Where to get good quality pots and circuit for my quarter pounders?

BassistJonathan · #1 10-12-2007, 10:32 AM

Sorry if this is in the wrong category, but I really can't find anything about this. Ive built a DIY custom bass and changed most things including the pickups. But the wiring that attatches it all together is one of the few things that i still have from the original kit and the bass sounds awful unless the pots are all put on open so that they arnt affecting the sound too much, when in that case it sounds fine.

Any advice on where to get the stuff I need or how much it would cost?

P.s I live in the UK

FL Knifemaker · #2 10-12-2007, 11:05 AM

US Ebay has wiring kits. Just do a seach for Jazz bass wiring Kit or Precision bass wiring kit. They come with CTS pots, cloth wire and quality hardware. The best $20-25 you can spend for your bass

kyral210 · #3 10-12-2007, 01:45 PM

1) Buy good quality parts. Even kits can have rubbish in them. The best thing to do is ask a guitar tech for what he recommends.

2) Use innovative wiring. My diagram below is based on Craig Anderson's idea on volume pots:

The extra capacitor means as you turn the volume down, more treble passes through, so you get good rhythm even when the volume is low, neat mod!

The rest of the gear are just good values to use, but 250k pots and 0.022uF capacitor on the tone can be used (as the Seymour Duncan website suggests).

3) don't scrimp on the wire. Get good solid core wire with a low resistivity. Good solid soldering also helps, that's the contact after all.

FUBB · #4 10-13-2007, 07:12 AM

I've used these a few times. Always good service and reasonable cost.

http://www.bayoucables.com/store/cat...x.php?cPath=34

Tony

tat2jim · #5 10-13-2007, 07:22 AM

http://www.stewmac.com/

Rayzorx · #6 10-16-2007, 01:12 PM

Do you recommend soldering all the grounds to one lug, and grounding it to the bridge?

Also, I'm putting together a bass with a P/J pup configuration. Using your diagram, where would I tie in the second J pup?

BTW, Great diagram!

Bard2dbone · #7 10-16-2007, 02:40 PM

I'll piggyback on his question with an embarrassing admission.

I'm putting new p'ups in a Squier P bass Special or whatever they call the P-bodied-J-necked-PJ-p'upped bass.

I'm going passive because I want it to sound like a bass I had in 1982...but I don;t know which pots to get for it. I don't have sufficient faith in the Indonesian installed pots.

I gather the values from your schematic there should 500k's. But I'd swear my old one had 250K's in it.

Help. Somebody with a more clear memory weigh in.

Maybe it was 500k volumes and a 250k tone. That sounds believable.

rodl2005 · #8 10-17-2007, 01:24 AM

250K are what's in my fender Jazz. & if U buy a Kit with CTS pots-Goodies- they're usually w/ 250k pots

bgavin · #9 10-17-2007, 08:43 AM

Stewmac sells the cheap Asian pots.

No thanks.

Bard2dbone · #10 10-17-2007, 09:41 PM

Try these guys. I've had good luck with them.

http://<br /> http://www.rsguitarwo.../rsstore<br />

Okay, I can't tell if that worked. Just do a search for RS Guitarworks.