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Series/Parallel Switch

BarfanyShart

BarfanyShart

Sep 19, 2019
2,900
4,705
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DC Metro
#1
I'm going to ask a tech to install new pickups (two single coils) and rewire my stuff. I know nothing about the wiring, and won't learn. I'm definitely doing one volume and one tone knob. What I can't decide is if I want a four-way rotary switch for neck/series/parallel/bridge, or if I want two linear switches (one neck/both/bridge, one series/parallel). As a user, I think I prefer two switches, and I feel like the four-way knob would be fragile.

Can the learned among Talkbass tell me if there are technical advantages to one option over the other that I should consider?
 
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#2
I had a Rothstein JX5 Jazz bass harness with a 5-way rotary switch. (re: Everything listed above, but with #4 position being "series-out-of-phase" for one more option and a little extra color.) It was anything but fragile.

I like the idea of your 4-way rotary, but that's just me. Nice, simple, but with a number of options that all work. There's another, similar option, one that I've explored recently...a 3-way toggle switch with a series-parallel mini-switch and a stacked volume/tone pot.

cnozZH9.jpeg
 
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#3
Malak the Mad said:
I had a Rothstein JX5 Jazz bass harness with a 5-way rotary switch. (re: Everything listed above, but with #4 position being "series-out-of-phase" for one more option and a little extra color.) It was anything but fragile.

I like the idea of your 4-way rotary, but that's just me. Nice, simple, but with a number of options that all work. There's another, similar option, one that I've explored recently...a 3-way toggle switch with a series-parallel mini-switch and a stacked volume/tone pot.

cnozZH9.jpeg
Click to expand...
Very nice looking bass and functionality! :)
 
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#4
I too like the idea of a 4 way rotary switch. Just make sure you get a well made brand and I suggest getting a “shorting” (remains connected to the previous pin until fulling engaded with the next position) contact version where as you are turning the shaft it is not a “Break before make” that I feel might cause popping. 2 Pole 4 position single wafer
If you were to use a 2 Pole 5 position switch the first position could be used to short the output of the signal to ground to silence bass when taking a break by shorting the tip to the sleeve of the output jack.
 
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#6
Depending on the exact circuit, your series/parallel switch might not function as intended if the pickup selector switch isn’t in the “both” position.

Rotary switches are plenty robust. Far more robust than those micro-switches that are typically used for series/parallel.

Also consider the four-way blade switch that Tele players are so fond of.
 
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#10
I went with volume, blend, tone. The volume knob is a push/pull for series/parallel. Short Circuit Electronics is the maker and seller on Reverb. He makes just about any config, but this is the one I liked best for my purpose. It was $90 “drop in” complete with all top notch components. I don’t think I could build one cheaper, i certainly don’t have the soldering skills this guy has. I have no affiliation at all with SCE, I’m just a very happy customer.
First pic is my bass, second is from SEC showing the guts.


IMG_8346.jpeg

IMG_8348.jpeg



Edit: the blend has a “0” detent. Very handy for both series and parallel.
 
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#11
Matt O said:
Short Circuit Electronics is the maker and seller on Reverb. He makes just about any config,
Click to expand...
Jeremy (Short Circuit) is on it. Great communication, and pretty fast. I wanted just master vol. and tone w/ 3 position switch for pickups. I'm building an vintagey vibe semi hollow with rear mounting and side jack, (no plate). He had me spec thickness of top, measure for side jack and depth of cavity and wanted pics. Very detail oriented. Not many out there like him. After a few messages back and forth, and everything confirmed, it was like a day (maybe two?) later he sent me pics for final approval. Couple hours later, a tracking #.
 
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#12
Matt O said:
I went with volume, blend, tone. The volume knob is a push/pull for series/parallel. Short Circuit Electronics is the maker and seller on Reverb. He makes just about any config, but this is the one I liked best for my purpose. It was $90 “drop in” complete with all top notch components. I don’t think I could build one cheaper, i certainly don’t have the soldering skills this guy has. I have no affiliation at all with SCE, I’m just a very happy customer.
First pic is my bass, second is from SEC showing the guts.


