Pickup Loading and Tone?

[newbold]

So I like to think i know what I'm talking about and right now is the point where I'll just throw out the concept that i know nothing with the hopes that I'm not...

...so...


Here's where it gets interesting (giving you a potential reason to care)

I really like the difference in tones that I get with classic passive tone controls. Part of me thinks it could be just an output volume issue but another part of me thinks it could be loading or impedance which I really don't understand.

Is it possible to have a control system - active or otherwise - that would give me the change in tone/response of a volume pot with little-to-no-change in output volume?

Would this be a buffer?
Would this be an active preamp wired to compensate for the knob twist?

Is this concept akin to Bill Lawrence's 'q-filter' (in non-eq mode)?

[Badong]

http://www.stellartone.com/Page.asp?NavID=147

[newbold]

How did you interpret my post to think to reply with THAT?

I think some of the tone I like with volumes rolled off is in that my signal is lower and doesn't drive my signal path.

How much of the typical Jazz Bass tone response is in pickup loading?

[Badong]

Originally Posted by newbold

Is it possible to have a control system - active or otherwise - that would give me the change in tone/response of a volume pot with little-to-no-change in output volume?

This is exactly what the Tonestyler does.

[walterw]

so you want a knob that makes your bass sound like it does with the volume knob rolled down, but still be just as loud as before?

[PilbaraBass]

Larger capacitor values will attenuate the signal, simply because more of the signal is shunted to ground (less is passed along). Passively, there's no simple way to get around this…but what's a little signal attenuation? … get a tonestyler or a HAS sound varitone or build your own for a few $...

[newbold]

Originally Posted by Badong

This is exactly what the Tonestyler does.

When I called stellartone they told me the tonestyler is a steep tone cutoff set to 1/3 octave. Like a varitone w/o an indictor or coil.

I want a knob that makes my bass sound like it does with the volume knob rolled down, but still be just as loud as before.

Maybe it's just the human ear's loudness curve, maybe it's something else.

I'm happy with the tones I can get out of my bass but am more curious if there's a solution for this.

attenuate the signal but boost with a preamp/buffer? tricky wiring projects?

[newbold]

is the tone change just based on signal flow and how much signal I'm pushing through my chain?

Aside from the possibility that a tonestyler does this in addition to being a high freq. cutoff, what could I possibly do to accomplish this?

[Bootzilla]

Loading influences the resonant frequency of the pickup (or the resonance peak hight not sure).

read this: http://buildyourguitar.com/resources/lemme/

Maybe you can put a resistor or capacitor in the circuit that simulates the load of a volume pot or somthing?

[Bootzilla]

Originally Posted by newbold

is the tone change just based on signal flow and how much signal I'm pushing through my chain?

Aside from the possibility that a tonestyler does this in addition to being a high freq. cutoff, what could I possibly do to accomplish this?

No the tone change has to do with the added resistance that the pickups see and which changes the resonant frequency or resonant peak hight of the pickups.

You could add a fixed resistor infront of the volume pot which reduces the max volume of the bass when the volume pot is maxed. This way you have the effect of the loading of a rolled of volume pot when the volume is maxed and it reduces the output of the bass which you can compensate at the amp.

[newbold]

Originally Posted by Bootzilla

This way you have the effect of the loading of a rolled of volume pot when the volume is maxed and it reduces the output of the bass which you can compensate at the amp.

So if I were to add a resistor it would give me the effect of the loading of a rolled of volume pot, but would REDUCE the output??

hmm...

[RLK]

Audere audio has an impedance load adjustment (z-mode) as a main selling point of their active pre-amps. Link here
If I recall correctly, the proprietor, Dave Meadows, uses only volumes and the z-mode switch on one of his personal basses.