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Is series/parallel J bass a good idea???

ejaggers

ejaggers

Aug 18, 2009
2,728
2,681
Fort Worth, TX
#1
I’ve read a few posts about the S1 switch, but I’m thinking most people do not have this. I don’t know a lot about them but doesn’t it give you the best of both worlds, the J sound and the P sound? People seem to love it in the posts I’ve read, so why are they so unpopular? Especially for people that love to mod. Is there a good reason not to do this mod? Pros / cons?
 
#2
Yes it's a good idea, but it's also easy to do yourself with a simple push/pull knob. There's no reason not do it unless you want to keep your bass mint or don't feel comfortable modding your instrument, etc.

Although I hate when people say this, a simple search would have solved your problems.
 
#4
Being primarily a "P" type guy, I only found my Jazz Bass useful AFTER I did the series/parallel switch mod. Finally, some "boom"!!!

It's pretty easy to do, and would also be easy to reverse if you wanted.
 
#6
No. I don't consider it a useless mod at all. As a matter of fact, I do it to ALL of my passive keeper J's. Using the diagram I use, when you go into series mode, you lose the ability to vary the amount each pup contributes to the sound individually (only the first volume control does anything in series mode). Therefore it is important that you set the relative pup heights to give you a good series tone (you have more control over the parallel tone, since both volume controls are usable).

Maybe the people who consider it useless didn't fine tune it, I dunno, but I LOVE it! :hyper:
 
#7
No, not useless at all. I installed a DPDT switch in the neck pup volume spot. Although it definitely adds more punch and gets close to a P sound, I still GAS for a real P bass. Sometimes I think just soloing the neck pup gets closer to the P sound I want. But that's just this amateur's opinion.
 
#8
There is absolutely no disadvantage to doing the mod, unless you are worried about keeping your bass completely stock to maintain the resale value.

There is no reason not to try it, if you don't like the series mode, you don't have to use it. It should only cost you a few bucks to buy a push/pull pot as well. If you don't like it, you only lose a few bucks.
 
#9
+1 on what dabbler said.

I personally never liked having dual volume controls (again, P-bass prejudice) so I just put a DPDT switch in one of the voulume control holes and then wired it up just like a Precision. Both pickups are always "on" just in series or in parallel.

As dabbler said, you will lose volume control over one pickup, but that was fine with me, as I never liked the wimpiness of either single Jazz pickup alone.
 
#10
I have an '07 Jazz with the S-1, and it does exactly what it's designed to do. I don't use it much, but the P sound isn't bad at all IMO. It definitely makes a difference in a Jazz Bass. I think the unpopularity comes from the switch's less than ideal build quality than its' function. I've installed Custom Shop 60s pickups and found the switch very hard to solder to. Really kind of a cheesy build, I think.

Best,
sterling4
 
#11
By no means did I mean to say this mod was useless. I have a series switch installed on my jazz bass and find it very useful. If we want to talk about versatility of an instrument's tone, this is one THE cheapest but most useful mods. No other mod has this big of an impact on sound and allows you to switch back.
 
#13
I did a refin on my ’72 j back in the ‘70s before it became vintage. The bridge pup went out so I put 2 Fralins in w/ 60’s specs, so the original condition concern is gone. Besides, I hardly ever sell. But I’m thinking about doing this because, well I’m running out of stuff to do. I also read that the S1 switch had problems, and I see them on ebay for about $20. Also my pots are scratchy and need to be replaced anyway.
 
#14
Here's a "cobble-ation" of two different wiring diagrams that I used to wire my Series/Parallel switch.

Each pickup ("coils" in the diagram) go to the DPDT switch first, then the two leads "out" go to the volume pot. Easy.

SeriesParallel.jpg
 
#15
I think it's pretty much useless on a P-Bass. But I had an '04 Jazz that had it, and I liked it. I didn't use it a whole lot, but I was always pleased when I used it on specific songs that I felt were well-suited for it.

Our sax player at the time loved that bass. When we'd be getting ready to play certain songs, he'd look over and say, "Jeff, hit your switch for this one!!!" ;)

A lot of guys said they had trouble with the push on/off switch, but I never had any trouble with mine at all.
 
#18
M.R. Ogle said:
Being primarily a "P" type guy, I only found my Jazz Bass useful AFTER I did the series/parallel switch mod. Finally, some "boom"!!!

It's pretty easy to do, and would also be easy to reverse if you wanted.
Click to expand...

+1.

I've never used it in anything other than series since I modded my Warmoth. Just a much fatter tone. But its handy to be able to switch back to parallel if I want to. I say do it, easy mod with a push/pull pot.
 
#19
Very cool mod .

Like everybody else says , there is no reason not to do it unless you have tried it before and the tone in series didn't do it for you . You will still have the same tone of your unmodified J bass and the option of a different deeper tone . I did it to my first SX Jazz 5 and it worked great but the tone didn't seem to be anything I would use so I haven't done it to any of my other basses since . The only way you'll know if it will work for you is to try it . All you'll out is a couple hours of rewiring and the cost of the switching pot .
 

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