Would a single blend knob be possible?

Tchar

Tchar

May 8, 2016
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Québec
#1
I've been toying with the idea of making a bass with a single knob recently. My ideal pickup combination is a PJ setup, however. I was wondering if it would be possible to have both pickups wired to a single blend pot.

I figure having the knob "flat" would have both pickups at full volume, rolling it clockwise would lower the J pickup volume (as to increase the P to J ratio) and vice versa.

Does anyone know if this is even possible, or if there are plans anywere for something like this?

Thanks in advance for any input!
 
#2
Tchar said:
I've been toying with the idea of making a bass with a single knob recently. My ideal pickup combination is a PJ setup, however. I was wondering if it would be possible to have both pickups wired to a single blend pot.

I figure having the knob "flat" would have both pickups at full volume, rolling it clockwise would lower the J pickup volume (as to increase the P to J ratio) and vice versa.

Does anyone know if this is even possible, or if there are plans anywere for something like this?

Thanks in advance for any input!
Click to expand...
Unless I’m missing something, this is extremely common. You want an M/N taper blend pot.
 
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#3
Depending on how exotic / complicated you want to make it, you can add a 250k resistor to ground in parallel to the circuit, to add a little extra loading and have the highs more in line with a classic wiring setup.
 
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#7
Tchar said:
I've been toying with the idea of making a bass with a single knob recently. My ideal pickup combination is a PJ setup, however. I was wondering if it would be possible to have both pickups wired to a single blend pot.

I figure having the knob "flat" would have both pickups at full volume, rolling it clockwise would lower the J pickup volume (as to increase the P to J ratio) and vice versa.

Does anyone know if this is even possible, or if there are plans anywere for something like this?

Thanks in advance for any input!
Click to expand...

In addition to the other things I said, if your main goal is the visual simplicity you may also like some of the stacked knob options.. check this out at bestbassgear

You could use the ‘volume’ side as a tone control, so blend and tone all in one spot, kinda looking like one knob aesthetically

Let me know if that appeals to you, or if you wanted more info on the grounding resistor I mentioned in my earlier comments, I would be happy to do a wiring diagram or something if you’re interested
 
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#8
Huw Phillips said:
Everything is possible talk to bestbase they have made wiring in the past
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Ok sure, thanks for the cue. Is Bestbase a user, or do you mean Bass Pickups | Preamps | Bartolini | Aguilar - Best Bass Gear?

dreamadream99 said:
As far as I know, this is how every blend knob works. Basses with 2 blendable pickups, have 2 knobs—either volume/volume, or master volume/blend.
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I've never come across it myself, though it does seem like many of you have. However, I have seen what you're talking about, that is to say blend plus master volume. That's not what I'm looking for. My goal is to do away with the master volume altogether.

eddododo said:
I would be happy to do a wiring diagram or something if you’re interested
Click to expand...

That would be amazing if you'd be inclined to do so. I barely dabble in electronics, but would like to get the hang of it. I managed to wire the first bass I build myself, but it was simple. A P-bass style pickup with 1 volume and tone knob.

Like you said, the idea is visual simplicity.
 
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#9
Tchar said:
I've been toying with the idea of making a bass with a single knob recently. My ideal pickup combination is a PJ setup, however. I was wondering if it would be possible to have both pickups wired to a single blend pot.

I figure having the knob "flat" would have both pickups at full volume, rolling it clockwise would lower the J pickup volume (as to increase the P to J ratio) and vice versa.

Does anyone know if this is even possible, or if there are plans anywere for something like this?

Thanks in advance for any input!
Click to expand...


By "single knob" are you saying a blend knob nd nothing else, no volume, no tone?
 
#13
So it's buying a bass with a blend pot and taking out the volume and tone pots. Right?

There are 2 kinds of blend pots, apparently:
- those that are 100% both pickups at middle, adn as you turn it either way the one pickup stays at 100% and the other is tapered down to 0%
- or those that are not quite 100% both pickups at middle (IDK, maybe 80 or 90%?) and as you turn it one way, one pickup is tapered down to 0% and the other is increased up to 100%. I have not personally encountered that kind in a bass, but that "equal power" type of pan pot is used in mixers sometimes, and apparently someone on here has encountered it in a bass because I had this discussion once before about it.

However since I only have used the 1st type - I would presume that you could buy any normal bass or guitar pan pot and it would do what you want.

I too think you need a kill switch if you don't want volume though... man, you can't put a bass down with volume up, and adjusting your amp volume is often not allowed if you have it setup very particularly for your gig, your miking, your engineer, whatever. So ability to kill output at your bass is critical unless you will ALWAYS have a foot pedal that can kill it for you.
 
#14
dkelley said:
I too think you need a kill switch if you don't want volume though... man, you can't put a bass down with volume up, and adjusting your amp volume is often not allowed if you have it setup very particularly for your gig, your miking, your engineer, whatever. So ability to kill output at your bass is critical unless you will ALWAYS have a foot pedal that can kill it for you.
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That could be done with a push-pull pot. Still one knob! :D
 
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#16
056ADF38-8DA6-4DAF-9F67-A56A4278A2B2.jpeg
Formerly 5 knob bass reinvented as a 1 knob (blender) bass. Although there are no less than 4 internal trim pots for occasional fine tuning, all of those could be replaced by resistors if you dialed in a sound that you knew you'd always be happy with. I found that once I got the tone I was really looking for, I haven't touched the trim pots since. The blender kind of acts like a tone knob as well by adding more treble as you increase the bridge pickup.
 
#18
cableguy said:
If all you want is a blend knob with no volume, I would at least add a kill switch. I suppose you could cut volume with a tuner or amp mute switch. I always like to be able to control my volume at the bass, but whatever you're trying to do, it is possible.
Click to expand...


dkelley said:
I too think you need a kill switch if you don't want volume though... man, you can't put a bass down with volume up, and adjusting your amp volume is often not allowed if you have it setup very particularly for your gig, your miking, your engineer, whatever. So ability to kill output at your bass is critical unless you will ALWAYS have a foot pedal that can kill it for you.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that did cross my mind. Being able to kill the signal from the bass is pretty essential, but I figure a tuning pedal basically serves as a mute switch. As for the level itself, I rather not play with it in studio or live gigs. It reduces the likelyhood I could alter the level. I usually just keep it all the way up or all the way down. To me, the tone itself is what I need to control and blending the two pickups give me that option.

ctmullins said:
There are no commonly available/affordable double-gang pots that also incorporate a push/pull switch.
Click to expand...

I was afraid this might be an obstacle...

Thanks everyone for the input. Very useful and interesting stuff. You've answered my questions, but as usual, now I have even more!:chicken:
 
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