Pickups wiring MOD to parallel/single coil

[Roberto Zecchinelli]

Hallo everybody..
I have been playing my smith for I while and I love it..:)
Anyway, I noticed that I don't really like the "series" PU sound.
too dark..:cool:
So I changed the wiring on the series/parallel switches
to parallel/singol coil and it sounds AMAZING!:eek::eek:
Now I have the traditional Smith sound :rolleyes:plus a beautiful rich jazz like tone:p,whith a lot more dinamic response and richer harmonics.
everything you have been missing in the jazz bass you sold to buy your wonderful Smith is still inside there..
and it sounds great whith older strings as well being much more open on the highs.. and it sounds better in the high register.
I love it.:D:D:D

If you want to know "how I did it" :confused:just ask..
Roberto

[Tim Bishop]

Hallo everybody..
I have been playing my smith for I while and I love it..:)
Anyway, I noticed that I don't really like the "series" PU sound.
too dark..:cool:
So I changed the wiring on the series/parallel switches
to parallel/singol coil and it sounds AMAZING!:eek::eek:
Now I have the traditional Smith sound :rolleyes:plus a beautiful rich jazz like tone:p,whith a lot more dinamic response and richer harmonics.
everything you have been missing in the jazz bass you sold to buy your wonderful Smith is still inside there..
and it sounds great whith older strings as well being much more open on the highs.. and it sounds better in the high register.
I love it.:D:D:D

If you want to know "how I did it" :confused:just ask..
Roberto
Interesting. That's on your 5GN, right? Would love to see how you did that.

[joelalvesjr]

Hallo everybody..
I have been playing my smith for I while and I love it..:)
Anyway, I noticed that I don't really like the "series" PU sound.
too dark..:cool:
So I changed the wiring on the series/parallel switches
to parallel/singol coil and it sounds AMAZING!:eek:
Now I have the traditional Smith sound :rolleyes:plus a beautiful rich jazz like tone:p,whith a lot more dinamic response and richer harmonics.
everything you have been missing in the jazz bass you sold to buy your wonderful Smith is still inside there..
and it sounds great whith older strings as well being much more open on the highs.. and it sounds better in the high register.
I love it.:D
If you want to know "how I did it" :confused:just ask..
Roberto

Hi, Roberto.

1-What about the hum:confused:
2- Many differences about volume:confused:
3- I´d like to know how you did it!

THANKS.

[Rainer Bastian]

That's interesting. I thought for a while to give that modification a try but never started because the sound I get from my Smiths never disappointed me.

Did you use the inner or outer coils ?
How was it done ? Only new soldering at the toggle poles ?

If yes, you can easily ADD the single coil option while keeping the serial option, but you will have to change the 2-way toggle to a 3-way.

[Roberto Zecchinelli]

So here is how I did it it's simple and anyone can use a solder can do it.
just be sure that your wirings are the same color otherwise you'll have to figure out what cable comes from what coil on your bass.
the original config of mine i'm posting here can be a reference.
I used the inner coils since I wanted the fuller sound of the inner bridge coil..



Ok, assuming that your wires are the same color as mine on your switches you will see:


original switch config:


WHITE AND YELLOW------------------BLACK AND BROWN
top left pin----------------------------top right pin




ORANGE---------------------------------BLUE
middle left--------------------------------middle right








BLUE comes here from mid right
bottom left


in order to get prallel/single coil instea of parallel/series you have to change the wiring in the following manner: the wirings dor the 2 pickups will be different in order to have the opposite coils of each pickup working when in S/C, for a hum cancelling jassbass like configuration.
When in S/C you'll want to have the “neck coil” of the bridge PU and the “bridge coil” of the neck PU working. The remaining 2 coils will be switched off.


