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Converting active to passive - What would you do with the extra controls?

WhoopingHonky

WhoopingHonky

Jun 8, 2019
271
405
#1
I am looking at getting a dual soapbar five string, but the model I am into comes with a 3 band preamp, and I don't like active electronics. Just a preference thing, I prefer passive. I'm planning to replace the pickups with Nordstrands, but I am wondering what to do with the control holes that are left.

I'm not against bypassing them and just leaving dummy knobs that don't do anything, but that seems like a waste. Tone control is an easy add, but that leaves 2 slots for knobs or switches. What would you suggest to fill in those slots on an all-passive bass?
 
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#3
Kro said:
I take it the bass doesn't have a pickguard?

Personally I'd rather have producers' knobs/switches than add unnecessary complexity, but if a pickguard swap is an option maybe just simplify outright.
Click to expand...
No, it's a rear routed Schecter. I am not against having cosmetic knobs on to avoid gaps, wasn't sure if there was anything passive worth adding to a soapbar set. Have been out of the pickups/electronics world for a while focusing on pedals and technique, lol.
 
#4
Plugs?…

upload_2021-2-11_15-38-19.jpeg
 
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#7
WhoopingHonky said:
I am looking at getting a dual soapbar five string, but the model I am into comes with a 3 band preamp, and I don't like active electronics. Just a preference thing, I prefer passive. I'm planning to replace the pickups with Nordstrands, but I am wondering what to do with the control holes that are left.

I'm not against bypassing them and just leaving dummy knobs that don't do anything, but that seems like a waste. Tone control is an easy add, but that leaves 2 slots for knobs or switches. What would you suggest to fill in those slots on an all-passive bass?
Click to expand...

Why not just turn the volume control into a push-pull active/passive switch?
 
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#8
Skip Chucker said:
Why not just turn the volume control into a push-pull active/passive switch?
Click to expand...

I would be looking to change the pickups out anyway, not a huge fan of the EMGs it comes with. Everything else on the bass fits what I am looking for, though.

dwizum said:
How many holes in total?

With soapbars that have 4 conductor wiring, you can add switches for coil split and/or series/parallel. Even just one coil tap switch per pickup would use up two holes.
Click to expand...

5. Volume, blend, and 3 band EQ. I'll be keeping the volume and blend, and adding a tone would leave me with two left. I thought about series/parallel, hadn't thought about single coils. Do coil tapped humbuckers stay quiet when tapped, or does it open things up for noise?
 
#9
WhoopingHonky said:
I'll be keeping the volume and blend, and adding a tone would leave me with two left. I thought about series/parallel, hadn't thought about single coils. Do coil tapped humbuckers stay quiet when tapped, or does it open things up for noise?
Click to expand...

Depends on how well the pickup is shielded. Won’t know until you try.

In addition to a traditional passive tone control, you could install
  • Passive bass cut
  • Passive bass cut for the bridge pickup only (think vintage Rickenbacker)
  • Spin-a-split
  • Spin-a-split with G&L OMG cap
  • Wilde Filter
  • Passive fuzz using one or two Schottky diodes (but don’t do that....)
 
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#11
classic: volume - volume - tone - tone - pickup switch
modern: volume - volume - tone - pickup switch - serial/parallel
less wiring: volume - volume - tone - pickup switch - mute switch

two volumes and a pickup switch is a great configuration btw.
some guys even add the third volume for it all: master volume
 
#14
Maybe series/parallel for each pickup if you get hum buckers?
This is a little outside your specified parameters, but with those 2 extra knob spots I personally would add a 2-band boost-only preamp. I like the Aguilar OBP-1 (very natural & musical IME - wouldn't even know it was engaged until you start boosting stuff). I see Nordstrand also has a model for $88.50. That in conjunction with the passive tone (and of course bypass) really is the best of both worlds IMHO. YMMV
 
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#15
I guess you could wire it like a Les Paul, two volumes, two tones and a pickup switch. But cooler would be to incorporate a series/parallel switch. You could also do a kill switch I guess.
Volume, tone, Blend, kill switch and parallel/series switch
 
#16
Leave the old pots and knobs as dummies. Anything else will look like a patch. If anyone asks what that knob is for, tell them it’s to adjust the talent level. You leave it all the way down for three chord songs and turn it up for flat keys. ;)

If you ever do something like wire a switch for the pickups in series or reverse phase or whatever, you could make a round plug and mount the toggle switch in it as others have also suggested.
 
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#19
MikePlaysBass said:
Leave the old pots and knobs as dummies. Anything else will look like a patch. If anyone asks what that knob is for, tell them it’s to adjust the talent level. You leave it all the way down for three chord songs and turn it up for flat keys. ;)

If you ever do something like wire a switch for the pickups in series or reverse phase or whatever, you could make a round plug and mount the toggle switch in it as others have also suggested.
Click to expand...
I was thinking you could say one is a volume control for the drummer, the other is a pitch adjustment for the singer.
 
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