EMG active pickups - simple on-off and on-off-on switches?

[oatmeal769]

 EMG active pickups - simple on-off and on-off-on switches?
I use two active EMG jazz pickups in my bass. Recently, I became overly obsessive about my signal chain and started looking for ways to eliminate as much 'stuff' for my signal to travel through as possible. (I know, it won't make a difference, but humor me I lost my job, and need projects to keep me busy!)

Anyway, I removed the onboard 'BQC' EQ control, as well as the bass/treble tone control. There is still a balance pot which pans between neck and bridge pickups, as well as a volume control. Apparently there is a newer version of the balance pot with a circuit board attached which eliminates volume drop when the pickups are 'centered'.

This got me thinking about removing the balance pot entirely as well and replacing with a 3-way rotary or toggle switch. I only use the pan in three positions - all neck, all bridge or centered. Similarly, the volume pot is either full on or full off. Therefore, my questions:

1.) Can I simply place an on-off rotary switch in place of the volume control?

2.) Would that cause any clicking / popping when switching ,or some kind of weird phasing thing etc. by eliminating the variable resistor of the pot? Or will it do what I want it to do?

3.) Can I also place a 3-way toggle in place of the pickup pan control? same concerns about electrical weirdness?

4.) will any of this help me cut down on noise, clarify signal etc., or will it just be for convenience of not dealing with dirty, loose pots anymore?

Thanks for any ideas!

[G._Hoffman]

1.) Can I simply place an on-off rotary switch in place of the volume control?

Sure, if you want.  I'd be lost without my volume control, but do what you feel.

2.) Would that cause any clicking / popping when switching ,or some kind of weird phasing thing etc. by eliminating the variable resistor of the pot? Or will it do what I want it to do?

Clicking popping - it shouldn't, but I won't swear to it.  It's worth a try.  No phase issues, though, for sure.  It will turn the instrument off.

3.) Can I also place a 3-way toggle in place of the pickup pan control? same concerns about electrical weirdness?

Sure, no problem at all.

4.) will any of this help me cut down on noise, clarify signal etc., or will it just be for convenience of not dealing with dirty, loose pots anymore?

Particularly with EMGs, which have a low enough impedance to drive pretty much whatever you want to put after them, you will notice no perceptible difference.  At a guess, there will be no difference, but I know you won't be able to perceive it.  With a passive system, you MIGHT hear a difference, but not with EMGs.  And given that pots need to be cleaned every few years at most (for most people, at least), I really don't see the advantage.  But as I said, do what you feel.



Gabriel

[oatmeal769]

Well, like I said, it's more an obsessive attempt to eliminate the unnecessary .  I have no doubt that there's no actual audible difference.  It's more out of practicality.  I never ever use the volume control, other than on/off.  I'm sure it only seems like I remember so much about it coming loose, crackling, etc.  But yeah, I think I want to try it.  Kinda cool to just slap a switch on and off - not to mention visual confirmation...  I've done that a million times on that crucial part where the bass is 'supposed' to come in, lol.

The balance pot seems a lot more practical.  I definitely notice a lowering of volume and lack of punch on centering the two, I wonder if that's something to do with the pot - which a switch might fix (?) or it's the blending of the two signals themselves, which a switch would probably not fix.

Lastly, I'm sure I can get these items here, what would you recommend?