4 way rotary switch wiring for JM?
- Longwheelbass
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4 way rotary switch wiring for JM?
I'm pretty hopeless at searching the forum - tried and failed but know that someone on here knows how to replace a JM 3 way switch with a 4 way rotary so you can get parallel option on the fourth selection...anyone got the diagram/knowledge? I want to add this switch to my JM Bass VI project - just ordered a set of Fred Stuart JM pickups and am guessing a 4 way would be awesome...
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
- null.fuzz
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Re: 4 way rotary switch wiring for JM?
What specific options do you want at each of the 4 positions? Also, there are 4 pole 6 throw rotary switches that can get you more options.
So I pretend there aren't ten strings tied to all ten of my fingers.
- Danocaster
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Re: 4 way rotary switch wiring for JM?
Fred Stuart makes Jazzmaster pickups
????????
do tell

do tell
- Longwheelbass
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Re: 4 way rotary switch wiring for JM?
null.fuzz wrote:What specific options do you want at each of the 4 positions? Also, there are 4 pole 6 throw rotary switches that can get you more options.
Fuzzy I want to get the two pickups in parallel as well as being able to select them solo, or in series like the original 3 way (hope I've got that right - the original middle position is both pickups in series?)
- Longwheelbass
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Re: 4 way rotary switch wiring for JM?
Dano, Fred Stuart hand-builds his own special version of the JM set - twice as tall and staggered poles....made with all the right original gear, but a while ago his pickups were reviewed by Tone Quest and they rated them as the best on Earth! Fred initially just made a set for himself but when others heard the JM's (including the 30 inch JM VI he built for himself - damn I thought I was gonna be the first with that one - he started getting orders...Danocaster wrote:Fred Stuart makes Jazzmaster pickups????????
do tell
They are totally not cheap, but I reckon they will be totally fabulous for my JM VI project...
You can order thru virtualvintage guitars.
- theworkoffire
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Re: 4 way rotary switch wiring for JM?
I made a whole bunch of alternative wiring diagrams for the Library: http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/vie ... 29&t=41339
Jazzmaster with 4-position rotary B/M/N/S is on there.
Jazzmaster with 4-position rotary B/M/N/S is on there.
- JBhome
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Re: 4 way rotary switch wiring for JM?
Are parallel and series wiring the equivalent of phase and out of phase? If not how do they sound different?
- Longwheelbass
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Re: 4 way rotary switch wiring for JM?
TWOF - you rock. Thank you!
And JB, that's a good question - I bet theworkoffire can answer that one too...
And JB, that's a good question - I bet theworkoffire can answer that one too...
- ESKIMO ROBOCOP
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Re: 4 way rotary switch wiring for JM?
normal middle position is both pickups in parallel, series gives a bigger beefier sound with less "clarity" maybe? its louder.
normal humbuckers are wired in series, its the same principle but scaled down to one pickup instead of two. phasing options are totally unrelated, that has to do with the polarity of the magnet etc i think. its a little complicated, im sure someone could explain it better than i can.
hope thats clear enough?
normal humbuckers are wired in series, its the same principle but scaled down to one pickup instead of two. phasing options are totally unrelated, that has to do with the polarity of the magnet etc i think. its a little complicated, im sure someone could explain it better than i can.
hope thats clear enough?

- JBhome
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Re: 4 way rotary switch wiring for JM?
Cheers. I understand the principle of series/parallel wiring and I know what the sound of phase/out of phase is like - I just don't know what series sounds like. With opposite pole neck and bridge pickups I imagine the effect is much the same as parallel (ie a humbucker). If anyone can point me right - hopefully with a video - it'd be appreciated.
- Remulak
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Re: 4 way rotary switch wiring for JM?
Hmmm, I came here to post the same thing except I'm looking to replace the 3-way switch on my Venus XII with a 4-way that includes a parallel, like in an Electric XII or a Marr Jag. I have the tele-style switch that does this, and I'm aware of the rotary switches like on a XII (or the OP talked about) but I want a standard switch so that I don't have to change the pickguard, Venux XII pickguards are more than a little rare.
Should the the same as replacing a Jazzmaster 3-way with a 4-way that includes a series, if such a thing exists. Anybody?
Should the the same as replacing a Jazzmaster 3-way with a 4-way that includes a series, if such a thing exists. Anybody?
- Shadoweclipse13
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Re: 4 way rotary switch wiring for JM?
Someone else said it earlier... Series wiring is roughly what a standard 2-conductor humbucker sounds like (unless wired to be that way). It's two single coils, one's signal run through the other one (one acting as a high pass filter). The in between sounds on a Strat (with 5-way blade switches) or Teles (Neck and Bridge) are parallel. Basically two coils operating at the same time, but not through each other: separate in their own right. Series switching options on a guitar with single coils (or P-90's) will sound louder (i.e. more output), almost like a coil-tapped single coil (lower output=regular coil, higher output=two coils run through each other).JBhome wrote:Cheers. I understand the principle of series/parallel wiring and I know what the sound of phase/out of phase is like - I just don't know what series sounds like. With opposite pole neck and bridge pickups I imagine the effect is much the same as parallel (ie a humbucker). If anyone can point me right - hopefully with a video - it'd be appreciated.
These are some options (tone-wise and pickup selecting-wise):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipLZ4uO_TrY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Pickup Switching Mad Scientist
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384
- jonathanrichman
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Re: 4 way rotary switch wiring for JM?
Dear Remulak,
I actually did the 4 way rotary mod on an electric xii that had a toggle in it.
I posted diagrams and photos here:
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/vie ... =8&t=80097
You'll want to get a shorting 4 position 3 pole rotary. I got mine for cheaps on EBay.
I actually did the 4 way rotary mod on an electric xii that had a toggle in it.
I posted diagrams and photos here:
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/vie ... =8&t=80097
You'll want to get a shorting 4 position 3 pole rotary. I got mine for cheaps on EBay.
- ryanthellama
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Re: 4 way rotary switch wiring for JM?
Sorry to bring back such an old thread but I'm having trouble finding wiring for the exact layout I'm looking for and I'm not great with understanding the mechanics of how this works. I want to wire up my JM so the rotary goes through the selections like this diagram someone on this forum made for an electric XII:

But the best diagram I've found that includes the rhythm circuit is the one from theworkoffire earlier in the thread that has them in this order:

Can anyone help me figure out how to include the rhythm circuit and keep the neck/parallel/series/bridge order? Thanks!

But the best diagram I've found that includes the rhythm circuit is the one from theworkoffire earlier in the thread that has them in this order:

Can anyone help me figure out how to include the rhythm circuit and keep the neck/parallel/series/bridge order? Thanks!
- Nudger
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