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Adding an on off switch to a P bass

#22
Killing Floor said:
Yeah. I can say I’ve never used the one on my Starplayer and next time I do a deep maintenance I plan on installing a series parallel in its place.
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I'm a big fan of the series/parallel switch on guitars. I like loading up a hot humbucker in something and keeping it in parallel for the most part, but snapping it to series for a built-in passive style boost
 
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#25
#1 - a kill switch is an excellent idea. Mandatory for any two-volume system IMO. I am so spoiled by mine (on a J) that when I have to roll a single P knob aaalll the way off is such a chore to me! X2 on coyote1's comment: once you find "the" volume setting during soundcheck, DON'T mess with it!

#2 - I have an even better idea for you. While you're in there, do a series-parallel DPDT to "split" the P-pickup, but when you buy the switch, opt for an ON-OFF-ON. The middle will be "kill," then up/down will be series/parallel, too. Diagram attached, but there are many other good diagrams you can use / search for as well.


P-series-parallel.png
 
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#26
So Anyway, don't have a recommendation for the switch brand that you'd need.

But I did have a G&L P Bass with an aftermarket kill switch. I found it very useful when I was playing with a chart band. I could flip the switch, turn pages without making a noise and flip the switch to have my exact same volume. Same thing when we were on a break, flip the switch and then come back at the same volume.
Good luck with your upgrade.
 
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#28
coyote1 said:
IMO it makes a world of sense, depending on the player involved. If you can have an instant off without having to mess with your control pots, why not? More than once I’ve seen folks mess with the wrong knob in order to silence their instrument.
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If you can't figure out the volume pot on a P bass, you probably shouldn't be playing bass. But if it means that much to have an instant off, get a tuner pedal. Same result, and you don't have to mod the instrument.
 
#29
@b-bottom check out what @fig said. He’s always on point with wiring. I’d go with the push pull myself if I was going to do that mod.

Most decent preamps have a mute switch and I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t my preference. However there’s no limit to mods and no one should discourage you from trying your own way.
 
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#35
Killing Floor said:
I have a kill switch on a Duesenberg bass. The guy at GC thought it was a pickup selector and the front pickup “didn’t work” so they gave me $700 off.
Sure, it’s useless but it saved me a pile of cash.
If you can find someone to pay you $700 to put on a kill switch you should take that deal.
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GC aren't the first people to make that mistake RE the "selector.". And the bass is a full hollow, not semi. I bought it. For the grain.

 
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#37

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