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blend knobs - yay or nay?
- Thread starter Bass V
- Start date
I think of the J pick-up as the "sparkle" control. My PJ bass has blend and as I pull back towards the bridge the mids suck out a bit and the highs are either boosted or are simply more prominent because the mids are diminished. In practice I never go past halfway and the working range is between full P and 75p/25 j.
Mugre
Mugre
I had a G&L Tribute SB2 with only two knobs - both volume- one for each pickup, no tone or blend. That one took a while to get used to.
I don't care one way or the other whether I have a blend knob or two volume knobs. No practical difference as far as I'm concerned.
huh, how odd, this G&L rep sez it's V/T while everybody else is with you on the V/V, guess he blew it lol
don't know if I could dig that but there's an abundance of tone and lows going on, how did you like it?
Lots of ways to mix pickups and all work - some better, some worse. This thread could use a poll, IMO.
It was definitely a V/V and that's how you got the tonal variety was by trying to get the right volume mix of the two pickups. There is a mod that a number of owners made on their SB2 Tributes to add a third knob (a tone knob) and I believe G&L is now selling the US made ones standard with three knobs V/V/T.
If I had my druthers, I'druther have a seperate V/T for each pickup. Dial in your exact tone for each one, like the early 60's J-bass stacked pots. Wouldn't need to be stacked, mind, but I like the idea.
I prefer a three way toggle, and have one on three of my basses. All PU one, both, all PU two.
So Anyway, I have an early G&L SB1 with a kill switch.
Played in a band that used charts and it was handy to hit the switch at the end of the song to flip pages....no noise as I was banging around with the book and music stand.
But then I had to remember hit the switch again.
I’ve built a plate for one of my j basses with a V B T and didn’t like it near as much as the V V T it replaced. Oddly enough, my #1 came with a stacked volume/pan and a stacked treble/bass boost cut for the 2 band preamp and i love that setup, but on my standard j’s i prefer the V V T.
I am spending time recently with a new-to-me Reverend Justice (j-style) with V/T/B controls. I’ve had V/V/T j-basses in the past but I am getting along fine with the blend knob.
This particular instrument gets very thumpy with the blend rolled 1/4 towards the neck, which works great for country and bluegrass. If I roll it 1/4 turn back towards the bridge I get a classic jazz bass bite with great clarity. There is a notable volume drop in the center detent.
Looking forward to doing a few gigs with this one.
This particular instrument gets very thumpy with the blend rolled 1/4 towards the neck, which works great for country and bluegrass. If I roll it 1/4 turn back towards the bridge I get a classic jazz bass bite with great clarity. There is a notable volume drop in the center detent.
Looking forward to doing a few gigs with this one.
Blend pots are dual volume pots that are wide open for both pickups in the middle detent.
They work passively, like dual volumes, before the preamp.
They are by far the simplest variable way to control your pickups... set it and forget it, with one additional master volume control.
They do not lose tone or have electrical reasons why they are inferior to dual volumes, as long as you use high enough resistance.
I wish my Kramer forum used one ... the dual volumes are incredibly hard to replicate settings with.
Just my 2 cents worth.
They work passively, like dual volumes, before the preamp.
They are by far the simplest variable way to control your pickups... set it and forget it, with one additional master volume control.
They do not lose tone or have electrical reasons why they are inferior to dual volumes, as long as you use high enough resistance.
I wish my Kramer forum used one ... the dual volumes are incredibly hard to replicate settings with.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Not every blend pot drops the volume in the center. It is all in the taped. MEC pots are really good at a consistent volume blend across the spectrum...but they are very expensive for pots. I want to say they run $20.
Edit: just looked it up and they are in fact sold for €31. By comparison a cts balance pot can be had for around $6.
Edit: just looked it up and they are in fact sold for €31. By comparison a cts balance pot can be had for around $6.
I've not yet played a 2 pickup bass where I wanted either of the pickups only slightly on at any time.
My jazz had both pickups on, always.
My Decade had either both pickups on, or just the neck.
My DIY Jazz has a 4 way selector switch.
I don't like multiple volume knobs because it makes it hard to play with dynamics via the knob, and it means I can't just swipe one knob and kill the sound.
Blend knob for me, all day.
Or even better, a selector switch. I could rock a selector switch no problem.
But of course, I'm sure there's a bass out there that will perfectly justify the dual volume knobs. Maybe a Gibson EB3? Dunno.
Until I find it, though, i'm down with the blend.
My jazz had both pickups on, always.
My Decade had either both pickups on, or just the neck.
My DIY Jazz has a 4 way selector switch.
I don't like multiple volume knobs because it makes it hard to play with dynamics via the knob, and it means I can't just swipe one knob and kill the sound.
Blend knob for me, all day.
Or even better, a selector switch. I could rock a selector switch no problem.
But of course, I'm sure there's a bass out there that will perfectly justify the dual volume knobs. Maybe a Gibson EB3? Dunno.
Until I find it, though, i'm down with the blend.
I prefer a blend to dual volumes, but not by a huge margin. I’ve had push/pull mute switches built into the couple of VVT basses I really love.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,045
- 45,909
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
Blend on an active bass works well ... But there is just a special something about a passive Jazz when you dial one volume pot back about 25%...
Interesting thread.
I've had nothing but passive VVT or VT basses and was thinking about getting an Audere preamp for one I just sold. I called Audere and spoke to Dave (I think that was his name) about blend vs VVT.
He said that they engineer the blend to optimize the preamp as they know the electrical characteristics of the preamp and how those characteristics would affect sound. He went deeper into the description but I don't recall everything he said.
We discussed why I wanted to put a preamp in that bass (jazz) and what my rig was and, in the end, we agreed I should stay with what I had. Pretty square guy! If I do get a preamp it'll probably be an Audere.
I've had nothing but passive VVT or VT basses and was thinking about getting an Audere preamp for one I just sold. I called Audere and spoke to Dave (I think that was his name) about blend vs VVT.
He said that they engineer the blend to optimize the preamp as they know the electrical characteristics of the preamp and how those characteristics would affect sound. He went deeper into the description but I don't recall everything he said.
We discussed why I wanted to put a preamp in that bass (jazz) and what my rig was and, in the end, we agreed I should stay with what I had. Pretty square guy! If I do get a preamp it'll probably be an Audere.
