Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Other Stuff => Guitars => Topic started by: EKDENTON on December 14, 2011, 10:35:47 am

Title: Wiring a bass with 2 volumes 1 tone and no switch.
Post by: EKDENTON on December 14, 2011, 10:35:47 am

I am trying to wire my bass without a switch and have two volumes and one tone. Does anyone know if the wiring below for a jazz bass is the best way? Right now I have it wired as the photo but with the center and left wires reversed (which is the normal wiring).  It is causing the pots to ground out signal, and unless both pots are turned up off 0 the neck pickup is grounded out. Both pickups are at full output when both pots are at 10. It is not going to work like I currently have it wired. I am confused as to why a 3 way switch in the middle setting works with the pots wired as I have them now but take out the switch and there are problems unless the wires are reversed. :w2:

(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s31/ekdenton/wduss2101.jpg)

Title: Re: Wiring a bass with 2 volumes 1 tone and no switch.
Post by: G._Hoffman on December 14, 2011, 06:10:30 pm

Yup, if you want to have independent volume controls, you must wire the pickups to the center lug, and the output to the top of your voltage divider.  That's why Leo Fender did it that way, and it is still the best way.


Gabriel

Title: Re: Wiring a bass with 2 volumes 1 tone and no switch.
Post by: EKDENTON on December 15, 2011, 09:01:24 am

Thanks Gabriel,


Works good wired this way.  I am using bartolini soapbars so i used 500k pots and added the treble bleed capacitors. Beautiful slap and funk tone!

 I read that using a switch to parallel the outer coils will give more highs and a better slap tone. At the cost of losing 50% volume and I dont think i would like fiddling with volumes when switching to the outer coils in the middle of a song so I thought "less is more" and left out the switch.