Adding a master volume to a 335 type guitar?

PylonRacer

PylonRacer

Member
I just picked up a cheap, but very cool, Ibanez semi-hollow body (AS83-VLS). I'm a Strat guy so I'm used to adjusting volume on the fly with one knob & being able to do pinky swells.

So my question is... Is there an easy way add a master volume knob near the bridge that could controll the overall volume? I could still use the other two knobs to control blend.

What do you LP & ES guys do? Am I thinking about this all wrong? Should I convert one Vol knob to a blend and use the other as master and forget about pinky swells?

-Jerry
 
Re: Adding a master volume to a 335 type guitar?

If it was my guitar I'd leave it alone. But if you really want to do this, maybe you could have a volume control for each pickup and then a master volume and master tone control connected to your output jack. That way you wouldn't have to drill another hole in your guitar. Lew
 
Re: Adding a master volume to a 335 type guitar?

I'd leave it alone and live it with it for at least a few months - you may come to love it as it is.

The Fender single-volume and Gibson twin-volumes designs both have their pros and cons. I mostly play Les Pauls and love the knobs the way they are, but I also have a SSS Strat and enjoy the single volume when I play that guitar (though I have wired it to have a tone control on the bridge pup).

Different guitars promote different ways of playing - you may find the Ibanez inspires you to do things you've never done with a Strat. Vive la difference!
 
Re: Adding a master volume to a 335 type guitar?

Thanks for the input guys.

OK I'll leave it alone as is; and acclimatize to it for a while. Yes, indeed it does evoke different playing styles! I love the neck and neck+middle tones. I'll be putting a set of Seths in it (Lew, I'll be talking to you shortly); and probably swapping out the pots as well. I'm really having so much fun with it that I'd really like to turn it into a player.

For the money, these Ibanez's are pretty nice. Here's a link to the guitar, although I picked mine up for 1/2 the price.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ibanez-AS83-Semi-Hollow-Electric-Guitar-102563426-i1150718.gc
 
Re: Adding a master volume to a 335 type guitar?

I wouldn't bother. I used to have a Gibson ES150DCN, which is a 3" thick totally hollow version of a 335, and it had a MV. Wound up being totally worthless.

The real key to using a 2HB guitar with the 2-vol, 2-tone set-up is using the VOLUME controls for both pickups to blend the tone with the switch in the middle position. There are some beautiful tones in there--and that's the only way to get them.

After playing a Strat (and now a G&L Legacy) for so many years as my #1 guitar, I find the Les Paul/335 circuit a challenge--but one that's well worth it.

Bill
 
Re: Adding a master volume to a 335 type guitar?

Don't do it, it will not be worth much and unlike a Strat or Tele, gibsons are not really wired to use a master volume in the same manner that a Gretsch is...
 
Re: Adding a master volume to a 335 type guitar?

How is your Ibanez wired? Does it have independent volume controls or do tehy operate as a master (when the toggle is in the middle position, does turning down the volume on one PU turn down both)?

Unfortunately most import guitars have the old Gibson wiring from the 1950's, which is hopelessly obsolete.

Whenyou have independent volume control, you can blend the PU's in different amounts & really shape your tone. To get this, switch the lugs on the volume pots that the PU/tone and toggle switch are wired to (the toggle s/b wired to the outside lug, and the PU/tone to the center. The ground stays the same).
 
Re: Adding a master volume to a 335 type guitar?

PylonRacer said:
I just picked up a cheap, but very cool, Ibanez semi-hollow body (AS83-VLS). I'm a Strat guy so I'm used to adjusting volume on the fly with one knob & being able to do pinky swells.

So my question is... Is there an easy way add a master volume knob near the bridge that could controll the overall volume? I could still use the other two knobs to control blend.

What do you LP & ES guys do? Am I thinking about this all wrong? Should I convert one Vol knob to a blend and use the other as master and forget about pinky swells?

-Jerry
Click to expand...

I just looked up that guitar at Musicians Friend. What a nice guitar!!!
I agree with the guy who said leave it alone for a coulpe months. That is a beauty.
 
Re: Adding a master volume to a 335 type guitar?

blueman335 said:
How is your Ibanez wired? Does it have independent volume controls or do tehy operate as a master (when the toggle is in the middle position, does turning down the volume on one PU turn down both)?

Unfortunately most import guitars have the old Gibson wiring from the 1950's, which is hopelessly obsolete.

Whenyou have independent volume control, you can blend the PU's in different amounts & really shape your tone. To get this, switch the lugs on the volume pots that the PU/tone and toggle switch are wired to (the toggle s/b wired to the outside lug, and the PU/tone to the center. The ground stays the same).
Click to expand...

The guitar is wired with individual volumes; and I agree there are definitely cool blended tones to be had. So I want to keep that capability. The pups will blend until one vol knob gets to 1 or less, then all the sound cuts out. It must be a series circuit. Is this '50s Gibson wiring?


Bludave said:
Get a Volume pedal!!
Click to expand...
Perfect solution!!! No drilling, wierd wiring and potential loss of tone. I've always wanted an excuse. Now I have a real reason to pick one up.


chuckbat said:
I just looked up that guitar at Musicians Friend. What a nice guitar!!!
I agree with the guy who said leave it alone for a coulpe months. That is a beauty.
Click to expand...
I really like the guitar. For the money, I just couldn't walk away from it. I really like the med jumbo frets. I'm not much of a vintage fret guy; and many of the 335 type guitars have pretty tiny frets. It also has a 3 piece neck.
 
Re: Adding a master volume to a 335 type guitar?

Check out the master volume on Scott Sharrard's guitar http://www.guitarplayer.com/artists...ils-his-sound-for-the-gregg-allman-band/50102 No holes needed to be drilled as his tech used the circular part of the F hole to mount the pot. It's a great idea for a hollow/semi hollow guitar. I plan on doing this. And by the way, Unless you have a really valuable guitar, I say try things! It's fun and rewarding to mod things to your liking!
 
Re: Adding a master volume to a 335 type guitar?

zombie thread

but in the vein of:

I would swap the two volumes to one master volume and one blend knob like a bass

but thats me
I prefer master volumes
 
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