Capacitor switch?

I was playing my Ibanez Destroyer this evening. I haven't played it for quite a while due to how happy I've been with my Hamer, but I gave it a spin just for shits. The neck is just as wonderful as I remembered it, as was the string tension, but what really struck me was how awesome the pickup sounded. It's just Ibanez's ripoff of a DiMarzio Model P with the stock volume/tone pots, but it sounded excellent--much better than I remembered it.

Since the pickup is for our intents and purposes the same as the one in my Hamer, I think the difference is in the fact that it's got that tone knob in there. I realized that I only like the sound of the tone knob when it's on all the way, but I also really love the unimpeded sound of a P pickup without a tone knob.

In the spirit of having one's cake and eating it, too, I want to find a way to have no tone knob and a tone knob at full alternately on my Hamer bass. My question is: can this be achieved with a 2 position mini switch? Is there a way to hook up a capacitor to a switch so that in one position it's on and in the other position, it's bypassed? If so, how do I do this--what kind of switch is required?

Or you could use a no load tone pot. Basically what this is is a knob that, when turned all the way up, will completely bypass itself, so you don't have to wire in a new switch, and drill new holes for it etc. You can make one for free

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/pots.htm

Or buy one here

http://www.guitarelectronics.com/category/electronic_parts.pots/

I agree with Kugelspot, Martin. A no-load pot would be the quickest and easiest way to accomplish this.

But I want switches!!!

I got a schematic from a dude on TalkBass...I think I'm going to give the switch a try. Looks fun! And simple. Which is perfect for me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrkdesimone/3745560274/in/set-72157616015420655/

I understand your wanting to have the actual switch. It's kind of the same thing when someone tells me that I could go to a stereo cable to eliminate running two separate chords, and I always go "but I want two chords!"

Hahaha exactly, man.

EricHaven wrote:

I understand your wanting to have the actual switch. It's kind of the same thing when someone tells me that I could go to a stereo cable to eliminate running two separate chords, and I always go "but I want two chords!"

Yeah, but you're nuts!

Hahaha two cords--just like a Ramones song!

Darkstrike wrote:

Yeah, but you're nuts!

Maybe, but it takes a nut to know one!

EricHaven wrote:

Darkstrike wrote:

Yeah, but you're nuts!

Maybe, but it takes a nut to know one!

Now, be honest, have I ever denied my insanity?

I don't think any of us have....for long.

Chowderboots wrote:

I don't think any of us have....for long.

Wouldn't get away with it......

No...I think we've tried at times, but then realized that it's all really futile.

Indeed good fellow, indeed.

Chowderboots wrote:

I don't think any of us have....for long.

I'm perfectly sane! Just ask the 3 headed baboon sitting in the corner over there. OH NOES THE BATS ARE ATTACKING!! AND THEY BROUGHT THE BENDY STRAWS THIS TIME!!!!!!!

It's not a question of whether or not you're insane...just how you choose to deal with your insanity.

Perhaps I should have named this site Bass Tremolo Asylum!

I'm not going to say that wouldn't be accurate.

^ Nope can't deny it either

"Okay, I want this to be as loud as possible and I'm going to abuse all this stuff repeatedly until it falls apart! And then I'm going to do it all again!!"

That sounds exactly like my whole attitude towards my bass equipment!

Mhmm. Yeah pretty much.