PJ Control Knobs

[Judo Chop]

I've decided to get a jazz bridge pickup installed on my precision, and I was wondering about how it affects the controls.

All of the pictures I've seen of PJs show the original two knobs with an additional control for the jazz pickup, presumably just a volume control while the tone knob now controls both pickups?

I'm probably wrong there, but is it possible to have the jazz pickup installed with its own volume and tone controls? And how would that be achieved without crowding the scratch plate with controls?
Somebody please enlighten my simple brain

[alstocko]

Well, there's several options here:

1. You can go the "standard" volume, volume, tone arrangement and rout a hole in the side of the bass for a jack.

2. Do the same as above but with volume, blend, tone

3. Get two stack pots and wire them as volume, tone, volume, tone (whatever order you like of course!) this is more messy but saves routing of extra holes

4. Do the same as 3 but with one stack pot and one normal one, making it volume, volume, tone

5. Keep the pots the same and make it master volume, tone with a pickup switch (handy, but not too flexible!)

Personally, I like the sound of the challenge of number 3!

(I hope that makes sense!)

[Judo Chop]

[quote name='alstocko' timestamp='1356482468' post='1910528']
Well, there's several options here:

1. You can go the "standard" volume, volume, tone arrangement and rout a hole in the side of the bass for a jack.

2. Do the same as above but with volume, blend, tone

3. Get two stack pots and wire them as volume, tone, volume, tone (whatever order you like of course!) this is more messy but saves routing of extra holes

4. Do the same as 3 but with one stack pot and one normal one, making it volume, volume, tone

5. Keep the pots the same and make it master volume, tone with a pickup switch (handy, but not too flexible!)

Personally, I like the sound of the challenge of number 3!

(I hope that makes sense!)
[/quote]

Yeah it makes sense, thanks.

I think I'll keep the precision controls as they are, and get a stack knob for the jazz pickup's volume and tone controls.
Anyone have a rough idea of what that would cost?

[tommorichards]

About £6-£10 for the pot, depending upon source and quality. £6 ebay one from USA: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HIGH-QUALITY-ALPHA-STACKED-DUAL-CONCENTRIC-POTENTIOMETER-A250K-AUDIO-POT-DCP5-/190665834405?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2c6491bfa5

And about £5-£10 for the knobs depending upon source and quality. £5 from hong kong: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1p-Concentric-Stacked-Silver-Knobs-Inner-and-Outer-knob-/120731604099?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item1c1c2a1483

Hope it helps

[alstocko]

[quote name='Jack Cahalane' timestamp='1356486163' post='1910535']


Yeah it makes sense, thanks.

I think I'll keep the precision controls as they are, and get a stack knob for the jazz pickup's volume and tone controls.
Anyone have a rough idea of what that would cost?
[/quote]
Good
Enjoy the mods, post pics!

[Judo Chop]

[quote name='alstocko' timestamp='1356517276' post='1910611']

Good
Enjoy the mods, post pics!
[/quote]

I will
Just need to decide on a pick up now

[Lozz196]

I liked the Seymour Duncan Hot Stack that I had in the bridge of my old Aerodyne Jazz. It was true to the sound of the original pickup, but seemed to just have "more" of it, plus it was hum-cancelling.

[LukeFRC]

adding the other pickup and the controls that you use WILL affect the sound of the P pickup - much like a jazz bass's pickups affect each other. If you look up the ways the stack knob jazz has been wired this is what you are proposing for your P bass - for less loading VVT may be better? Just get a stack volume knob and use the current tone knob.

[Judo Chop]

Anybody got any more suggestions for pickups?

[Judo Chop]

For anyone who's interested, I just picked up my bass from Back Alley Music in Chester and their luthier Matt Bascetta has done a brilliant job installing the jazz pickup and concentric pots

Here's a few pictures

[Judo Chop]

New knobs and a three way switch

[lojo]

[quote name='alstocko' timestamp='1356482468' post='1910528']


3. Get two stack pots and wire them as volume, tone, volume, tone (whatever order you like of course!) this is more messy but saves routing of extra holes


(I hope that makes sense!)
[/quote]

KiOgon on here just made me one of these for my pj project

I love the simplicity of 2 stacked pots, plus it keeps the p bass look.

I do need to slightly widen the cavity to fit the pots in from what was there before

Edited February 20, 2013 by lojo

[Judo Chop]

[quote name='lojo' timestamp='1361382695' post='1985114']


KiOgon on here just made me one of these for my pj project

I love the simplicity of 2 stacked pots, plus it keeps the p bass look.

I do need to slightly widen the cavity to fit the pots in from what was there before
[/quote]

Are you doing it all yourself or taking it to a luthier?

[lojo]

[quote name='Jack Cahalane' timestamp='1361385815' post='1985171']


Are you doing it all yourself or taking it to a luthier?
[/quote]

Just making it up from parts myself.