Custom PJ Bass Custom Wiring (Series/Parallel Switch & 3-way Selector Switch)

[theFPVgeek]

Looking to change the wiring of my Fender PJ Bass based on the video linked below and drafted up this wiring diagram.

The intent is to be able to do the following:
- Switch the Neck (P) Pickup between Series and Parallel wiring using a switch
- Select between the Neck (P) Pickup and Bridge (J) Pickup using a 3-way switch (Neck, Both, Bridge)
- Master Volume Dial
- Master Tone Dial

Draft wiring diagram (needs to be verified) - Does this look correct?

 

[bigtone23]

It looks good except the pickup selector.
Wire it like this, not necessarily jumping across the terminals (which does give the switch a back up plan if one side goes out), but using the middle connector as the out to the volume pot and the outside connectors as the inputs from the pickups.

 

[theFPVgeek]

It looks good except the pickup selector.
Wire it like this, not necessarily jumping across the terminals (which does give the switch a back up plan if one side goes out), but using the middle connector as the out to the volume pot and the outside connectors as the inputs from the pickups.
View attachment 4163319

Awesome thanks. So just so I understand this correctly that the 3-way pickup selector (not the series/parallel) should be wired up as you had posted. Will what you posted allow selecting either Neck, Both, Bridge?

Thanks

 

[theFPVgeek]

It looks good except the pickup selector.
Wire it like this, not necessarily jumping across the terminals (which does give the switch a back up plan if one side goes out), but using the middle connector as the out to the volume pot and the outside connectors as the inputs from the pickups.
View attachment 4163319

Does this look correct?

 

[Crater]

Series-parallel switch appears to be wired incorrectly, I think this fixes it.

 

[bigtone23]

Awesome thanks. So just so I understand this correctly that the 3-way pickup selector (not the series/parallel) should be wired up as you had posted. Will what you posted allow selecting either Neck, Both, Bridge?

Thanks

Yes, DPDT on-on-on. The revised drawing Crater posted looks all correct for the S/P switching, too.

 

[theFPVgeek]

Series-parallel switch appears to be wired incorrectly, I think this fixes it.
View attachment 4163608

Thanks!

 

[theFPVgeek]

OK I think I revised this cleaner and hopefully correctly based on bigtone23, Crater, and original YT creator (see new link below).

 

[Camarillo]

Sorry maybe it's off topic but what about if I want to achieve the same configuration without the split coil switch?
(concentric V-T, 3 way selector, output). Could you please help a noob with the wiring?

 

[ZozeTrig]

Hello. And if i want to keep this config and change only that the series/parallel will aply in any option i have in the pickup selector and not only in the neck pickup? what i have to change?

 

[bigtone23]

The Series/Parallel is completely independent of the pickup selector.

 

[ZozeTrig]

The Series/Parallel is completely independent of the pickup selector.

So if i am correct with this attached schematic you are able to, select which pickup you have enabled (neck/both/bridge) and if the bass will run in series or parallel no matter which pickup configuration you have chosen.

 

[bigtone23]

So if i am correct with this attached schematic you are able to, select which pickup you have enabled (neck/both/bridge) and if the bass will run in series or parallel no matter which pickup configuration you have chosen.

Not the bass, only the P pickup will operate in series or parallel mode depending on the switch position.
The pickup selector switch does the same thing it always does, independent of the series/parallel switch: J pickup, both, P pickup.

 

[ZozeTrig]

Not the bass, only the P pickup will operate in series or parallel mode depending on the switch position.
The pickup selector switch does the same thing it always does, independent of the series/parallel switch: J pickup, both, P pickup.

can you change the schematic so the series/parallel switch will be applied in every pickup selection? Question: is it worth applying the series/parallel config in any pickup selection case or the best case scenario is to be applied only in the p pickup? Thank you in advance.

 

[bigtone23]

can you change the schematic so the series/parallel switch will be applied in every pickup selection? Question: is it worth applying the series/parallel config in any pickup selection case or the best case scenario is to be applied only in the p pickup? Thank you in advance.

The J pickup, being a single coil, can't be configured in series or parallel.
Unless the J pickup is a hum cancelling version that has stacked or side by side coils, which the two coils could be wired series or parallel. However, these designs usually work best in the factory configuration.

The P pickup is not in every setting. Whether or not the P pickup is in series or parallel has no influence on the pickup selection for the soloed J pickup, as the P pickup is not in the mix at that setting.

There are schemes for having the neck and bridge pickups, as a unit, wired series or parallel, but I don't find a series wound P pickup to sound very good in series with a J pickup. Too muddy.
A jazz bass with brighter, medium-ish wound single coil pickups sound great in series, however.