Alternatives to Preamp or Tone Control

[rogerbmiller]

Hello everyone.

I am building my first bass (out of parts) and am considering doing somehting a little unorthadox to the electronics. I am wondering what type of readily available electronics I could use for a tone control that would work either as a wide mid-range sweep or a low pass filer, ala Wal bass. Can I accomplish this with a certain type of tone pot? Is such a tone control or filter available through an electronics supplier that might be mounted into a bass?

Please excuse my ignorance in asking this question. I am less than technically inclined but I learn very fast so your experience and feedback is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Roger

[Geoff St. Germaine]

When you say a mid-range sweep do you mean a mid cut that can have it's center frequency swept? So you would want a knob for level and for sweep?

[rogerbmiller]

Originally Posted by Geoff St. Germaine

When you say a mid-range sweep do you mean a mid cut that can have it's center frequency swept? So you would want a knob for level and for sweep?

I am not sure how to describe it other than I want to manipulate the mids such that when I turn the pot it almost sounds like a wah pedal or a dynamic filter.

[Frank Martin]

Originally Posted by rogerbmiller

I am not sure how to describe it other than I want to manipulate the mids such that when I turn the pot it almost sounds like a wah pedal or a dynamic filter.

Then get a wah pedal or a dynamic filter
But really, you can't tweak knobs constantly while playing, it's easier to do with a pedal.
Otherwise, mid-eqs with adjustable freqs only come in a few active preamps. AFAIK, Aguilar OBP-3, East U-Retro, Noll and maybe some others.

[rogerbmiller]

Originally Posted by Frank Martin

Then get a wah pedal or a dynamic filter
But really, you can't tweak knobs constantly while playing, it's easier to do with a pedal.
Otherwise, mid-eqs with adjustable freqs only come in a few active preamps. AFAIK, Aguilar OBP-3, East U-Retro, Noll and maybe some others.

Yeah. I don't wan't to spin the knob while playing to get a wah effect. I want the knob to give the same dynamic range when adjusted to its desired position. This is essentially what happens when you turn the tone knobs on a Wal-- it sounds like someone saying A-E-I_o_u. The preamp on my Heartfield basses also sound like that.

Anyone else have any thoughts? Can a low pass filter do this, and where can I buy one to install in a bass?

[ddnidd1]

A low pass filter won't work for what you are describing. Try searching google using bass mid sweep. You'll get plenty of results.