Blending Pickups does NOT work? Bassists, please help! Is BIG BASS lying about Jazz Bass pickups..?

[@nigelh.5810]

Essentially, the pots commonly used on jazz basses with VVT controls are not linear; there’s a much bigger difference between 70% and 100% on than there is between 10% and 40% on. This means that a pickup which is 100% on will almost always completely drown out a pickup that isn’t 100% on. If you were to back off the neck pickup to around 50%, you’d notice you actually are able to blend in the bridge pickup, it’s just not noticeable when the neck pickup is at 100% because of the huge discrepancy in output when the neck pickup is cranked all the way up. You’ll also notice that the sound is different when both pickups are rolled a bit down (say you blend them evenly at 50% each) compared to having both full on. In particular, you lose a lot of top end; I’m not 100% sure from a circuitry standpoint why this is but it is a thing. If you watch SBL’s video on Reggae basslines they actually share that as a trick to get a more dubby, low-end-heavy sound. Most bassists I know of will pretty much always have at least 1 pickup on 100% though, so for most people you could easily replace the VVT controls with volume, pickup selector, and tone.

[@mammothaudioengineering]

Thank you very much for your explanation - I hope you don't mind me pinning your answer! I learned something today!

[@michaelanthony9068]

I have a 2016 USA made Fender Jazz and it has always acted exactly as you explain. I really appreciate your video, because the answers you’ve gotten helped me understand. Thank you !

[@mammothaudioengineering]

Great to hear! That was honestly a big goal for me and I am glad it helped you!

[@lldaftikll531]

Search about linear & audio taper pots

[@kjsdestin]

I may be adding something that everyone knows, but I thought it might be worth saying. When guitars have more than one pick up, they are not mixed together the same way as when signals are mixed together with a mixer, The same way that soldering a pair of microphone cables together on one end does not make a suitable mixer. Soldering two Guitar pick ups the same circuit doesn’t mix in a normal way. As soon as another pick up is added to the circuit in anyway the two pick ups begin affecting each other electromechanically. The result is strange interactions between the pick ups and whatever they’re plugged into.

[@mammothaudioengineering]

Thank you so much for adding that piece of knowledge!

[@rong648]

One thing I noticed is that you need to adjust your pickup heights, Fender recommends 7/64" on the Bass side and 5/64" on the Treble side. Hold down the B-string at the last fret and measure the distance from the bottom of the string to the top of the pickup 7/64", do the same with the G-string 5/64". String height is more about personal preference and playing style than a pre-determined spec. Check your tuning first, then use a 6” ruler to measure the distance between the bottom of each string and the top of the 17th fret. That distance should be approximately 6/64”, which is Fender’s recommended spec on both the bass and treble sides. Adjust each bridge saddle accordingly, and keep in mind that string height can be set to whatever feels right for you

[@mammothaudioengineering]

Thank you so much, I'll definitely check the pickup height!

[@rong648]

@@mammothaudioengineering You are using the same measurements for both pickups; the Bridge pickup will be a little higher than the Neck.

[@mattholveck6419]

If you go for other pickups, I am a huge fan and believer in the EMG J set. They are clean, consistent, and quiet in any environment.

[@mammothaudioengineering]

Awesome, thank you so much for the recommendation! Are those active pickups? I haven't looked them up yet.

[@mattholveck6419]

@@mammothaudioengineering They are active pickups, and they have a variety off different options.

[@hippiejesusman]

the problem is that you most probaoly bought a passive bass wich means that you can only have 100% bridge, 100% neck or 50%/50% but you can still have an enormous amount of diffrent tones by playing with a pick or fingerstyle, playing at the bridge or the neck, slapping, etc. but seeing your playstyle i would reccomend you to buy a precision bass sine you play really aggresivly and with a pick. to summerise: there is nothing wrong with your bass, it is joust a passive bass wich means you can not blend it as much, if you want to blend it you should buy an active bass

[@mammothaudioengineering]

Thanks so much man! Yeah, I'll probably get a P bass somewhen down the line, but the tones I am getting with a pick out of this Jazz are awesome - I am actually stoked. The video wasnt made in bad intent, just genuine curiousity and I figured it might be due to the passive circuit, which you kindly pointed out too. Even with my very limited bass skills, I can get so much out of this, it's awesome. Just the combinations you mentioned are already amazing, not to speak of where and how hard I pick. Can't wait to have a proper bassist play this in the studio!

