Switching help needed! JJ pickups / 5-way blade switch

[giacomini]

I'm in a new bass project and it'll have JJ pickups.

Looked around, did a search but found nothing exactly like this...

I won't use a vol or a tone pot, I want the pickups to go straight to the jack.

But (and here is where the game begins), I want to "go crazy" in the switching point! I want to have the option for series/parallel, the ability to switch between pickups and a kill switch (this because I won't have a vol pot).

Will it work if I use a 5-way switch? Can I get it to work like this?:

Position 1 - neck pu only
Position 2 - neck and bridge in Series
Position 3 - kill switch
Position 4 - neck and bridge in Parallel
Position 5 - bridge pu only

I'm an electronics total n00b, so if it is impossible it is OK to laugh!!

Well, if that can't be done, I guess I'll need a 3-way switch, a DPDT to do the series/parallel and another DPDT to act as the kill...

[line6man]

If you use this switch, I can draw you a diagram.
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electron...er_Switch.html

[timbledum]

That looks like a brilliant way of doing things. If I had a jazz, thats what I would want. Like actually, no sarcasm intended.

[line6man]

Originally Posted by timbledum

That looks like a brilliant way of doing things. If I had a jazz, thats what I would want. Like actually, no sarcasm intended.

Yes, several people here have opted for a master volume/master tone/5 way rotary toggle pickup selector setup.

It's a nice way to do things if you prefer pickup selector switches and want a master volume.

[giacomini]

Originally Posted by line6man

If you use this switch, I can draw you a diagram.
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electron...er_Switch.html

Man, if you can draw a diagram for me, I'll go to hell to buy that switch if that's the one you say will do it!

[line6man]

Originally Posted by giacomini

Man, if you can draw a diagram for me, I'll go to hell to buy that switch if that's the one you say will do it!

Ok, I'll get to your diagram by tomorrow afternoon.

Are you sure on the switching order though?
It doesn't sound like a good idea to have the mute in the middle of the switch, the sound will cut out as you flip from 1 and 2 to 4 and 5.

I would put the mute on 1 or 5.

[giacomini]

Originally Posted by line6man

Ok, I'll get to your diagram by tomorrow afternoon.

Are you sure on the switching order though?
It doesn't sound like a good idea to have the mute in the middle of the switch, the sound will cut out as you flip from 1 and 2 to 4 and 5.

I would put the mute on 1 or 5.

THAT'S a great idea! Didn't realize that before...

OK, you can draw it to kill at the 1 or 5. And feel free to change the order if you think you can improve it!

Thanks!!

Originally Posted by line6man

Yes, several people here have opted for a master volume/master tone/5 way rotary toggle pickup selector setup.

It's a nice way to do things if you prefer pickup selector switches and want a master volume.

You said there master volume, but can I wire it from the switch straight to the jack?

Oh, and forgot to say before, as soon as I get this thing going, I'll post pics... (I know, no pics, no "crazy switching")

[line6man]

Originally Posted by giacomini

THAT'S a great idea! Didn't realize that before...

OK, you can draw it to kill at the 1 or 5. And feel free to change the order if you think you can improve it!

Thanks!!



You said there master volume, but can I wire it from the switch straight to the jack?

Oh, and forgot to say before, as soon as I get this thing going, I'll post pics... (I know, no pics, no "crazy switching")

I was referring to a similar setup that a few people like.

You can set up the bass for just a pickup selector switch if you like. Keep in mind that the bass will be a bit hotter and brighter without the load of the volume pot diverting the signal to ground though.

I'm not sure if that's your goal or not, but if you find it too hot and bright, you can tame it back a bit with a 130K resistor across the output jack.

[giacomini]

Originally Posted by line6man

I was referring to a similar setup that a few people like.

You can set up the bass for just a pickup selector switch if you like. Keep in mind that the bass will be a bit hotter and brighter without the load of the volume pot diverting the signal to ground though.

I'm not sure if that's your goal or not, but if you find it too hot and bright, you can tame it back a bit with a 130K resistor across the output jack.

I might reconsider that option, because the body will be ASAT style, so if I throw in a tele styled control plate to put the switch, I'm gonna have 2 extra holes there...

The volume pot I don't care about, maybe I'll use the 2 holes to put a tone pot and the jack right there in the control plate.

[line6man]

I added the resistor for the diagram, but it's optional.

[FunkMetalBass]

Blade switches confuse me. Just when I was getting good at toggles...

[line6man]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

Blade switches confuse me. Just when I was getting good at toggles...

Honestly, I have no idea how traditional blade switches work, because I've never had the opportunity to check one out with an ohm meter to see how it switches, and I've never seen any documentation of their switching online either.

I do feel that a 4 pole rotary style blade switch is necessary here though, because you need the third pole to ground the output for the mute position.

On a traditional setup, you could just leave the neck pickup's - and bridge pickup's + leads open for the mute position, however, since there will be no controls to divert the signal to ground, the impedance at the output will be infinite if you just disconnected the pickups, and that means you may get the "open guitar cable" buzzing.

With the third pole of the switch, you can short the output directly, which will eliminate any buzz.

[SGD Lutherie]

The Superswitch is a 5-position/4-pole switch, so it will work. A regular 5-way switch wont.

I'd probably go with a 4-position rotary as well.

[giacomini]

Originally Posted by line6man

I added the resistor for the diagram, but it's optional.

Thank you very much!!!!

I'm ordering the super switch, and as soon as I get the stuff together I'll post pics!

[pattyløve]

Hey, bringing this up again.
I want to the exact same on my PJ bass, would this style switch work?

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electron..._Switches.html

[line6man]

Originally Posted by pattyløve

Hey, bringing this up again.
I want to the exact same on my PJ bass, would this style switch work?

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electron..._Switches.html

Yes.