pickups with series/ parallel switch option

[chilievans]

I've just found out that the pickups on my jazz can be run in series or parallel. All I need to do is add a switch into the circuit. I'm thinking a push pull volume control would be the vast option as it wouldn't spoil the look of the bass.
I've never done any modifications before but I feel confident enough to give it a go.
What I'm wondering is as I've never heard a bass with this mod before is would it be worth doing? And what change would it make to the sound of it?
Over to you
thanks in advance

[Grand Wazoo]

push - pull is the way to go. You don't want to drill extra holes specially considering the space available under the pickguard is limited to mini toggles which are a pain and would litter the look of a bass, the push pull is more of a stealth solution.

Email Charlie Chandler at this link and ask him nicely for a diagram

[url="http://guitar-xperience.com/onlinestore/index.php?option=com_contact&task=view&contact_id=1&Itemid=30"]http://guitar-xperience.com/onlinestore/in...1&Itemid=30[/url]

[chilievans]

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' post='1080022' date='Jan 6 2011, 04:04 PM']push - pull is the way to go. You don't want to drill extra holes specially considering the space available under the pickguard is limited to mini toggles which are a pain and would litter the look of a bass, the push pull is more of a stealth solution.

Email Charlie Chandler at this link and ask him nicely for a diagram

[url="http://guitar-xperience.com/onlinestore/index.php?option=com_contact&task=view&contact_id=1&Itemid=30"]http://guitar-xperience.com/onlinestore/in...1&Itemid=30[/url][/quote]

Thankyou kindly Mr Wazoo.
What difference would it make to the tone/sound?

[Doddy]

I've just picked up my main Fender Jazz today after having a set of Dimarzio Ultra Jazz pickups and a series/parallel
push/pull knob fitted.
It sounds great. In parallel it's just like a Jazz Bass,whereas in series it seems to give it more balls. It increases the
output slightly and gives a real fat tone that is almost Precision like but with more power and clarity (I think).

Here's a wiring diagram for adding a push/pull knob.

[url="http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=jass_bass_sp"]http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wirin...ic=jass_bass_sp[/url]

[Grand Wazoo]

[quote name='Doddy' post='1080052' date='Jan 6 2011, 04:20 PM']I've just picked up my main Fender Jazz today after having a set of Dimarzio Ultra Jazz pickups and a series/parallel
push/pull knob fitted.
It sounds great. In parallel it's just like a Jazz Bass,whereas in series it seems to give it more balls. It increases the
output slightly and gives a real fat tone that is almost Precision like but with more power and clarity (I think).

Here's a wiring diagram for adding a push/pull knob.

[url="http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=jass_bass_sp"]http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wirin...ic=jass_bass_sp[/url][/quote]

[quote name='Chilievans']Thankyou kindly Mr Wazoo.
What difference would it make to the tone/sound?[/quote]

What he said!

[JimD]

Note that in parallel you can use either the bridge or neck pickup, or both.

In series, you can only use both, as the output of one is connected into the input of the other. You only get the "series" sound with them both on.

So if, like me, you own a bass with "jazz" type pickups, but only play through the front one, it won't make any difference at all

[Doddy]

[quote name='JimD' post='1080069' date='Jan 6 2011, 04:30 PM']Note that in parallel you can use either the bridge or neck pickup, or both.

In series, you can only use both, as the output of one is connected into the input of the other. You only get the "series" sound with them both on.

So if, like me, you own a bass with "jazz" type pickups, but only play through the front one, it won't make any difference at all [/quote]

Yeah,in series both pickups do work together,but it doesn't sound like just the front pickup soloed. It has a higher output and,as I
said earlier,is Precision like but with more power and clarity. It makes a versatile bass even more versatile.

[mart]

[quote name='Doddy' post='1080052' date='Jan 6 2011, 04:20 PM']I've just picked up my main Fender Jazz today after having a set of Dimarzio Ultra Jazz pickups and a series/parallel
push/pull knob fitted.
It sounds great. In parallel it's just like a Jazz Bass,whereas in series it seems to give it more balls. It increases the
output slightly and gives a real fat tone that is almost Precision like but with more power and clarity (I think).

Here's a wiring diagram for adding a push/pull knob.

[url="http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=jass_bass_sp"]http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wirin...ic=jass_bass_sp[/url][/quote]

That wiring diagram means that when you're in Series mode only the neck volume control works, and acts as a master volume, right? It's always seemed to me that you should be able to wire things so that both volumes work all the time, even in series mode, so that you can still get a balance between the two pickups. Is there some reason why that can't be done, or is undesirable?

