Jazz Bass Wiring Mod

CF333

CF333

Feb 12, 2020
19
5
2,551
Arizona
#1
To all fellow bass nerds:
I’m interested in making a simple mod on my standard (VVT) passive jazz! I know it has been talked about on here many times, but it seems all the previous schematics are unavailable to view. I’m looking to replace each volume pot with a single toggle switch. (No mod to the tone) I would like to keep things as simple as possible, so I’m assuming I should be after a couple SPST switches correct? A schematic would be extremely helpful as electrical work is out of my area of expertise. Thank you in advance!
 
#7
Umm, turn neck pickup volume knob all the way left, off. All the way right, on.

Turn bridge pickup volume control all the way left, off. All the way right, on.

OK, kind of playing with ya. I can see the toggle switches for neck and bridge. Kind of.

I know that it's not in the simple range but can ya use some push pull pots? Lift knob up, off. Push knob down, on. And, you'll still have the ability to use volume up and down.

Good luck with your mod. Interesting.
 
#8
Guitars are rarely wired like this, they use a single 3 way switch so that at least one pickup is always connected to the output. You can use two switches to control two pickups, but I really recommend you use two double pole double throw (SPDT) switches so you can wire the "both pickups OFF" setting to ground the output and avoid nasty amp hums and buzzes. DPDT switches are cheap and easy to find.

One set of each switch's contacts are used for the on/off switching. The second set of contacts on each switch are wired in series to connect hot and ground together (killswitch) when both pickups are off.
Two-Switches-mTone.png


L1 and L2 are your pickups, ground wires to the left, "hot" wires to the right. R1 is the tone pot, C1 the tone capacitor, J1 the output jack.
 
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#9
Crater said:
Guitars are rarely wired like this, they use a single 3 way switch so that at least one pickup is always connected to the output. You can use two switches to control two pickups, but I really recommend you use two double pole double throw (SPDT) switches so you can wire the "both pickups OFF" setting to ground the output and avoid nasty amp hums and buzzes. DPDT switches are cheap and easy to find.

One set of each switch's contacts are used for the on/off switching. The second set of contacts on each switch are wired in series to connect hot and ground together (killswitch) when both pickups are off.
View attachment 3708785

L1 and L2 are your pickups, ground wires to the left, "hot" wires to the right. R1 is the tone pot, C1 the tone capacitor, J1 the output jack.
Click to expand...

This is very helpful. Thank you man!
 
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