SMITH USERS - Cool Modification...

[KenToby]

To my ears the simple answer is YES!! I'm not an acoustic engineer or anything but I'll try to give you my take on your question. Keeping in mind that the more coils you have reading a string (4 coils with dual humbuckers) the more "complex" the signal will be. In my untrained opinion this signal many times results in a more clouded, less focused sound. By eliminating 2 of these coils from the string reading chain it seems to me that the sound is clearer and more focused, you hear more of the fundementals I'm thinking. Leo Fender was really onto something when he invented the Jazz configuration - pure genius!! Conversly, I've never really liked the "P" sound due to what seems to me to be its lack of sonic "compexity".

Again, without supporting data this is only speculation on my part. However this is simply what my ears are telling me.

Lastly, no, there is no single coil hum whatsoever. I can only assume that because the pickups are a matched set, the Neck V.S. Bridge coils are reversed wound and therefore cancel the noise out.
I REALLY, REALLY like the dual single coil sound of my Smith; I'm thinking that maybe this config. just might be my favorite of all!! Check with me in another month.

Thanks,

KT

Is there a huge difference between series and single coil?
What about single coil noise and hum?

 

[Ostinato]

Check with me in another month.

How about in a year?

 

[Luis Fabara]

wanna know why single coil is not offered as an option?

NOISE.

Havent you noticed that now your bass is a little more hissy? And when soloing a pickup you have Hum??

Ken Smith might have forgotten WHY they didnt put it originally on the bass.

Other thing, is that sometimes those humbuckers dont have enough bass when you put them in single coil mode.

Btw...
I do this with all my basses myself, I design the circuit, drill the holes and solder. Last mod i did.. was on my Modulus.
From Series Hardwire to Single/Parallel/Series switches for each pickup.

The result? Similar to yours.

And dont tell me you dont have any noise when using the single coil mode.. that would be a LIE.

 

[Luis Fabara]

Damn.. didnt read the post about noise.

However.. You MUST have noise/hum when soloing a Single coil pickup.
It is a MUST.

 

[KJung]

I also love the single coil sound. Many 'high end' basses have this option now... Fodera, Nortstand, FBass and the higher end Ken Smiths. I just played a Smith with the coil tap (at least it sounded like a coil tap to me) option and it just sounded great.... didn't sound like a Jazz Bass... sounded like a single coil Smith... but wonderful nonetheless.

Something even cooler is that fact that there are humbucker (or split coil, or whatever) pickups that are totally quite but that sound totally single coil. The pickups used by Chris Celinder are a great example... they sound TOTALLY single coil but have no hum whatsoever, even when solo'd. The new Sadowsky pickups (I believe they are made by Dimarzio) also sound reasonably single coil.

Great stuff!

 

[KenToby]

By using a diagram that shows how to wire up two humbuckers this is avoided.

One humbucker has a "Single coil N" switch position and the other has a "Single coil S" switch position to take advantage of the reversed windings of these isolated coils. Even in single coil mode and the balance control soloing one coil or the other, I experience zero buzz or hiss.

Use the Seymour Duncan diagrams and you'll do just fine. The trick is to figure out the "Start" and "Finish" of each of the Smith coils.

I now have the best of ALL worlds!!

Thanks,

KT

wanna know why single coil is not offered as an option?

NOISE.

Havent you noticed that now your bass is a little more hissy? And when soloing a pickup you have Hum??

Ken Smith might have forgotten WHY they didnt put it originally on the bass.

Other thing, is that sometimes those humbuckers dont have enough bass when you put them in single coil mode.

Btw...
I do this with all my basses myself, I design the circuit, drill the holes and solder. Last mod i did.. was on my Modulus.
From Series Hardwire to Single/Parallel/Series switches for each pickup.

The result? Similar to yours.

And dont tell me you dont have any noise when using the single coil mode.. that would be a LIE.

 

[Vic]

...Mike Lull and Roger Gee and Lull Guitars are simply amazing in their customer service. I would recommend sending guitars there for any type of work imaginable.

A big +1 on that.

I sent my beloved Roscoe out there for a full refret and neck plane, as well as a very special NAMM Cirrus 5 for a level/dress and new nut. The results were truly exemplary in every way, and their CS was absolutely top notch. I'd trust them with anything I owned. In both cases, the job needed to be done because of previous incompetent attempts (not by me), so it was especially nice to get it done "right" for a change.

 

[KenToby]

...by all means use them if you must, however if you can read a schematic and can solder, do the modification yourself and save the $$$ to be used when Mike and crew have to do some serious work.

KT

A big +1 on that.

I sent my beloved Roscoe out there for a full refret and neck plane, as well as a very special NAMM Cirrus 5 for a level/dress and new nut. The results were truly exemplary in every way, and their CS was absolutely top notch. I'd trust them with anything I owned. In both cases, the job needed to be done because of previous incompetent attempts (not by me), so it was especially nice to get it done "right" for a change.

 

[Marcus]

People, let me address this so it's clear to all why we do what we do.

Almost a day doesn't go by when we get an inquiry or request to do something other than what we normally do. If it is something that keeps coming up on a regular basis or some of the Pros call with a suggestion, then I have a look at it.

Just one request doesn't carry that much weight even though it may or may not be important to you regardless of who you are.