So for the BRIDGE switch the wiring will be


WHITE AND ORANGE----------------------BROWN AND BLACK
top left pin---------------------------------top right pin




YELLOW--------------------------------------BLUE
middle left----------------------------------middle right




NOTHING-----------------------------------NOTHING
bottom left--------------------------------bottom right


as you can see you'll just CHANGE THE YELLOW with THE ORANGE WIRE
AND CUT THE WIRE CONNECTING THE MIDDLE RIGHT PIN (BLUE) WITH THE BOTTOM LEFT PIN.


For the NECK PU SWITCH wire as follows:


WHITE AND YELLOW------------------------BLUE AND BLACK
top left PIN---------------------------------top right pin




ORANGE----------------------------------------BROWN
middle left------------------------------------middle right




NOTHING-------------------------------------NOTHING
bottom left----------------------------------bottom right

so you just change the BROWN WIRE WITH THE BLUE and again CUT THE WIRE CONNECTING THE MIDDLE RIGHT PIN WITH THE BOTTOM LEFT PIN.


You've done. Enjoy the new sound of your Ken Smith.
you have now the original parallel config with the switch down
and the SC config whith the switch up..

You'll love it!
Roberto

[Roberto Zecchinelli]

P.S:

no big volume changes in SC compared to parallel. Series config sounds louder instead.

no hum with both PU on, as the work together as an humbucker.
hum will come out if you solo one pickup, as in a jazzbass.

Rob

[Tim Bishop]

Interesting. Thx for taking the time to provide this Roberto.

[Roberto Zecchinelli]

I like to share new ideas..

[Tim Bishop]

I like to share new ideas..I like that you like to share new ideas. :)

[Christopher Rhodes]

This is very interesting. Can you post a sound clip? Both Pickups, back pickup soloed and then the front pickup soloed - all in single coil mode?

[Tim Bishop]

This is very interesting. Can you post a sound clip? Both Pickups, back pickup soloed and then the front pickup soloed - all in single coil mode?No intent here to dampen the request, however, a sound clip for bass audio would most likely be inconclusive and subjective at best. Certainly no comparison to a live run-through.

[Tim Bishop]

This is very interesting. Can you post a sound clip? Both Pickups, back pickup soloed and then the front pickup soloed - all in single coil mode?
At some point in the near future, I think I'll order a set of the switches from Ken, re-wire them for the S/C mod and insert them into the Smith bass of my choice. Then run a test using my cabs and amp of choice. That will tell me what I need to know. Given the placement of P/U's on Ken's basses relative to the maximum-string-vibration-point, I am very curious how this mod will sound.

[Jason Mendelson]

watching thread...

[Ken Smith]

At some point in the near future, I think I'll order a set of the switches from Ken, re-wire them for the S/C mod and insert them into the Smith bass of my choice. Then run a test using my cabs and amp of choice. That will tell me what I need to know. Given the placement of P/U's on Ken's basses relative to the maximum-string-vibration-point, I am very curious how this mod will sound.

We have some 3-way switches that just came in from my Distributor in Japan to install on one of his Basses. He asked us to wire it up from the start for him so he doesn't have to modify it there. He offers this option locally in Japan now from what I have heard. I will test the single coil mode option within the next month or so and report back.

I tested this by the way back in 1982 or so right after the pick-up design was completed, the same ones we use now. I didn't see much difference between the single coil/dummy coil and the Parallel option. Actually, the Parallel wiring sounded cleaner so we went that way. The first few basses I wired up back then were in Series but after hearing the Parallel sound, I switched to that as my pre-set.

[Tim Bishop]

We have some 3-way switches that just came in from my Distributor in Japan to install on one of his Basses. I was about to PM you and ask if you had these. So, the 3-way switch would be: Series, Parallel, and Single Coil?

[Tim Bishop]

I will test the single coil mode option within the next month or so and report back.
Thx, Ken! That would be great. :)

[Tim Bishop]

We have some 3-way switches that just came in from my Distributor in Japan to install on one of his Basses. Are these available to purchase and will these 3-way switches fit a Smith as the original S/P switches fit?

