Thank you for your purchase of a Boscoe Music GLL1K Wiring Harness!
The GLL1K is a complete replacement wiring harness for the G&L L•1000 bass. It recreates the distinctive passive electronics used in the L•1000 while replacing much of the original point-to-point wiring with compact PCBs, screw terminals, and prewired components for easier installation and future service.
The harness includes the complete Volume, Treble, and Bass control network, output jack, Pickup Mode switch, grounding hardware as required for the selected version, and the resistors and capacitors used by the circuit.
No battery or external power is required. The GLL1K is a completely passive wiring harness.
The GLL1K is available in four versions so that the harness can be matched to both the instrument construction and available cavity space.
18mm shaft length
9.5mm threaded bushing length
24mm-wide potentiometer bodies
Includes potentiometer grounding strap
Best suited to through-body installations with enough cavity space for full-size controls
This version is generally recommended for G&L Fullerton Deluxe instruments and other rear-routed G&L bodies designed around full-size potentiometers.
18mm shaft length
9.5mm threaded bushing length
16mm-wide potentiometer bodies
Includes potentiometer grounding strap
Better suited to compact or unusually shaped rear-routed control cavities
This version is a good choice when adapting the GLL1K to a non-G&L bass body or any installation where full-size controls may not fit comfortably.
15mm shaft length
6.5mm threaded bushing length
24mm-wide potentiometer bodies
Intended for metal control plate installations
Does not include the separate through-body grounding strap
This version is generally recommended for G&L CLF Research models using a metal control plate when there is adequate room for full-size controls.
15mm shaft length
6.5mm threaded bushing length
16mm-wide potentiometer bodies
Intended for metal control plate installations
Does not include the separate through-body grounding strap
This version is useful when fitting the harness into a compact control cavity or adapting the system to a non-G&L instrument.
The electrical values and tapers are the same between the full-size and mini versions.
Both versions sound the same.
The choice is primarily mechanical.
Boscoe Music generally recommends:
24mm full-size potentiometers — when installing the GLL1K into a G&L body designed for full-size controls.
16mm mini potentiometers — when installing the GLL1K into another type of bass body or any cavity where space is limited.
The full-size controls provide a larger mechanical package, while the mini controls provide more installation flexibility.
Choose the version that best matches the available cavity space and mounting thickness.
Every GLL1K Wiring Harness includes:
prewired Volume potentiometer
prewired Treble potentiometer
prewired Bass potentiometer
prewired output jack
three-position ON-ON-ON Pickup Mode switch
PCB mounted directly to the Pickup Mode switch
central wiring PCB with screw terminals
passive tone-network capacitors and resistor
three push-on knobs
mini screwdriver
self-adhesive neoprene insulating pad
associated hookup wiring
All versions use 6mm knurled potentiometer shafts.
The through-body versions also include the preassembled potentiometer grounding strap with ring terminals.
The control plate versions do not include the separate grounding strap because the metal control plate normally bonds the potentiometer bodies together. Continuity to circuit ground should still be verified during installation.
The GLL1K is intended to replace the complete control harness of a G&L L•1000-style instrument.
The central PCB replaces much of the component-to-component wiring found in the original L•1000 harness and provides clearly identified connection points for the controls and switch network.
The Pickup Mode switch PCB replaces the more complicated point-to-point wiring normally required to create the classic L•1000 pickup modes.
The G&L L•1000 is unusual because it achieves a very wide range of sounds using an entirely passive circuit.
A typical L•1000 has:
one G&L Magnetic Field Design humbucker
Volume
passive Treble cut
passive Bass cut
three-position Pickup Mode switch
The Pickup Mode switch provides:
Parallel
Single Coil
OMG
The Treble and Bass controls are both passive cut controls. They do not electronically boost frequencies and require no battery.
With both tone controls fully open, the pickup retains the greatest amount of its natural frequency range. Turning either control down progressively removes part of that range.
The GLL1K uses the control values associated with the vintage L•1000 circuit:
Volume — 250kΩ audio taper
Treble — 250kΩ audio taper
Bass — 1MΩ reverse-audio taper
The GLL1K central PCB contains the passive tone-network capacitors and the 6.8kΩ resistor used in the circuit version reproduced by Boscoe Music.