If I stopped to try every single Mod that I hear about, we would never get anything done.

People buy our Basses for several reasons. One of those is the Sound it gets. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" !! Ever hear that phrase before? I'm sure you have.

Some of the features on the Smith Bass is there because people have requested them in the past. Please remember (unless you were unaware) that I worked as a Pro Freelance Bassist in NY for 20 years and weigh everything personally first. It's just my nature. That's why I started the company in the first place.

Just be happy that we do what we do do and that individual Mods CAN sometimes be done. That doesn't mean however that we are going to re-design our Bass though.

Also, the new 18Volt circuit has barely enough room for the 2 Switches and 2 batteries as it is. I don't fell like going back to the drawing board unless it's really necessary.

I am glad KenToby was able to get what he wanted from his Mod...

Oh, and don't forget when you guys talk about 'customer service' that wether you like my answer or not when asked, I DO reply to each and every one of you personally either by Email or on the Phone when you call. It's my policy to take every call that needs my attention so that you get the correct answer to your question.......... Even if it's not the answer you are looking for..........

Yo Ken,

Call me a psychic if you'd like, but I see me paying you a fat sum in the future for a BSR5MW.

A man can dream, heh.

 

[Vic]

...by all means use them if you must, however if you can read a schematic and can solder, do the modification yourself and save the $$$ to be used when Mike and crew have to do some serious work.

KT

+1 again. A mod like this I'd definitely do myself, but I'll leave the fretwork and such to others.

I have a lot of soldering experience (did a lot of precision soldering at a previous job as a rework tech), so this stuff is no biggie for me, but I also know others won't go near a soldering iron... especially on a Smith (or any other high class axe, for that matter).

 

[Ostinato]

This is something I would definitely do if I went ahead and bought one. I'm surprised there isn't a demand for this option.

 

[KJung]

This is something I would definitely do if I went ahead and bought one. I'm surprised there isn't a demand for this option.

Could someone help me out.... there are Smiths with a coil tap option... are am I confused? I swear I just played one... with the two switches?????

 

[emjazz]

Could someone help me out.... there are Smiths with a coil tap option... are am I confused? I swear I just played one... with the two switches?????

Hey Ken, those are series/paralell switches; one for each pickup. A humbucker in paralell can sound quite similar to singlecoils.

 

[KJung]

Hey Ken, those are series/paralell switches; one for each pickup. A humbucker in paralell can sound quite similar to singlecoils.

Thanks... I figured I was confused... and those pickups were REALLY quiet in 'single coil mode' That makes sense... whatever that switch does... it's cool.

I had a Smith years ago... maybe 1990? (it was actually my first 'good' bass)and I actually had the pleasure of designing it up in with Ken in his old office off of Broadway and I think 21st. I'm sure he doesn't remember, but it was a thrill for me. It was a great sounding bass. Since I played standing up, the neck dive on those older Smith's really took its toll, so I sold it quite a while ago. However, with the new body design and headstock that I understand totally takes care of that 'problem', and the way those basses sound with that switch.... which adds a little more grit and grind to the sound IMO... I'm thinking about jumping back in

 

[emjazz]

Again, for me the 34" scale is a really big positive here. I love my Roscoe but I'm finding the 35" scale a real drag these days. It limits voicings for chording and it gets tiring (sp?) playing for too long a time down low. Anyone here have some fingerstyle recordings of a Smith w/ humbuckers?

 

[Ostinato]

Could someone help me out.... there are Smiths with a coil tap option... are am I confused? I swear I just played one... with the two switches?????

The modification would be to replace those two-way switches with three-way switches which would give you the added option of true single coil mode for each pickup. I'm guessing it would give similar tonal options as say..a G&L bass for example...except with a pickup blend

 

[KJung]

The modification would be to replace those two-way switches with three-way switches which would give you the added option of true single coil mode for each pickup. I'm guessing it would give similar tonal options as say..a G&L bass for example...except with a pickup blend

Awesome.... those switches really sound good. I'm also a big fan of single coil pickups... so that three way switch woudl be the mega-bomb. Thanks for the info.

K

 

[Ostinato]

I concur. And you're welcome.

 

[Moo]

Awesome.... those switches really sound good. I'm also a big fan of single coil pickups... so that three way switch woudl be the mega-bomb. Thanks for the info.

K

The 3 way is what this whole thread is about

KenToby, you may not hear hum in all instances but if you pan to single coil and go rub the bass on a computer monitor I'll bet you hear it.

Another hip setup I love with a pair of dual coils is this setup from Bartolini. it gives you some of your options + the option of using the inner instead of outer coils. But you lose the ability to adjust one pickup at a time & series/parallel. But that means you only need one switch, decisions decisions...

 

[PilbaraBass]

this really isn't earth shattering or isolated to KSB basses...most ANY humbucker can be wired with a parallel/single/series switch...

in fact, you can take it further and wire them parallel/single(A)/Single(B)/series...

take that combination and drop it into a dual-humbucker and you have 16 combinations (albeit many would be so similar sounding it would be nearly impossible to differentiate)...

take it even FURTHER and you can series/parallel the entire pickup combinations...now you'd have 16X2 or 32 combinations...this all BEFORE you'd even introduce a single volume or tone control...

ok...my brain is now hurting...so I must adieu...