Adding active/passive switch to a Fender Deluxe Jazz Bass. Help!

[Cgillean]

I am about to buy a new bass. It is an American Deluxe Jazz Bass. I like the bass a lot but I want to add an active/passive switch. The newer models I have played have this and I like it a lot. How do I do this? And how hard is it? I am completely new to modifying basses and don't want to mess this one up. Any help would be really appreciated!

 

[awilkie84]

 

[Technotitclan]

Kinda depends on the pre. Usually you can google the name of the pre and active/passive switch and you'll find instruction. Example google Bartolini NTMB active/passive switch. Bam, tons of links with pics, documents and schematics.

 

[khutch]

The diagram above will give you a basic passive mode, no passive tone, no passive volume. So if you want a limp home mode in the case of a battery failure it will do the job quite well. My Reggie Hamilton Standard Jazz comes with a passive mode that includes a passive mode volume control. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] To make that happen you would need to replace the standard volume control with a "Reggie Hamilton" volume control pot which you can find at some guitar parts suppliers. It is a bit involved because the old volume pot will be soldered directly to the preamp board and replacing it could be beyond many weekend bass modification hobbiests. The current American Deluxe Jazz basses have passive mode tone controls too but I have never seen the replacement mid pots you would need for that for sale anywhere. The Fender diagram for those basses does list a part number for the pot, if you can get Fender to sell you one.