It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:28 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Electronics Questions
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 1:15 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:01 pm
Posts: 3
6-string electric player here but looking at getting a bass. Wanting to know what to expect when I sit down and start comparing.

Every 6-string I've ever had used pickup selector switches so an electric without a switch is a different concept to me. I'm interested the Geddy Lee model, but I am wondering how well the two volume, one tone control layout works. Very much hum with the vintage-style pickups? Are the pickups wired in series or parallel? Do the two volume controls interact with each other? Are volume settings where one pickup is on full and the other on half useful or do most people roll one, the other or both full on or full off?

I'm assuming the wiring could be converted to what Fender calls the "S1 Switching System"... anyone ever done this to one of these volume/volume/tone configurations? Would it be worth it?

And also, I was wondering if anyone has ever rewired their Jazz to incorporate a master volume, master tone, with a 3-way pickup selector switch.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Electronics Questions
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:04 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2007 7:16 am
Posts: 633
Location: Scotland
DC145 wrote:
6-string electric player here but looking at getting a bass. Wanting to know what to expect when I sit down and start comparing.

Every 6-string I've ever had used pickup selector switches so an electric without a switch is a different concept to me. I'm interested the Geddy Lee model, but I am wondering how well the two volume, one tone control layout works.


It takes some getting used to (I went from P bass to jazz, so took me a while to find out how to dial in the tone I wanted too) but I find it by far the most flexible way to play with the tone of your instrument :)

Quote:
Very much hum with the vintage-style pickups?


From personal experience it varies, but as a general rule of thumb single coils hum. But I guess you know that. I wouldn't think the vintage PUs are much different in terms of noise, but I could be wrong. The hum is never detrimental to the sound, if it is then theres either something wrong with your bass or theres interference from something (I get some hum from the lights in my room - theres a large transformer on the roof. When i switch the lights off my jazz is lovely and quiet, but even with them on the hum isn't very noticeable).

Quote:
Are the pickups wired in series or parallel?


I believe they are in parallel.

Quote:
Do the two volume controls interact with each other?


In what way? I'd say no, from what I can interpret your question as meaning. You can turn one down and the other is unaffected and visa versa and everything in between.

Quote:
Are volume settings where one pickup is on full and the other on half useful or do most people roll one, the other or both full on or full off?


Depends on the tone you want, the beauty of the system, IMO, is that it is totally variable so that you're not bound to one off - one on, or one half on - one on full. I quite often just roll the the PUs to wherever it sounds how I want. More neck PU for some rounded tone, more bridge for some punch. It also depends a lot on where you play the strings from too. Look at Jaco Pastorius and compare his style to John Paul Jones. Same bass, totally different tones - almost opposites (though jaco did play fretless 90% of the time but you can find examples of him on a fretted neck).

Quote:
I'm assuming the wiring could be converted to what Fender calls the "S1 Switching System"... anyone ever done this to one of these volume/volume/tone configurations? Would it be worth it?


Personally I'm not so hot about the S1 system, but it's a fun thing. Lets you get some fat p-bass-like tones from your Jazz bass by using the PUs in series, I believe. You can get after market S1 type replacement electronics if you so wish.

Quote:
And also, I was wondering if anyone has ever rewired their Jazz to incorporate a master volume, master tone, with a 3-way pickup selector switch.


I'm sure they have but personally I don't see the point. I'd embrace the jazz for what it is! :) I have seen a few active J basses with PU selectors and such though. I have also seen after market replacement electronics with the first volume knob acting as a 5 way selector switch, with a master volume and tone. Clever stuff but a bit fussy for me personally.



Anyway, I hope this helps, enjoy your foray into bass playing :)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Above is alot
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 4:10 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:02 am
Posts: 52
To sum it up, the geddy lee has two seperate volume controls, one for each pickup ,and a master tone. and if you want to dial in tone, you only have 3 simple controls. if you turn up both pickups all the way, you don't get a hum at all. but what ally said was correct, just wanted to sum it up. but ally did a real good job. and i would have to agree.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 8:47 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:01 pm
Posts: 3
Thanks guys...
I now know what to expect when I finally plug one of these in - the two-volume circuit works more or less like a blend. In the case of seeking a bass tone you are wanting, a blend looks like to be a good way get it. I was asking about interactivity between the two volumes because once I had a two-volume electric and when both pickups were selected (by switch), the volumes interacted with each other. The volume decreased when both volume pots were full on or when they were matched at lesser volume settings. The only bass I have ever owned was a 1981 Carvin doubleneck which had the same switching scheme as a 6-string electric.

