Are tone controls necessary?

[Artemas]

I'm working on a project bass, and attempting to make it as bare bones as possible for ease of build, use and function. Assuming I'm using an effective amp (preamp), would tone controls be needed? Is there a particular importance to using a tone control on the bass as opposed to using the tone controls on the amp?

Thanks for any input.

[Manndreas]

You don't need a tone pot unless you wanna roll off some treble now and then. I always play with everything on full, so I've removed my tone control on all of my guitars and passive basses :b

[lemur821]

I don't find a tone control to be at all useful when I'm just going into the amp. However, I think it's pretty important if you need to tame distortion or possibly other effects. I don't see any reason to put it in the bass though. I built myself an outboard tone control for this.

[A9X]

Originally Posted by Artemas

I'm working on a project bass, and attempting to make it as bare bones as possible for ease of build, use and function. Assuming I'm using an effective amp (preamp), would tone controls be needed? Is there a particular importance to using a tone control on the bass as opposed to using the tone controls on the amp?

Thanks for any input.

Not neccessary. There are a few people here with no controls on their basses at all.

[meev992]

My bass just has a volume, and a villex booster.

my other bass doesn't even have any controls, just straight to jack.

[GlennW]

I prefer caps without tone pots.

[DocBop]

For passive wide open both volume and tone just like recording in the old days. You learn to control volume and tone with your hands. Active wide open volume and tone flat. I may tweak for effect, but in general try to stay flat and use my hands.

I guess I got in these habits from playing/recording back in the day. So instrument was sending a clean, clear, note/signal, and use the amp or mixing console for sound desired timbre. Also if recording a bright signal you never had to add highs, which also add noise/hiss. Adding bass was more natural sounding than adding highs.

[blipndub]

So I've got a three hole control plate that I just want to wire up wittout a tone pot. Do I just run wire from the hot tab of the input to the left most tab on the bridge pot and then loop that through the to neck pot? What connections am I bypassing when I wire up a VVI set up?

[Asa Samuel]

if you need a wide range of tones then pretty much yeah.

[A9X]

Originally Posted by blipndub

So I've got a three hole control plate that I just want to wire up wittout a tone pot. Do I just run wire from the hot tab of the input to the left most tab on the bridge pot and then loop that through the to neck pot? What connections am I bypassing when I wire up a VVI set up?

Do everything as per a VVT setup, but delete the last pot and cap.

[blipndub]

thanks!

[not_jason]

On my old p-bass, I pulled out all the controls so it's just the pickup straight to the jack. I've never had any problems with it. On some basses and guitars I've owned, the tone controls have been pretty much useless, and on the other ones, all it really does is darken the tone (which is not an effect that I personally find useful with my playing style). If you know what you're using the bass for, and if you know that you're generally not the type of person who uses your tone knob, then sure, yank it out. I decided the same thing for my volume as well (on a single pickup bass, it's a little different on a jazz bass). I use my tuner pedal for a mute, but otherwise it's wide open all the time.

[blipndub]

I wired up the plate with the two knobs and it does look a little strange. I'll post pics once the neck arrives.

[Johnny Crab]

No.

Don't need no stinkin' tone control on these!
Three volume controls which effectively are tone.
Combine that with what you can do with your hands & amp.