And that diagram also puzzles me because it seems to have the volume controls wired wrongly: surely the feed and ground should go to tags 1 and 3, and the output come from the middle tag. But this diagram has the input and ground going to tags 2 and 3 and the output coming from tag 1. If anyone can tell me what I'm missing here, I'd be grateful!

Edited January 6, 2011 by mart

[chilievans]

[quote name='Doddy' post='1080052' date='Jan 6 2011, 04:20 PM']I've just picked up my main Fender Jazz today after having a set of Dimarzio Ultra Jazz pickups and a series/parallel
push/pull knob fitted.
It sounds great. In parallel it's just like a Jazz Bass,whereas in series it seems to give it more balls. It increases the
output slightly and gives a real fat tone that is almost Precision like but with more power and clarity (I think).

Here's a wiring diagram for adding a push/pull knob.

[url="http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=jass_bass_sp"]http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wirin...ic=jass_bass_sp[/url][/quote]

Sounds good to me. I'm sold.
Has anyone any advice on which control knob to get?

[BassBod]

I've had this on a few basses - to be honest, I wouldn't do it again. There is often a big difference in the output between series (louder and darker) and parallel (lower output brighter sound). Nothing you can't work around, but I wouldn't go drilling holes without hearing it. I prefer the series sound in most basses.

Most of my experiences have been with Kent Armstrong humbuckers - J sized pickups may give better results, but I'd expect them to be pretty much the same.

Edit - just realized you're talking about running a pair of pickups (single coil?) in ser/par rather than switching the internal wiring of each pickup - ignore the above!

Edited January 6, 2011 by BassBod

[Truckstop]

In which position would you add the push-pull pot?
The master tone, neck vol or bridge vol?

Truckstop

[chilievans]

[quote name='Truckstop' post='1080195' date='Jan 6 2011, 05:51 PM']In which position would you add the push-pull pot?
The master tone, neck vol or bridge vol?

Truckstop[/quote]

Bridge volume I think

[mart]

[quote name='Truckstop' post='1080195' date='Jan 6 2011, 05:51 PM']In which position would you add the push-pull pot?
The master tone, neck vol or bridge vol?

Truckstop[/quote]

Personally I'd put it in the tone control. It's making a change to the tone rather than to the volume, so it seems logical to put it in the tone control. And it's not going to be a change you'll want to make mid-song so you don't need it in the nearest control. Just my opinion.

[Doddy]

[quote name='chilievans' post='1080211' date='Jan 6 2011, 06:06 PM']Bridge volume I think[/quote]

I've got mine on the neck volume.

[PaulWarning]

[quote name='Doddy' post='1080665' date='Jan 7 2011, 01:08 AM']I've got mine on the neck volume.[/quote]

when I did mine I put a switch where the tone control is and took that out, never used it anyway, it's a way of trying it out without fitting a push pull pot

[kerley]

I have just tried it out with a switch and kept the switch inside the control cavity to see if I liked it before going for push/pull. The answer is yes I like it a lot and imagine I will keep it in series from now on. Maybe it has just told me I prefer a P Bass sound over the thinner jazz sound.

[Lfalex v1.1]

And there I was thinking the S1 jazz was universally derided!!
I feel better about owning one now.
I also had a pair fitted to my Status Streamline. My Stingray 5 also has it. Plenty of tonal options ahoy...

I especially like the Streamline with the neck pick-up in parallel, bridge in series, and use the pan pot to compensate for the output difference. Sounds awesome....

[mcnach]

[quote name='chilievans' post='1080011' date='Jan 6 2011, 03:59 PM']I've just found out that the pickups on my jazz can be run in series or parallel. All I need to do is add a switch into the circuit. I'm thinking a push pull volume control would be the vast option as it wouldn't spoil the look of the bass.
I've never done any modifications before but I feel confident enough to give it a go.
What I'm wondering is as I've never heard a bass with this mod before is would it be worth doing? And what change would it make to the sound of it?
Over to you
thanks in advance[/quote]


I did that to a Jazz I used to own. The J pickups are wired in parallel. When switched in series the output increases noticeably and it's a lot fater, reminiscent a bit of a P-bass on steroids, but it's not a P-bass sound either. Very simple mod and well worthy on a passive Jazz, in my opinion.

I used a push/push volume knob for that... In hindsight, I prefer a push/pull: it makes it obvious to the eye what position you're in without playing a note.