[@marcelchaloupka]

Sounds normal to me. It sounds the same as my jazz basses. Basically you only need to breath on the knobs as everything happens in a couple of millimeters

[@mammothaudioengineering]

I'll just glue'em to 10

[@FillipFollner]

This is typical for all sorts of jazz bass style basses. I´ve had a couple and they all share this characteristic when blending the pickups.

[@mammothaudioengineering]

I figured it's a Jazz bass thing!

[@FillipFollner]

@@mammothaudioengineering This also is a big part of the jazz bass sound. When rolling back on the neck pickup slightly you get the honkier classic funk sound and the other way around you get a rounder sound with more body

[@mammothaudioengineering]

@@FillipFollner thank you so much for the tips, can't wait to try those out!

[@swiftymcgarnagle4567]

Oh my god now there’s a conspiracy with big bass….. i’m so done with KZbin now

[@mammothaudioengineering]

BIG BASS IS EVERYWHERE BRO. THEY KNOW. BIG BASS INVENTED GUITAR TO FUCK WITH BASSISTS

[@raletky]

Just keep both pickups at full volume. That's the best sound in all of bassdom.

[@mammothaudioengineering]

Yeah I love both at full as well!

[@randyzeitman1354]

They're audio taper, not linear.

[@mammothaudioengineering]

I learned about that today! I'll stick with what I have in them, sounds great as is!

[@Petanifer]

Jazz bass sounds better in series anyways, forget blending.

[@mammothaudioengineering]

I love how mine sounds with both pickups cranked, I'm with you

[@JohnWhite-xc3md]

It sounds like you're playing through a toaster oven. My experience with Jazz Basses is blending pickups is fine, but buzzy if not well grounded. I'm talking stock, passive pickups. I usually run both pickups at 10 because they're hum cancelling when both are full on. With the full roar of a band, you can roll off one or the other to fine tune your sound because the 60 cycle buzz will be less noticeable. Find a guy who knows his way around electronics, and have him do some grounding magic. Copper wire ground, line the pickup cavities, and control cavity with copper tape, etc. The more the better.

[@mammothaudioengineering]

How dare you insult my toaster oven! Yeah I also love the fullness and hum cancelling sound of this particular bass with both pickups cranked, sounds amazing!

[@Petanifer]

If you like both pickups on full, try playing one with both pickups wired in series. Such a full sound

[@julicooper6501]

Hi use one pick up at a time. Or just get a P bass Good luck.😊

[@mammothaudioengineering]

I honestly love all the sounds in this bass, including both pickups together! I‘ll probably get a P bass someday, down the line :)

[@j.r.carlucci6600]

I have had a number of Jazz basses and usually switch out the volume pots to linear because with the default taper there really is no blending. I do love the traditional sound of a Jazz bass with both pickups at 100% but if you have linear volume pots you can roll the bridge pickup back to about 75% and youn get a beefier, thicker tone while still retaining that signature Jazz bass punch. It’s all a matter of taste but I think you get more flexibility with linear pots. That being said there are those who prefer taper volume pots for things like volume swells.

[@mammothaudioengineering]

Yeah, I can imagine prefering taper for volume swells, but personally, how often is one going to be doing volume swells at all while sacrificing the blending capability. It's a big compromise.

[@mammothaudioengineering]

Can someone tell @NateNavarro, @IanMartinAllison and @philipconradmusic about this? I am sure they would know! Anyone got the answer to my question?