Passive volume boost switch

[pertyman]

Hi,

Is there a way to install a passive volume boost switch / push pull knob on my bass ?

Does anyone have a mod schematic?

Thanks!

 

[wcriley]

Can't get any boost without active components.

 

[LoveThatBass]

Can't get any boost without active components.

To expound on what wcriley said, you need an Active preamp to boost a passive signal. You can't get more out of a turnip than what it already has.

 

[pertyman]

Ok got it. I'll stick to my boost pedal

 

[line6man]

Well, technically, you could run the signal through a transformer, but the results would not be good. Passive means that nothing can be added to the signal. If you want a boost, however, there is no reason to be afraid of an active circuit. I believe EMG makes a boost switch.

 

[Will_White]

Hi,

Is there a way to install a passive volume boost switch / push pull knob on my bass ?

Does anyone have a mod schematic?

Thanks!

With two or more coils You can get some "boost" by wiring in series it will get you 3ish db of "boost" it changes the tone of the bass so you might not like it, it is definately a noticeable boost but it's not all that much.

 

[JustForSport]

Wire it straight to the jack- it'll restore all that the pots sucked out.

 

[line6man]

Wire it straight to the jack- it'll restore all that the pots sucked out.

That does not give much of a boost. It just gives you more treble.

 

[JustForSport]

Can't get any boost without active components.

True- onboard or outboard like your boost pedal .

That does not give much of a boost. It just gives you more treble.

True, but in addition to the boost pedal, it could make a difference, depending on the frequency range desired.

 

[Will_White]

Wire it straight to the jack- it'll restore all that the pots sucked out.

That does not give much of a boost. It just gives you more treble.

Combined with series wiring this was enough to push the pre on my practice amp into distortion if I didn't use the active input where as before it was just on the edge only distorting when it was turned all the way up.

 

[jamro217]

Curious as to why you'd want to do that. Do you need a switchable volume boost for solo passages? With all of the possibilities for gear combinations, amps, preamps, etc. there doesn't seem to be the need for this. Active basses have the capability to boost, but not passive basses. You may be better off getting a two channel amp and setting one for lead and the other for normal. Guitarists have been doing that successfully for decades.

 

[Will_White]

Curious as to why you'd want to do that. Do you need a switchable volume boost for solo passages? With all of the possibilities for gear combinations, amps, preamps, etc. there doesn't seem to be the need for this. Active basses have the capability to boost, but not passive basses. You may be better off getting a two channel amp and setting one for lead and the other for normal. Guitarists have been doing that successfully for decades.

I personally use my boost pedal or switch to series for more dynamics. I have a couple songs where we bring the level way down and it's Just me and the drummer then we come in big. On one I switch to the bridge solo when we bring it down then switch to middle series which depending on how I set the pickups is a big jump, and the other I use a boost pedal.

 

[Jazz Ad]

Depending on your bass and PU config, a parallel/series switch could be the answer.
It's how I used mine for years on my PJ.
Another possible answer : in passive circuits, adding a treble leak cap makes the volume pot a lot more usable.

 

[wcriley]

With two or more coils You can get some "boost" by wiring in series it will get you 3ish db of "boost" it changes the tone of the bass so you might not like it, it is definately a noticeable boost but it's not all that much.

Yep. I thought of that shortly after I posted.

 

[Antisyzygy]

Hi,

Is there a way to install a passive volume boost switch / push pull knob on my bass ?

Does anyone have a mod schematic?

Thanks!

Why not just keep your volume at 75% or 50% and set your amp up for the sound you want? When you want a volume boost you can use your volume knob. You could replace your volume knob with one that has detents perhaps to help get the presets right as well as keep the knob from moving around by accident.

Other options are a bypass switch (Send pickup signal straight to the jack), or the series/parallel switch as others noted. If you upgrade your volume pot to 500k from 250k it can add a little bit of volume, so maybe a switch that adds a resistor in series with the volume pot might work

One active option I use is this : [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] it gives a 5 dB boost with a few EQ options.

 

[pertyman]

Thanks everyone, I learned a lot.

 

[Zermelo]

nobody asked: what bass do you have?

 

[Zermelo]

pd: I use a compressor, some times as a boost and some others as a cut. it does the job very very well and doesn't change the tone.