Jazzmaster wiring mods.....

[OzziePete]

Hi Folks

I have stumbled across this handy mod for the standard Jazzmaster set up.. It uses the roller pots as individual tone pots and allows you to switch whichever pot you want to use to whatever pickup is selected on the toggle switch. Because the upper bout roller pots have different values (1M & 50K) they have a different affect upon the cap and resultant tone. The two lower bout pots become individual volume pots for each pickup - or you can swap them out for std. 250K or 500K pots.. This is more helpful han the standard wiring set up for the JM, which has the upper bout pots used exclusively for the neck pickup (V-T) and bypasses the lower bout controls.

If anyone has some other JM mods to share maybe post them here?

 

[Patrick from Davis]

I think that the linear pots for volume is a bit odd.  Looks fun otherwise.
Patrick

 

[Firebird211]

I think that the linear pots for volume is a bit odd.  Looks fun otherwise.
Patrick

Schecter does this with two linear  vol pots too.  They do it so they act as a even blend control instead of two audio tapers when using both neck and bridge at the same time.  I swapped my linears for audio and it did disrupt the predictable blend quality that the linear had.  If you don't roll it down just right it saps both pickups down quickly. I do like the audio tapers better anyways for obvious reasons. :icon_thumright:

 

[OzziePete]

I think that the linear pots for volume is a bit odd.  Looks fun otherwise.
Patrick

That's what is in the standard Jazzmaster. The big volume pot is 1M Linear as is the rollerpot volume in the standard configuration for the JM.....

I have had quite some good tone in my Jazzmonster build, taking this wiring diagram as the base, & using Kent Armstrong Firebird Mini Hums but with 2 x 300K CTS audio taper pots as volumes instead of 1M & 500K Linears... Also incorporated a Bill Lawrence Q Filter instead of the cap in the upper bout and the roll off tone is quite clear, no mud. It is strange how the Q Filter works too and hard to describe how it affects the tone, but it is clear right down to the 0. The 1M and 50K roller pots add different character - ever so slightly - to the way the Q Filter affects the tone, so there are switchable, workable tones...adds variety. It's been an interesting experiment I must say  :dontknow: