Pickups, wiring, and pots/knobs question.

[Mikhail]

I asked a similar question a few months ago but I was a bit confused by the response. Now that the parts for my new bass are starting to arrive I'm going to have to make a decision on how I want to go.

I'm putting together a Carl Radle inspired Telecaster Bass. The pickup configuration is a P-Bass pickup moved slightly forward in the neck position and a single coil moved slightly toward the bridge from the standard position. The original was wired so that each pickup was on full time, with the knobs controlling each pickup simultaneously; I would like to be able to use the pickups independently, so I can have a SCPB tone when I choose. Question #1: Should I be thinking about any reverse windings or any other pickup matching issues when I order them? I'm figuring on using Seymour Duncans, by the way.

Line6Man described some interacting issues with concentric pots. With separate volume knobs and a common tone knob, wouldn't I basically have what I'm looking for, without the ability to regulate individual tones when both pickups are on? I can't imagine being too concerned with that, since that's how the original was set up, with good results as Dan Howard attests. If at all possible, I'd like to maintain a stock appearance. So, Question #2: Any suggestions regarding knobs and wiring toward that end?

Thanks to all for advice and suggestions.

[SGD Lutherie]

Wire it up like a Jazz bass, with two volumes and a tone. Then you can mix the pickups.

If your pickups are out of phase they will sound then when both are mixed together. If that happens, just reverse the leads on one of the pickups.

Reverse winding (or reverse polarity) is generally about two single coils hum canceling when used together. Since you are using a P pickup, which is a humbucker, you can't hum cancel the single coil when they are used together. So just make sure they are in phase.

If you are looking to do concentric volumes and a common tone, that would work fine. The issue with concentric pots is when people want two tones, because the two tone knobs interact, and the extra load from the pots often darkens the tone a bit.

[line6man]

Originally Posted by Mikhail

Line6Man described some interacting issues with concentric pots. With separate volume knobs and a common tone knob, wouldn't I basically have what I'm looking for, without the ability to regulate individual tones when both pickups are on?

I think you're confusing a two tone controls setup. If you have two tone pots, they will interact, unless you want to isolate the signals with series resistance.

If you have two volumes and no pickup selector, there is only one way to wire it, and that does allow independent volume control.