Who's actually using their blend knob?

Benjamin Strange · #1 04-30-2004, 05:33 PM

In all bassdom, I think the most worthless thing is the blend knob. I've never had any use to have the neck pickup on 84.3% and the bridge pickup on 15.7%. For me, it's either neck, bridge, or both full on; no pussyfooting around with in-between settings. Same thing goes for basses with dual volumes (one for each pickup). It's all the way on, or all the way off for me. I'd rather just have a 3 way switch and be done with it.

Am I mad? Apparently alot of bass players use these things, otherwise the builders wouldn't make them that way. Do you guys really use your blend knob, or just set it at the extremes?

The Antipop · #2 04-30-2004, 06:52 PM

depending on what sound Im looking for?

Aaron Saunders · #3 04-30-2004, 07:05 PM

*raises hand*

I'm one of those jerks whose only basses with less than five knobs are the ones that don't have active preamps in them yet. I admit it...I'm a Knob Fiddler.

geshel · #4 04-30-2004, 07:15 PM

I use mine more or less as a three-way switch, as well. Though, on both my basses it's usually* blending between "inside", "all four" and "outside" coils -- so, since the difference between extremes is fairly subtle, the in-between settings are even less noticeable.

*dpdt switch controls whether or not the blend works this way or between neck/both/bridge pickups.

On my old Carvins, the blend acted pretty linearly, and I used it a lot - just bridge-ward of center worked well. However, on my current basses w/ Bartolini electronics, the blend knob seems to work a lot more quickly - move it a little off center, and the sound changes very quickly. So, even before I modded my fretted to do the inside/outside thing, I pretty much only used the knob in extremes.

**Josh Ryan** · #5 04-30-2004, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshua

I use mine a lot.

Yep

**Chris A** · #6 04-30-2004, 08:15 PM

I use mine a lot. Usually fingerstyle playing is panned a little bit toward the bridge pickup. If I'm gonna play slap, then it's even up both pickups.

Chris A.

Matt Till · #7 04-30-2004, 09:14 PM

I fiddle around a bit to get the sound I want. I generally stick with that for a gig. Then the only thing I usually adjust is my tone knob.

3 crotch grabs · #8 04-30-2004, 11:55 PM

the electronics in my old crappy washburn took a dive. i ran the pickups full volume straight out. there are knobs there. but they aren't connected to anything. i'm really just too lazy to take them off. yeah... THAT lazy.

Benjamin Strange · #9 05-01-2004, 12:24 AM

I've ended up just putting a three way Les Paul style switch in my bass. I like to be able to change the tone instantly without interfering with my playing much. Works much better for me.

Tom Crofts · #10 05-01-2004, 06:40 PM

Both pickups full on all the time for me. Well, unless I play some old school Jamiroquai, in which case it's a little to the bridge...

Brendan · #11 05-01-2004, 07:01 PM

I don't even bother with the bridge; it's 100% neck. The bridge pup is a glorified thumb anchor.

**Pacman** · #12 05-01-2004, 07:19 PM

I use mine alot. But it sounds like you should buy my Roscoe Beck

Benjamin Strange · #13 05-01-2004, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

I use mine alot. But it sounds like you should buy my Roscoe Beck

If it's got a headstock I don't want it.

Munjibunga · #14 05-01-2004, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshua

I use mine a lot.

Me too. A little growl or a lot. I decide. I am the arbiter of tone.

NioeZero · #15 05-01-2004, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

I use mine alot. But it sounds like you should buy my Roscoe Beck

It's not a four string, is it?

PhatBasstard · #16 05-01-2004, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Me too. A little growl or a lot. I decide. I am the arbiter of tone.

Yup. Sounds right to me. I don't even own a bass without one.

kirbywrx · #17 05-02-2004, 06:04 AM

I can get an awsome tapping tone by using just my bridge pickup, and i get a warmer bass typical bass tone when at the bridge.

**Pacman** · #18 05-02-2004, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NioeZero

It's not a four string, is it?

Five.

cb56 · #19 05-02-2004, 08:55 AM

usually keep my Bridge pup on 100% and my neck pup at about 85% just enought to bring out that nice jazz bass growl. I wish my G&L L2500 had a blend knob.

**SoComSurfing** · #20 05-02-2004, 09:55 AM

My Jazz has vol/blend/tone rather than v/v/t like most, so I actually use it a good bit to find the sound for the night, then I'll leave it alone as much as possible. My Roscoe, however, sees alot of work on the blend knob. Some nights it changes nearly every other song. I really don't mess with the pickup selection on my Hagstrom too much, because it uses those stupid little 2-way sliders that are just a pain to deal with.