Because the capacitors and resistor are mounted on the central PCB, no separate tone-network components need to be soldered directly to the potentiometers.
Before removing the original electronics, take several clear photographs of the existing wiring.
Photograph:
pickup wires
Pickup Mode switch
Volume potentiometer
Treble potentiometer
Bass potentiometer
output jack
bridge ground
control plate or cavity shielding
and any existing ground connections
Older G&L instruments may have been repaired or modified during their lifetime, and factory wiring may differ from later examples.
Do not rely on wire color alone unless you have verified the pickup configuration.
If possible, label the original pickup wires before disconnecting them.
Disconnect the instrument cable before beginning installation.
Work on the instrument on a padded, stable surface.
Before removing the old harness completely, confirm that the GLL1K version you purchased matches the installation.
For a rear-routed or through-body instrument, the 18mm-shaft version is normally appropriate.
For a metal control plate installation, the 15mm-shaft version is normally appropriate.
Also confirm that the selected potentiometer body size will fit comfortably in the cavity.
Full-size 24mm controls are normally a good choice for G&L bodies designed around them.
Mini 16mm controls provide additional clearance in smaller or custom cavities.
Do not force a full-size potentiometer into a cavity where it contacts the wall, shielding, switch, jack, PCB, or another control.
Before tightening any component permanently, test-fit the complete harness.
Make sure:
all three potentiometers fit their mounting holes
the Pickup Mode switch fits its opening
the output jack has adequate clearance
the central PCB fits comfortably in the cavity
the switch PCB does not contact surrounding hardware
screw terminals remain accessible
the wiring is not pulled tight
and the cavity cover or control plate does not press against a PCB
Leave enough slack for the controls or control plate to be lifted for future service.
Do not shorten wires until you are satisfied with the layout.
The GLL1K includes prewired Volume, Treble, and Bass potentiometers.
Install the controls in their respective mounting positions.
The normal control order is:
Volume
Treble
Bass
Do not fully tighten the mounting nuts until the harness has been positioned and all wiring has been checked.
Avoid rotating the potentiometer bodies after the wires have been routed, as this can place unnecessary stress on the connections.
18mm Through-Body Version
15mm Control Plate Version
This section applies to GLL1K kits using 18mm shafts with 9.5mm threaded bushings.
These versions are intended primarily for rear-routed instruments where the potentiometer shafts pass through the wood of the bass body.
The thicker mounting surface requires the longer shaft and threaded section.
Before tightening the controls, make sure enough shaft extends above the body for the supplied knobs to install correctly.
The potentiometer bodies are separated by wood and therefore are not automatically electrically connected together.
For this reason, every through-body kit includes a dedicated potentiometer grounding strap.
The supplied grounding strap has ring terminals for the three potentiometers and a final ground lead.
Install one ring terminal beneath the mounting hardware of each control:
Volume
Treble
Bass
The ring terminals should make direct electrical contact with the metal potentiometer bushings or mounting hardware.
Do not isolate the ring terminal from the metal hardware with a nonconductive washer.
Connect the remaining ground lead to the harness common ground.
After installation, use a multimeter in continuity mode to verify continuity between:
Volume potentiometer body
Treble potentiometer body
Bass potentiometer body
output jack Sleeve
bridge
and harness ground
This section applies to GLL1K kits using 15mm shafts with 6.5mm threaded bushings.
These versions are intended primarily for instruments using a metal control plate, including many G&L CLF Research models.
Install the potentiometers through the control plate and confirm that the supplied knobs seat properly without bottoming against the plate.
A conductive metal control plate normally bonds the potentiometer bodies together mechanically and electrically.
However, do not assume that mechanical contact guarantees a reliable ground.
Paint, oxidation, coatings, washers, or other hardware can interfere with continuity.
After installation, use a multimeter to verify continuity between:
Volume potentiometer body
Treble potentiometer body
Bass potentiometer body
metal control plate
output jack Sleeve
bridge
and harness ground
The control plate versions do not require the separate ring-terminal grounding strap supplied with the through-body kits.
The full-size GLL1K versions use potentiometers with approximately 24mm-wide bodies.
These are generally recommended for genuine G&L bodies that were designed with sufficient space for full-size controls.
