Feeling Dumb

[definenredefine]

Been there, done that. When I figure out what the optimum settings are on a new bass I'd rather not even touch the controls after that. Trouble is knobs tend to move on their own ....

Duct tape, anyone?

I know a bass player who took the knobs off her pots so it would be harder to accidentally change settings on her bass. Then should put tape over the pots so she wouldn't shred her hands on the exposed pot shafts.

 

[factory presets]

I've gone looking for my sunglasses while wearing them. In my defense, they're wraparounds, so they fill my entire field of vision (you don't see the frames or the edge of the lenses), and they are so comfortable that...yeah, you can easily forget you have them on.

Everyone has tried to open a door with the wrong key. But I got to work one morning, pointed my car key at my locker and pushed the open button.

C'est la guerre, Fleur.

 

[micguy]

Everyone has tried to open a door with the wrong key. But I got to work one morning, pointed my car key at my locker and pushed the open button.

C'est la guerre, Fleur.

I did that with my office door.

 

[5StringBlues]

 

[wiscoaster]

I know a bass player who took the knobs off her pots so it would be harder to accidentally change settings on her bass. Then should put tape over the pots so she wouldn't shred her hands on the exposed pot shafts.

Good idea. I experimented with just doing away with the pots entirely:

View attachment 4614251

 

[dadglasser]

I remember playing a whole 3 hour rehearsal cursing the anemic output of a bass I had just bought.

Later discovered my amp was accidentally set to active mode the whole time. Bass was passive. Why I never noticed this while jacking with knobs and muttering to myself the whole time is beyond me...

The Knowledge Illusion: Why We Never Think Alone by Steven Sloman

The human mind is both brilliant and pathetic. We have mastered fire, created democratic institutions, stood on the moon, and sequenced our genome. And yet each of us is error prone, sometimes irrational, and often ignorant.​

 

[mjmeche]

I only use a wireless system so i don't trip myself up with my cord. Anymore.
But i still trip over my monitor and pedalboard. C'est la vie...

Yeah been there, headstock hit drummer in the head!

 

[dadglasser]

On the other hand, given that human minds having those failings, and we have still accomplished what you've described, could that not also be viewed as a transcendant triumph, and not as "pathetic"?

I think the "pathetic" part means that we call seem to make mistakes that should be easily avoidable. Anyway, it is an enjoyable book.

 

[definenredefine]

Good idea. I experimented with just doing away with the pots entirely:

View attachment 4614251

That...wasn't what I expected at all. Nicely done!

 

[PDW30]

I did that with my office door.

OK, OK, but did it work?

 

[PDW30]

Good idea. I experimented with just doing away with the pots entirely:

View attachment 4614251

If you don't need more than three positions on a pot it's a perfect solution. Time to contact a patent lawyer?

 

[wiscoaster]

If you don't need more than three positions on a pot it's a perfect solution. Time to contact a patent lawyer?

No. The on/off switching concept for the pickups worked wonderfully, so much so that I replaced the flimsy toggle switch on my Fender Mustang:

However: the multiple switching concept for tone control proved to be, well, "underwhelming" would be a rather polite description. Maybe a single three-position switch: off/50%/100% would be OK.

 

[micguy]

OK, OK, but did it work?

It taught me something.

 

[definenredefine]

No. The on/off switching concept for the pickups worked wonderfully, so much so that I replaced the flimsy toggle switch on my Fender Mustang:

View attachment 4686325

However: the multiple switching concept for tone control proved to be, well, "underwhelming" would be a rather polite description. Maybe a single three-position switch: off/50%/100% would be OK.

So what did those switches do, then?

 

[wiscoaster]

So what did those switches do, then?

Variable amounts of treble bleed by switching two capacitors in and out and series and parallel.
Here's the original thread: The Bronco Goes Potless

 

[definenredefine]

Variable amounts of treble bleed by switching two capacitors in and out and series and parallel.
Here's the original thread: The Bronco Goes Potless

Very cool. I really appreciate that you took the chance in the first place, even if it didn't come out as well you would have liked.

 

[wiscoaster]

Oh, I'm always coming up with crazy out-of-the-box ideas about all sorts of stuff I don't really know enough about, and I'm used to most of them not working out all that well.

 

[definenredefine]

At least you're trying. I have ideas for relatively simple mods that I'm too scared to undertake.

 

[PDW30]

Oh, I'm always coming up with crazy out-of-the-box ideas about all sorts of stuff I don't really know enough about, and I'm used to most of them not working out all that well.

Maybe learn to value consistency in your life, even if it is in failure?

 

[wiscoaster]

At least you're trying. I have ideas for relatively simple mods that I'm too scared to undertake.

The key is to try out your ideas on something you're not concerned about destroying if you screw up. Note the project bass is a Squier Bronco.