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3-Pickup Circuit Design

ericw

ericw

Aug 19, 2009
620
13
39
Greencastle, PA
#1
Need opinions/guidance. Going to be doing a stu-hamm uge pickup layout - Jazz Bass bridge, P-bass middle, & Jazz bass Neck (basically right next to the P-bass).

I want the ability to run the p-bass pickup by itself, the two j-pickups together w/o the p-bass, solo each of the j-pickups with the p-pickup, and run all three pickups (probably just for s&g's). Seperate tone controls for the p-pickup and the j's.

I don't THINK I'll want to solo either of the J-pickups (opinions on this?).

Do you think I'll want the vol controls on the j-pickups or just the on/off toggles? Should I also have a vol control on the p-pickup so I can balance the output to the j-pickups or is there another way I can accomplish this (resistor?)?

Should my SPST's break the hot signal or the ground?

What about the Capacitor setup?
 

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#2
So you want two tone controls?
They will interact and act as masters when the volumes are equal.

FWIW, I would use an SPDT or DPDT switch for the on/offs to ground the pickup when it's turned off.

Personally, I would do a VVT setup with the P to one volume pot and the two Js (switchable by their on/off toggles) to the second volume pot.
 
#3
line6man said:
So you want two tone controls?
They will interact and act as masters when the volumes are equal.

FWIW, I would use an SPDT or DPDT switch for the on/offs to ground the pickup when it's turned off.

Personally, I would do a VVT setup with the P to one volume pot and the two Js (switchable by their on/off toggles) to the second volume pot.
Click to expand...

Ah, I see what you're saying! Thanks.

I like the setup you mention, but it wouldn't allow me to balance the two jazz pickups relative each other when the P isn't involved. What about VVVT setup? And what would that look like? just daisy-chaining another pickup/volume pot in front of the standard jazz setup?
 
#4
ericw said:
Ah, I see what you're saying! Thanks.

I like the setup you mention, but it wouldn't allow me to balance the two jazz pickups relative each other when the P isn't involved. What about VVVT setup? And what would that look like? just daisy-chaining another pickup/volume pot in front of the standard jazz setup?
Click to expand...

A VVVT setup would also work.
That just gets a bit tough to control the master volume, since you're dealing with three volumes.

As ridiculous as this sounds, perhaps an additional master volume (Of a high value to avoid loading the circuit too much.) after the three would be useful.
 
#7
I find that the P-pickup (when the J pickups are at certain levels) can sometimes cut the volume (but it still produces some pretty cool tones, it just gets really thin sometimes as if it's the bridge pickup with most of the bass frequencies cut from that, mind, my bridge p-up is very close to the bridge so it makes a pretty twangy sound soloed anyway).

But yes, I'm intending to put one on it when I next get round to it, but it still sounds really good. I also used those values for pots and cap. What model pickups will it have?
 
#8
Sketchy said:
What model pickups will it have?
Click to expand...

Well, right now, what I have on hand is a Dimarzio DP122 (which I do enjoy for gigs minus slapping), Lindy Fralin Jazz Pickup, and a Seymour Duncan Vintage Jazz Pickup.

I assume phase switching is easy enough with the dimarzio since it is a 4-wire pickup (switch the red and green wire from what I'm reading?).

This is all planned for this bass: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=697643 Local shop says he can route the bridge cavity for $50-$60 and I figure I'll do a hack job myself for the neck.
 
#9
Maybe this will help:

JPJ-1.png


Schematic was corrected and verified by Line6man, the resident wiring genius. :D

That switch as an On/On/On will give the following pickup combos:
1. Neck and Bridge Js.
2. Neck and Bridge Js and P.
3. Bridge J and P.
 
#11
Sketchy said:
VVVT is what I have in my squier, although, you might want to put a phase invert on the P-pickup, but I have to say, it will sound pretty fantastic when you're done. You get great tones out of that set-up.
Click to expand...

Have you had good results with a phase switch?

Most people agree that phase switches just give you a useless sound effect that isn't usable for anything serious.
 

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