[Ken Smith]

I was about to PM you and ask if you had these. So, the 3-way switch would be: Series, Parallel, and Single Coil?

Yes, as far as I know. I haven't tried it yet though.

[Ken Smith]

Are these available to purchase and will these 3-way switches fit a Smith as the original S/P switches fit?

No, not at this time. These switches I just received (only a few of them) are totally un-wired. The S/P switches we have, use and sell come to us wired already with 4 colored wires coming off the switch to solder to the pickup tabs. These 3-ways have to be totally wired from scratch.

Perhaps sometime in the future we might have these to sell but I would ship them off in some quantity to the Lab we use and have them nicely wired up in advance so only the 4 colored wires are there for the pickups like on our current S/P switch assembly.

First we have to try it and see if it's something we want to get involved with. Then maybe we will consider adding it as an option both on newly made basses as well as retro fits for existing basses out there. Currently we offer a S/P upgrade on old basses, S/P option on basses that do not come with switches and we also sell them after market for the do-it-yourself types out there. This 3-way if it passes our approval would then be available all ways as well.

[Christopher Rhodes]

Mr. Smith,

That sounds like a nice option to have. I would drive my basses up to you - to visit you and the shop - and have my basses retro-fitted with the new-switches; if all the details work out during your testing of this option.

I will be watching this thread, and waiting for your report.

All the best to you, and everyone watching/viewing.

[Roberto Zecchinelli]

This is very interesting. Can you post a sound clip? Both Pickups, back pickup soloed and then the front pickup soloed - all in single coil mode?

I'd like to do it, but i can't record now, since I'm on a ship.. I'll do it as soon as I can..

[Rainer Bastian]

Here are the connections necessary for installing the 3-way switch with serial/parallel/single coil mode.

Assuming you have the same colours on your connectors you will have to solder them to the switches as follows (single coil mode with the outer coils, i.e. neck pickup - neck side coil, bridge pickup - bridge side coil)

So for the NECK switch the wiring will be (sorry Roberto for copying your layout ...;-)


EMPTY---------------------------Connector to bottom left
top left pin---------------------------------top right pin




BLACK and BLUE---------------------------YELLOW
middle left----------------------------------middle right




Connector to top right
BROWN----------------------------ORANGE and WHITE
bottom left--------------------------------bottom right



For the BRIDGE PU SWITCH wire as follows:


EMPTY---------------------------Connector to bottom left
top left pin---------------------------------top right pin




BLACK and BROWN---------------------------ORANGE
middle left----------------------------------middle right




Connector to top right
BLUE--------------------------------YELLOW and WHITE
bottom left--------------------------------bottom right



This layout will work if the colours are used with the following scheme:

Circuit connectors:
WHITE - Hot
BLACK - Ground

Pickup connectors:
YELLOW - Neck Side Coil +
BLUE - Neck Side Coil -
ORANGE - Bridge Side Coil +
BROWN - Bridge Side Coil -

For use of the inner coils in single mode please exchange the layouts for both switches. It is NOT recommended to use both Bridge side or both Neck side coils together because they would hum also when mixed together.

I installed this wiring on another bass and it works as expected. The single coil mode opens up the upper mids and higher registers.

As posted before I planned to give it a try at one of my Smith basses but I couldn't find a matching 3-way switch (black and with a short paddle) up to now.

Ken, I would be highly interested in the results if you would ever evaluate the 3-way coil switch.

[Rainer Bastian]

I forgot to mention: I used 3-way switches, where in the middle position the (middle left pin and bottom left pin) and the (middle right pin and top right pin) are connected. I know that the switch suppliers also offer reverse connections. For those one you would have to reverse the connection scheme shown in my previous post (left => right and vice versa).

[Tim Bishop]

We have some 3-way switches that just came in from my Distributor in Japan to install on one of his Basses. He asked us to wire it up from the start for him so he doesn't have to modify it there. He offers this option locally in Japan now from what I have heard. I will test the single coil mode option within the next month or so and report back.