Before tightening them, confirm that:
the bodies do not touch one another
the switch PCB has adequate clearance
the central PCB has adequate clearance
the output jack does not contact a potentiometer
and the cavity cover or control plate does not press against the controls
The mini GLL1K versions use approximately 16mm-wide potentiometer bodies.
These provide additional clearance and are generally recommended when installing the harness in a non-G&L body or an unusually compact cavity.
The electrical values are the same as the full-size controls.
There is no intended tonal difference between the mini and full-size versions.
When referring to potentiometer terminals:
CCW (lug 1) — counterclockwise lug
Wiper (lug 2) — center lug
CW (lug 3) — clockwise lug
The central GLL1K PCB identifies the relevant potentiometer connections by control and lug number.
For example:
V1 / V2 / V3 — Volume
T1 / T2 / T3 — Treble
B2 / B3 — Bass
Because the controls are supplied prewired, these connections should not normally need to be changed.
The central PCB is the electrical hub of the GLL1K harness.
It provides connection points for:
Volume
Treble
Bass
Pickup Mode switch
output
ground
The Pickup Mode switch connects to the central PCB through two dedicated connections:
S⏚ — Pickup Mode switch ground
S→ — Pickup Mode switch output
These correspond directly to the GND (S⏚) and Output (S→) terminals on the Pickup Mode switch PCB.
The remaining W, Y, B, and G switch-PCB terminals connect to the pickup itself.
It also carries the passive tone-network components that would otherwise need to be soldered directly between the potentiometer terminals.
This greatly reduces the amount of point-to-point wiring required inside the instrument.
Position the PCB so that the screw terminals remain accessible and the underside cannot contact conductive shielding or other grounded hardware.
Use the supplied self-adhesive neoprene pad where needed to protect the PCB from accidental shorts.
Before inserting a wire, loosen the terminal screw enough to open the internal box clamp.
Insert the stripped conductor fully into the terminal.
Make sure no loose strands remain exposed where they could touch an adjacent connection.
Tighten the terminal until the conductor is securely held.
After tightening each terminal, gently pull on the wire to verify that it is actually secured.
It is possible to accidentally insert a wire underneath the internal box clamp instead of inside it. In that situation, the screw may feel tight even though the conductor itself is not securely held.
If a wire pulls free:
loosen the terminal
reposition the conductor inside the clamp
tighten the screw again
perform another gentle pull test
Do not overtighten the terminal screws.
The GLL1K is designed primarily for the standard four-conductor G&L MFD humbucker used in the L•1000.
The Pickup Mode switch PCB handles the coil interconnections required for Parallel, Single Coil, and OMG operation.
For G&L MFD pickups tested by Boscoe Music:
Green and Yellow are associated with the neck-side coil
Black and White are associated with the bridge-side coil
some pickups also include a Blue shield/baseplate ground wire
The four main pickup conductors connect directly to the Pickup Mode switch PCB:
White → W
Yellow → Y
Black → B
Green → G
If the pickup also has a Blue wire, connect the Blue and Green wires together to the G terminal.
Do not connect the Blue wire to a separate location elsewhere in the harness when using the GLL1K Pickup Mode switch PCB.
Do not reconnect an unknown replacement pickup solely by color if you are uncertain of its wiring. Wire colors from other pickup manufacturers may use completely different conventions.
For additional pickup identification and coil information, see the Pickup Wiring Reference.
The three-position ON-ON-ON Pickup Mode switch is supplied with a dedicated PCB mounted directly to it.
This PCB performs the coil switching required for the L•1000's Parallel, Single Coil, and OMG modes without requiring the complicated point-to-point wiring found in the original harness.
The switch PCB also carries the 100nF capacitor used by the OMG circuit.
Because the PCB and screw-terminal block are intentionally very compact, some of the printed terminal lettering on the front of the board can be difficult to see once the switch is installed.
When viewing the screw-terminal block in the orientation shown below, the six connections from top to bottom are:
GND (S⏚) — Pickup Mode switch ground
Output (S→) — output from the Pickup Mode switch
W — White pickup wire
Y — Yellow pickup wire
B — Black pickup wire
G — Green pickup wire
If the pickup also has a Blue wire, connect the Blue wire together with the Green wire in the G terminal.
