Jazz bass wiring - convert from 2V to blend pot - any benefit with parallel wiring?

C

constant mesh

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I got a cheapo Ibanez bass with a J-bass configuration pups, two singles, 2V, 1T. I might be throwing some cheap Toneriders in it in near future (or just save up and get Duncans instead), but I wanted to try the blend pot first. While these pickups are wired in parallel maxing out the vol pots of course gives me weaker overall signal than rolling one of them slightly off. Each pup is 6k on average, maxed out they are 3, but if I slightly roll off one vol pot it goes up to 5k.

Now the parts I don't understand ...

Will I benefit from anything with a blend pot, 1V/1T? My logics tells me that when the blend pot will be dead on zero (on the indent), I'll get the same thing as I get now when I max out both pots, right? What about stuff in-between on the blend pot? Will rolling it make the same effect as keepin one vol fully open while rolling off the other one on a 2V configuration?

Next question... :)
I know series/parallel mod is very popular on J-basses, so what do I need for it? I'd like to have the humbucker capabilities when both pups are engaged. I am not finicky about controls, it does not matter to me if there's a blend pot or just two vol pots in that case, but I'd like to chunk it up a bit.

While some J-bass kits offer RWRP for hum-cancelling, but are still incorporating the 2-conductor leads, can I convert these to work in series?

Thanks a lot, guys.
 
Re: Jazz bass wiring - convert from 2V to blend pot - any benefit with parallel wirin

The centre detent on a balance pot is theoretically 50:50 but tolerances in the pot and the different signal strengths from the two pickups mean that the system is always slightly imperfect.

Series/parallel switching is easily achieved but, on a VVT control set up, it leaves one pot out of circuit. With Vol/Bal/Tone controls, series wiring will pass the combined pickup signal via one channel of the balance pot. This leaves the potential to have faded most of the signal to ground BEFORE it even reaches the master volume pot.

Only you can decide whether the series sound is worth all the mucking about with the controls.

Other things to beef up the sound of a cheapo bass include a chunkier bridge, a new nut and bigger strings. With JJ pickups, I would be tempted to install the SD/Basslines Blackouts for Bass 2-band EQ. Set the micro switch on the PCB to "Fender" mode.
 
Re: Jazz bass wiring - convert from 2V to blend pot - any benefit with parallel wirin

Just did a little experiment and I reversed the neck pup's leads, it was absolutely lifeless when maxed out, but almost completely identical with one pot rolled off slightly. I'm still not sure if that put the pups in series or not :D Later on I might try to add a DPDT switch and ditch one volume and then see what I get. I think I was probably having the symptom you described with 2V pots.

I was thinking of getting replacement pups because these sure lack some clarity. They are boomy and bassy, but without proper hi mids. I can tame the boom with hi-pass filter, but boosting the mids or highs just makes it sound like it's coming through a DI.
 
Re: Jazz bass wiring - convert from 2V to blend pot - any benefit with parallel wirin

Reversing the two leads on one pickup simply reverses its electrical phase relative to the other pickup.

Series wiring involves connecting the output conductor of the first pickup to the "ground" conductor of the second pickup. Their combined signal comes from the "hot" conductor of the second pickup.

EDIT - Many of the budget Ibanez/Soundgear bass guitars hail from the Cort factory in Indonesia. Their Powersound pickups leave much to be desired.
 
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Re: Jazz bass wiring - convert from 2V to blend pot - any benefit with parallel wirin

Just installed the DPDT switch last night and wired it correctly this time, I slaved the bridge pup to the neck, so the bridge vol is out when in series. Have to say the sound was pushed further out, really like this setting and I can flick it back to true singles in no time for softer sound.

Would it work with a blend pot too? Like having a DPDT, a blend pot, 1V/1T? So I could blend in parallel and series too?
 
Re: Jazz bass wiring - convert from 2V to blend pot - any benefit with parallel wirin

By definition, the balance pot is blending two signal sources in parallel.

The only way to control the balance of two coils that are connected in series is by gradually shunting one of the signals to ground via a variable resistance. (Spin-a-split.)
 
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