BassLines SPB-1 - User Manual

5427 hollister avenue, santa barbara, ca 93111
tel 805.964.9610 fax 805.964.9749
www.basslines.com
Wiring Diagram for
Pickup Models:
SPB-1 Vintage for
P-Bass
®
SPB-2 Hot for
P-Bass
®
SPB-3 Quarter-Pound for
P-Bass
®
P-Bass and Fender are registered trademarks of FMIC, with which Basslines is not affiliated.
The basic steps for installation include:
1. Remove the strings from your bass.
2. Remove the control plate and flip it over.
3. De-solder the original pickup’s wires from the controls and make sure to
remember where they were connected.
4. Remove the pickup from the pickup cavity.
5. Put your Basslines pickup into the pickup cavity.
6. Tin the wires from the Basslines pickup, and then solder them into place.
(see Fig. 1)
7. Replace the control plate (and pickup cover).
8. Re-string your bass, and adjust the pickup so that it is set about 1/8” from the
strings when they are pressed down at the highest fret on the neck.
Congratulations on your purchase of a fine, hand-built, Basslines bass guitar pickup! Installing this pickup
in your bass isn’t rocket science. And, if you’re already handy with tools, it’ll be a snap for you–and fun
too! But if you have no experience handling red-hot soldering irons, you’d be well advised to take your
new pickup and your trusty bass to a qualified guitar tech.
Fig. 1

Summary

Wiring Diagram for P-Bass Pickups

SPB-1 Vintage for P-Bass

Vintage style pickup for P-Bass models, offering classic tone and performance.

SPB-2 Hot for P-Bass

Hot-wound pickup for P-Bass, providing increased output and a more aggressive sound.

SPB-3 Quarter-Pound for P-Bass

High-output P-Bass pickup featuring oversized quarter-inch pole pieces for maximum sustain.

Wiring Diagram for P;J Bass and Jazz Bass Pickups

SPB-1 Vintage for P-Bass

Vintage style pickup for P-Bass models, offering classic tone and performance.

SPB-2 Hot for P-Bass

Hot-wound pickup for P-Bass, providing increased output and a more aggressive sound.

SPB-3 Quarter-Pound for P-Bass

High-output P-Bass pickup featuring oversized quarter-inch pole pieces for maximum sustain.

SJB-1 b Vintage for Jazz Bass

Vintage style pickup for Jazz Bass, delivering classic bright and clear tones.

SJB-2 b Hot for Jazz Bass

Hot-wound pickup for Jazz Bass, offering higher output and a punchier response.

SJB-3 b Quarter-Pound for Jazz Bass

High-output Jazz Bass pickup with quarter-inch pole pieces for powerful, clear sound.

Overview

1. Function Description
2. Important Technical Specifications
3. Usage Features
4. Maintenance Features

This document provides installation instructions and wiring diagrams for Basslines bass guitar pickups, specifically for P-Bass and P/J Bass configurations. It emphasizes that while installation can be a DIY project for those with soldering experience, professional installation is recommended for beginners.

Function Description:

Basslines pickups are designed to enhance the sound of bass guitars. The document details how to install these pickups, integrate them with existing controls (volume, tone), and connect them to the output jack. It also addresses potential phasing issues when combining Basslines pickups with other brands, providing a solution to ensure optimal sound.

Important Technical Specifications:

• Pickup Models:
  • P-Bass:
    • SPB-1 Vintage for P-Bass®
    • SPB-2 Hot for P-Bass®
    • SPB-3 Quarter-Pound for P-Bass®
  • P/J Bass (combining P-Bass and Jazz Bass pickups):
    • SPB-1 Vintage for P-Bass®
    • SPB-2 Hot for P-Bass®
    • SPB-3 Quarter-Pound for P-Bass®
    • SJB-1b Vintage for Jazz Bass®
    • SJB-2b Hot for Jazz Bass®
    • SJB-3b Quarter-Pound for Jazz Bass®
• Potentiometer Values:
  • Volume: 250k (for both P-Bass and J-Bass sections in P/J configurations)
  • Tone: 250k (for P-Bass)
  • Master Tone: 250k (for P/J Bass)
• Capacitor Value: 0.05µF (for tone control)
• Wiring: Standard two-wire (white and black) connection for pickups. White typically connects to the selector switch or volume pot, and black to ground, but this can be reversed for phase correction.
• Output Jack: Standard 1/4" mono output jack with tip (hot output) and sleeve (ground) connections.

Usage Features:

• DIY Installation Guidance: The document outlines eight basic steps for pickup installation, from removing strings to adjusting pickup height.
• Phasing Correction: For users combining Basslines pickups with Fender® pickups, a specific instruction is provided to reverse the black and white wires on the Basslines pickup if the sound is "thin and wimpy," indicating an out-of-phase condition. This involves soldering the white wire to ground and the black wire to the selector switch.
• Pickup Height Adjustment: After installation, users are advised to adjust the pickup height to approximately 1/8" from the strings when pressed down at the highest fret on the neck.
• Wiring Diagrams: Detailed visual diagrams are provided for both P-Bass and P/J Bass configurations, illustrating connections for pickups, volume and tone potentiometers, capacitors, and the output jack. Grounding points are clearly marked.
• Grounding: The diagrams explicitly show "Solder = location for ground (earth) connections," ensuring proper electrical shielding and noise reduction.
• Online Resources: Users are encouraged to visit basslines.com for additional wiring diagrams and to consult the Seymour Duncan User Group Forum for real-time peer-to-peer tech support.

Maintenance Features:

• Professional Installation Recommendation: For individuals without experience handling soldering irons, the document strongly recommends taking the new pickup and bass to a qualified guitar technician, implying that improper installation could damage the equipment.
• Component Integration: The diagrams show how to integrate the Basslines pickups with standard bass guitar components like volume and tone potentiometers and capacitors, suggesting that these components are generally compatible and may not require replacement unless desired for an upgrade.
• Troubleshooting: The phasing correction instruction serves as a basic troubleshooting guide for common sound issues when mixing pickup brands.

The document is a practical guide for bass guitar enthusiasts looking to upgrade or maintain their instruments with Basslines pickups, providing both step-by-step instructions and visual aids for successful installation. It also highlights the broader offerings of Seymour Duncan, including stomp boxes and D-TAR products for acoustic guitarists.

BassLines SPB-1 Specifications

General

Brand	BassLines
Model	SPB-1
Category	Accessories For Music Instruments
Language	English