DIY Jazz Bass S-1 Switching

Mityushikha · Post by **Mityushikha** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 3:10 pm

I'm thinking of putting S-1 switching in my cheap Jazz Bass and wondered if anyone else has any experience with it? I don't remember ever seeing it mentioned on shortscale...

I was planning to sell the J-Bass and get a P-Bass but apparently with the pickups wired in series you can get a more P-Bass like sound and there are certain situations where the J sound would be better.

EDIT: This is the schematic I plan on using, if anyone is interested

S-1 Wiring Schematics

Mityushikha · Post by **Mityushikha** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 12:02 pm

So nobody has any kind of feedback?

James · Post by **James** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 12:35 pm

Aren't they quite expensive? You could get the same results with a mini-toggle switch. It would mean drilling your control plate or pickguard of course, but it would look quite good and you could still use standard Jazz Bass knobs. I do like the idea of S1 switching though, it's better than a push/pull pot for sure.

Mityushikha · Post by **Mityushikha** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 12:53 pm

James wrote:Aren't they quite expensive? You could get the same results with a mini-toggle switch. It would mean drilling your control plate or pickguard of course, but it would look quite good and you could still use standard Jazz Bass knobs. I do like the idea of S1 switching though, it's better than a push/pull pot for sure.

I can get one for Â£4.80 but it may require some routing of the guitar to make it fit, which I have no experience in. Mini switch is probably a better idea really, I was thinking the wiring might be different but it should be the same. I'll let you know how it goes!

James · Post by **James** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 1:03 pm

Is the one you can get a strat type? Because that would look shit on a Jazz Bass.

If you get a mini switch that has the same number of solder points it will work the same. so you want a 2x3 switch (DPDT). You can use that diagram for it, too. But if you buy a DPDT switch don't buy one from a guitar shop, or at least, don't pay silly money for one. Most guitar shops will charge you way over the odds for it.

James · Post by **James** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 1:11 pm

1 Switch for Â£1.70

2 for Â£2.30

Not particularly cheap but less than the average guitar shop will charge. You can probably find a better deal elsewhere, especially if you wanted to order a few other bits to make postage work out cheaper per item.

Mityushikha · Post by **Mityushikha** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 1:30 pm

When you say strat type I assume you mean the knobs? I guessed I would use the original knobs if I did go for a push pull, it's not like the fender push in centre of the knob thing, it's an alpha.

I'm going to get a mini switch from axesrus, it's Â£3.10 including postage. All of their prices include postage, it normally works out cheaper for me because I don't do a lot of projects.

James · Post by **James** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 1:39 pm

Those ebay prices are including postage.

When you said S1 switching I thought you meant the type of switch where you press the knob to activate it rather than a push/pull type. Which would mean you probably couldn't get a jazz bass type knob for it.

Mityushikha · Post by **Mityushikha** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 1:51 pm

Yeah I just meant any switch for parallel/series pickup switching, I've read that the actual S-1 switch isn't so reliable. I've ordered a toggle switch off ebay so I'll probably have a go at it next week.