25 dollar Experimental Routing

[BassDaddySky]

Picked up a cheapo 34" scale Jackson for super cheap!
I believe it's a
JS1M Concert.
25 bux off of FB marketplace!

It obviously got wet during hurricane Hellina flooding.
But the neck is straight and I kinda da like the mildew staining on the fretboard.
The output jack was rusty but a little WD and it played!
Played dull, due to the rusty strings, but it played.
So I pulled it apart and gave it a good cleaning and decided to replace all the electronics and the tuners.
With good used stuff
Here's a pic of my evil plan...
Going to route out a multiple choice so I can see firsthand what's what, placement vs tone wise.
The pickups are sitting where I think they will be ideal for my mostly Metal and Doom vibes.
Tell me what you guys think
As soon as I came up with these, I saw pics of "three pickup" basses pop up in my FB feed.
But the Humbucker(s) were at the neck, and the Jazz at the bridge.
My choice of pickups was influenced by my choice of placement.
Namely an EMG RT Jazz and the LC Precision, along with an EMG 85 Humbucker.
(The black chrome versions of the signature pups anyway)
All actives.
I had a Music Man style passive Pup indy stash for another project, so I traced that on there to lol.

And the used "Pachyderms" came with an EMG 2 band onboard preamp!
Already had them setup and playing with the preamp and some used Dr Neon heavy strings.
Nice and heavy sounding!
But then I scored the Jazz pup and here we are.

Luckily the electronics pocket is huge!
Lots of room for everything.

So yeah, I'm definitely looking for suggestions and insight before I spin up my trim router and start hogging out this cheapo soft wood body

 

[BassDaddySky]

Here we go!

 

[BassDaddySky]

So how would you guys utilize the now cavernous pickup pockets?
Favor the boom?
The balance?
Or what?

 

[ctmullins]

Cool project!

I like option two - the 85 at the bridge and the RT J at the neck, with the J and the P in “reverse slant” positions.

I have a three-EMG bass that I love. It’s wired with a Freeway Switch and a basic EMG tone pot, but you could do the same with your two-band. Would require a bit of soldering though.

 

[BassDaddySky]

Great idea!
Soldering is an option, but would make pi c know swaps a little slower.
I see EMG makes a 5 way "Strat" switch.
Not a 10 way like the Free-Way but THE eMG Should be plug and play after the volume pots

 

[ctmullins]

Pickup swaps for me are easy, as the cables still have the quick-connects at the pickup ends.

But yeah, the five-way would work too!

 

[BassDaddySky]

loaded the pickups in the "balanced" configuration.
Springs under the screws, and foam underneath.

Filled out the empty pocket with foam as well.
Ended up moving the bridge south a 1/2" when setting the intonation. But that's probably good for the pickup(s) sweet spot(s).
The pots are vol/vol/vol and the preamp bass and treble.
Will probably add a blade switch soon!


She growls with all three pickups blazing!
Didn't run through any pedals yet. (My pedal board is in the new practice space)
Once I do, I'll try some other pickup configurations.
Add a blade switch and cut a pickguard or two.
Pickguard shape inspiration hasn't hit me yet.
Any suggestions?