Multi-Pickup Bass Project: Adding a Master Vol Control

[Doctor Hugocat]

Hey everyone -

I'm partway through my very silly multi-pup bass project. It's just something I want to build from parts I have lying around. Configuration is: Jazz-Pbass-Pbass-MM.

I want to give each pickup its own volume control so I can balance them up. But I also want to have a master volume control: I really hate not being able to adjust my overall volume halfway through a song etc.

I'm using 250k pots for the jazz and two Pbass pups, and a 500k for the MM humbucker: should I use a 500k pot for the master volume? Or even a 1meg? I'm a bit worried it's all going to sound too muddy.

BTW, everyone asks my why I'm building this....there is no why: I have the parts and think it's going to look cool. It may play like a wounded dog, but it'll look cool

Thanks for any advice!!
B

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

Higher resistance values will brighten up the tone. A 500k volume pot will sound brighter than a 250k. I would try both and see what you like better.

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

Check this post out for details: http://www.talkbass.com/threads/pot-shootout-250k-vs-500k-audio-vs-linear.671456/

 

[Doctor Hugocat]

Thanks Michael - that's an excellent thread which I'd missed when I did a search. Much obliged. Since I'm already passing the signal through 250k for most of the pups, I'm going for 500k at the master.

 

[bolophonic]

Where are the photos of this wounded dog?

 

[Doctor Hugocat]

Where are the photos of this wounded dog?

Ah! Thank you for asking: I've been waiting until it looks a bit more like something, but here's a pic after routing. I started with an old MIK P/J body (because I had one) so it's a bit messy because of the existing PUP routes: nothing was in the place I needed it! I'll be using a pickguard and this is the first time I've used a router......the plan is that if the thing turns out well, I'll do it again with a really nice body. I'll post more pics when I have progress

 

[bolophonic]

Wow. I am curious about the MM pickup in the extreme neck position.

 

[Doctor Hugocat]

Wow. I am curious about the MM pickup in the extreme neck position.

So am I

I've seen it done a few times in multi-pup projects. The MM and the 2 Pbass p0ups will have series/parallel switches.

 

[JustForSport]

Considering the affects of resistance due to multiple pots, you may want to opt for a 5-way or SuperSwitch to keep your tonal options more versatile.

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

I am so watching this! I have a design tucked away that has 8 single coil jazz pups filling the body, but have not be able to convince myself to pull the trigger on a proto to see what it would sound like...

 

[Doctor Hugocat]

Considering the affects of resistance due to multiple pots, you may want to opt for a 5-way or SuperSwitch to keep your tonal options more versatile.

Thanks for the input: I'm concerned about the same......I never thought of the 5-way switch! Now I'm going to Google SuperSwitch so I can pretend I know what it is......

Michael, I'm happy to pass on any info I can, but I'm learning as I go. If you've got any questions or if any pics would help, just PM me.