72 Tele bass (with humbucker) wiring

[willyk]

Can anybody please tell me what value pots and capacitor are used in an American Fender Telecaster Bass? It's the 3 bolt model with the BIG humbucker at the end of the fingerboard.

 

[RLW]

Have you looked here?

http://www.fender.com/support/wiring_diagrams_parts_lists.php#basses

 

[willyk]

Have you looked here?

http://www.fender.com/support/wiring_diagrams_parts_lists.php#basses

Yes. It's not there.

 

[blue313]

This one?

http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/TelecasterBassPL1976.php

 

[willyk]

This one?

http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/TelecasterBassPL1976.php

Thanks Blue313 now I know the capacitor (0.22) but I still need the pot values.  :icon_scratch:

 

[RLW]

Is this an original '72, or a reissue? I'm on several "guitar" boards, and the more details I've got, the better a chance I've got of a honest answer. Let me know, and I post it all over the damn web.

:laughing3:

 

[willyk]

Is this an original '72, or a reissue? I'm on several "guitar" boards, and the more details I've got, the better a chance I've got of a honest answer. Let me know, and I post it all over the damn web.

:laughing3:

You're a hero mate. First up it's not mine so I can't be 200% certain. It has a "modded" body with contours cut into the "slab". Serial number on the 3 bolt neck plate suggests it's original and the neck looks right. I haven't pulled it apart yet but the pots are both scratchy and the socket earth is very noisy so I'm going to clean it up and replace where neccesary. Trouble is the owner reckons all he can get is mush (his words) I'm pretty sure he is describing the fabled "fart in the bath" tone these buggers were infamous for so I need to know what the original specs were before I can figure what needs to be done to brighten it up.                                       :doh: why do I do this to myself?  :doh:

 

[bpmorton777]

Hey Willy

coudnt you just assume that you could use 500k pots to start with and if that didnt help go with 1meg pots...is it a humbucking pickup? wire it in paralell with itself.

Brian

 

[jackthehack]

I would assume 250K pots, never saw anything but on a stock Fender bass...

 

[bpmorton777]

that was my asumption but he wants it to sound brighter than it does. not much else you can do other than change out the fartty sounding pickup.

Brian

 

[RLW]

"Trouble is the owner reckons all he can get is mush (his words) I'm pretty sure he is describing the fabled "fart in the bath" tone these buggers were infamous for..."

It can't be any worse than my '68 EB-O.

Thud, thud, thud...

 

[willyk]

First job is to pull it down and see what it's got I guess. The owner seems to think it has 250k pots but I haven't confirmed this. Basically I want to find out what the model had as original specs and go from there. If it has 250s I'm thinking 500s would sharpen things up a bit. Waddayareckon  :icon_scratch:

 

[blue313]

Fun with MS Paint

I might be wrong but I think the tone pot in the picture is marked 1 MEG and the volume 1 MEG AUD ( with the word MEG cover by the ground wire)?  Its in the right place for a pot code.

 

[willyk]

Fun with MS Paint

I might be wrong but I think the tone pot in the picture is marked 1 MEG and the volume 1 MEG AUD ( with the word MEG cover by the ground wire)?  Its in the right place for a pot code.

Yowza    the plot thickens! cheers Blue313. I will try and get on to pulling it apart next week. Thanks for all the input guys, you all rock.  :icon_thumright:

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

that was my asumption but he wants it to sound brighter than it does. not much else you can do other than change out the fartty sounding pickup.

Brian

Agreed.  The 500K or even 1 meg pot will brighten it up a bit, but those don't really treat the issue.  My first Tele, I wanted to get rid of it because it sounded twangy.  Well guess what, Teles are twangy and this bass isn't supposed to be bright.  As my old man would say, "If it tastes like ice dream, it can't be a duck."

 

[willyk]

I got the info 1meg pots for both vol and tone with 0.22 cap. Pulled it down this morning and she's all original. So what he's got he's got for keeps I reckon. Thanks again for all the help guys... ccasion14: