PJ two Knob configuration????

[sailorofcheese]

Hi guys,
i hope you more experienced guys might shed some light about the ups and downs and your preference of these configurations. I got a fender precision bass that i'll be routing a j pickup in. I want to keep the configuration to two pots and then the jack on the pickguard to avoid anymore routing.

After checking out all the other threads about this, im still not quite sure which to go with. Im hoping there wont be any tonal difference between these but please let me know.

1. Volume/Tone (stacked) ; Volume/Tone (stacked)
2. Volume/Volume (stacked) ; Master Tone
3. MasterVolume/MasterTone (stacked) ; Blend

The Polls open!
I'd appreciate your feeedback

thanks

[tojge]

Well, like so many other things, this really comes down to personal preference, so I voted option No. 3, as it's the only one featuring a master volume control, which is a must in my book

Yeah, I know, countless millions of passive Jazz Bass players can't be wrong, and I'm not implying that they are, but dual volumes never did work for me, seeing as I, in a dual-pickup situation, rarely, if ever, entirely solo one of the P/U's, and turning down the volume all the way really quickly is a must... with dual controls, it's always been a bit of a juggling act for me.

As for tone controls, I believe I'm one of the few guys who would rather have separate tone, instead of volume, controls for each pickup, but having said that, it's really not that much of a big deal, so in a strictly two-knob situation, I'd go with the stacked MV/MT, and a separate blend.

Best of luck to you, whichever choice you decide to take in the end. Cheers!

[M.Wrenn]

Personally I dig Master Volume, Master Tone, Pickup Selector. Blend knobs created weirdness on passive two Pup basses, to my ears at least.

[RedLeg]

option 2. stacked 250k + a standart 250k pot + a .47 cap and you should have a real winner. if you want bright, switch to 500k's. passive pj blends do sound wierd. individual tones will interfere with eachother and add another pot to the circuit (darker sounding overall). I do like 3 way selectors if you are an either / or / both pups kind of guy.

[Stealth]

I agree with M.Wrenn above, a V/T/3-way-switch is what I'd pick, as that's what I have on my P-J. Barring that, there are a couple more options. (all images can be clicked)

You mentioned a dual-stack V/T, V/T combination. That one can only work if you add a few extra bits and pieces: you need two extra resistors in series with each output so you can prevent the tone controls interacting. Otherwise, turning down one tone control would darken both pickups. This way you will get independent tones, but the sound overall will be somewhat quieter and darker - you'll likely need a different (smaller value) capacitor to compensate. If your default capacitor is .047 μF, try using .033 μF capacitors in the V/T V/T schematic, or if that's still too dark, .022 μF capacitors.



The third option is something like the image below. The P Vol pot acts as a master volume control for both pickups. The J Blend pot lets you dial in the amount of J tone you want in your sound. The M Tone is a master tone. This one is ideal if you still like the tone of your P, but occasionally want to dial in either a bit of treble/growl or go to a full blend for that characteristic PJ tone.

[metallicafan18]

I'd be a fan of Volume/Volume, Bass/Treble.

[Jazz Ad]

Mine is wired this way :
Vol, push-pull does like a tone to 0.
Parallel/series switch.
Balance.


Not exactly what you're looking for, just food for t(h)ough(t).
Oh and make sure you use a humbucker for the J, otherwise you may run, into noise and level issues.

[Stealth]

Originally Posted by metallicafan18

I'd be a fan of Volume/Volume, Bass/Treble.

Bass and treble can be done if you adapt the G&L tone control circuit which has passive bass and treble controls (they're essentially mirrors of each other) without resorting to active circuitry.

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

Mine is wired this way :
Vol, push-pull does like a tone to 0.
Parallel/series switch.
Balance.

That's also an option. The push-pull disconnects the capacitor from the ground, in this case. The S/P switch is a common thing. Balance is pretty standard, though with this I suggest M/N-taper pots so they both shine at the center position.
Love the pickbooth, BTW.

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

Oh and make sure you use a humbucker for the J, otherwise you may run, into noise and level issues.

Not really necessary, my P/J has a singlecoil in the eck and it's rather silent - though I covered the pickup cavity with copper foil so the hum and sizzle is very much silenced. It doesn't kill 50 Hz hum completely, but it helps.

[JMac4strngr]

The stacked Jazz combo(V/T, V/T) is an aquired taste. It works fine for Me and has its own vibe. You will see "cross talk" between the two tone knobs as they will interact with each other. Once You get used to it, its not such a big deal. However, I can see how some folks wouldn't like it.

OH Yea, as Stealth said in the other post You'd wanna go with different valued caps to cut down on the cross talk some and what not, kinda like in the drawing He kindly provided.

I went with stacked knobs on My 51 inspired build, and am love'n it.... Pics of the bass here...
NBM(New Bass Month): Three new mutts for Me!

[sailorofcheese]

Thanks for all the input guys. Im still trying to decide between V/V; MT and V/T + 3 way switch. anyone have any experience using a 3-way toggle switch for the 3 way selector???

[VincentSalizeri]

I have mine set for P always on and J is added. So J-pup vol and master tone is what I suggest. It's a nice flavor.

If you prefer control over both, vol/vol and master tone is best. Two tones in a passive system will interact effect both pickups.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by M.Wrenn

Blend knobs created weirdness on passive two Pup basses, to my ears at least.

Depends on the blend pot and if it's wired up the right way. They work fine in my passive basses.

[topcat2069]

If you don't use the tone control much (I never use it on a passive Bass, but that's just me) go with Master Vol & Balance.

[topcat2069]

Originally Posted by sailorofcheese

Thanks for all the input guys. Im still trying to decide between V/V; MT and V/T + 3 way switch. anyone have any experience using a 3-way toggle switch for the 3 way selector???

I had the 3 way toggle on my Yamaha BB425 and it sat in the middle position all the time..........

[Mushroo]

I am surprised nobody has mentioned Vol/Vol. This would be the simplest setup with the best sound, in my opinion. (Your amp has EQ/tone knobs, right? )

[Bassamatic]

I added a J pickup to a P bass, and did it V/V no problems. Yes - the amp has tone controls. I later added a 3 position tone switch switching different caps.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Mushroo

I am surprised nobody has mentioned Vol/Vol. This would be the simplest setup with the best sound, in my opinion. (Your amp has EQ/tone knobs, right? )

It's nice to have a tone control, though.

[johnk_10]

the way that i prefer it is that i use two stacked pots. i use a 500K/500K where the tone knob would be on P, used as a vol/vol, then a 250K/250K where the volume control would be used as a master vol/master tone.

[darkstorm]

None of the above. Instead of two volumes Id do blend pot so you still have the tone tweaking ability to do do various pup balance tone changes. Stacked volumes dont lend themself to doing this as well, just awkward in actual use. Then for 2nd knob/pot Id do it as tone for passive or stacked bass/treble for preamp add. Master voliume and master tone is horrible thing imo as it eliminated all the tone tweaking of blend or seperate stacked volumes.

[JTE]

Because I never use the volume controls on my basses except to kill everything, I'd go with a master blend, a passive treble-cut, and a push/pull pot for one of those that kills the output.

As far as a 3-way toggle switch, I've only had one bass wired that way (my Jazz Bass Special, but it also had separate volume controls which I found redundant). But most non-Strat guitars are wired that way. It's a great, simple, reliable, and efficient way to do it.

John