Ken, anything to report at this time?

[Ken Smith]

Ken, anything to report at this time?

I completed and shipped a bass last week with these 3-way switches. I didn't notice all that much in the SC mode. It was a little dry and weaker as compared to out normal Parallel wiring.

I spent years on the development of this pickup we have. The object was to have two coils in each pickup, each coil like a jazz bass but hooked together for a sweeter sound with humbucking as opposed to the standard Series HB wiring.

It almost seems like going backwards. Making a pickup to sound almost single coil in series humbucking and then cutting off one coil. These coils have less wire turns than a Fender J PU does and we use ceramic magnets as opposed to Alnico like in the Fenders.

Every time I listen to someone and try making a Bass to sound like a Fender I feel like someone is telling me to make my Fillet Mignon taste like a Happy Meal..

I don't think this 3-way is something we will be adding anytime soon. For me, the bass is fine without any switches at all. The Series gives you a bit more low end power and equally less highs. For now, its 2-way or no-way..

[Jonathan Esquivel]

Hi!!! I recently bought a pair of Smith pickups to upgrade my Yamaha Nathan East, and I love the sound!!! I read about the parallel/serie/sc switch posted by Rainer, and I want to try it... Anyone do this? How it sounds??
Another issue with the pups: I have to rewire them to install the switch, but I don't know the polarity of the coils.. what can I do to know wich pickup coils it's the positive/negative??

Thanks!! And sorry for the questions...


Jonathan.

[Tim Bishop]

....I read about the parallel/serie/sc switch posted by Rainer, and I want to try it....FYI: Actually it was Roberto Z. that initiated and posted this information. If you go back to the beginning of the thread and follow it through, I'm sure you will see this. :)

[Anton Hasias]

Hi All,
I think this is a very interesting thread and I really appreciate the explorer's ways concerning sound shaping.
I know Roberto, Rainer and of course Tim are tech whizz among other musical high skills but I just want to tell you a little story of a non tech, rewireing scared old conservative guy (like me and I belive others).
After reading this spectacular way of trying to obtain a "Jazz Bass like" sound from a Smith, I observed that my non technical hands were shacking when only I thought I should try this new wireing by myself.
Then, a little multicoloured bird came from nowhere and began speaking to my ear with a human voice.
She said:" Listen dummy if you want a Fender Jazz sound, go get yourself a Fender Jazz and as you have no clue of electronics, don't you ever think about trying to ruin your 7k Smith bass!"
As by chance I already had a US Fender Jazz long ago forgoten somewhere in my house, I took it, played some notes and then :eek: "The Miracle". It sounded like a Fender Jazz and since all this time I left it alone somewhere in my house it didn't lost that Jazz Bass sound.

My conclusion; Beware the multicoloured little birds with human voice, they are odd.

Best regards

[Ken Smith]

Here's a few points of Smith Bass history that will shed some light on this subject.

I have tried just about everything to simulate a Fender sound over the years with various Smith basses. The real dilemma is not in the pickups or wiring, it is in the actual construction of the bass. The Fender design has a naturally thinner signal from its woods and construction, period. Mod-up a Fender and you still have a Fender. Mod-up a Smith Bass and you still have a Smith Bass.

We have made our Basses with HB Jazz, 2 PUs, P/J combo and even wired the SBs as single coil once to hear the sound. It was just 'less' guts amplified by the SC PU BUT, it was the sound of the Bass.

We now have a 3-way switch that can be used as a S\SC\P instead of just S/P, but they are not yet in stock. We had a few sets and tested them and most went to Japan where they themselves started putting the 3-ways in on their own.

Still, the SC setting is a Smith bass in SC, NOT the sound of a slab fender, painted production body with a looser neck fit than my shoes.

A Smith is a Smith. When the 3-Way's are available for Mod's or production orders, I will announce it. Until then, just remember it will be a Smith sounding Bass in all 3 positions.

