah, IMO, if you are going to be doing a rotary toggle, there is really no reason not to take full advantage of a 4 way switching scheme instead of a 3 way.

If it's difficult to find a 4 position rotary toggle, you could opt instead for a 5 position, with the fifth position used to mute the output of the bass.

http://www.allparts.com/4-Position-R...p-4371-000.htm

Not sure if that would work or not. Seems worth a look!

**line6man** · #17 02-28-2010, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jefenator

http://www.allparts.com/4-Position-R...p-4371-000.htm

Not sure if that would work or not. Seems worth a look!

I'm not sure if that's make-before-break or break-before-make, but that's exactly the switch you would want!

I've had a couple of people PM me in the past trying to find a 4 way switch like that. Very cool that Allparts has one.

higgi · #18 02-28-2010, 01:03 PM

Nice diagrams Line6Man!

There is a $3, 6 position rotary selector switch available at Radio shack, mentioned in this thread. A simple varitone circuit for your bass -

http://www.radioshack.com/family/ind...otary+Switches

Jefenator · #19 02-28-2010, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

I'm not sure if that's make-before-break or break-before-make, but that's exactly the switch you would want!

I've had a couple of people PM me in the past trying to find a 4 way switch like that. Very cool that Allparts has one.

I'll probably try one out in the coming weeks. Should be fun, figuring out how to hook it up.

EDIT: ah, that 3-way series diagram gets me a lot closer!

walterw · #20 02-28-2010, 01:43 PM

mouser has tons of rotary switches.