Waz's MMB-4

[wazkelly]

MM pups are traditionally wired with their coils linked in parallel, which is also how the preamp will connect them via the blend, so there's no reason not to connect them that way. It will give you the standard MM sound and complete mix out to each individual coil. Best of both worlds.

The only option missing would be having the coils linked in series, which is a mod some ppl add, but you could still do that even with the preamp by adding a mini-toggle (complexity depending on how you want it to work).

Hi Scott, interesting comments as I thought humbuckers were wired in series as their standard default as that is what provides the higher output and fatter sound? Could be interested in exploring options with a mini toggle and wonder would it only need to be SPDT with 2 positions or DPDT with 3, and if the latter whether on-off-on or on-on-on?

Cheers, Waz

[wazkelly]

great looking kit Waz, this is the next bass kit I want to build. Sounds like a cool option use the blend pot to split the coils of the humbucker. Then drill a jack hole. Special note Waz, on my JB build I should have drilled my jack hole further away from the control cavity to allow more distance between end of the jack tip and the last pot on the control plate. Sometimes my jazz bass short out because of this. I have ideas how to fix the problem.
Before you drill the jack hole, get a guitar lead and place the tip to find a place that won't make contact anywhere near the 4th hole on the control plate so it doesn't short out

Good tip Woks and have already made a mental note to self.

Just wondering what the 4 pots do on yours as looking at the pre-amp kit it suggests master volume, Bass, Treble and a blend between pickups? Did you end up using the supplied Jack socket as I am curious to know if it is OK to use and what the thread is, metric or imperial so I can order the right recessed jack socket plate.

Cheers, Waz

[Simon Barden]

As I've mentioned in other posts, I had an OLP that was basically this kit, and that was wired as the kit - the two coils in parallel. Really punchy sound with lots of low end - much thicker than a Precision. The two Peavey basses I've got with humbuckers just sound muddy and growly, very difficult to get a good sound from them even with active EQ, so they will eventually be rewired as parallel units (before I try swapping pickups). It's certainly an option, but I don't think you'll like it.

[wazkelly]

As I've mentioned in other posts, I had an OLP that was basically this kit, and that was wired as the kit - the two coils in parallel. Really punchy sound with lots of low end - much thicker than a Precision. The two Peavey basses I've got with humbuckers just sound muddy and growly, very difficult to get a good sound from them even with active EQ, so they will eventually be rewired as parallel units (before I try swapping pickups). It's certainly an option, but I don't think you'll like it.

Thanks Simon. Don't want to put in a lot of effort for minimal gain and upon looking at the wiring diagram it does show 2 volumes and one tone as you mentioned and that makes a lot more sense now I have spent a few more moments thinking it through.

As for the Headstock, unsure whether I will go with the lookalike 3 + 1 and quite like the look of how they do their 4 + 1 five string setup and may end up doing that and forget about having a G tuner on the under side. Early days and still mulling over many ideas with nothing ruled in or out at this stage.

Cheers, Waz

[wazkelly]

Belcat pre amp arrived at work today earlier than expected and have been pondering how you wire it up as there were no instructions or wiring diagram included. This is all I could find on the web......


The red circled bit shows the double stacked blend pot where you wire the hot from each PUP to the centre lug and earth to the same earthed lug on each row. Sounds simple enough and just need to work out which wires do what from the kit supplied PUP.

[Simon Barden]

You've always got the option of ditching the balance pot and wiring the two coils in parallel direct to the volume pot. Then you could use the standard control plate. Or add in a switch to drop from both to one coil. They aren't far enough apart to make much of a difference in tone when using the balance pot.

Or you could even just use the balance pot to feed-in the signal from one coil, with the other bypassing the pot so that its always in circuit, so that one end of the pot travel gives a single coil, the other both coils.

[Drummerdude]

What color are you planning for the Waz I think you said natural but are you gonna add some tone or just clear? I love this kit and maybe after me next to bass builds are done I can take a wack at this one. I would want to add a neck pickup and use your preamp so you can get more tonal options by balancing the bridge and neck.

[wazkelly]

Hi Drummerdude, going to be using Tru Oil as that throws a very light amber tint and does a subtle job of accentuating any grain that may be lurking in the background, at least that is what I have found when using it on maple necks.

Just chopping it up to fit a battery box is a big enough issue for me to cope with let alone consider installing a neck PUP. It should have a fat enough sound as it is and with the blend control that is part of the pre amp there might be some different combinations that sound OK.

Bone nut arrived on Friday and now I have all the bits required and hope to get started on it soon.

[Drummerdude]

Sounds good Waz I am finishing the maple neck and maple fretboard on my quilted tele build with tru oil as we speak. I really like the tone it gives. I have about 5 coats on now light buffing with steel wool between coats. I am waiting for a water slide decal then I will have to put a bunch of additional coats and level sand to help hide the decal paper.

[ozzbike]

Waz,

This is a target kit for me after the BG-46 and Thunderbird. I have a PBH kit that I got a Seymour Duncan humbucker for.....serious punch.

Are you running active pickups? Or is the pre-amp to lift the output of the huge mass of magnets in the bass humbucker pick-up?

Natural is a great finish....nice with a dark toned timber fill too.

I was thinking of doing a four inline headstock with a Stingray style beak cut to the end of the paddle.

One cool kit mate.