The old Gibson basses has these big humbuckers wired in Series. Does the Smith in Series sound like a Gibson? Ever? .. I think you get the idea now..;)

[Jonathan Esquivel]

I don't want to make the bass sound like a J-bass... I just want to get versatility and multiple sounds, and I think this option can provide both.
I always been loved the KS sound, and that's why I choose the Smith pups to upgrade my bass, instead of any other brand... Ultil I have the money to get my loved Black Tiger 5st, this is the only way to capture some of the essence, sound and power of a KS bass!!! :cool:
I think the parallel/series/sc switch will give me the tonal options I want, but I don't want a jbass clone or something like that... when you want to sound like a fender, I go and pick up your fenders!!!
Thanks to everyone for any help you can give me...!!!!! :D

PD: Sorry Roberto Z... I saw the diagram posted by Rainer, and assume it... sorry about that!!!! :o

Anyone with an answer about coils polarity?? :confused: :p

[Rainer Bastian]

Just read this thread the first time after adding my posts and would give myself a try as a bird with a human voice:

First, if I ever try to modify a highest level bass like my Smiths I have in mind that there is at least a 99% chance to make things worse than before. I've seen a lot of mods in the past with basses of any range and I will think more than twice in future to change a factory built bass again.

Second, a Smith will never sound like a Jazz Bass - and as far as I see, nobody mentioned here to try anything like that. I own a bunch of 7enders - zero demand for a mod of my Smiths. Roberto replaced the disliked serial option and it seems he got kind of a Jazz Bass feeling without searching for one. Fine.

Third, I also own a bunch of other highest end basses which have a coil tap switch to select parallel/outer coil wiring. But one of them had a (factory installed) custom config - it has added the INNER coil option. On this bass I use 98% of the time the custom wiring, because it matches my personal taste and environment and it sounds GREAT on THIS bass, with MY hands ! I asked the manufacturer why not adding this as a standard option - would be VERY cheap, adds more flexibility and has no risk to ruin something. The answer was: 'No, we found that our standards are the best for us and everything else is not necessary. period.' I made the same change to 2 other basses of this brand and - the same result. Of course - any similarity to Smith basses is not intended.:) It only showed me that my taste is not necessarily the same as that of the manufacturer.

As mentioned before - I don't miss anything on my Smith basses. Roberto tried a custom config with a very minor change to the bass and is happy with it. I added an option to do the same change without losing the serial option. That's it. It's all about options - not philosophy or technology.

By the way: Personally I am not enthusiastic about lot of options and knobs. At least on Smiths I don't touch them during the show - if I use them at all.

Sorry for renewing this old thread. No response expected :p

[joelcataldo]

For those who have added the single coil mod, what are your thought? I'm thinking about trying it. I never us the series setting so I will use the existing two way switches.

[Ken Smith]

For those who have added the single coil mod, what are your thought? I'm thinking about trying it. I never us the series setting so I will use the existing two way switches.

We have 3-way's in stick now and I can tell you that on the SC setting, unless the balance control is centered, there is hum. One pickup solo is the most and fades as you reach the center detent position.

Sound wise, I think it sounds thin. Not like I intended the bass to sound. These pickups were made to be in series or parallel over 30 years ago. When I tested the SC setting back then, I didn't like it. About 31 years later, I still don't like it.

We have these switches available pre-wired for Smith basses for use in production, modifications or for outright sale and you do as you wish with them.

They are custom made switches like the 2-ways are with all the same features to thread thru the wood, gold contacts, etc. Not a part you can buy anywhere. We have tried. We have to get them made in large batches and it takes 'months' to get them.