The GND (S⏚) and Output (S→) connections interface the Pickup Mode switch with the rest of the GLL1K harness.
Connect the switch GND (S⏚) connection to the corresponding S⏚ connection on the central wiring PCB.
Connect the switch Output (S→) connection to the corresponding S→ connection on the central wiring PCB.
The pickup itself connects only to the four W, Y, B, and G terminals, with the Blue wire sharing G when present.
Before tightening a screw terminal, make sure the stripped conductor is positioned inside the terminal's internal box clamp.
After tightening each terminal, gently pull on the wire to make sure it is actually securely clamped.
Do not allow loose strands to extend from one terminal far enough to contact the next terminal.
The 100nF capacitor is already installed and forms part of the OMG circuit. No customer wiring connection needs to be made directly to the capacitor.
Avoid bending, twisting, or placing mechanical pressure on the capacitor while installing the switch.
Do not attempt to duplicate the original L•1000 point-to-point switch wiring on the toggle-switch terminals. The PCB already implements the required switching internally.
The GLL1K provides the three classic L•1000 pickup modes:
Both pickup coils operate in parallel.
This produces the lowest pickup impedance of the three modes and generally provides the clearest, most open response.
Only the bridge-side coil of the MFD pickup is active.
This produces a leaner and more focused sound than either two-coil mode.
Because only one coil is operating, Single Coil mode is not hum-cancelling.
Some additional hum or electromagnetic noise compared with Parallel or OMG mode is therefore normal.
Both pickup coils operate in series at low frequencies.
The OMG capacitor modifies one coil's upper-frequency contribution, creating the characteristic high-output L•1000 OMG response.
The result is a strong low-frequency response with more upper-frequency definition than a conventional full-bandwidth series connection.
OMG mode can be noticeably louder and fuller than Parallel or Single Coil mode.
This is normal.
OMG mode does not contain an active bass boost.
The GLL1K is completely passive.
Instead, the pickup coils and capacitor form a frequency-dependent network that allows both coils to contribute strongly at low frequencies while changing the way one coil contributes at higher frequencies.
This produces the characteristic combination of:
strong low end
high output
reduced muddiness compared with ordinary series wiring
and a distinct upper-frequency character
The difference in output between switch positions is therefore expected and is part of the L•1000 design.
The 100nF capacitor mounted on the Pickup Mode switch PCB is the capacitor used by this network and is required for correct OMG operation.
The Volume control is a conventional passive 250kΩ audio-taper control.
Turning it clockwise increases output.
Turning it counterclockwise reduces output.
The Treble control is a passive high-frequency cut.
Fully clockwise provides the greatest amount of treble.
Turning the control counterclockwise progressively removes high-frequency content.
The GLL1K includes the 6.8kΩ resistor used in the circuit version reproduced by Boscoe Music. This resistor sets a functional floor for the treble cut and prevents the darkest end of the control from becoming excessively extreme.
The Treble control operates in all three pickup modes.
The Bass control is a passive low-frequency cut.
Fully clockwise provides the greatest amount of low-frequency content.
Turning the control counterclockwise progressively reduces low-frequency response.
Because this is a passive circuit, the control does not add bass above the pickup's natural output.
The Bass control may also produce some change in perceived overall level as low-frequency energy is removed.
This is normal.
The GLL1K includes a prewired mono output jack.
The jack connections are:
Tip — audio signal
Sleeve — circuit ground
Because the GLL1K is completely passive, there is no Ring battery-switch connection.
Make sure the jack contacts cannot touch shielding, the control plate, or other grounded hardware.
The bridge should be connected to the instrument's common ground.
Preserve the original bridge-ground wire when replacing an existing harness.
Connect it to the appropriate harness ground point.
A missing bridge ground can cause hum that changes when the strings or bridge are touched.
If excessive hum is present after installation, verify continuity between the bridge and output jack Sleeve.
Many G&L basses use conductive shielding inside the control cavity.
Copper foil or conductive paint can help reduce electrical noise, but it must be connected to circuit ground to be effective.
If the cavity is shielded:
preserve the original shielding ground
verify continuity between the shielding and circuit ground
make sure the central PCB cannot short against the shielding
make sure the switch PCB cannot contact grounded metal
Use the supplied neoprene pad or other suitable nonconductive insulation where necessary.
