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p/j controls: concentric vol/tone for each pup?

Discussion in 'Pickups & Electronics [BG]' started by billoetjen, Jun 30, 2007.


  1. Jun 30, 2007 #1
    billoetjen

    billoetjen

    May 3, 2005
    Burlington, Vermont vt
    Hi Folks,
    Checked and haven't seen this exact Q anywhere.
    Building a passive 4 string p/j from Warmoth body/neck. To keep the look clean, I want to have as little hardware showing as possible. Please add your comments on the advisability of this:
    get two concentric 250 K pots, use each one as a vol/tone for an individual pup. I figure that way, I can control the vol AND tone for each pup.
    Wire pup to the vol ----> tone ----> jack.
    Any ideas why this may not work?
    Thanks as always,
    Bill Oetjen
    billoetjen@fastermac.net
     
  5. Jun 30, 2007 #2
    BillMason

    BillMason

    Mar 6, 2007
    The original Fender Jazz bass was wired this way, and I own a P bass that the previous owner modified in this way, with a J pickup at the bridge. It works, and the Fender site has the wiring diagram you'll need.
     
  10. Jun 30, 2007 #3
    billoetjen

    billoetjen

    May 3, 2005
    Burlington, Vermont vt
    Hi Bill,
    First, thanks so much for responding and sharing information. That's what I love about TB.
    I went to the Fender site and easily found all the parts/wiring/layout diagrams. I could not find one that had the set-up I have in mind. Must have missed something. Just for clarification, each pup would have its own concentric pot - top knob for vol, bottom for tone. That way, there's a j concentric pot, and a p concentric pot. I appreciate your taking the time to get back to me on this.

    Bill
     
  14. Jul 1, 2007 #4
    BillMason

    BillMason

    Mar 6, 2007
    This is it:
    http://www.fender.com/support/diagrams/pdf_temp1/basses/0190209C/SD0190209CPg2.pdf

    Ignore the fact that the neck pup is a jazz, it is irrelevant. For wiring purposes, a pup is a pup unless you're talking active versus passive. I know nothing about active pickups, except that I think they usually have stacked pots/concentric knobs, but I don't know how they're wired.

    I have a P bass with a J bridge pup that uses concentric knobs and stacked pots as you described - one knob set controls vol/tone for the neck, one for the bridge. The neck pup is a P and the bridge is a J. The knobs are concentric, i.e. 2 in 1 - the smaller one controls volume and the bigger one that is like a ring around the smaller one controls tone.
     
  18. Jul 1, 2007 #5
    billoetjen

    billoetjen

    May 3, 2005
    Burlington, Vermont vt
    Hey, Bill

    You were one hundred percent right. :eek: I apologize for doubting you. That is exactly the layout that I have in mind. Wonder why we don't see that arrangement more often. You'd think folks would want to have more individual control over the contribution each pup makes.
    Thanks again, and man, I'm glad I've found TB. :hyper:

    Bill
     
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