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Two Pups Wide Open

CharlieC

CharlieC

Aug 20, 2010
2,840
2,733
New York, NY
#1
My favorite tones with my various basses are achieved when I have the both pups wide open... I just love tones with the phase cancellation (I think that's what they call it) and growl caused when both pups are on simultaneously.

I think this sounds best when both pups are exactly the same type and are not mixed pups (e.g. a P and a J, or a MM and a J, etc.)

What do you think and what combination/s do you like?

Cheers!
 
#4
As far as jazz basses go - I prefer both pickups full on the vast majority of the time as well. If I do roll one or the other off, I go completely off. I know people like the 80/20 split kind of thing & while I find this sort of subtle blend will come across on a recording, it doesn't really work for me at gig volume in a mix - too subtle. I'd rather go fully ON with both or a complete soloing of one or the other pickup. I have blend pots installed on a few of my jazz basses but I'd almost rather try figure out a way to wire in some kind of toggle to go fully both, bridge soloed or neck soloed.
 
#5
Uh... okay, I'll play:

- on my Schecter B/4 (mid-1980's boutique passive Jazz Bass clone) - yep, both pu's wide open 99.9% of the time

- on my Steinberger L-2 - both pu's wide open 90% of the time...the other 10% of the time I roll off the front pu 25%...and sometimes roll off the tone control another 40%

- on my custom Dolan/Warmoth 8-string - both pu's wide open 80% of the time...the other 20% of the time it's all neck pu for some gooey phatness.

- on my Modulus Quantum-6 SPX w/ EMGs, it's both pu's wide open 99% of the time

- on my Lakland Skyline 55-02D, it's both pu's wide open (w/ the bridge pu set to farthest back single coil) probably 85% of the time...the other 15% it's bridge pu in dual-coil mode

- uh, my fretless only has 1 pu so no comment

- I forget if I have any other basses
 
#7
stingray69 said:
As far as jazz basses go - I prefer both pickups full on the vast majority of the time as well. If I do roll one or the other off, I go completely off. I know people like the 80/20 split kind of thing & while I find this sort of subtle blend will come across on a recording, it doesn't really work for me at gig volume in a mix - too subtle. I'd rather go fully ON or a complete soloing of one or the other pickup. I have blend pots installed on a few of my jazz basses but I'd almost rather try figure out a way to wire in some kind of toggle to go fully both, bridge soloed or neck soloed.
Click to expand...

Wiring that wouldn't be difficult at all, as just about any 2 pickup Guitar (LP style most commonly) will have a 3 way switch for doing that. My Fender JBS has a switch like that, though it is a P/J. When in the 2 pickup mode either volume adjusts both, and each one works separately when one is selected. It's a bit out of the ordinary but I find myself wanting that same setup on my other basses sometimes.

I hardly ever mess around with blending pickups. It's usually all or nothing on 1 or 2.
 
#9
dave120 said:
Wiring that wouldn't be difficult at all, as just about any 2 pickup Guitar (LP style most commonly) will have a 3 way switch for doing that. My Fender JBS has a switch like that, though it is a P/J. When in the 2 pickup mode either volume adjusts both, and each one works separately when one is selected. It's a bit out of the ordinary but I find myself wanting that same setup on my other basses sometimes.

I hardly ever mess around with blending pickups. It's usually all or nothing on 1 or 2.
Click to expand...

Hey Dave,

I've done blend pots & series mods, treble bleeds, etc., but I've never messed with switches in any of those configs. I'd love to switch to a V/3-way toggle/T setup. Any good place to find a wiring diagram for this sort of things - any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
#10
stingray69 said:
Hey Dave,

I've done blend pots & series mods, treble bleeds, etc., but I've never messed with switches in any of those configs. I'd love to switch to a V/3-way toggle/T setup. Any good place to find a wiring diagram for this sort of things - any help would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

4365822719_b461b36989_o.png
 
#11
My usual settings for JJ and PJ basses:

Finger style JJ bass:
Bridge pickup 10
Neck pickup 0-10
Tone 2-10

Slap JJ bass:
Bridge pickup 7-10
Neck pickup 9-10
Tone 1-3

Occasional JJ upright type sound:
Bridge pickup 0
Neck pickup 10
Tone 0

Finger style PJ bass:
Bridge pickup 0-10
Neck pickup 6-10
Tone 0-5

Slap PJ bass:
Bridge pickup 8-10
Neck pickup 8-10
Tone 1-3

Occasional PJ upright tone:
Bridge pickup 0
Neck pickup 8-10
Tone 0

JJ pickups: Seymour Duncan STK-J2
PJ pickups: Seymour Duncan SPB-1 & STK-J2
Tone: Fender TBX
Strings: D'Addario XL Nickel RW
 
#13
All pots have a resistance value, that's how they work. Mini is just the size.

Pot is short for 'Potential Divider'. They divide the potential (voltage) across the outer legs into 2 parts by having a moving contact (the wiper) connected to the shaft. The output voltage (measured between one end and the wiper) is a proportion of the input voltage determined by the position of the wiper and the slope of the pot.

Slope. Usually (because there are always exceptions) - Audio or logarithmic (log) for volume, just about anything for tone depending on the manufacturer. It can be Audio (log), linear or reverse log if it is a Musicman or G&L, Leo Fender seemed to like Reverse Audio for bass controls.
 
#17
Most of my basses I run both p/ups on full (granted, the Attitude running 'stereo' is a little unconventional). I have to say the whilst most Jazz style basses have a sweet spot, I agree with you that it can get lost in a live mix.
However my jazz inspired Corvette fretless is really fussy about the sweet spot. Just favouring the bridge p/iup slightly cuts the mud and brings out a wonderful, sparkling voice, which is very apparent when playing live.
 
#18
delta7fred said:
Pot is short for 'Potential Divider'.
Click to expand...

No it isn't.
Pot is short for potentiometer.

I'm not sure where you heard that.

delta7fred said:
Leo Fender seemed to like Reverse Audio for bass controls.
Click to expand...

I've never heard of a passive bass using C taper pots unless it was left handed.

The reverse log is pretty much the worst taper you can use, because it will stay close to it's full resistance throughout a great portion of it's rotation, and then just cut out.
 
#19
I think basses with both pickups wide open sound awesome on the lower strings, but sound a bit, for the want of a better word, silly as you go higher. Purely my opinion of course. And I prefer the raw power of a single pickup, I always feel like I'm losing testicle when both are running. :hiding:

Of course there are exceptions - I love the sound of the classic, full-on Spector grunt, and I only ever play my Danelectro Longhorn fully open. And of course, the classic Rickenbacker tone with the neck pickup rolled off a little.

Each to his own I suppose. :)
 

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