View attachment 7120857
View attachment 7120858


Edit: the blend has a “0” detent. Very handy for both series and parallel.
Click to expand...
funkinbottom said:
Jeremy (Short Circuit) is on it. Great communication, and pretty fast. I wanted just master vol. and tone w/ 3 position switch for pickups. I'm building an vintagey vibe semi hollow with rear mounting and side jack, (no plate). He had me spec thickness of top, measure for side jack and depth of cavity and wanted pics. Very detail oriented. Not many out there like him. After a few messages back and forth, and everything confirmed, it was like a day (maybe two?) later he sent me pics for final approval. Couple hours later, a tracking #.
Click to expand...
Yep! That's the guy who built my "Heresy" control plate pictured in post #2! :thumbsup:

As said before, Jeremy is a great communicator and hoo-boy is he fast! Even better, I was able to reach out to him before buying and we discussed what I wanted (black or chrome switches) and what I needed (250k or 500k pots) with my particular plate. He either already had the parts ready to go, only needed some tiny tweaks or was able to cobble it together lickety-split. Whatever it was, it was ready to go and shipped super-fast!

Pardon the flogging, but I started a thread about Jeremy/Short Circuit Electronics in the Pickups & Electronics section. If anyone has experiences and pics to share, I urge you to add to the record. Thanks, in advance!
 
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#13
Malak the Mad said:
Yep! That's the guy who built my "Heresy" control plate pictured in post #2! :thumbsup:

As said before, Jeremy is a great communicator and hoo-boy is he fast! Even better, I was able to reach out to him before buying and we discussed what I wanted (black or chrome switches) and what I needed (250k or 500k pots) with my particular plate. He either already had the parts ready to go, only needed some tiny tweaks or was able to cobble it together lickety-split. Whatever it was, it was ready to go and shipped super-fast!

Pardon the flogging, but I started a thread about Jeremy/Short Circuit Electronics in the Pickups & Electronics section. If anyone has experiences and pics to share, I urge you to add to the record. Thanks, in advance!
Click to expand...
Ohhh yeah. I was the first reply in that thread. Short circuit is da best.
 
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#15
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#16
ctmullins said:
Also consider the four-way blade switch that Tele players are so fond of.
Click to expand...
Reviving this thread specifically to ask about this comment -

Any idea what the wiring would look like for a blade switch like this? Related - can one use a 3 way blade switch for series/parallel/single coil operation of a humbucker? What would that wiring look like? I can't find diagrams anywhere....
 
#17
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#19
definenredefine said:
Reviving this thread specifically to ask about this comment -

Any idea what the wiring would look like for a blade switch like this? Related - can one use a 3 way blade switch for series/parallel/single coil operation of a humbucker? What would that wiring look like? I can't find diagrams anywhere....
Click to expand...
BarfanyShart said:
Nordstrand has this diagram https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1...gram_4-way_blade_switch_copy.pdf?v=1651785525
Click to expand...
I like that blade-switch diagram…nice and simple.

I don't know if this is a valid idea for you, but Bartolini has this wiring diagram for a 2 and 3-way toggle switches.
Similarly, I modded a J/MM combo with a tip from Reinhard Jedamzik at Delano. (This diagram, pages 8-9.) The wiring harness is a series/parallel capable with a push-pull neck volume pot, while the humbucker alone is wired to a 2-way toggle switch (single-coil and series modes) before feeding into the harness.

YbUXI3R.jpeg
 
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#20
Malak the Mad said:
I like that blade-switch diagram…nice and simple.

I don't know if this is a valid idea for you, but Bartolini has this wiring diagram for a 2 and 3-way toggle switches.
Similarly, I modded a J/MM combo with a tip from Reinhard Jedamzik at Delano. (This diagram, pages 8-9.) The wiring harness is a series/parallel capable with a push-pull neck volume pot, while the humbucker alone is wired to a 2-way toggle switch (single-coil and series modes) before feeding into the harness.

YbUXI3R.jpeg
Click to expand...
I've done toggle switches before...just thought a blade switch would be neat, mostly for aesthetic purposes. I've used a 3 way for pickup switching, but not for series/parallel switching. I figure it's gotta be possible but I hadn't found a good diagram before y'all posted them. Or...I guess I hadn't looked hard enough...:bag:
 
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