Varitone wiring for Jazz bass. [Archive]

Manolete

June 30th, 2012, 05:59 PM

Hello all.

I'm sorry in advance if this is the wrong forum, but I require help over wiring a Varitone control.

I understand the premise, and limitations of a passive Varitone control. However I am unsure as to how to wire in a 'blend' control. I would like a blend control as to my mind a Varitone seems a half-baked idea on its own. I like the idea of changing the capacitor values over a tone circuit, but I would like some further control of blending them into the circuit.

I understand a Varitone basically replaces a single-capacitor tone control. I am trying to also wire a series-parallel control into my jazz bass, so I might end up trying to create the impossible!

In my mind, you could have a blend control for a Varitone if you replace the capacitor across a tone control with a wire running too and from a Varitone circuit, would the tone control work as a Varitone blend? The way I see it is you are taking out a simple capacitor and replacing it with a bunch of different capacitors ganged together on rotary switch.

So in the following diagram (with series/parallel) would the .047uf capacitor be replaced with the send/return from a Varitone pot?

http://www.bonf.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/j_series.gif

The other question is, do I have room to do all this? :shock:

Wally

July 3rd, 2012, 03:08 PM

I'll bump with a thought...adnmaybe soemoen else will chime in who can fully answer your quesiton.
I have had an ES-345 TDC since I bought it new in 1967. IT has a VAritone. IT also has a tone pot for each pickup. I have an old Harmony bass here that has a tone filter switch that introduces a tone filter to the circuit....which is what a VAritone does....adn that still has a tone pot in the circuit. Rather than replace the tone pot, the Varitone is a series of different tone filters that affect the signal by cutting certain frequencies...but the tone pot is still in place.
Have you ever played a guitar or a bass that has a vAritone circuit in it?

What you are describing/wanting is more akin to the multifilter section of a Lab SEries amp like the L-5. A friend and I were looking at that section of the schematic last week. HE is a EE guy, and he was fascinated by what the Moog engineers had dreamed up. They have a number of capacitors of different values, but the control doesn't choose one---as does a Varitone in a ES-345/355--- but rather 'sweeps' across that multifilter circuit ...sort of blending from one area of that circuit to the next, I suppose. HE didn't come to a firm concnlusion as to how it worked, so far be it for me to go above a EE's head because I dont' understand it...but it works. OF course, I figure that is an active circuit in that amp. How they achieved a 'variable' capacitance there is beyond me. The Moog fellows did a great job of designing a solid state amp that yields very good guitar tones...best SS amp I have played through or heard.


	Telecaster Guitar Forum > Main Telecaster Forum > Tele-Technical > Varitone wiring for Jazz bass. PDA Varitone wiring for Jazz bass. Manolete June 30th, 2012, 05:59 PM Hello all. I'm sorry in advance if this is the wrong forum, but I require help over wiring a Varitone control. I understand the premise, and limitations of a passive Varitone control. However I am unsure as to how to wire in a 'blend' control. I would like a blend control as to my mind a Varitone seems a half-baked idea on its own. I like the idea of changing the capacitor values over a tone circuit, but I would like some further control of blending them into the circuit. I understand a Varitone basically replaces a single-capacitor tone control. I am trying to also wire a series-parallel control into my jazz bass, so I might end up trying to create the impossible! In my mind, you could have a blend control for a Varitone if you replace the capacitor across a tone control with a wire running too and from a Varitone circuit, would the tone control work as a Varitone blend? The way I see it is you are taking out a simple capacitor and replacing it with a bunch of different capacitors ganged together on rotary switch. So in the following diagram (with series/parallel) would the .047uf capacitor be replaced with the send/return from a Varitone pot? http://www.bonf.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/j_series.gif The other question is, do I have room to do all this? :shock: Wally July 3rd, 2012, 03:08 PM I'll bump with a thought...adnmaybe soemoen else will chime in who can fully answer your quesiton. I have had an ES-345 TDC since I bought it new in 1967. IT has a VAritone. IT also has a tone pot for each pickup. I have an old Harmony bass here that has a tone filter switch that introduces a tone filter to the circuit....which is what a VAritone does....adn that still has a tone pot in the circuit. Rather than replace the tone pot, the Varitone is a series of different tone filters that affect the signal by cutting certain frequencies...but the tone pot is still in place. Have you ever played a guitar or a bass that has a vAritone circuit in it? What you are describing/wanting is more akin to the multifilter section of a Lab SEries amp like the L-5. A friend and I were looking at that section of the schematic last week. HE is a EE guy, and he was fascinated by what the Moog engineers had dreamed up. They have a number of capacitors of different values, but the control doesn't choose one---as does a Varitone in a ES-345/355--- but rather 'sweeps' across that multifilter circuit ...sort of blending from one area of that circuit to the next, I suppose. HE didn't come to a firm concnlusion as to how it worked, so far be it for me to go above a EE's head because I dont' understand it...but it works. OF course, I figure that is an active circuit in that amp. How they achieved a 'variable' capacitance there is beyond me. The Moog fellows did a great job of designing a solid state amp that yields very good guitar tones...best SS amp I have played through or heard.