G&L used more than one L•1000 wiring arrangement over the model's history.
The GLL1K is based on the circuit version selected by Boscoe Music after comparing original documentation and factory-style wiring.
One notable feature of the circuit reproduced by the GLL1K is the 6.8kΩ resistor associated with the Treble control. This resistor sets a functional floor for the amount of treble that can be cut. The GLL1K includes this resistor as part of the central PCB.
The GLL1K also retains the traditional capacitor-based OMG configuration rather than substituting a conventional full-bandwidth series mode.
The intended pickup-mode sequence is therefore:
Parallel
Single Coil
OMG
Before closing the cavity or reinstalling the control plate, inspect the entire harness.
Verify:
You installed the correct 15mm or 18mm shaft version for the instrument.
The potentiometer bodies fit comfortably in the cavity.
The Pickup Mode switch is securely mounted.
Pickup White → W on the switch PCB.
Pickup Yellow → Y on the switch PCB.
Pickup Black → B on the switch PCB.
Pickup Green → G on the switch PCB.
If the pickup has a Blue wire, Blue is connected together with Green to G.
Switch PCB GND (S⏚) is connected to S⏚ on the central PCB.
Switch PCB Output (S→) is connected to S→ on the central PCB.
The 100nF OMG capacitor on the Pickup Mode switch PCB is undamaged and has not been bent or stressed.
All screw-terminal wires are securely clamped.
Every wire passes a gentle pull test.
No loose conductor strands can touch adjacent terminals.
The Volume potentiometer is correctly connected.
The Treble potentiometer is correctly connected.
The Bass potentiometer is correctly connected.
The output jack Tip carries the signal connection.
The output jack Sleeve is connected to ground.
The bridge ground is connected.
Through-body installations have the grounding strap installed on all three potentiometers.
Control plate installations have verified continuity through the metal control plate.
The potentiometer bodies have continuity to circuit ground.
Conductive shielding is grounded.
Neither PCB can contact conductive shielding or other grounded metal.
The neoprene pad is installed where needed.
No wires will be pinched when the control plate or cavity cover is installed.
All GLL1K versions use 6mm knurled potentiometer shafts and include matching push-on knobs.
After the potentiometers have been mounted and tested, align each knob carefully with its shaft and press it down using gentle, even pressure.
Do not force the knob farther onto the shaft once it is fully seated.
When removing a knob, lift it evenly from both sides rather than applying excessive force to one side of the shaft.
Test the bass before closing the cavity.
Connect the bass to a clean amplifier at a moderate volume.
Start with:
Volume fully up
Treble fully up
Bass fully up
Then test each Pickup Mode switch position.
Verify that the sound is clear and full and that both pickup coils are operating.
Verify that the sound becomes leaner and more focused.
Some additional hum is normal because this mode is not hum-cancelling.
Verify that output and low-frequency response increase substantially.
The sound should be large and powerful while retaining useful upper-frequency definition.
Next test:
the full range of Volume
the full range of Treble
the full range of Bass
Gently move the wiring while the bass is producing sound and listen for intermittent connections.
Only after all controls operate correctly should the cavity be closed.
The diagram below shows the complete GLL1K installation and the relationship between:
MFD pickup
Pickup Mode switch PCB
central wiring PCB
Volume
Treble
Bass
output jack
bridge ground
potentiometer grounding
Check the output path first.
Verify:
output jack Tip
output jack Sleeve
Volume connections
central PCB connections
Pickup Mode switch PCB Output (S→)
Pickup Mode switch PCB GND (S⏚)
and pickup wiring
At the Pickup Mode switch, confirm:
White → W
Yellow → Y
Black → B
Green → G
If a Blue pickup wire is present:
Blue + Green → G
Verify that S→ and S⏚ are connected between the Pickup Mode switch PCB and the corresponding terminals on the central PCB.
Perform a gentle pull test on every screw-terminal wire.
A wire inserted underneath the internal box clamp can appear correctly installed without actually making electrical contact.
If one or two Pickup Mode positions work normally, the output jack, Volume control, and much of the downstream wiring are already known to be functioning.
The problem is more likely to be associated with one pickup conductor, the Pickup Mode switch, or its PCB.
