Where to put new switches? Please answer my poll - thanks!

[fourstringbliss]

I'm doing an electronics overhaul on a bass and am trying to decide where to put a pickup coil switch and a preamp mids selector switch.

Choice 1 would be this way:

Choice 2 would be this way:

Feel free to make a different suggestion.

Thanks!

 

[two fingers]

Choice 1 all day long. Reaching in between the knobs will be hard to do without turning them.

 

[Dbassmon]

If the top dial is volume, I would keep a switch away from that. Simple volume changes would be complicated by that placement.

 

[LL-Toolbox]

I have a bass set up like #1 and it works well for me. I wouldn't change it on my bass.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Bottom choice, The switches are tone controls, basically, so line them in with the Bass, Mid, Treble pots.

 

[HalfManHalfBass]

Push / pull pots aren't another option?

 

[fourstringbliss]

Push / pull pots aren't another option?

Nope, I'm using an active preamp with specialized pots.

 

[HalfManHalfBass]

Nope, I'm using an active preamp with specialized pots.

That's a pity, but if I were forced to have to drill into that top, I'd choose the 2nd option.

Like that, at least the holes would be in line with the BMT controls.

The 1st option looks strange to not have the holes parallel to the strings (IMHO) -although I can see why you aligned them to the B and B1.

 

[fourstringbliss]

That's a pity, but if I were forced to have to drill into that top, I'd choose the 2nd option.

Like that, at least the holes would be in line with the BMT controls.

The 1st option looks strange to not have the holes parallel to the strings (IMHO) -although I can see why you aligned them to the B and B1.

Yeah, I totally know what you mean about the switches not being parallel to the strings. I've put switches between knobs before, they just seemed out of place here. But, there's an odd centering of them in that upper location as well.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

If the top dial is volume, I would keep a switch away from that. Simple volume changes would be complicated by that placement.

Except that volume is usually the only knob that never moves.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I'm doing an electronics overhaul on a bass and am trying to decide where to put a pickup coil switch and a preamp mids selector switch.

Choice 1 would be this way:
View attachment 4486757

Choice 2 would be this way:
View attachment 4486758

Feel free to make a different suggestion.

Thanks!

Choice 1. Choice 2 puts them in the way of both knobs

 

[HalfManHalfBass]

What ab

Yeah, I totally know what you mean about the switches not being parallel to the strings. I've put switches between knobs before, they just seemed out of place here. But, there's an odd centering of them in that upper location as well.

What about using a double pot and stacking the bass and treble, another double pot for the mid (with or without a mid sweep) and then, the last hole is already drilled for the pickup coil splitter?

Otherwise, why not try the 3 positions of the mid sweep first (to see if you really need all those options) and then leave it set to your preferred frequency in the control cavity?

IMHO the basses I have had with this type of mid adjustable circuit have not proved very useful in practise. Mids sound wierdly unnatural to me when boosted and when cut, you can disappear in the mix. However, I also found I only ever end up lightly boosting the bass frequencies and cutting the active treble on an active bass and prefer doing that now directly on my amp. Then it's just a question of using my passive tone control on my actual bass to remove finger squeak or metallic overtones -eliminating the possibility for over-option anxiety and battery hassles. IMHO, etc. etc.

 

[Jazz Ad]

Choice 2 is horrendous, choixe 1 ok but not as good as push pull.

 

[mongo2]

Aesthetically I like choice 2.

Functionally I like choice 1.

 

[fourstringbliss]

The preamp that I use is from Audere and the pots are what the pots are. I don't mind having the switches, just wondering where to put them. I honestly didn't need either of them, but it would be a shame to have this MM pickup without a splitter switch because it's basically two humcanceling J's in an MM shell.

 

[fourstringbliss]

Aesthetically I like choice 2.

Functionally I like choice 1.

That's funny because I find switches between knobs to be more functional - I was thinking the other location might be more aesthetically pleasing because that's where I see bass makers putting them.

 

[fourstringbliss]

What ab

What about using a double pot and stacking the bass and treble, another double pot for the mid (with or without a mid sweep) and then, the last hole is already drilled for the pickup coil splitter?

Otherwise, why not try the 3 positions of the mid sweep first (to see if you really need all those options) and then leave it set to your preferred frequency in the control cavity?

IMHO the basses I have had with this type of mid adjustable circuit have not proved very useful in practise. Mids sound wierdly unnatural to me when boosted and when cut, you can disappear in the mix. However, I also found I only ever end up lightly boosting the bass frequencies and cutting the active treble on an active bass and prefer doing that now directly on my amp. Then it's just a question of using my passive tone control on my actual bass to remove finger squeak or metallic overtones -eliminating the possibility for over-option anxiety and battery hassles. IMHO, etc. etc.

The mid-frequency switch on Audere preamps is very functional actually, as is all of their EQ center choices.

 

[Rich Fiscus]

I’m the guy who would fat finger a knob to some extreme setting every time I reached for a switch, so definitely option 1 for me. In fact, it actually creates a handy guide for quickly locating the knobs by feel on stage from a playing position. Even if you bump one, it doesn’t cost you time fine tuning.

 

[Rich Fiscus]

25942151[/URL], member: 58597"]That's funny because I find switches between knobs to be more functional - I was thinking the other location might be more aesthetically pleasing because that's where I see bass makers putting them.

There’s your answer. If you feel there’s a difference, put them where they offer you the greatest function. Otherwise put them wherever it makes you happy. Nobody else will care.

I figure if anybody is scrutinizing my bass that closely, one of 2 things has happened. Either I impressed them so much they want to know what kind of instrument makes those amazing sounds (unlikely) or they're trying to figure out if it’s my bass holding me back.

Actually that’s not true. I play lefty, and some people - mostly other musicians - react like I walked in with a leprechaun riding a unicorn. Nobody has ever mentioned anything about the controls on any of my basses.

 

[fourstringbliss]

That's a pity, but if I were forced to have to drill into that top, I'd choose the 2nd option.

Like that, at least the holes would be in line with the BMT controls.

The 1st option looks strange to not have the holes parallel to the strings (IMHO) -although I can see why you aligned them to the B and B1.

Would it make sense to have the like the first pic but aligned with the strings? They wouldn't be exactly between controls, but that's okay. I'd have to check it there was enough room in the cavity. The control cavity is massive for the tiny controls I'll have in there (Audere pots are around 1/2 square) but I'd have to see how much clearance there is between the switches and tthe edge of the cavity.