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Benefits to PJ 3-way or dual volume

scuzzy

scuzzy

Feb 15, 2006
6,141
1
15,151
Troy, MO
#1
I searched all over, and found tons of related threads and posts, but nothing addressed exactly what I want to know.

I have a PJ bass with a DiMarzio DP126 set. The current set-up is V/V/T. I prefer to run it at around 100% P, 80% J for most rock stuff (since both on 100% gives a drop in volume). I don't like using 2 volumes, but can deal with it. I am looking at a few options but don't know the benefits of each from a tonal and electrical standpoint.

I have a 3-way toggle I could use and run toggle/vol/tone. I'm not sure I would miss all the variety I could get with the dual volumes, as I would mostly use p-pup alone or both pups full on. I think I have read that this set-up would not lead to a drop in volume for both pups on?

Also, I could just add the 3 way to the current set-up and have v/v/3-way/tone.

Or I could just stay lazy, drink beer, and leave it alone. What are some pro's con's of these different variations?

Also, are series/parallel switches worth it on these particular pups?
 
#4
I have a fretless with the same pickups. It is wired 3-way with v/v/t. I also have a series/parallel switch for the P p'up. If I were to do it again, I would not bother with the dual volumes and just use the 3-way. The s/p switch on the P is nice, but I have not used the P in parallel yet with my band. I do think the tone is very nice and certainly useable. You could also use the Fender Roscoe Beck trick of a push/pull tone pot that gives you some fixed blend setting.
 
#5
I, too, would like clarification of the volume issue with both pickups using two volumes, a volume and blend, or a toggle setup.

I always thought it would be sorta trick on a two pickup bass to use the four way blade switch tht some folks Use on modded telecasters to give the option of series and parallel whenmusing both pickups.
 
#6
BFunk said:
I have a fretless with the same pickups. It is wired 3-way with v/v/t. I also have a series/parallel switch for the P p'up. If I were to do it again, I would not bother with the dual volumes and just use the 3-way. The s/p switch on the P is nice, but I have not used the P in parallel yet with my band. I do think the tone is very nice and certainly useable. You could also use the Fender Roscoe Beck trick of a push/pull tone pot that gives you some fixed blend setting.
Click to expand...

very helpful. i appreciate first hand users opinions!

Will I get full output with the 3-way and one volume, as opposed to a dual volume?
 
#9
scuzzy said:
I searched all over, and found tons of related threads and posts, but nothing addressed exactly what I want to know.

I have a PJ bass with a DiMarzio DP126 set. The current set-up is V/V/T. I prefer to run it at around 100% P, 80% J for most rock stuff (since both on 100% gives a drop in volume). I don't like using 2 volumes, but can deal with it. I am looking at a few options but don't know the benefits of each from a tonal and electrical standpoint.

I have a 3-way toggle I could use and run toggle/vol/tone. I'm not sure I would miss all the variety I could get with the dual volumes, as I would mostly use p-pup alone or both pups full on. I think I have read that this set-up would not lead to a drop in volume for both pups on?

Also, I could just add the 3 way to the current set-up and have v/v/3-way/tone.

Or I could just stay lazy, drink beer, and leave it alone. What are some pro's con's of these different variations?

Also, are series/parallel switches worth it on these particular pups?
Click to expand...

I wired my PJ with a V/T/3 way..

I dont use them both together so it works for me and is way more simple. I did not like having 2 volumes. Also this way im getting truly Just the P or J pickup
 
#10
i just got it wired up with a series/parallel switches on each pickup with vol/vol/3-way toggle/tone. took me forever because I'm not great at this stuff, but it's all working and i have many more tones to work with now. I'm mostly impressed with the improved p-bass tone while that pup is isolated. very nice. thanks line6man for the info and diagrams.
 
#11
A little late to the party. Thumbs up on wiring in S/P switches for each pickup, and a 3 way selector. Did you use a Tele switch? If you did you may consider in the future, replacing the 3 way with a 4 way Tele-mod switch, allowing series between the two pickups. On my own P/J, the pickups ( both being dual coil ) are individually wired in series, and a 4 way selector allows J - P/J parallel - P - P/J series. I have just one volume and one tone. Pickup height adjustment serves to balance out the two pickups.

