Pots for a P bass

[Jobiebass]

Basicly I have some Pups from a MIM P which I may change later on, and thats it, its a passive P bass that im looking for.

1: can I buy the tone/volume/input all wired up and I just need to solder the pups on?
2: whats the diffrence between diffrent tone/volume controls?
3: Which do I go for??


Thanks for the help, this is the last piece of the puzzle that is my P bass build.

[neepheid]

[url="http://www.seymourduncan.com/pdfs/support/schematics/std_pbass.pdf"]http://www.seymourduncan.com/pdfs/support/...s/std_pbass.pdf[/url]

Make sure you get logarithmic or audio taper pots, linear pots are "all or nothing" to human ears.

Edited May 8, 2008 by neepheid

[bigjohn]

You might as well get some decent pots and a cap. The good ones are cheap enough.

CTS pots - coupla quid each. You have the choice between 250k and 500k resistance. Ps usually have 500k ones I think. You can also choose between audio (logarithmic) pots and linear pots. You deffo should use the audio for the volume - but you can use either for the tone pot - personal preference. Standard Ps use audios for both vol and tone, but I think that's so they don't get mixed up on the production lines, get ordered wrong etc.

You can use a variety of capacitors 0.01, .0250, .0500, 0.100 etc - the less the value the capacitor, the more treble bleed you get, so sound will be brighter. Standard Ps are .0500 I think. Orange drops are considered good. They're pence each anyway. Might be a good idea to try each or a couple - even good pots are quite variable in their resistance so the cap is a chance to level that out.

And get a switchcraft jack.

Standard p wiring diagram is here > [url="http://www.fender.com/support/diagrams/pdf_temp1/basses/0193200_02A/SD0193200_02APg2.pdf"]wiring diag[/url]


And don't use a MIM pup

[BOD2]

1. Probably not, unless someone is selling a "set" of recovered electronics on eBay. Shops will sell the pots singly, unwired.

2. If it's standard pups then it's generally best to stick with the standard pot values - 250kOhm Audio (log) pots for both volume and tone (as shown in neepheid's diagram). You'll also need a small capacitor 0.05 uF (or 0.047 uF) for the tone control.

3. Pots made by CTS or Alpha are generally thought to be the best. Scroll down here [url="http://www.axesrus.com/axeknobs.htm"]axesrus.com[/url] for a complete set of CTS pots and capacitor for a P-Bass.

"Split shaft" pots have splined shafts to match push-on knobs with a splined collar. "Solid shaft" pots are for knobs that have a little grub screw to hold them on. Check your knobs to see which type you have.

[Jobiebass]

*runs of crying because ive got NO clue what anyone just said*

its ok, if I go to this Nottingham meet up on sunday ill get someone to sit me in a corner with a dunce hat on while they run me through my A-B-C's

[Jobiebass]

[quote name='neepheid' post='194590' date='May 8 2008, 12:32 PM'][url="http://www.seymourduncan.com/pdfs/support/schematics/std_pbass.pdf"]http://www.seymourduncan.com/pdfs/support/...s/std_pbass.pdf[/url]

Make sure you get logarithmic or audio taper pots, linear pots are "all or nothing" to human ears.[/quote]


Ooooo that helps a lot! Thanks!

[Muppet]

Don't worry it's not difficult, just the terminology is confusing. Soldering it all up is actually pretty simple too.

You need

2 x pots. If you are ordering them then the Fender standard is '250k audio log'. Try to get ones manufactured by CTS.

1 x jack socket. Made by Switchcraft.

1 x 0.05uf capacitor. This is used for the tone circuit.

Some wire - black and white usually!

Bit of solder and a soldering iron.


Most of your variation in tone will come from the types of pickups you are using, as well as string type and amp, rater than these parts.

[Jobiebass]

[quote name='Muppet' post='194642' date='May 8 2008, 01:10 PM']Don't worry it's not difficult, just the terminology is confusing. Soldering it all up is actually pretty simple too.

You need

2 x pots. If you are ordering them then the Fender standard is '250k audio log'. Try to get ones manufactured by CTS.

1 x jack socket. Made by Switchcraft.

1 x 0.05uf capacitor. This is used for the tone circuit.

Some wire - black and white usually!

Bit of solder and a soldering iron.


Most of your variation in tone will come from the types of pickups you are using, as well as string type and amp, rather than these parts.[/quote]

im not bad with a soldering iron, you should have seen the soundsystem in my first ROVER mini, probably on par with my rig now lol. I just have no clue what parts to use but you really helped, thanks!!

[Jobiebass]

Actually thats not as hard as I first imagined,

thanks for all your help, I know exactly what I need now.

TY!!!!!!

ill tell you, if it wasnt for basschat id still have 2 pieces of wood in the shape of an old bass.