Fender Blacktop Precision Bass switching idea

[nlmcguire91]

Hi folks,

I got my hands on a blacktop p-bass the other day, and of course sooner or later I had to tear into it. We're dealing with two double oil J-bass humbuckers, and the way I figure it, I can have three switching capabilities. By using only a single 4PDT switch, I can have:

Series-to-parallel
Series-to-single coil
Parallel-to-single coil

The pickups come wired in series stock, and run in parallel with each other. What do the fine folks here on TB have to say?

 

[TDR1138]

Option D: get an on-on-on switch and get all three.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Each of those HB's are four-wire, correct? Coils not linked in series at the pickup? I think I see the green & whites linked up, red is hot and black is ground?
If so, you're gonna have a lot of good options!
I'm a series guy. Never got along with the Jazz Bass sound until I put in a series switch. May as well have hard-wired it in, as I never switch it out of series. Love the fat, don't like the hum.

 

[nlmcguire91]

Option D: get an on-on-on switch and get all three.

Or just slash the Gordian Knot, that's cool too.

Full disclosure, I didnt realize they made such a beast.

 

[TDR1138]

Or just slash the Gordian Knot, that's cool too.

Full disclosure, I didnt realize they made such a beast.

I used a C&K 7411SYZQE on an L-2000 to get the series/single/parallel. Should work for this, too. Was about $15 shipped on eBay.

 

[nlmcguire91]

I used a C&K 7411SYZQE on an L-2000 to get the series/single/parallel. Should work for this, too. Was about $15 shipped on eBay.

I found this through google. Looks like I've found my answer! Though, I'm curious if you have a reliable wiring diagram available?

Invalid Link Removed

 

[TrustRod]

I second the get all three post.


But another fun option that can be done with a single switch is

all 4 coils / inside 2 coils / outside 2 coils

https://www.bartolini.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/4-Conductor-Wiring-Diagram.pdf
3rd page, 2nd diagram

This basically gives you 3 different pickup layouts to play with, center positions remain humbucking in the 2 coils settings.

 

[TrustRod]

Another crazy idea I have in my head and will try soon is a blend for the 2 coils of each pickup. Then the usual 2 volumes or blend to mix the pickups. This should give huge variation in tones though none will be series.

This can give any combination of the 4 coils in parallel. Plus blends in between.

 

[nlmcguire91]

Another crazy idea I have in my head and will try soon is a blend for the 2 coils of each pickup. Then the usual 2 volumes or blend to mix the pickups. This should give huge variation in tones though none will be series.

This can give any combination of the 4 coils in parallel. Plus blends in between.

That's some craziness right there. Serious variety of sounds!

 

[TDR1138]

I found this through google. Looks like I've found my answer! Though, I'm curious if you have a reliable wiring diagram available?

Invalid Link Removed

Try this:
https://www.bassesbyleo.com/images/l2500/modded/l_2500_series_single_parallel_for_active.jpg

You will need to make heads and tails of the Fender pickup wires, as the colors wont match the G&L colors in the diagram.

 

[nlmcguire91]

So my switch arrived, and I have to say it arrived looking different than I expected. These lugs look different... is this the right kind of switch? I found it on AllParts

 

[4stringsjack]

Option D: get an on-on-on switch and get all three.

This one!

 

[4stringsjack]

So my switch arrived, and I have to say it arrived looking different than I expected. These lugs look different... is this the right kind of switch? I found it on AllParts

Yup. These are actually easier to solder, in my opinion. Just stuff a bit of stripped wire end inside the lug and solder it. It's neater.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

good luck soldering onto those terminals, you should have ordered the C&K that was mentioned:

I think there's a thread around here where I explained what wires were what.
IIRC green/red are a pair & white/black are the other pair

 

[nlmcguire91]

good luck soldering onto those terminals, you should have ordered the C&K that was mentioned:

I did order that part, but it's back ordered until October. This was available sooner

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Here's the thread where I re-wired mine:

will humbucker coils wired in parallel buck the hum better than coils wired in series?

 

[Pbassmanca]

Fender should have stopped screwing around long ago and produced an American version of this bass with the ability to select between any combination of the 4 coils. WHY FENDER???? WHY????

 

[Pbassmanca]

I did order that part, but it's back ordered until October. This was available sooner

Back ordered till' October, ouch........

 

[Pbassmanca]

Fender should have stopped screwing around long ago and produced an American version of this bass with the ability to select between any combination of the 4 coils. WHY FENDER???? WHY????

That said, there was the Roscoe Beck wasn't there.......

 

[nlmcguire91]

Ain't THAT purdy?! "Down" position is series, "Middle" is single coil (middle-north, bridge-south), "Up" is parallel.

Obviously series sounds the same as stock, parallel has slightly less lows and a bit more upper mids, and single coil mode sounds much brighter and glassier without any appreciable loss of lows. Overall, I am incredibly happy with this mod!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who chipped in!!