Pickups wiring MOD to parallel/single coil

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Esquivel

....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 "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!!!
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...!!!!!

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

Anyone with an answer about coils polarity??

[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

[Scott Pope]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

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]

Originally Posted by Desmund Nichols

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?