Roger has a rationale for the reverse blend, but I forget what it is. It's like having reverse tuners on a vintage style bass when you're accustomed to standard ones. You get used to it.
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Roger has a rationale for the reverse blend, but I forget what it is. It's like having reverse tuners on a vintage style bass when you're accustomed to standard ones. You get used to it.
Ha. A local tech I know built me a 1958-style P5. I requested a Tonestyler for the tone knob, and when I got the bass, I discovered that it worked backward from normal. I asked whether he could rewire it, and he said "nah, that's just the way it is". Turns out that the Tonestyler he acquired was left-handed... I'm guessing it was the best deal on eBay, and he overlooked the lefty factor. As you say, I quickly got used to it. It's my only Tonestyler, so it's easy to remember "this is the tone knob that goes backwards".
Similarly, my active Zon has the treble EQ knob toward the bridge, bass EQ toward the neck. A few other builders (such as Dingwall I believe) do the same: the logic is to mirror most equalizers that put low freqs to the left, high to the right... but the great majority of onboard EQs are opposite. I still occasionally forget that the Zon EQ is "backwards" from my other basses, but whatever, I'm reminded as soon as I turn an EQ knob.
The Mv4 is my only bass with the reversed balance, so it's not that hard to remember. Normally I set the balance once for the show, with minor tweaks along the way. Even if I forget, it takes only a second to realize what effect turning the knob is having, as Fuzzbass points out.
This is how I think of the blend pot and with this logic it is quite intuitive.
In the left graphic below the rear pickup is 17% in use and the front pickup is 83% in use.
In the center graphic below the rear pickup is 64% in use and the front pickup is 36% in use.
In the right graphic below the rear pickup is 85% in use and the front pickup is 15% in use.
In the left graphic below the rear pickup is 17% in use and the front pickup is 83% in use.
In the center graphic below the rear pickup is 64% in use and the front pickup is 36% in use.
In the right graphic below the rear pickup is 85% in use and the front pickup is 15% in use.
That’s a nice graphic representation.
For me, as others have mentioned, it works well to think of the blend control as a mid boost that essentially equates to more volume. As you turn it “up” the tone is more cutting.
Once someone explained it to me that way it made total sense and was immediately intuitive.
Not sure whether this was Roger, but someone said that turning the blend knob clockwise was turning it toward the bridge pickup. Not necessarily - that depends on which side of the knob you're looking at. I typically use knob set screws as reference points (I prefer Fender-style non-delineated chrome knobs), and set the knob so that the set screw is pointing directly up at me when pickups are blended 50/50. In that case, when I turn the knob clockwise, the set screw moves toward the neck pickup.
No right or wrong. Just 'splainin' what works for me.
No right or wrong. Just 'splainin' what works for me.
Quit trying to justify.
The blend is backwards.
The blend is backwards.
Likewise, I ordered my NYC 5-24 with the "pan" wired in reverse (counterclockwise towards the bridge pickup). I also requested the pan pot in the first position, where the volume pot would normally be. My reasoning: I was used to Jazz Basses where rolling back the neck pickup volume would result in that midrange bump you all know. Quirky, but works for me. Just glad Ellis and team understood exactly what I was going for.
The telling part for me will be how my NYC bass plays live and how it sounds in the mix. I will say that the Neck is the best feeling I've played and that's saying something. I've had Devon, Roscoe, MTD, Warrior Lakland and many more so that is testament. Really like the lightweight and 34' scale. B string is up there with the best I've played with the exception of a couple Roscoes. There's no denying the build quality is exceptional. Also my bass came with Sadowsky Steels and I find them really good. I've never liked steels in the past but these strings are exceptional.
Ditto
I was at first surprised by the blend knob but got used it pretty quick. Its pretty intuitive in terms of tone which is how I sort it out it my head. More Treble higher, lower turn it down ahahhaa
Though when I jump on another bass with "traditional" blend knobs, takes me a minute to realize to reverse what I want to do
Quit trying to make it a big deal. It’s not
On some cars, the headlight switch is on the dash, on others, it is on the steering column.
Discuss...
Discuss...
On some cars, the headlight switch is on the dash, on others, it is on the steering column.
Discuss...
Mine's on the dash, but I leave it on automatic.
There’s much great info on this thread, but I don’t understand,what’s the big deal is about the blend knob? As Allen Iverson would say...We’re talking about a blend knob! 
My Sadowsky Satin has the prewired preamp, so I just reversed the two blend pot wires, since they go into screw terminals. The bass came with instructions detailing how to do that, so I didn’t feel like I was breaking the rules or anything.
But then you can't complain about it on the internet! What fun is that?
