P/J 4 knob wiring? Again...

[TaperChuck]

I know this subject has been beat to death here, but I still can't find a satisfactory answer. I hope someone has a good solution.

I have a Chinese P/J which I installed Fender MIM P & J pickups. It has 4 knobs all 500k wired as VTVT. The second tone control is just redundant in my experience. Two tones on the stock circuit do the exact same thing. Is there any really good way to utilize that extra tone control? I can read and follow a schematic and rewire to one if anyone has a good one to try.

I've considered turning the 4th tone into a master volume straight out to the output jack, or using a different capacitor so it rolls off at a different rate then the other tone control. Maybe even using the hole to add a switch and just remove the pot? I like the sound I get from basically using it VVT, but I came from a 6-string guitar background where the wiring makes sense with a blade switch. No room for a blade switch in this cavity, so I can't do that. I just can't stand having that redundant tone control. I enjoy moding stuff, so even if it's a crazy idea I'd like to hear it.

 

[DarkStar90]

Well, on my stack knob PJ, i installed a 3way series/parallel switch (on-on-on). When in series, i can use either tone knob. So first idea I had was to install two very different caps on each tone pot. I used a mini toggle.

Also wiring a pair of diodes in place of a cap on one of the tone pots would bring in some distortion.

Using a selector switch after each pot would help keep the tone pots separated. I usually back off the treble a bit on my bridge pickup, but I like leaving the P pickup open.

 

[ctmullins]

Other options:

• A normal tone control with a different value capacitor
• A master bass cut control
• A bass cut control for the bridge pickup (think vintage Rickenbacker wiring)
• A Wilde Filter
• A passive fuzz, as @vinnydbass mentioned

 

[bigtone23]

A Wilde Q Filter is a cool addition for tonal variety. I tuned mine to as close to 450Hz as possible and it really can make some great tones. A little roll off make the bass have a clean clarity, a deep cut makes it dubby and fat.

 

[TaperChuck]

I like that idea. A mid EQ knob. I did find a schematic online that does a better job of separating the two tone controls. I rewired it that way during the shutdown and am liking that more than how it came stock.

It's funny, I keep reading how some of us got busy with projects when the site was down. There's were pluses and minuses with that.

 

[Jefenator]

My stack knob J has two "master" tone knobs, one with a .047 and one with a .1 capacitor. Truth be told, the .047 circuit is all I ever need or use, but just knowing the other knob is hooked up to something slightly different is enough to quell my OCD pangs. (In theory there is a penalty for having two tone pots but in practice the bass sounds fantastic, with all the passive "sizzle" I could ever ask for.)
If you have the room and the money and the inclination, one option to consider might be to go active. My 5-string P/J has master volume (pull passive bypass) / blend / passive tone / stacked active bass & treble boost. FWIW that's my new all-time favorite control layout - truly the best of both worlds.

 

[TaperChuck]

I have thought of active, which is right up my alley normally, but I like how it sounds now and why mess with that. I've attached the current wiring scheme I'm using as a pdf. Both 500k pots have the same .047uf caps.

@bigtone23 we're in the same state. Do you have a link to the wiring diagram you used? That looks like a great thing to try.

 

[bigtone23]

I have thought of active, which is right up my alley normally, but I like how it sounds now and why mess with that. I've attached the current wiring scheme I'm using as a pdf. Both 500k pots have the same .047uf caps.

@bigtone23 we're in the same state. Do you have a link to the wiring diagram you used? That looks like a great thing to try.

Hey! Go Rocky Mountains!
This is how my T45 clone is wired up with the bass Q Filter. The push pull is for splitting the T40 pickup.
This diagram can easily be modified for another volume, a blend, etc... It's a really great circuit. I purposely used a small tone cap just so it rolls off the highs. Rolling down the tone control and minor rolling down of the Q filter simulates a bigger tone cap. Deep cuts of both knobs is almost like having the bass going through a low pass filter for a subwoofer.

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[TaperChuck]

@bigtone23 that looks great. Thank you. I'll have to see if I have a 250K pot somewhere.