How to convert active bass to "stereo" (like Rick-O-Sound)

Discussion in 'Pickups & Electronics [BG]' started by lucas303, Jun 10, 2019.

  1. lucas303

    lucas303

    Mar 11, 2019
    Colorado
    I've got two basses, both of which are active and I believe they both have passive pickups: Schecter Stiletto Extreme 4 and Dean Edge 2 (five-string). I'd like to convert one of them to have each pickup outputted separately. I've tried to read about this and it seems that this is easier in a passive bass. So, I'm assuming step one would be converting the bass to passive.

    What do I need to do to accomplish this? I'd prefer to do the work myself, and I do have some soldering ability. Ideally I'd like to do it in a way that is undoable further down the road. So, a single stereo output (TRS 1/4" most likely) is necessary. If replacing the pickups is necessary that's fine.

    Requiring a stereo cable is not an issue for me...I only play at home so there's no concern about a cable crapping out or being lost at a gig.

    Obviously the controls on the bass will have to function differently if there's no active preamp in the bass. If I could have a master volume, and separate volumes for each pickup, that would likely be sufficient. Any other functionality would be gravy.

    So, how can I convert a bass to have stereo output like Rick-O-Sound?
     
  2. Jazz Ad

    Jazz Ad Mi la ré sol

    You need to rip everything out of the bass, wire one pickup hot to the tip, the other to the ring and both grounds to the sleeve. Voila.
    If so inclined you can use volume and tone.
     
    Qlanq likes this.
  3. lucas303

    lucas303

    Mar 11, 2019
    Colorado
    What about the wiring of master volume and each pickup's volume?
     
  4. Turnaround

    Turnaround Commercial User

    May 6, 2004
    Toronto Canada
    Independent Instrument Technician - Retired
    If you are looking for stereo, your mater volume will have to be a dual-gang pot. You would wire each pickup the same way you would for a single pickup bass, and the output from each circuit will go to one of the gangs on the master volume.
     
  5. Jazz Ad

    Jazz Ad Mi la ré sol

    There isn't much point to a master volume with each pickup going to a different amp.
     
  6. lucas303

    lucas303

    Mar 11, 2019
    Colorado
    How about instead of master volume there's a mono/stereo switch. When switched to stereo there's the volume for each individual pickup and that's it. When switched to mono, though, there's a blend knob for the two pickups. How feasible is that?
     
  7. Jazz Ad

    Jazz Ad Mi la ré sol

    Pretty easy actually.
     
  8. lucas303

    lucas303

    Mar 11, 2019
    Colorado
    Got any tips for how it's done, or where I could find how?
     
  9. lucas303

    lucas303

    Mar 11, 2019
    Colorado
    Would this wiring scheme be correct for each pickup having its own volume, and a switch that chooses between mono and stereo (with mono being simply the two pickups in parallel)?
     

    Attached Files:

  10. I would leave it active with two vol pots but just have a switch that directed one pickup to the ring connector of a stereo jack. This way the preamp will still work on one pickup. You could use an eq pedal or a stomp box type preamp for the other if you really needed.

    You'll need to swap the jack though. Active electronics usually use a stereo jack for switching on. You'll have to swap this for a switching jack.
     
  11. lucas303

    lucas303

    Mar 11, 2019
    Colorado
    I'd like to make it passive. For one it seems more straightforward that way, and also I'm not a huge fan of the sound of the existing preamp.
     
  12. Cool. In that case, remove the preamp and wire it vtvt. Use a push pull on the pickup vol you want to split that directs pot's output to the ring connector on the jack, via the other tone pot. With a regular mono guitar cable the switch will simply mute that pickup. You'll need to also buy or make a stereo splitter.
     
  13. lucas303

    lucas303

    Mar 11, 2019
    Colorado
    I don't want any tone controls...I'd rather do that elsewhere. Does the sketch I posted above look like it will work?