Tone: On or Off (or Both...)

Nyarlathotep · #1 03-15-2006, 08:19 PM

Just a little while ago (like, an hour), I decided to try playing with my bass' tone on. Strangely enough I'm going to keep it that way. Everything is better, I have a more even volume accross strings, and my distortion (PDDI) sounds fuller. This is even true when playing with my fingers (I usually play with pick

). I always thought that by bass would sound too nasaly with the tone on, and I have to admit that I was wrong

. So, as of now the tone stays on, though I still only use the neck PU.

Anyway, how many others on here play with their bass' tone control(s) on? How many leave them off? How many change based on the song/style of music? I'm suddenly very curious, and glad I'm not a cat

Stanley Design · #2 03-15-2006, 08:39 PM

None for me thanks, maybe some if it's punk or ska.

canopener · #3 03-15-2006, 09:56 PM

Both. Or on. Or off.

steve21 · #4 03-15-2006, 10:49 PM

You mean the tone knob?

I usually keep it on 10 on my jazz bass.

But my new main bass has a 3-band EQ.

superbassman2000 · #5 03-15-2006, 11:26 PM

i like my bass to have tone on

lemur821 · #6 03-16-2006, 12:08 AM

I don't even have a tone knob. The wires came loose, so I put my output jack where it was and put the knob on the shelf. It's not like I use the thing. BTW, there are more options than full rolloff and nil.

Nyarlathotep · #7 03-16-2006, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve21

You mean the tone knob?

Yes. The one on the bass.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemur821

BTW, there are more options than full rolloff and nil.

I consider any position but full off to be "on". It just depends on how "on" you like your tone... Mine just happens to be full on, baby!

bobdob20 · #8 03-16-2006, 02:35 PM

I like mine off and have me bass boost up full to give a heavier sound.

Mike N · #9 03-16-2006, 04:24 PM

I keep mine turned up to ten at all times.

skewh · #10 03-16-2006, 04:33 PM

I also keep my tone knob rolled to a secure ten.

seanm · #11 03-16-2006, 04:47 PM

On most of my basses the tone knob is disconnected. That's about as "off" as you can get

Nyarlathotep · #12 03-16-2006, 04:48 PM

Results are acctually quite interestings (right now 8-4-5). Like I said before, I always just assumed that bass with the tone rolled on just wouldn't sound right, and I also assumed that most bassists kept it rolled off

. I find that rolled on gives a more "compleate" signal, making the bass sound "fuller". It's acctually really hard to explain, but that's about the gist of my experience

I do get rolling it off sometimes though, especially for a really boomy tone...

dancehallclasher · #13 03-16-2006, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanm

On most of my basses the tone knob is disconnected. That's about as "off" as you can get

Actually, it's about as "on" as you can get.

It blows my mind that people actually play with the tone knob all the way down. That must sound awful unless you're in a reggae band.

seanm · #14 03-16-2006, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dancehallclasher

Actually, it's about as "on" as you can get.

Hmmm, I consider "on" to be actually getting the tone control to do something. i.e. You turn a computer on to use it. In the case of a passive, like my basses, on would mean rolling off the highs. Off is leaving the highs alone.

On an active I would consider "off" to be flat. No boost, no cut.

Again to use the computer analogy, the off switch turns most of the computer off but leaves some things like the NIC chip running. Unplugging the compuer really turns it off.

Rolling "off" the tone still bleeds some highs. Removing the tone control lets all the highs go through so it is even more off.

Does that make sense?

Nyarlathotep · #15 03-16-2006, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanm

... Does that make sense?

In a strange way, yes. But I have to aggree with dancehallclasher, I always think that tone off=treble off...

Minger · #16 03-16-2006, 05:28 PM

I do, more or less.

2 Ibanezes with a preamp in each and an SX - it all works out.

The bass knob on the SR800 fattens things up like crazy, which I like.

dancehallclasher · #17 03-16-2006, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanm

Hmmm, I consider "on" to be actually getting the tone control to do something. i.e. You turn a computer on to use it. In the case of a passive, like my basses, on would mean rolling off the highs. Off is leaving the highs alone.

On an active I would consider "off" to be flat. No boost, no cut.

Again to use the computer analogy, the off switch turns most of the computer off but leaves some things like the NIC chip running. Unplugging the compuer really turns it off.

Rolling "off" the tone still bleeds some highs. Removing the tone control lets all the highs go through so it is even more off.

Does that make sense?

Sure, your reasoning makes sense. Unfortunately, the standard bassist/guitarist speak is that rolling the tone off means less highs, so get on board because it's not gonna change.

Platypus_Of_420 · #18 03-16-2006, 06:33 PM

on.

mmmm...$10 p pickup bass tone

Jazzin' · #19 03-16-2006, 09:50 PM

Either 100% or 0% for me.

Aaron Saunders · #20 03-16-2006, 11:04 PM

Wow...there's a definite lack-of-finesse when it comes to controlling your sound with your electronics in this thread!

It varies in many situations. I prefer an on-board preamp, however, like both of my fretted basses.