series/parallel

[Weezer]

so what does a series/parallel switch do? well, i guess i know what it does, but how do parallel and series differ in sound and how do they work?

thanks.

[sixner]

Series: fatter sound, more bass, more mids and therefore a bit muted top. More output.

Parallel: normal tone.

-sixner

[Thonk]

Series: fatter sound, more bass, more mids and therefore a bit muted top. More output.

Parallel: normal tone.

-sixner
For a jazz bass..yes, normal tone.

Precision basses are wired series.

[Weezer]

alright, now i just need someone to explain the technical part to me. i know how they are wired, but theres just something i cant grasp about the concept. i know in series, it's either all pups or none, but i just cant really understand parallel.

[Thonk]

I don't know the tech side of it.

Best bet is to wait for Edge or JP.

*shines batman-esque bass light*

[edgebass5]

Series: fatter sound, more bass, more mids and therefore a bit muted top. More output.

Parallel: normal tone.

-sixner

Close, but it basically equates to the fact that series has more mids and a higher output, while parallel has less mids and a lower output.

The difference is pretty subtle.

[Mr. Pickle]

yes, i am also having troubles understanding series configurations.

[zink182]

well the change is not as subtle people say.. there was a huge diffrence in my old jazz and I know it wasn't a placebo because I have my EQ really glass-top-y so when I put it series the slapping wasn't so hars it could have ruined my hearing..

the technical part is: look at as a christmas light.. in parallel one light can go out with anything happening to the rest.. in series if one goes out.. all of them go out..

so basically the bass leads the tone through each pickup before it goes to the output..


a lot of people have dimarzio pickups each wired in series and that willl barely have difference compared to to single coil pickups wired..

[basgitarist]

series is both pick-ups, parallel is choosing pick-up. bridge, neck or both. Atleast that's what I was told :)

[Mr. Pickle]

ohh ok. so you can have the pups hooked in parallel and be running both pups at the same time, but you wont get the humbucking capabilities series can do, correct?