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2 volumes vs. blend pot
- Thread starter ChrisBowsman
- Start date
I think part of it might depend on the pickups. If you're using something like Duncan Quarter Pound J's, you'd want a blend knob since the pickups are single coils and only cancel hum when the blend is centered. On the other hand, two volumes can work fine with Duncan STK-J2 hot stacks since each pickup is hum-cancelling on its own.
You might want to have a look at my thread on Guitar nutz forum about blend pots - they are a bloody nuisance as the only ones I can get hold of still retain a small residual resistance at the centre-detent mid point.
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This means that the blended output is significantly quieter than either neck or bridge full-on position. I ended up ripping mine out and adopting the standard JB separate vol ctrls. Then I added a mini series-parallel switch for some extra mid-punch. Works nicely.
Blend pots are a great idea but only if you can get hold of a true version that allows constant output across the pot tracks.
Link Removed
This means that the blended output is significantly quieter than either neck or bridge full-on position. I ended up ripping mine out and adopting the standard JB separate vol ctrls. Then I added a mini series-parallel switch for some extra mid-punch. Works nicely.
Blend pots are a great idea but only if you can get hold of a true version that allows constant output across the pot tracks.
Oh, I like the series/parallel switch idea. I bet I have a mini-toggle around here to do that with, too.
knarleybass
Commercial User
I am a fan of the two volume over the pan pot, for some reason it seems like the pan pot never really lets both picups be at full volume at the same time.
I prefer a 3-way toggle (or other) switch for the pickups and one volume knob- having to turn one knob CW all the way and the other knob CCW all the way just to change pickups is for the birds, IMO. People say Leo disigned it that way for tonal possibilities, but he might have done it that way to save money on the switch.
A 'pan pot' that is centred to give the most out of both possible only gives 50% of each pickup. Due to physics, that means the output from the bass becomes pa/2 + pb/2. If pickup a is of a lower output than pickup b, then then central position will give a resultant output lower than the stronger pickup.
In addition, volumes at lower turn reduce the highs, so you get a mellower tone. If your into your rock, that is a bad thing.
After trying both methods, I definitely prefer the two volume method as then you can nail your tone without the handicap of the pan pot. I would also strongly suggest a 0.001uF capacitor fixed between the live in and live out on the volume controls to allow those highs though. This means at low volume you still cut through and can be heard (nice).
In addition, volumes at lower turn reduce the highs, so you get a mellower tone. If your into your rock, that is a bad thing.
After trying both methods, I definitely prefer the two volume method as then you can nail your tone without the handicap of the pan pot. I would also strongly suggest a 0.001uF capacitor fixed between the live in and live out on the volume controls to allow those highs though. This means at low volume you still cut through and can be heard (nice).
Zombie thread alert:
For those coming here to research the difference between these two wiring methods, you can indeed get blend/pan pots that have 100% output when centered. They’re called MN taper pots.
For those coming here to research the difference between these two wiring methods, you can indeed get blend/pan pots that have 100% output when centered. They’re called MN taper pots.
I have both. Two with vol/vol (passive) and two with vol/blend,(active) and really no preference. Both blends work excellent. No volume loss either direction or centered. However, on one of the V/V, I do experience a bit of volume drop when both volumes up.
I have had active and passive blends and VV set ups. Using linear taper volumes on a VV allows greater/finer adjustment of blends. A M/N taper blend pot doesn't kill/smear your signal.
My main criteria of which version to use comes down to volume adjustment. Do you have to change your volume a lot? Do you need to kill the volume in between songs or during the song? If yes, a blend pot with a master volume is more practical.
If you like really particular pickup blends that are not based on having a volume on 10, go VV.
My main criteria of which version to use comes down to volume adjustment. Do you have to change your volume a lot? Do you need to kill the volume in between songs or during the song? If yes, a blend pot with a master volume is more practical.
If you like really particular pickup blends that are not based on having a volume on 10, go VV.
God bless the kids & all but if anyone can fix the link here or post one to the original article I genuinely would like to read that rather than the plight of those in the Ukrainian orphanage…
Just saying
I don't own any basses that have a 50% drop off when the blend is centered.
The main nuisance of two volumes for me is having to turn both down to turn the bass off. Two remedies for that are a mute switch or what I did with my 1984 Tobias when I ordered it... two volumes and a 3 way pickup selector toggle. Toggle to one pickup and turn it down.
The main nuisance of two volumes for me is having to turn both down to turn the bass off. Two remedies for that are a mute switch or what I did with my 1984 Tobias when I ordered it... two volumes and a 3 way pickup selector toggle. Toggle to one pickup and turn it down.
