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Who decided this was a good idea? (w/ poll!)

What's your thought on this switch trend?

  • I love the switches, fast toggling between tones is more important than finite control

    Votes: 127 40.8%

  • I hate the switches, give me back V/V/T or a fader knob

    Votes: 184 59.2%
  • Total voters
    311
B

BBJBG

Mar 5, 2023
23
37
#1
upload_2023-11-16_9-2-24.png


This has been really really bugging me. I'm going to fix it on my own bass I got recently from Fender that has this configuration but I can't think of a time when I'm ever up 50-50 on both pickups on my J-Bass, why would Fender lock me into just this?

I see YouTubers are almost always on my side on this, but I do see a few people who do like it. All of this is preference, so I'm just curious, am I being a grumpy old man about this (very crotchity in my 40s)? Where does everyone fall on this switch-thing in recent years? Why does Fender seemingly keep either fader or V/V config on high-end Americans? Is this a cost thing, like is routing this switch cheaper than an additional CTS pot? Seems like it would be a tradeoff on the manufacturing side.

Last MIM I got was in 2003, a 2 year old used J-Bass, zero mods. This new MIM? I want to replace everything and things like this just annoy me.

Is there some, "you don't understand how preamp circuits work" reason for this?

Thanks, and I await to find out just how stupid I am :D
 
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#2
Depends on the bass. I really like the switch setups on the G&L L2000/L2500 and Fender Roscoe Beck basses. Granted both of those basses are super versatile, so quickly dialing in tones from the wide range of what is available becomes more important IMO. They also offer more than just pickup selector switching (though pickup selector is a switch on both).
 
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Reactions: Old Blastard, InhumanResource, MisterUbu and 4 others
#14
That Player Mustang has a switch because that was the cheapest way to integrate a second pickup without changing any of the hardware. Just a route in the wood and a hole in the pickguard. A better option would have been to use the output jack hole in the control plate for a third knob, and then put the output jack through the bottom, but that would cost more than what they did. I prefer a blend knob, and if I had this bass, I would take the switch out and put a blend knob in. I still don't like where it is, though.
 
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Reactions: ScoobyDoober, retslock, grrg63 and 4 others
#17
I generally like either a blend or a switch, I’m a little neutral in that I don’t like VVT but I would not change a switch to a blend. I would change a second volume to a blend. But the switch is part of the design. Think Les Paul or Telecaster or Stingray. It’s part of the aesthetic and if you can’t jive with a switch it’s probably to late to say this but don’t get a bass with a switch.

One thing I like about yours is the switch is well out of the way so you won’t hit it unintentionally.
 
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Reactions: MrAB4003 and Plectrum72
#19
I'm cool with various control layouts. I always make sure to understand what configuration a bass has before I buy it. If I try a bass that feels so right that I have to have it, I'll buy it even if I know I'll change the controls.

As far as Jazz basses go, I'd definitely not want pickup switching. I like both pups equal, and might solo the neck pup, but never the bridge. Mine is usually set to both pups equal or neck with a little bridge.
 

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