Marcus Miller Pickup Wiring Mod - I Need Some Advice!!

Ginsly · #1 09-22-2010, 02:00 PM

I've been playing a Fender Marcus Miller 4-string Jazz Bass for years now, but I'm starting to get frustrated with the way it's set up when it comes to the pickups. I play almost exclusively in passive mode, and while I'm not so concerned that I can't adjust the tone in that mode, I'm getting tired of having to turn both of the volume knobs down in order to silence the bass.

I play in a loud rock band, and with fuzz pedals and whatnot there is some feedback (intentional) that I like to control with the bass's volume knobs. Problem is, it's very awkward to turn both of them up or down at the same time, and I often need to do that very quickly. Has anyone wired their MM Fender Jazz so that in passive mode there is one volume pot for both pickups and a passive tone pot for both pickups? I'm also considering taking out the preamp altogether. I thought I would check and see if anyone has experience with this at all.

Thanks a lot!!
Matt

Rano Bass · #2 09-23-2010, 05:31 PM

Your solution is very simple, just take out one of the volume knobs and go with vol-blend configuration.

**line6man** · #3 09-23-2010, 05:35 PM

The problem is, the active/passive switch needs several poles to switch the volumes.

IIRC, the Marcus Miller has a push/pull active/passive switch, right?

Rano Bass · #4 09-23-2010, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

IIRC, the Marcus Miller has a push/pull active/passive switch, right?

It has a toggle switch

Fretlessboy · #5 09-23-2010, 06:30 PM

If you are good at it try this (or take it to a shp to have it doen)... Have the volume control removed and put in a V/T concentric control. It is the bomb. you can then have a passive Jazz Bass when you want and an actice one. And for Reggae, you crank up the bass and roll off treble with the concentric. I did this to mine and got a lot more tone out of it.

SGD Lutherie · #6 09-23-2010, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rano Bass

Your solution is very simple, just take out one of the volume knobs and go with vol-blend configuration.

I agree. One volume knob to turn down.

You can also add a mute (kill) switch.

And if you want passive tone and never use the preamp, just remove it. You do have room on that big pickguard for a kill switch and a passive tone control however.

Ginsly · #7 09-23-2010, 07:59 PM

Thanks for the advice, everybody - I got antsy yesterday and took it into a local tech for servicing. I'm simply taking the preamp out and having them make one knob a volume pot for both pickups, and one a passive tone control. They are also turning the passive/active switch into a series/parallel switch. I never use the preamp and I always play with both volume knobs in the same position, so I think this was the best solution. What do you think?

**line6man** · #8 09-23-2010, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ginsly

Thanks for the advice, everybody - I got antsy yesterday and took it into a local tech for servicing. I'm simply taking the preamp out and having them make one knob a volume pot for both pickups, and one a passive tone control. They are also turning the passive/active switch into a series/parallel switch. I never use the preamp and I always play with both volume knobs in the same position, so I think this was the best solution. What do you think?

Paying a tech is a total waste of money when you could do it yourself.

Don't waste your money!

Ginsly · #9 09-23-2010, 08:41 PM

I see what you're saying, but I've never done anything like that before. Never even soldered anything (gasp!). I just didn't feel like making my main bass the guinea pig for that kind of mod, however simple it may be. They're doing it for cheap, and I needed it done quickly, so it was worth it to me. Thanks for the heads up, though - I may very well start learning about that kind of thing. Cheers!