Verify the switch-PCB pickup connections:
W — White
Y — Yellow
B — Black
G — Green, plus Blue if present
Make sure each conductor is securely captured inside its screw-terminal box clamp.
Also inspect:
the ON-ON-ON toggle switch
the Pickup Mode switch PCB
the 100nF OMG capacitor
and the affected pickup coil connections
Do not modify the soldered switch connections unless a fault has been positively identified.
This is normal.
Single Coil mode uses only one coil of the MFD pickup and is therefore not hum-cancelling.
Parallel mode uses both coils in a hum-cancelling configuration. OMG also uses both coils, but the 100nF capacitor changes the contribution of the neck-side coil at higher frequencies, so some additional hum compared with Parallel mode may be normal.
This is normal.
OMG uses both pickup coils in a frequency-dependent series arrangement and can produce considerably greater output and low-frequency energy than Parallel mode.
The difference is part of the intended L•1000 circuit.
OMG is intentionally the fullest and strongest pickup mode.
First verify that the Bass control is operating normally.
Try reducing the Bass control slightly.
Also confirm that the switch PCB has not been modified and that all pickup conductors are connected correctly.
Some change in perceived output is normal.
The Bass control is a passive frequency-selective network rather than an active equalizer.
Cutting low frequencies also removes energy from the total signal, which can make the instrument seem somewhat quieter.
The Treble control should progressively reduce high-frequency content as it is turned down.
If it behaves more like an abrupt volume loss rather than a gradual treble cut, inspect its screw-terminal connections and verify that the correct potentiometer is connected to the Treble terminals.
Verify the Volume potentiometer wiring at:
V1
V2
V3
Because the harness is supplied prewired, inspect the central PCB connections before changing anything at the potentiometer itself.
Verify:
bridge ground
output jack Sleeve
potentiometer-body grounding
cavity shielding
Pickup Mode switch GND (S⏚)
and the pickup's Green/Blue connection
If the pickup has a Blue wire, verify that it is securely connected together with Green to the G terminal on the Pickup Mode switch PCB.
For a through-body kit, verify that the supplied grounding strap is installed correctly.
For a control plate kit, verify continuity through the metal control plate.
Use a multimeter to confirm continuity between all components intended to be grounded.
If the hum changes significantly when you touch the bridge or strings, inspect the bridge ground.
Remember that Single Coil mode is not hum-cancelling, so some additional noise in that switch position is normal. Some additional hum may also be noticeable in OMG mode because of the way the OMG network affects the pickup coils.
This usually indicates a short or pinched wire.
Inspect for contact between a PCB and:
conductive shielding
metal control plate
potentiometer body
switch body
output jack
or another grounded component
Also check for wires pinched under the control plate or cavity cover.
Use the supplied neoprene pad where necessary.
Gently pull each screw-terminal wire.
Make sure every conductor is actually inside the internal box clamp.
Also inspect:
loose strands
wires under mechanical tension
dirty output-jack contacts
loose potentiometer hardware
loose switch hardware
The W, Y, B, and G labels on the Pickup Mode switch PCB correspond to the standard G&L MFD pickup wiring used by the GLL1K:
W → White
Y → Yellow
B → Black
G → Green
If the G&L pickup also has a Blue wire:
Blue + Green → G
Replacement pickups from other manufacturers may use different color conventions.
Do not connect a non-G&L pickup by guessing which colors correspond to W, Y, B, and G.
Use a multimeter to identify the individual coils and refer to the Pickup Wiring Reference.
For additional assistance, contact Boscoe Music before modifying the Pickup Mode switch PCB or harness.
After the complete harness has been tested:
confirm every screw-terminal connection is secure
verify all grounding connections
confirm the correct grounding method for the selected kit version
position both PCBs away from conductive surfaces
install the neoprene pad where needed
arrange wiring so that it is not pinched or stretched
tighten potentiometer and switch hardware securely but not excessively
install the supplied knobs
reinstall the control plate or cavity cover carefully
Test all three pickup modes and all three controls once more after final assembly.
For pickup coil identification and G&L MFD pickup wiring information, see the Pickup Wiring Reference.
If you have any questions about installation, compatibility, or troubleshooting, please contact us!