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Volume/tone interaction question

Chris F

Chris F

May 8, 2022
48
86
Birmingham, AL
#1
4 months ago or so, I installed a set of SD Quarter Pounders in my Jaguar bass (PJ set).
Recently I noticed that if the tone is rolled all the way down, the volume drops off a cliff when I roll it down even a little bit. I’m not sure if it has been like this since they were installed or not.
Is this normal? If not, any suggestions?
 
#2
Ive found this "normal" on J bass anyway. I dont have a link handy, but there are some very informative old threads if you dig. Something like "what volume knobs really do" (they are only NAMED volume, its not how they work and not exactly what they really do).

Many "J style" 2 pu passive are really variants of 50s style wiring, essentially the volumes and tones are incredibly interactive. Volumes change tone, tone changes volume, I call it "safecracker" knobs...

Play around a LOT with different VVT settings (like not just 100%/100 50/50 100/0) in a way you have 3 tone knobs and 3 volume knobs and some of the like 70/40/95 or 60/90/15 kind of settings offer really unique tones.

From what I understand the Jaguar already has a lot of cool switches, and depending on how those are set all the values will also behave differently, and changing pickups certainly changed all the safe combinations also, but if you think you might be into simple mods, switches (including I have added push/pull pots for trebblebleed(and theres 3 types! and all different values) and pickuploading) make for whole different sets of "safecrack" tones. The treblebleeds radically change volume knob responsiveness and behaviour.

A bass buddy, speaking proudly of his new lead (guitar) jaguar player said part of why the guy was good was because he had mastered the subtle interactions of that model, he claimed others dont always bond with it because it has complex interactions.

I presume you can adjust volume/gain outside the bass to compensate if you find tones you like that come with big volume changes (and maybe a handy volume knob or pedal off the bass for doing exactly just volume during songs).
 
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#3
LeonineAlpha said:
Ive found this "normal" on J bass anyway. I dont have a link handy, but there are some very informative old threads if you dig. Something like "what volume knobs really do" (they are only NAMED volume, its not how they work and what they really do).

Many "J style" 2 pu passive are really variants of 50s style wiring, essentially the volumes and tones are incredibly interactive. Volumes change tone, tone changes volume, I call it "safecracker" knobs...

Play around a LOT with different VVT settings (like not just 100%/100 50/50 100/0) in a way you have 3 tone knobs and 3 volume knobs and some of the like 70/40/30 kind of settings offer really unique tones.

From what I understand the Jaguar already has a lot of cool switches, and depending on how those are set all the values will also behave differently, but if you think you might be into simple mods, switches (including I have added push/pull pots for trebblebleed(and theres 3 types! and all different values) and pickuploading) make for whole different sets of "safecrack" tones.

Presume you can adjust volume/gain outside the bass to compensate.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the input. Luckily, this Jag has a standard VVT setup without the extra switches and wheels.
 
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#7
Bunk McNulty said:
I have a new Squier Jag, with the single ceramic pup. It seems kinda dark. Any ideas for a drop-in replacement?
Click to expand...

No idea about a drop in pickup, just measure yours (WxLxD) and see if it matches aftermarket pickups in size. But before I did that, I would just wire the pickup directly to the output jack and see if it gets brighter. If it does, it could be the tone pot is the cause of the darkness.
 
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#9
Chris F said:
4 months ago or so, I installed a set of SD Quarter Pounders in my Jaguar bass (PJ set).
Recently I noticed that if the tone is rolled all the way down, the volume drops off a cliff when I roll it down even a little bit. I’m not sure if it has been like this since they were installed or not.
Is this normal? If not, any suggestions?
Click to expand...

this is one of the downsides of passive electronics
 
#10
I avoid the problem of interaction with volume by keeping it full on. That solves another problem, microphony in cable (noise picked up by stuff impacting the cable when it moves). It does this by making sure the passive volume pot output is tied to the active op-amp's output, so the bass has a low resistance output at all times. This should be doable with a passive bass too, if it ties the output directly to the resistance of a pickup coil.

Adjusting volume as preamp gain works better, it's more independent and works to extend the cable noise reduction even further, along with any other noise picked up by the bass.

In my case, with active electronics, the signal is so strong it clips in an op-amp before my preamp's gain control, so I put a voltage divider made from two resistors into the amp end of my signal lead, inside the jack plug. This guarantees low noise, and no clipping unless I want it (so long as I keep fresh batteries in the bass).
 
#13
Chris F said:
Looks like this fella replaced the pickup with a Stingray sized pickup (well a pickup in a Stingray sized housing...)
Squier Affinity Jaguar H MODIFIED - Modding Fender's Latest Budget Beast! - LowEndLobster Fresh Look - YouTube
Click to expand...
The Jaguar H bass comes stock with the Squier version of a Stingray style pickup in the P-position. The video is overkill. The bass came with two 500 kohm pots and the "guitar" .022 tone capacitor which did nothing for the tone. All I did on mine was replace the controls with real 250 kohm audio taper pots and a typical .047 tone capacitor, wired vintage P-style, added La Bella flats, and I have a veritable funk machine, and in only a few months' gigs I made back my investment including my mods and then some. See my post in the funk machine thread. The stock pickup is better than the aftermarket guys want you to believe.
 
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#14
I found the Jaguar H to be a bit harsh so I installed the Fishman Fluence pick up kit. It comes with an exact fit pick up and active electronics. Also installed a GOTOH bridge and Godin fretless neck.

Pick up includes
  • Dual concentric (stacked) 2-band EQ for treble and bass
  • Push-pull pot for volume/coil split
  • 3-way mini toggle switch for easy voice selection
Fishman | Fluence 4-String Bass Soapbar Pickups
299336858_8237983999545360_5485199367176282332_n.jpg
 
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