bass vi project wiring help: 3 switch

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Plumerai
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bass vi project wiring help: 3 switch

Post by Plumerai » Wed Nov 07, 2007 4:47 am

i've built a bass vi & i'm down to wiring it. my goal is to have individual on/off switches for each of the three pickups. i assume the negative leads are grounded & that the positive of each pickup goes to its corresponding switch & the center tabs of each switch wired together.  i'm not sure how to wire the switches to the volume pot. if a diagram exists for this that would be great.

basically a fender vi w/o that 4th tone cut switch that i never use anyways.  also only one volume & one tone. 

i'm using a hollow jazz bass body w/ a bass vi neck.
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Re: bass vi project wiring help: 3 switch

Post by Orang Goreng » Wed Nov 07, 2007 5:02 am

Hotlinked from Jim Shine's site:

Image
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man's a freak.

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Re: bass vi project wiring help: 3 switch

Post by davelowell » Wed Nov 07, 2007 5:22 am

Plumerai wrote:
i'm using a hollow jazz bass body w/ a bass vi neck.
Whoa! 
Where's Alfred?  We need some pics!!!  I did mine with a 3 switch, but didn't put it together myself.  I'll look around and see if I can find a diagram.  Can't you just use the diagram above and just omit the 4th switch going to the tone and volume?

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Re: bass vi project wiring help: 3 switch

Post by Plumerai » Wed Nov 07, 2007 5:40 am

looking at the diagram would i just run a wire from the center posts of the switch to the volume?

i spoke with alfred a while back when i first started this project. i'll post pics soon.
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Re: bass vi project wiring help: 3 switch

Post by the older brother » Wed Nov 07, 2007 5:45 am

the blue wire that's going to the vol.pot should be soldered to where the third switch middle position (where its connected to the fouth switch in the diagram) - that should do it.

Anyone - correct me if I'm wrong.
Someone knows where I can find the nearest woodchipper to throw my pieces of junk into?

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Re: bass vi project wiring help: 3 switch

Post by OffYourFace » Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:04 am

This sounds like a cool project.  I'm building a Bass VI (a scratch '63 clone) too and We're neighbors!  I think my band played with yours a long time ago...
Is this a vintage Bass VI neck you have?  or...?

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Re: bass vi project wiring help: 3 switch

Post by Plumerai » Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:26 am

OffYourFace wrote: This sounds like a cool project.  I'm building a Bass VI (a scratch '63 clone) too and We're neighbors!  I think my band played with yours a long time ago...
Is this a vintage Bass VI neck you have?  or...?
i think we played w/ you at the lizard lounge a few years/lineups ago. 2004?

the neck is usacg neck as is the body. the only cut he would do was the neck pocket.
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Re: bass vi project wiring help: 3 switch

Post by OffYourFace » Wed Nov 07, 2007 3:17 pm

That's right!

here's my USACG bass vi thread:

index.php?topic=6031.0

The three switch version is easy.  Instead of going to the 4th sw., just go straight to the volume pot.  Put up some pics!

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Re: bass vi project wiring help: 3 switch

Post by Plumerai » Wed Nov 07, 2007 5:05 pm

Image

cellphone pic. i really want block inlays, but usacg doesn't do 'em.  luckily you can't see my awful attempt at a custom pickguard.  once this is up & running, i'll start another one when i can afford it.
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Re: bass vi project wiring help: 3 switch

Post by OffYourFace » Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:43 pm

Cool!

Looks like an Airline Map is in the background???  or is it an original National?

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Re: bass vi project wiring help: 3 switch

Post by DB » Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:55 pm

Cool project.  I like the combo of Jazz and Bass VI.  Adding the hollow element makes it even more unique.  Love to see some better pics.

BTW, if you can do a decent drawing the the pickguard, Tony at http://www.Pickguardian.com could probably make a guard for you.  He's done several repros for me (Bass V, Bass VI, XII) and always does a great job.

DB
IV, V, VI, XII...

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Re: bass vi project wiring help: 3 switch

Post by Plumerai » Thu Nov 08, 2007 6:20 am

OffYourFace wrote: Looks like an Airline Map is in the background???  or is it an original National?
it's a metropolitan tanglewood which is based on the national http://www.metropolitanguitars.com/tanglewood.html
DB wrote: Cool project.  I like the combo of Jazz and Bass VI.  Adding the hollow element makes it even more unique. 

DB
I wanted a bass vi with a different tone/character so both can be layered when recording. I use to have the reissue danelectro six string which had a lighter body & more open tone, but I had to sell it to pay rent before I had a chance to record with it.
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Re: bass vi project wiring help: 3 switch

Post by Plumerai » Sat Nov 10, 2007 9:04 pm

finally put it all together. thanks for the help.  somehow i managed to wire the off/on switches & the volume backwards.  sweet.  its staying that way unless i feel the need to open it up again.  it sounds great (used jaguar antiquity 2's).  ummm.  the action is a bit high & the intonation isn't quite right yet.  hopefully i can do another one next year, but correctly & with the right tools/parts.  i really wanted a neck with block inlays.  i'll borrow a camera & take/post pics. 

biggest issue (other than the wiring) was the guy who did the routing didn't do a great job so the pickup cavities weren't quite straight & the control cavity was large so i didn't have much space to work with when positioning the control plates.

who else makes bass vi necks other than usa cust gtrs?
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