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Master volume on a Jazz bass

Lon86

Lon86

Jan 21, 2008
362
7
Venice, CA
www.myspace.com
#1
Been playing a P for the last 5 or so years and got used to just reaching down and turning the bass off with the single volume.

Recently got a bass with a JP pickup configuration...A Jazz bass with a p pickup.

I have found a perfect blend point between the two pickups and don't want to change it every time I put the bass down or simply do a volume fade, besides, doing this with dual volumes is a pain.

Anyone have any mod suggestions on putting in a master volume?

Will this affect the tone???

I was thinking possibly using the same three holes in this order:
Master Volume---stacked volume tone---stacked volume tone.

Anyone ever do this, and if so, how hard is it to do...???

Thanks in advance!
 
#8
My PJ pickuped bass has master volume, blend, tone. I love that configuration! Some people feel that, compared to a volume control for each pickup, master volume/blend offers *slightly* less treble.

You can pick up a blend pot for about $10 if you are handy with a soldering iron, or you can buy a pre-wired harness already soldered together so you just have to solder the pickup leads and bridge ground (I recommend www.has-sound.com). Good luck!

Edit: I didn't see your comment about already trying a blend knob before I posted. I hear what you are saying, but I don't understand it :) A blend pot is literally two volume pots stacked on top of each other. How is neck volume 100%/bridge volume 80% different than using a blend knob and turning it 20% towards the neck pickup?
 
#10
All are 250k pots...

When I tried using a single blend, it rolled back the p tone when I tried dialing in the Jazz pickup.

Basically, I lost the ideal tone I was getting with the dual volumes.

Is there a certain type of pot I could used to alleviate his...and how should it be wired.
 
#11
Lon86 said:
All are 250k pots...

When I tried using a single blend, it rolled back the p tone when I tried dialing in the Jazz pickup.

Basically, I lost the ideal tone I was getting with the dual volumes.

Is there a certain type of pot I could used to alleviate his...and how should it be wired.
Click to expand...
Well... When using a blend pot you have to get the impedance to match up, so if you're using a 250K volume pot you need a 500K/500K blend pot to get everything to match up right, or at least that's my understanding.
 
#13
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lon86
I tried...but I get a better blend and much more diversity by blending the individual volumes than having a single blend knob.

No, you don't. They offer exactly the same possibilities.
Click to expand...
Actually they do not. My understanding is a blend pot works with both pickups at 100% at the center detent. As you turn it, it rolls one off while leaving the other at 100%.
Two volumes will let you use one pickup at 50% and one at 30% for example. I currently have a Jazz bass set up this way - Master vol, with a stacked Vol/Tone for each pickup. I like the versatility. But since I'm not much for wiring I had my tech do it and it came out great. Can't offer you a "how to" - sorry.
 
#14
bassclef112 said:
Actually they do not. My understanding is a blend pot works with both pickups at 100% at the center detent. As you turn it, it rolls one off while leaving the other at 100%.
Two volumes will let you use one pickup at 50% and one at 30% for example. I currently have a Jazz bass set up this way - Master vol, with a stacked Vol/Tone for each pickup. I like the versatility. But since I'm not much for wiring I had my tech do it and it came out great. Can't offer you a "how to" - sorry.
Click to expand...
That's the thing, you turn down the master volume too and you basically get the same effect, just from a different angle.
 
#15
When wired correctly, a blend knob has a center detent (or "click") that is neck 100%, bridge 100%. Turning it in one direction is the same as turning the neck pickup down, until turned all the way, you get neck 0%, bridge 100%. Going the opposite direction turns the bridge pickup down, leaving the neck at 100%.

Theoretically, I guess you could say it is a less versatile setup than volume/volume, because one (or both, in the center position) of the pickups is always at 100%. So you can't for example do bridge 60% neck 40%. But that's what the master volume is for :)

But the important thing is that *you're* happy with your setup, right? Your master volume, stack vol/tone, vol/tone idea is intriguing. Another thought is master volume, stacked vol/vol (instead of blend), and tone.

Edit: you beat me to it, bassclef :)
The only advantage I can think for having volume/volume *for me* is if I was using volume pots where the position of the pot affected the tone. For example a lot of old pots, you lose treble if the volume is not at 100%. In that case, I could definitely see the argument for being able to go neck 50% bridge 30%, if that treble bleed was part of "my sound." Otherwise, I stand by my argument that it's the same as using a blend knob neck 100% bridge 60% and turning the master volume down to 50%.
 
#18
Would using a volume pedal solve your problem? You could leave the knobs alone and just raise or lower the volume with the pedal. I had the same problem you described and solved it to some extent by using a vol pedal. Once you find the perfect blend you don't want to mess with it. I too like individual controls for each pickup. I like to hear the neck pickup mostly with just a touch or more of the bridge pickup that helps to cut through. I recently switched from MTD dual pick up basses to MTD basses w/ a single MM pup because the pickup is in such a sweet spot for sound and use as a thumbrest and I don't have to worry about the blending issue. Good luck
 
#20
I do like the idea of different ratio of volume for the pickups.

I personally like 80% neck and around 50% bridge but i find it my tone won't go too well in the mix and it will not cut in the band sound.

I did try turn the gain up and volume on the amp etc.
 

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