PJ with P selector

[mellow yellow]

Hi from Italy, I'm adding a J bridge pu to my P bass.
I wish to have a classic configuration with Vol vol tone and a 2 way switch to select 1) the entire classic electronic (P pu and J pu, everyone with its vol and the tone for the two pu) and 2) the only P pu with its vol and the tone
I hope I have explained that correctly, but I'm not sure if this is achievable.
In this way I can use the only P pu if I need the typical P sound.

I have a Bart P and I like it so much, so I was thinking to add a Bart J, but every suggestion will be appreciated.
Many thanks in advance for every reply.
Ciao
Roberto

 

[Cadfael]

Hi Roberto,

Or in other words (to show how a "wiring builder" thinks) ...
You want the normal P setup.
A switch shall add the J pickup to the normal P setup ...

That's easy ...
But there is a question ...

What shall happen if the P PU volume is turned to zero?
Shall the bass be quiet or shall the J still be on (when selected)?
And shall the P volume be a kind of Master volume or not???

You see, there are three possibilities left!
Tell what you want and I / we will tell you how to make it.
It is not difficult - but we need to know which of the three possibilities you like most.

Greetings from Germany
Andreas

 

[mellow yellow]

Hi Andreas, thanks for the reply
I try to reply to your questions:
1) if the P vol is set to zero, with the PJ circuit engaged, the J vol is still working at its value, so if it's set to full open, well the J pu will have its full volume
2) The P vol is not a master volume in the PJ setup, it'll be only the P vol

To simplify:
I want a P setup AND a PJ setup, the switch determines wich circuit will be engaged
When the P setup is engaged, I can operates with the P vol and the tone, when the PJ setup i engaged I can operate with P vol, J vol, tone

Ciao
Roberto

Hi Roberto,

Or in other words (to show how a "wiring builder" thinks) ...
You want the normal P setup.
A switch shall add the J pickup to the normal P setup ...

That's easy ...
But there is a question ...

What shall happen if the P PU volume is turned to zero?
Shall the bass be quiet or shall the J still be on (when selected)?
And shall the P volume be a kind of Master volume or not???

You see, there are three possibilities left!
Tell what you want and I / we will tell you how to make it.
It is not difficult - but we need to know which of the three possibilities you like most.

Greetings from Germany
Andreas

 

[Cadfael]

Here is a pdf with my suggestion ...

As the J shall work even if the P is turned to zero, it has to be wired "like a Jazz Bass".
This might influence the tone a bit.

Both "HOT ways" to the pot are cut by the switch so that there is no more parallel 250k pot in the P-mode.

 

[mellow yellow]

many many thanks Cadfael.
Right now I was speaking with my luthier about this mod, and he's was warning me about the J pu that it could have less volume than the P pu. In the classic JJ circuit the bridge pu has naturally less volume than the neck pu, but no so much, and I can adjust the difference augmenting the neck pu distance from the strings and diminishing the distance from the strings of the bridge pu. But the P pu has more power than any J pu, so the difference could be too much. By the way the modification is not undoable.......
difficult decision

Here is a pdf with my suggestion ...

As the J shall work even if the P is turned to zero, it has to be wired "like a Jazz Bass".
This might influence the tone a bit.

Both "HOT ways" to the pot are cut by the switch so that there is no more parallel 250k pot in the P-mode.

 

[Cadfael]

Hi mellow yellow,

I have a Fender Japan Aerodyne P Bass Special with the original P PU and a DiMarzio J humbucker at the bridge. Even the strong J can not rellay compete with the lowered P PU.
But depends also on the P PU! My 30 years old Rockinger PJ has a better balance with a Rockinger "Pee" PU and a Rockinger "Hot Jot" (SC) at the bridge ("Jot" is how Germans spell a "J").

I think we shouldn't moan about the PJ balance but regard it as a verdict ...

But your luthier was right, warning you.