Tone Knob on a Jazz Bass

Lower-Than-Low · #1 10-09-2006, 10:58 PM

What on earth does it actually do???

I've tried fiddling around with it and it makes hardly any difference in my sound what-so-ever, no matter where I put it.

So, could someone please explain what its supposed to do, and if it's totally normal to notice little to no difference or if I should have it checked out by a professional.

Thanks!

tplyons · #2 10-09-2006, 11:06 PM

It's a passive treble rolloff that should take some of the "zing" out of your tone.

Lower-Than-Low · #3 10-09-2006, 11:08 PM

I see. I need a better amp then... I just cant get the tone I want with the one I have now.

FiedelP · #4 10-09-2006, 11:19 PM

Hello from Germany,
I'd say, if it doesn't make a difference, there's something wrong with your bass, your amp or your ears.

The tone-knob in combination with the seperate volume-knobs for each PU was the most important reason for me, to own a jazz bass. Now I have two of them.

I couldn't explain, how it works, but if you roll the treble off just a little bit, the tone opens up. esp. in combination with lowering the volume of one of the PU's a little bit.
I don't have any kind of experience with stack-knob Jazz-basses. I only refer to the 2-Volume-1-tone-knob design.

It's magic.

It has nothing to do with modern preamps or active preamps... If you expect something from the tone-knob on a jazz-bass similar to what you might expect from any kind of modern preamp, you might be dissapointed...
It's just about the magic of a jazz bass. It resembles a bit the effect you get, if you switch from humbucking PUs to single-coil PUs, but the effect is much more subtle and the tone-knob in combination with lowering the volume of one PU allows you to dial in exactly what you want. If I should try to describe it, I would say, as a tone-knob it sucks big time. But in changing the characteristics of the entire instrument, it's poptastic, jazztastic, swingtastic, reggaetastic. Whatever you want.

Dirk

Lower-Than-Low · #5 10-09-2006, 11:22 PM

Thanks man, I think I'll mess around with it a bit more tomorrow and see what I can get out of it.

Which direction lessens treble and which increases it?

tplyons · #6 10-09-2006, 11:26 PM

Clockwise rotation should decrease treble.

**David Wilson** · #7 10-10-2006, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lower-Than-Low

Which direction lessens treble and which increases it?

Just as a note, the knob doesn't increase treble at all. With knob at full, you have minimum treble roll off. With knob all way backed off, you have maximum roll off.

If you can't hear a difference between max/min settings, it's either a wiring problem or a hearing problem!

ToneRanger · #8 10-10-2006, 06:49 AM

Like most passive tone circuits, it's just a little capacitor that bleeds off the high frequencies as you wind the knob back. If it's clearly not working, it's probably just a broken connection - have a look inside and see if everything looks healthy. There's only a couple of $$ worth of components so it's an easy fix if there's an issue.

Also, make sure you have a clear, bright tone on your amp while you're checking, or you won't be able to hear the highs coming & going on your bass.

bassman040 · #9 10-10-2006, 07:24 AM

it's possible you might have had the eq settings on your amp accidentally set with all treble rolled off which contributes to you not being able to hear any difference.

wpkg · #10 10-10-2006, 08:09 AM

and if you do replace that cap, dont use another ceramic disc, they are horrible. anything else is MUCH better.

and counter-clockwise rotation should decrease treble.

The Dave · #11 10-10-2006, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

Clockwise rotation should decrease treble.

You must be using one of these!

tjh · #12 10-10-2006, 11:37 AM

There will not be a major change from all on to all off on a passive Jazz ... I prefer to set it where it delivers the 'body' of the tone I am after, if that makes sense ... all off is too 'thin' for me, etc ... I am usually aimed at the bridge pup, or in that area ... it will also make a bit of difference where your pup volumes are set at ... I usually roll off the neck pup just a tad, or just prior to the hum ... also, a major thing often overlooked on a Jazz, is where you are playing with the non-fretting hand ... bridge pup to bridge is very thin and defined, up between neck pup and neck is very warm and mellow, and between pups is solid and best of both worlds ... so if you learn to work with this, there is no such thing as 'not being able to get your tone with a Jazz bass ... my amps are set flat 99% of the time, and I make my tone with my hands ...

wpkg · #13 10-10-2006, 12:17 PM

I dont know what everyone else is playing but the tone knob makes a gigantic difference in, well tone. if you have your amp treble dialed all the way down to about zero you might not hear it, but with some amount of trble in your amp you SHOULD hear a big change in sound by spinning that little dial. if not something is wrong.

Dan Paveley · #14 06-29-2011, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjh

...a major thing often overlooked on a Jazz, is where you are playing with the non-fretting hand ... bridge pup to bridge is very thin and defined, up between neck pup and neck is very warm and mellow, and between pups is solid and best of both worlds ... so if you learn to work with this, there is no such thing as 'not being able to get your tone with a Jazz bass ... my amps are set flat 99% of the time, and I make my tone with my hands ...

I know it's not the most relevant to the original post, but this is the single most important and useful bit of information in this discussion so far just for being such an important but overlooked aspect of playing. It can do with all the emphasis it can get!

mikezimmerman · #15 06-29-2011, 02:49 PM

Dan, just so you know, this is topic from 2006, so no one has actually been having this discussion for 5 years... (It's easy to miss when you're new to the forum and find a thread via Search!)

Dan Paveley · #16 06-29-2011, 05:34 PM

Haha thanks for pointing that out Mike! Lesson learnt...