PJ Bass wiring

[JR1000]

My first project – I bought a PJ bass body and Jazz neck, which I am now slightly regretting 

 

I hadn't really thought through the more complicated wiring issues, or even just the difficulty of getting a pickguard with 4 holes!  The body doesn't have a side jack cut out, and i really don't fancy drilling that at home. 

 

Can someone suggest the path of least resistance?

 

Is there a detailed build thread on this site that i can follow? 

 

thanks so much 

 

 

[Si600]

Post pictures of everything that you've and we can make suggestions, helpful or otherwise 😉

[d-basser]

Best bet if you don't want to drill an extra side hole would probably be to use a stacked knob. I would suggest stacking the two volume pots onto one, then having a single tone as normal. If you wanted you could stack both like the old jazz basses, with vol and tone per pup.

 

Othewise, could you drill an extra hole in a 3 hole plate? Or is the spacing too far off?

[jrixn1]

Another option is to leave out one control; e.g. the G&L SB-2 is a production PJ with no tone knob.  Or you can have a blend and tone but no volume, which is what I have in my PJ bitsa.  You could also have a push-pull knob - so setup like a P bass but then pulling the tone knob adds in the J pickup on full volume.  It's a good chance to think about how you use the bass in real life and get something to suit.  BTW if you don't want to do your own electronics, you can buy standard or custom looms from basschatter KiOgon.

[Beedster]

14 minutes ago, d-basser said:

Best bet if you don't want to drill an extra side hole would probably be to use a stacked knob. I would suggest stacking the two volume pots onto one, then having a single tone as normal. If you wanted you could stack both like the old jazz basses, with vol and tone per pup.

 

Othewise, could you drill an extra hole in a 3 hole plate? Or is the spacing too far off?

 

This ^

 

I've done a LOT of P/Js, and while the initial outlay seems high, the path of least resistance is ALWAYS to not modify either the body or the pickguard, but the circuit only. I get my PJ circuits from John @KiOgon on BC, you'll struggle to get anything like as good quality for the price anywhere else. Don't make the other error of leaving 1xT 1xV with a selector switch, it really limits the options on a P/J

 

IMPORTANT: measure the width and depth of the cavity into which the two stacked pots and make sure to let John know so that he in turn can build you a circuit that will definitely fit. Some photos probably make this process even more reliable. 

[d-basser]

I would agree that losing either a vol or tone would limit the PJ bass config. Personally I prefer to run mine with the P pup full, J rolled back to around 8 or 9 / 10 and the tone tweaked to taste/song. Think I would struggle without all 3 controls.

[Twigman]

My home built PJ has 2 stacked knobs

[JR1000]

Thanks everyone ... that is so helpful

 

I had never heard of a 'stacked knob' ... but clearly that is the simple answer.   And I will definitely be talking to John @KiOgon. From what I've read on this forum i would get into trouble if I didn't!

 

Plenty of sanding and filling and painting and sanding to do in the meantime. 

 

Jon

 

  

[d-basser]

Glad we could help

[BassTool]

2 hours ago, JR1000 said:

Thanks everyone ... that is so helpful

 

I had never heard of a 'stacked knob' ... but clearly that is the simple answer.   And I will definitely be talking to John @KiOgon. From what I've read on this forum i would get into trouble if I didn't!

 

Plenty of sanding and filling and painting and sanding to do in the meantime. 

 

Jon

 

  

Remember, we like to see pics on here 😜

[SpondonBassed]

3 hours ago, JR1000 said:

Thanks everyone ... that is so helpful

 

Welcome to Basschat.

[PaulThePlug]

3 hole scratch plate...

Volume, 3 Pos Switch, No Tone, Jack Socket (PureTone Multi Contacts Socket... real clunk, Like Apollo/Soyuz every time you Jack-Up...)

 

Get some pics up!..

And lets start talking pickups... whats ya vibe!

 

1st Project, P(J) Body, J Neck, Yep... how my first started... 'cmon lets go!

Edited November 18 by PaulThePlug

[JR1000]

There is really nothing to show in terms of pictures yet.  But since you're insistent ... here's the body.  Neck is still in transit, but it is a Jass Bazz style as mentioned earlier. 

 

I'm building it for my 18 year old daughter, who currently has a Classic Vibe JB of mine on 'permanent loan'. 

 

My current thinking is:

 

Tonerider 'classic' PJ pickups

The two 'stacked knob' wiring as described above  

Gotoh GB2 tuners

Not sure about bridge 

Round wounds 

 

But i have never done this before ... so i really don't know where I can make cost compromises / savings and where I need to spend more

 

All advice very much appreciated 

 

Colour still to be decided, but it will definitely be painted.  I love the 'Periwinkle' on this Reverend Bass - https://reverendguitars.com/basses/decision-p/.  With a white pearl pickguard.  But all the guitar paint aerosol cans seem to only be Fender colours - so I may end up going with Ocean Turquoise or Burgundy Mist 

 

 

[Hellzero]

Maybe worth asking your daughter what colour she wants...

 

Stacked knobs are not that easy to use especially in this PJ configuration and will cost you a lot more than a conventional Volume, Volume, Tone standard configuration.

 

You'll also have to spend (more) money on a PJ pickguard.

 

If you can use a soldering iron and read a wiring diagram, you'll spare a lot of money.

 

Check this wiring bible, it's in German, but the diagrams don't speak any language: http://www.ak-line.com/medium/Bassschaltungen.pdf

[Hellzero]

Maybe worth asking your daughter what colour she wants...

 

Stacked knobs are not that easy to use especially in this PJ configuration and will cost you a lot more than a conventional Volume, Volume, Tone standard configuration.

 

You'll also have to spend (more) money on a PJ pickguard.

 

If you can use a soldering iron and read a wiring diagram, you'll spare a lot of money.

 

Check this wiring bible, it's in German, but the diagrams don't speak any language: http://www.ak-line.com/medium/Bassschaltungen.pdf

 

And don't forget to (copper) shield your bass, or it will become a terrible humming machine...

[Beedster]

31 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

Stacked knobs are not that easy to use especially in this PJ configuration and will cost you a lot more than a conventional Volume, Volume, Tone standard configuration.

 

You'll also have to spend (more) money on a PJ pickguard.

 

I disagree with both of those Tony  

 

You won't get a VVT in there without either VERY small pots, extending the cavity, or drilling a side hole for the jack socket

Also a standard Precision pickguard will not need to be modified for 2 x stacked, assuming it fits correctly in the first place (@JR1000 don't make the mistake of assuming that all PBass pickguards will fit all PBass bodies)

[Hellzero]

5 hours ago, Beedster said:

I disagree with both of those Tony  

 

We can't always have the same opinion Chris, it would be so boring. 😉

 

Cheers, mate and hope you're doing well.

[Beedster]

20 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

 

We can't always have the same opinion Chris, it would be so boring. 😉

 

Cheers, mate and hope you're doing well.

As ever you’re a gentleman Tony 🙏

[JPJ]

My self assembly PJ five string has the stack pot arrangement from KiOgon and it’s very versatile. That said, my Fender Tony Franklin fretless PJ has conventional volume and tone and a three-way switch which works equally well but I suspect that the P & the J pickups are very well matched. Those Tonerider pickups are excellent, but be careful as some of their P pickups are very ‘hot’ and will easily overpower the J.