Series / Parallel and a 3 way switch?

[Mr123Clark]

Hey Folks!

Was looking around and can't get a clear answer on a wiring diagram, so here's what I'm shooting for: I have a DiMarzio PJ setup and was looking to wire it up with both a 3 way switch and also an option for series / parallel when both pickups are on.

If that's not possible, I would love a good diagram for a 5 way rotary switch to wire up a selection of "1) neck solo, 2) neck and bridge series, 3) neck and bridge parallel, 4) Bridge solo, 5) mute ?" I know that a 4 way rotary would work as dingwall's have been wired for this but can only find 5 way switches readily in stock

 

[AK Bass Guy]

Hey Folks!

Was looking around and can't get a clear answer on a wiring diagram, so here's what I'm shooting for: I have a DiMarzio PJ setup and was looking to wire it up with both a 3 way switch and also an option for series / parallel when both pickups are on.

If that's not possible, I would love a good diagram for a 5 way rotary switch to wire up a selection of "1) neck solo, 2) neck and bridge series, 3) neck and bridge parallel, 4) Bridge solo, 5) mute ?" I know that a 4 way rotary would work as dingwall's have been wired for this but can only find 5 way switches readily in stock

That’s more or less what I have my bass. I’ll draw one up for you. Do you want a single volume and tone in it as well?
Here is my controls top switch is series parallel. Mid switch is neck both bridge.

 

[Mr123Clark]

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That’s more or less what I have my bass. I’ll draw one up for you. Do you want a single volume and tone in it as well?
Here is my controls top switch is series parallel. Mid switch is neck both bridge.
View attachment 7041996

that'd be amazing! And yes, planning to run with a 500k volume and 250k tone per the DiMarzio specs sheet

 

[AK Bass Guy]

t

that'd be amazing! And yes, planning to run with a 500k volume and 250k tone per the DiMarzio specs sheet

Ok, no prob will have one posted in about a half hour.

 

[Chris Chong]

dingwall 2x rotary switch, neck/parallel/series/bridge

Dingwall 2x Rotary Switch - 4-Way Rotary Pickup Selector Assembly - FO

Dingwall 2x 4-Way Rotary Selector Switch Rotary Selector Switch for basses with 2-Picukps! This 4-Way Rotary Pickup Selector Switch from Dingwall is an easy swap! 4 Position Rotary Pickup Selector Bridge Bridge/Neck in Parallel Bridge/Neck in Series Neck THIS SWITCH IS FOR BASSES WITH 2 PICKUPS!

fretnation.com

 

[AK Bass Guy]

Here you go.

I used the P bass volume/tone wiring method and not the J bass.

 

[Mr123Clark]

Here you go.
View attachment 7042061

I used the P bass volume/tone wiring method and not the J bass.
View attachment 7042062

amazing! Thanks so much! Will try this as soon as the pots come in!

 

[Brian Patterson]

Here you go.
View attachment 7042061

I used the P bass volume/tone wiring method and not the J bass.
View attachment 7042062

Could you possibly draw up the same configuration with concentric pots for separate V/T for each pickup? I'm working with EMG's Geezer P/J set....

 

[AK Bass Guy]

Could you possibly draw up the same configuration with concentric pots for separate V/T for each pickup? I'm working with EMG's Geezer P/J set....

No prob. You want the original 60s J bass style with the resistors or the modern simplified version?
What do you want on the top knob and bottom ring?
Volume top knob and tone bottom ring?

As far as vintage vs modern stacked volume/tone they both have pros and cons from what I’ve heard.
Can’t speak from any personal experience myself, always been a VVT or something completely different for 2 pickup basses.
I’d recommend searching on YouTube for some demos and critiques of both styles and then make a choice.

Cheers

 

[Brian Patterson]

No prob. You want the original 60s J bass style with the resistors or the modern simplified version?
What do you want on the top knob and bottom ring?
Volume top knob and tone bottom ring?

As far as vintage vs modern stacked volume/tone they both have pros and cons from what I’ve heard.
Can’t speak from any personal experience myself, always been a VVT or something completely different for 2 pickup basses.
I’d recommend searching on YouTube for some demos and critiques of both styles and then make a choice.

Cheers

EMG's concetric pots come with 0.047 mfd caps on them - with Volume on top, Tone on the bootom ring. They have a three-way toggle (On/On/On) I assume will give me N/NB/B selection - getting confirmation on that.
I was going to use the above diagram as a guide but would love to have a series/parallel switch added to it.

The idea is to have all controls at the bass and avoid fiddly trips to the amp - appreciate any insight you can add...

 

[AK Bass Guy]

View attachment 7042349EMG's concetric pots come with 0.047 mfd caps on them - with Volume on top, Tone on the bootom ring. They have a three-way toggle (On/On/On) I assume will give me N/NB/B selection - getting confirmation on that.
I was going to use the above diagram as a guide but would love to have a series/parallel switch added to it.

The idea is to have all controls at the bass and avoid fiddly trips to the amp - appreciate any insight you can add...

Not sure if it’s easily possible with all the quick disconnects and bundled in a harness. Give me some time to investigate. Personally if it’s all harnessed up I’d leave it alone. Get back to you in a couple days.

 

[Killing Floor]

You could use a push pull pot perhaps.

 

[mrperkolator]

Hey Folks!

