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A simple varitone circuit for your bass -

#161
I got the parts. I assembled them. Thus is the results.
Switch assembly.
IMG_1073.gif

Wrapping the ground wires.
IMG_1074.gif

Assembly to the volume circuit.
IMG_1075.gif

I still haven't soldered the master ground, but that's because I don't know how its going to be oriented under the guard.
 
#162
Luckie said:
I got the parts. I assembled them. Thus is the results.
Switch assembly.
IMG_1073.gif

Wrapping the ground wires.
IMG_1074.gif

Assembly to the volume circuit.
IMG_1075.gif

I still haven't soldered the master ground, but that's because I don't know how its going to be oriented under the guard.
Click to expand...

Mine is full of those Mallory caps also, they sound great. Leo Fender liked them too. It isn't really a Varitone unless you add an inductor. It gives the frequency a shelving effect rather cutting everything above it. I use a couple of 42TL018's wired in series with a DPDT to split the values. Mouser sells them Invalid Link Removed I used this guide:

42TL022 1.5K Ohms .56 Henry
42TL021 4K Ohms 1.5 Henry
42TL018 7K Ohms 2.6 Henry
42TL019 10K Ohms 3.75 Henry
42TL025 17K Ohms 6.4 Henry
42TL017 20K Ohms 7.5 Henry
 
#163
BassLife77 said:
Mine is full of those Mallory caps also, they sound great. Leo Fender liked them too.
Click to expand...

Leo bought what ever was available at the time for a good price. Caps have no sound of their own when used in these kind of circuits. As long as they are up to spec, they all sound the same. Same is true of regular passive tone controls. Don't waste money on expensive "vintage" style caps.

When you are running the signal through the cap, as in an amplifier, then they do sound a little different. But not by a whole lot.

I would have built this with much smaller caps. :)
 
#166
This is awesome!
But now I can't decide on how to mod my bass :rollno:
Initially I wanted a serial/parallel push/pull pot a master volume pot, a pickup selector switch or blend, and a tone control (not necesarilly in that order), but now I'd like to try this also using position 0 as a kill switch, position 1 ass bypass, and the rest for tone shaping

Is is possible to fit all this in a jb without having to drill/modify the body or control plate? How?

Which of these would you keep if you could not add them all (because of lack of room in a jb)? I use this bass on a live setting, and would just switch tones between songs
 
#167
Attention!
Due to my inability to design moderately complex electronics (read; count), I have built two more switch assemblies than I actually need.
Thusly, I am going to give them away.
Just send me a PM. (Post in this thread to let people know).
If you're willing to pay shipping, they're (it's) yours.
Cap values are those from the original diagram.
Note; these are just the switches/caps. No pots.
 
#173
Roadkill said:
If someone is looking to build an external version a good place to start would be to buy this kit:
Invalid Link Removed
You could easily mount two phone jacks and perhaps replace the "PF" values switch with a tone pot :cool: .
Click to expand...

I saw that box before I built mine but I think it only has ceramic caps and I prefer metal films. I wasn't sure if it had enough space for the inductors and switches.
 
#174
After reading this thread and with the philosophy of "anything worth doing is worth overdoing" ;) I'm thinking about building a twelve position version with:
.01
.015
.022
.033
.047
.068
.1
.15
.22
.33
.47

These give steps of about 1/2 octave. The larger values should be particularly good for reggae and related genres. Has anyone found a value under .01 of any use? I'll use a "shorting" style switch so there are no volume spikes while switching :cool: .

I'll probably order up ten sets of parts from parts express - I'll have ~5 sets of parts surplus ($6 set plus postage) if anyone is interested?
 
#175
Roadkill said:
After reading this thread and with the philosophy of "anything worth doing is worth overdoing" ;) I'm thinking about building a twelve position version with:
.01
.015
.022
.033
.047
.068
.1
.15
.22
.33
.47

These give steps of about 1/2 octave. The larger values should be particularly good for reggae and related genres. Has anyone found a value under .01 of any use? I'll use a "shorting" style switch so there are no volume spikes while switching :cool: .

I'll probably order up ten sets of parts from parts express - I'll have ~5 sets of parts surplus ($6 set plus postage) if anyone is interested?
Click to expand...


i would be interested. where do you get the shorting style switch from and is that included
 
#176
jumbodbassman said:
i would be interested. where do you get the shorting style switch from and is that included
Click to expand...
From [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] and yes, the switch is about half of the $6 cost. I just got the parts in but two of the cap values are on backorder. One is due next week (0.047uf) but the other (0.1uf) hasn't had a date set yet :( . BTW the switch doesn't have a stop in it so you can't find position #1 by "feel" - definitely need a chickenhead knob (guess I should have ordered some :( ). I think the switch's bushing is long enough to reach through the wooden body of my pickguardless bass - probably need a couple washers to mount it to a pickguard.
 

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