[Scott Pope]

I have tried just about everything to simulate a Fender sound over the years with various Smith basses. The real dilemma is not in the pickups or wiring, it is in the actual construction of the bass. The Fender design has a naturally thinner signal from its woods and construction, period. Mod-up a Fender and you still have a Fender. Mod-up a Smith Bass and you still have a Smith Bass.
This is so underrated. Pickups and electronics are the last link in the chain. I've modded so many basses over the years for friends, and the inherent characteristics of the bass can be brought out or suppressed by the electronics, but you can't change the basic tone of any electric bass.
I routinely get the question: "If I put X manufacturer pickups in Y bass, will it sound like X?" The answer is invariably, "No. It will sound like Y with a Z influence on tone."

BTW: I do not care for going back to single coil due to noise. How are these mods to get a single coil tone from the bass work from an increased noise, either hum or electrostatic noise, perspective?

[Desmund Nichols]

So a bass can be ordered with the 3-way switches and SC options? How much would that cost?

[Ken Smith]

So a bass can be ordered with the 3-way switches and SC options? How much would that cost?

I have only put them on a few 25th models and some other Elite models. On those few basses, we did them at no extra charge. The cost is slightly higher so when I get the chance I will add the option to the master price list.

[Desmund Nichols]

Is It an option to have my basses upgraded to the 3-way switches? Would it be expensive?

[Kirk P Brosius]

Hey Ken,
From all of us who play your fine products; thanks for having a professional and mature attitude toward the subject of this thread!
It would have been easy for you to give us the "I knew what I was doing with my original design so don't mess with it" attitude (think of a guitar amp made by a doctor) and pitch a fit but, your replies were wonderful!!
I play a 5MWM and love it as is!!!
Keep up the fine work.
Regards, Kirk

[Ken Smith]

Is It an option to have my basses upgraded to the 3-way switches? Would it be expensive?

We have to take off the strings, pull out the pickups, un-wire them, pull out the switches and then, put everything back together with the new S/P/S switches. Not too expensive but we probably should put new strings on and set up the bass as well. Much cheaper to do it the first time. 3-4x the work changing things around. It's almost as much work as putting switches in an old bass that doesn't have them less, taking out the circuit, the drilling of the holes, and re-shielding. We also might suggest re-shielding the bass after testing it with a meter.

That is quite a bit of handling there as we work on the finished bass. We have to be careful not to damage the bass in any way.

For prices of anything, you need to call or email me. I do not generally do business on the forum. It's mainly for chat and info.

[joelcataldo]

Thanks guys. I never use the Series setting, so the two switches should be fine for my purposes.

Does anyone know how I would wire the switches for Parallel/single coil? I'd be looking to use the front coil on both pickups.

Thanks!

[Ken Smith]

Thanks guys. I never use the Series setting, so the two switches should be fine for my purposes.

Does anyone know how I would wire the switches for Parallel/single coil? I'd be looking to use the front coil on both pickups.

Thanks!

The Parallel wiring IS like 2 single coil pickups in each pickup bucking the hum against each other. That was the whole reason behind designing this pickup. Take 2 jazz pickups, cut away the screw tabs on one side of each pickup and glue them together. THAT is basically the Smith pickup in spirit but the coils and magnets are quite different than jazz pickups.

[Roberto Zecchinelli]

Thanks guys. I never use the Series setting, so the two switches should be fine for my purposes.

Does anyone know how I would wire the switches for Parallel/single coil? I'd be looking to use the front coil on both pickups.

Thanks!

I originally posted the rewired schematics at the beginning of this thread!
It's not very hard if you can solder.
However you shouldn't be using both front coils!
You should be using two coils with opposite polarity (and reverse winding)
I suggest using the two inner coils!
I absolutely agree with Ken the bass will still sound like a Smith (which is good news!)
It might also sound somehow weaker, depending on many things, including amps etc.
I personally enjoy the little extra brightness, (and slightly more Singlecoilish sound) especially because I got lazy with changing strings!
Having said that I don't encourage modding this beautiful beautiful instruments (as I did)
And Ken is perfectly entitled to get mad at people like me!:eek:
Ciao, Roberto