Was looking around and can't get a clear answer on a wiring diagram, so here's what I'm shooting for: I have a DiMarzio PJ setup and was looking to wire it up with both a 3 way switch and also an option for series / parallel when both pickups are on.

If that's not possible, I would love a good diagram for a 5 way rotary switch to wire up a selection of "1) neck solo, 2) neck and bridge series, 3) neck and bridge parallel, 4) Bridge solo, 5) mute ?" I know that a 4 way rotary would work as dingwall's have been wired for this but can only find 5 way switches readily in stock

You doing this on a jazz plate? How many holes does bass have? As Killingfloor mentioned, a push/pull could help clean it up visually.

Also measure the cavity. I helped a guy once and his bass didn’t have room for rotary. I think we had a mute on the selector too. There is other options to load the pickups so they sound darker/different. I’m not an expert on that and I’d have to search for the thread.

For a PJ, I’d heavily lean towards a master vol/rotary selector/switchable tone knob. At least on PJs that used to be VVT

 

[Malak the Mad]

Hey Folks!

Was looking around and can't get a clear answer on a wiring diagram, so here's what I'm shooting for: I have a DiMarzio PJ setup and was looking to wire it up with both a 3 way switch and also an option for series / parallel when both pickups are on.

It's funny how questions and topics that brush up against this recent purchase of mine have been coming up with some frequency!

It's not a schematic, but I figure I should mention it just in case it's something that will meet your needs.

• https://reverb.com/item/41501900-he...ies-parallel-wiring-harness-and-control-plate

This past summer, I bought this wiring harness as an experiment. It's been such a resounding success, I just ordered another one.

Right to left, the controls are...

1. 3-way pickup toggle
2. Series/parallel toggle
3. Master volume & tone

Also, when in series mode, the 3-way's "bridge pickup only" setting acts as a mute switch.

Jeremy, the guy who made mine and a whole slew of different harnesses, is open to some degree of customization. For instance, the one pictured above uses a 500k/500k concentric pot to better go with the split-coil soapbars AND I was able to choose the color of the toggle-tips, knobs and control plate. Meanwhile, the one I just ordered is for a Jazz bass, so it'll be 250k/250k and everything will be all-chrome to match the original controls. Just shoot him a message through Reverb and see what he has to say.

Anyway, just some food for thought. Good luck with your project!

 

[AK Bass Guy]

View attachment 7042349EMG's concetric pots come with 0.047 mfd caps on them - with Volume on top, Tone on the bootom ring. They have a three-way toggle (On/On/On) I assume will give me N/NB/B selection - getting confirmation on that.
I was going to use the above diagram as a guide but would love to have a series/parallel switch added to it.

The idea is to have all controls at the bass and avoid fiddly trips to the amp - appreciate any insight you can add...

I’m not confident I can give you a proper diagram because there are some potential interactions between the electronics that I’m not familiar with. Never used harnesses or concentric pots. So rather not give you bad info. There probably is a diagram for you out there, might have to dig around a bit.
Good luck.

 

[EliasA]

Hey Folks!

Was looking around and can't get a clear answer on a wiring diagram, so here's what I'm shooting for: I have a DiMarzio PJ setup and was looking to wire it up with both a 3 way switch and also an option for series / parallel when both pickups are on.

If that's not possible, I would love a good diagram for a 5 way rotary switch to wire up a selection of "1) neck solo, 2) neck and bridge series, 3) neck and bridge parallel, 4) Bridge solo, 5) mute ?" I know that a 4 way rotary would work as dingwall's have been wired for this but can only find 5 way switches readily in stock

You could try Godin's Passion RG-4 wiring, with a four-way switch and vol/tone: https://godinguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/hsheet16_Passion-RG4-Bass.pdf

 

[Mr123Clark]

Here you go.
View attachment 7042061

I used the P bass volume/tone wiring method and not the J bass.
View attachment 7042062

Okay so question - looks like I accidentally got a 3 way switch that only has 3 poles and a ground and not DPDT - how would that change the wiring / is it still possible to have a 3 way and series parallel with this type of switch?

 

[EliasA]

Okay so question - looks like I accidentally got a 3 way switch that only has 3 poles and a ground and not DPDT - how would that change the wiring / is it still possible to have a 3 way and series parallel with this type of switch?

You would have to abandon the solo'd neck or the solo'd bridge. Hopefully the seller accepts a trade for the four-way.

 

[AK Bass Guy]

Okay so question - looks like I accidentally got a 3 way switch that only has 3 poles and a ground and not DPDT - how would that change the wiring / is it still possible to have a 3 way and series parallel with this type of switch?

Don’t know without more info. What’s the make and model of the switch? I need to see how it’s wired internally and if it’s a three way switch.There are a lot of switches out there and there isn’t a standard on how the lugs are wired.

 

[Mr123Clark]

Don’t know without more info. What’s the make and model of the switch? I need to see how it’s wired internally and if it’s a three way switch.There are a lot of switches out there and there isn’t a standard on how the lugs are wired.

Just a regular 3 way toggle - I wired them up today using the diagram below and get volume and full function except for one issue using the tapping the screwdriver on the pickup method.

Here's the issue i'm running into:

When I pull up the pot to engage the series mode I only get signal from tapping the neck pickup magnet and no sound from tapping the bridge magnets. Is this diagram I've attached below done right?

Thanks!