Dimarzio Model P: series vs. parallel?

The standard and most common way to wire the DP122 (and any other Precision pickup) is in series. I believe most people that want a DP122, want it for the way it sounds in series. When the pickup is wired in parallel, it will sound thinner and the output will be lower. You do not need a switch to wire the pickup in parallel. The pickup can be wired in series, parallel, or a switch can be used to switch between the two. The most common way to switch between series and parallel is a push/pull pot (volume or tone). A mini toggle switch is also frequently used.

 

It’s useable. I had a Model PJ set with the s/p switch on the P and in parallel, it matched the J pretty well. The volume was lower, but not thin or tinny or weak. It wasn’t the velvet hammer that series was, but certainly no slouch.

 

As stated above, @rojo412 seems to find it useful. I don’t really care for any P-Bass pickup in parallel, so I’m probably not the person to ask.

 

Great information above! I will just add (since nobody has said it explicitly) that most people with the series/parallel mod are doing it on two-pickup basses (like Jazz basses).

 

I use the DiMarzio in parallel mode in a PJ Bass and that way, the output of the P and the J pickups are matching quite well.
To tame the additional treble of the parallel wiring, i added a 1nF capacitor to the DiMarzio which brings the resonant frequency back to where it usually is with P pickups.

With the tone knob rolled slightly down, I will say it sounds pretty much like the series wiring; only lower in volume (which is a good thing for me in this case).

 

I had a B.C. Rich bass with the original cream DiMarzios, with a series/parallel switch for each pickup (it was P-P rather than P-J). I always left it in series because I've always gravitated to the fattest tone possible.