Fretless Bass Pickups: Parallel DC , Series DC, Singles, or Split Rev-P?

This is my current go to fretless bass, the Ibanez SRF705. It has 2 magnetic Bartolini MK1 pickups and under the bridge piezo pickup. There are 3 volume knob for each pickup, 2 band EQ for both magnetic and a tone control knob for the piezo. So, essentially this bass came with tons of tonal options.



The thing is... I've just got USA Bartolini MK5CBC pickups for quite a bargain price. I don't have any problems with the stock pickups & electronics, so actually it's not a necessity buy.

FYI, the MK5s are direct replacement for the licensed MK1 pickups and they have different coil configuration. The MK1 has split reverse-P coil inside, whereas the MK5 has full blade dual coil and can be wired as dual coil (series or parallel) or single (north or south) coil.



For simplicity (as the bass already has so many tonal options), I might just wired the coils in series and be done with it. From what I've read, fretless will not get any advantages from parallel dual coil as it will result in creating mid scoop sound whereas fretless sound should be more focused on the midrange. Am I wrong?

To enable coil switching, I need to install one or two mini DPDT siwtches. I opted not to go to this direction as I'd like to keep the bass body original, so drilling extra hole(s) for the mini switch(es) is not an option. But there is always another way... I could change the stock volume pot(s) to push-pull pot type which basically has DPDT on-on switch integrated. This way I could have the options of series dual coil or single coil for each MK5.

The last option seems to be the direction I'm heading, but... I'm still not sure whether single coil pickups will be useful for fretless sound or will the result be worth the effort, as again, the bass itself has already came with tons of tonal options with the stock MK1 pickups, the piezo and the active electronics. I might just sell the MK5CBC.

TB-ers, what say you?

 

This is what I've found so far of the stock electronic diagram:


thanks for @Awesome Sauce for uploading it on Ibanez Portamento Club

I'm really newbie here in terms of modding pots. Seems like if I'd continue with my 3rd option of installing push-pull pot for coil tapping, any push-pull 500K pot will do the job, right?

 

thanks for the tips @RobbieK

I'm still in the process of learning... and yeah, I've just recently learned about that B linear taper thing. Definitely have to make sure about the north and south coil when wiring them for single coil mode.

 

this I still don't understand...

what have a nice high impedance that it can see?

 

thanks for the enlightenment @RobbieK

 

whomever that have voted for Parallel Dual Coil... would you mind to share the reasons why?

 

another update...

Just got myself a B500K push-pull pot. Have looked many places, couldn't find the one with solid shaft (just to match the solid Ibanez stock pots). Now I just need to pull my courage to do the soldering myself...



but seems like I'll just bring it to a friend luthier.

 

ah... thanks. I have no idea such thing ever existed

 

Ibanez own bridge, I guess...

They call it "Custom bridge for AeroSilk Piezo system"