I like the advice given to embrace the Jazz for what it is. In this case, simple seems better.

The Geddy falls in my price range - I now just need to hear it and compare to a P-bass. I've played them quickly unplugged and I prefer the smaller neck and feel of the Jazz. Whatever I get, I'll leave it alone for now - I may consider later building a replacement control cover that will use a master volume, master tone and an actual blend control.

I'm a tweaker. I've played 6-string for 30 years and have owned several electrics. I usually changed something in the electronics on each of them - I at least solder in a treble-bleed circuit trying out a few cap and resistor combinations so the exact tone stays the same if I back off the volume. In addition to the 5-way Strat-type pickup selector, my main 6-string has a coil splitter for each humbucker and a coil selector to alternate those split coils. It's a do-it-all guitar. I can get convincing Les Paul and Strat/Tele sounds with a quick flick. The electric bass is different in respect that there usually isn't the need to be able to drastically change tones instantly.

Here's my main electric - a Carvin DC145 that I had made in 2002. Looking forward to owning a Fender bass soon. :)

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:42 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2007 7:16 am
Posts: 633
Location: Scotland
Good stuff mate. I hope you're planning to learn fingerstyle as well as pick! ;) :p

You'd be surprised at how much you'll find yourself messing with the tone of your bass, it may take a little longer than a flick of a switch but once you get used to the system you can do things pretty lightening fast :)

I too am thinking of modding my bass' electronics but I will keep the good ol' vol/vol/tone system and drop in some lindy fralins. I'd love to have a stacked set up like the original deluxe jazz basses (vol/tone/vol/tone) though, look so cool and even more flexibility! Ah well :)


Top
Profile
Post subject: 3 way switch
Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:19 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2007 11:20 am
Posts: 805
Quote:
And also, I was wondering if anyone has ever rewired their Jazz to incorporate a master volume, master tone, with a 3-way pickup selector switch.


Fender Roscoe Beck Signature IV and the discontinued V string bass has a
3 way selector switch and a push/pull-tone to decrease the output of the neck pick-up (for a slight increase in the mids).
:)


Top
Profile
Post subject: 3 way selector switch
Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:43 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2007 3:12 pm
Posts: 16
I actually modified a squire strat electric guitar to be a bass, it works pretty well, the wiring was a pain to do and so was the routing of the pickup slots. It sounds cool and all, but it's really only something to do if your gonna commit to it, mine took about 7 months to finish. If you want a Bass with a selector switch, the Fender Big Block P Bass has a coil selector for its humbucker, its a mean looking bass. The only downside is no one has it in stock.

You should look into modding a 6 string guitar you have into a bass, its fun.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:47 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2007 7:16 am
Posts: 633
Location: Scotland
How does that work? Surely you'd be better off starting with a bass and modding the electronics? That sounds like an awfully round about way of doing it :/

Guitars feel like little toys to me, I'm too used to bass. I guess it might be the same feeling a guitar player playing guitar hero would have! :lol:


Top
Profile
Post subject: squire mod
Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:57 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2007 3:12 pm
Posts: 16
It works fine, I got the guitar for 25 dollars so it wasnt a big deal if i destroyed it. I tore out the pickguard and pickups, saved the selector, routed the new pickup slots, bought some middle of the line pickups and put them in, the wiring was really the most difficult part of it all. I needed to add some and sauder in some tight spaces, but it was fun. I get a whole mess of sounds out of it now. I also had to customize the bridge, so its a bass with tremolo which is fun to have. Also i needed a neck, but the actual fender necks are really exensive so i went down the licenced by fender road and widened the neck slot and popped that in. It plays fine, I like it and it gets a lot of looks.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: squire mod
Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 1:21 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2007 9:05 am
Posts: 6
Location: New York
blewis713 wrote:
It plays fine, I like it and it gets a lot of looks.

Well post a pic!!! I'd like to see this Frankebass!


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: