Stereo wiring with active circuit

[jeffjozwiak]

Does anyone know whether I can wire dual pickups to be stereo wired in the sense that each pickup goes to a separate channel? Is this only possible with a passive setup? I would prefer to have the circuitry using a preamp.

Thanks

 

[theklanch]

Totally possible.  Are you planning on using only one preamp?  That would maybe complicate things a little.  Could you elaborate a little on what you are trying to accomplish?

Do you want two totally separate signals, or do you want the ability to mix them together?  I know it can be done, and there is probably more than one way to make it happen.  I think we here will need some more specifics and you will get the answer you are looking for.

 

[jeffjozwiak]

Thanks theklanch,

I'm hoping for two separate signals that can then give me complete control over each PU at the amp/eq. It's a 5 string so I hear that a preamp circuit is helpful. I don't do gigs so having onboard control isn't that important to me. So I was considering having a dual channel EQ as my tone control. I thought it might be interesting to try effects on only one PU or 2 different effects on each.

I was just about to resort to passive since I didn't receive any replies. I would be willing to purchase 2 preamps or whatever is necessary to accomplish the separation of signals.

My PUs are Delano dual humbuckers. SBC-5. By looking at their wiring diagram I think I will go with series/single coil/parallel. But I'm open for suggestions. Control-wise I would like a master volume and blend but I'm thinking that wouldn't work. The blend would mix the 2 signals. So if 2 volumes are necessary that's fine.

Thanks again. If you need more details let me know.

 

[jeffjozwiak]

theklanch are you still out there?

Can you still recommend a solution or maybe even options?

thanks

 

[blue313]

I'm not a Bass guy, but from a guitar perspective it sounds doable.  Treat each pickup as its own circuit, use a stereo jack, and plug into something that'll take the stereo signal.  It sounds like it might get a little cramped in the cavity with two preamps and possibly two batteries (separate or shared 9v-18v depending on power needs), but I'll have to defer to our local bass builders on that.

Normally the stereo portion of the jack is used as a master on/off for the onboard electronics.  If you don't figure in an extra switch or push/pull for this it'll probably eat batteries.  Just my 2 coppers

 

[jeffjozwiak]

The on/off of the preamps is something I forgot about. It slipped my mind that it's normally switched from the stereo jack.

I might go with passives if I can't decide on anything soon. I can change it later if I figure out a better path.

I have the space for 2 batteries built into the cavity of the Gecko. I believe I can make space for 2 preamps but then there's the knob support. Maybe I'll stick with 2-band preamp using push-pull for bass/treble. This will give me a 4 knob (2 vol, 2 bass/treble).

Does anyone have an opinion on which I would get more tonal variation from? A passive stereo wired system with offboard EQ or an active electronic 3-band mono.

The low-B is of concern to me if no preamp is used.

joz