I find that about 95% of the time I'm either in P solo or P/J series. P/J parallel is nice and clear, well defined, I prefer it a little raggedy :)
 
#12
vistacruiser said:
A little late to the party. Thumbs up on wiring in S/P switches for each pickup, and a 3 way selector. Did you use a Tele switch? If you did you may consider in the future, replacing the 3 way with a 4 way Tele-mod switch, allowing series between the two pickups. On my own P/J, the pickups ( both being dual coil ) are individually wired in series, and a 4 way selector allows J - P/J parallel - P - P/J series. I have just one volume and one tone. Pickup height adjustment serves to balance out the two pickups.

I find that about 95% of the time I'm either in P solo or P/J series. P/J parallel is nice and clear, well defined, I prefer it a little raggedy :)
Click to expand...

I will definitely consider that for the future. Thanks for the tip.
 
#14
Charley Umbria said:
Is there a benefit to the V/Blend/T setup vs V/V/T?
Click to expand...

I'm in favor of switch/V/T.

I think a lot of the trouble inherent to V/V/T would be more or less still there with V/B/T.

Here's the point with this whole issue:

People think of wiring dual pickups in hydraulic terms -- the pickups are water tanks routed through simple faucets into the same trough. What could be simpler?

But we're not talking hydraulics here. Pickup signals aren't water. They don't work hydraulically, they work electronically. The signals aren't simple liquid, they're electronic and (worse) alternating current electronic at that.

The pickups have different impedance, inductance, voltage, etc., and these give complex signatures that change still more with adjusting the passive pots through which these signals pass.

They don't smoothly mix with each other (like water) so much as interfere with each other, creating peaks and cancellations. Every time you move a pot or hit the string or change a note, the problem changes. Sometimes this kludgy mess more or less works, sometimes it's a complete trainwreck. :hmm:

Personally, mixing pickups with passive controls by whatever method is something I generally avoid as more trouble than it's worth, both with guitar and bass.
 
#15
Late to the party, but... like the OP, I prefer the sound of the P soloed to the sound of the J, but I like the tone of both together. Yesterday I rewired my P/J clone to work as parallel/P/series, and I think I'll keep it that way because the series mode really gives an extra dimension to the sound. That, and it doesn't take much to learn the new switch positions, and it stayed a 3/V/T.
 
#16
Good insights, Bongolation. I'm fortunate that I really like the added sound of the J-pickup on my P/J. Sort of a "hi-fi P-Bass" tone. But, I can see where adding different pups to any given bass could be a crapshoot.

One question, when you say that you favor a switch/V/T configuration, are you talking about a switch that gives you soloed P-pup or soloed J-Pup, but not both? Or is it a three-way P/both/J setup?
 
#17
Charley Umbria said:
One question, when you say that you favor a switch/V/T configuration, are you talking about a switch that gives you soloed P-pup or soloed J-Pup, but not both? Or is it a three-way P/both/J setup?
Click to expand...
3-way, P/J/Both. Like a Telecaster guitar. Or the Tony Franklin P.

A P+J has an interesting sound, but trying to mix levels just doesn't work that great, usually, and sometimes not at all.
 
#18
With a PJ setup, I've had:

VBT, where I used the centre-notched blend like a 3-way switch - worked fine.
VVT, which is the least satisfying. I find that the volume pots are more like on-off switches.

And my current main player and best PJ I've found: volume, tone and 4-way rotary switch (P, P&J in series, P&J in parallel and J). That's four distinct and usable tones.
 
#19
The rotary switch idea sounds great!

I usually back off the P-pup or the J-pup just a bit on my P/J to get a slightly fuller tone. When you switch into one of the "both pickups" positions, do you get any comb filtering, like you do on a Jazz Bass with both volumes maxed?

I guess this question applies, regardless of whether you're using a rotary selector or a three-way switch...
 
#20
Charley Umbria said:
The rotary switch idea sounds great!

I usually back off the P-pup or the J-pup just a bit on my P/J to get a slightly fuller tone. When you switch into one of the "both pickups" positions, do you get any comb filtering, like you do on a Jazz Bass with both volumes maxed?

I guess this question applies, regardless of whether you're using a rotary selector or a three-way switch...
Click to expand...

Without an amp to hand, so working from memory, there's definitely a scoop on both together in parallel. I'm not sure there's as much of a volume drop as on a regular Jazz. With the series option it's definitely a thicker, louder sound - that and the P solo are my favourite settings.
 

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