Questions about series/parallel wiring on a Jazz Bass

[Frank Miller]

For what it's worth, I just installed a series/parallel switch on a MIM Jazz Bass' Tone control. With the MIM pickups, going from parallel to series operation made a HUGE difference. I'm not saying it nailed the Precision tone, but it was pretty close.

Then I installed a pair of Bill Lawrence J45 pickups. Although there was a difference going from parallel to series operation, it was not as great a difference as it was with the MIM pickups.

In the end, I would unhesitatingly install a series/parallel switch on a stock MIM Jazz Bass with original pickups. It was a VERY usable tone. With J45s, I don't think I would do it again. They've got enough mojo on their own.

 

[denverbarnes]

Hey there fellow low end lovers!

I'm in the middle of modding my jazz bass. I want to add a 3 way toggle switch. 1st position: parallel 2nd: kill 3rd: series
How should i wire it? Or is it even possible?
I've only found kill switch and series/parallel diagrams separately...
I have a 3 way on-on-on switch

I really hope you know the answer!
All the best!

A little late, perhaps, but I could show you how to accomplish what you want with a dpdt on-off-on switch (they're far easier to acquire than an on-on-on switch).

 

[DarkStar90]

Series/parallel can be level matched by replacing the jumper wire on the switch with a 47k resistor. When you do this, you notice that Series mode is really just a slight bump in the low mids and a reduction of some highs, and the tonal difference is almost not worth doing the mod. I realize resistance changes tone, but not much in this case.

If you use it traditionally, as a boost, I find it difficult to keep consistent tracking with certain pedals when switching into series. (Compressors clamp too hard, the boss oc2 is sensitive to high output basses, etc.) The only time I liked it was for slapping, slighty wood-ier tone.

Either way, a jazz in series doesnt sound like a P, it sounds like a jazz, with more low mids.

If you want more lows out of a jazz bass, use a bass cut switch on the bridge pickup. Sounds counterintuitive, but it works. On a jazz, I like using a .0068uf cap on a switch in series with the bridge pickup. This cap allows the jazz bass character to come through, while only using the lows from the neck pickup. Less phase cancellation=more bottom.