Gigging with Tone at Zero - You?

[jdjk7]

I only turn tone to zero when I'm using a synth pedal or something similar and I want the best tracking. When I turn down the tone, I don't find turning it to 0 sounds good in basically any context. I don't like the resonant bump all the way at the bottom.

My minimum setting is usually about 1 or 2.

 

[darwin-bass]

And the resonant bump is what I'm looking for when I'm at zero.

Like most things I suppose this depends on the specific bass and the specific music. I've had basses where the tone control didn't sound good at zero. I currently have a couple where they sound really good at zero. And of course a three piece guitar driven rock band is a different situation than a seven piece synth & piano driven pop band with vocals.

 

[bassbrad]

I have an 82 Carvin, same controls as yours (except the out of phase switch; I had that on a Guild for every pu) and I'd use 2 sounds, either both pu double coil, always full tone (the bass was Dark toned mids savage highs and lows I judge every other bass against, you may understand) or neck pu single coil. Using the bridge pu single coil with or without others was too bright. Two single coils was simply quieter than both double and I needed volume more than brightness. That was my only bass for 20 years, now it's one of 13 and wears EB Cobalt Flats for fun (to tone down the high end and enhance the dark mids) as it's aged, it's gotten louder with more highs, still the same wide strap weight.

Most often to get a tone zero effect, I'm using a tunable filter with sensitivity low so the envelop only opens with max picking energy (or not at all). Comes from listening to Bill Lazwell. I just got a deviever Dark Boost. That's another way with it's own envelope shape.

I also judge basses against my Carvins as that bass has become my sound and the necks & ergonomics just fit my hands and body. I have collected 4 of this model Carvin LB50 basses 3 Koa and one in the Ebony finish. #1 is Taz that is mostly stock but have had to make a few repairs over the years. #2 Toney has EMG HB pickups, the some ones used in early Steinberger basses with passive electronics and a slightly odd tone filter for each pickup, that bass was my stealth P bass for ages with deadish strings but is about to get a super light set. #3 is Tweety an ebony finished model that has a set of GHS Piccolo Bass strings. #4 is Tygr the beauty of the bunch that has always felt a bit stiff compared to the others and is my bass that gets various strings from flats to nylon tapes or the current rounds in D standard.

Top to bottom; Tweety, Toney, Taz & Tygr

 

[BOOG]

P bass, TI Jazz Rounds that are quite old.

Makes sense

 

[wjcstp]

I don't think i had the tone on anything but full open the first decade or more that i played. Lately on the Guild with a single coil and round wound strings it's around 75-80% to take the edge off the highs, but my PJ with flats stays pretty much full bright. I've noticed that i'm more annoyed by string noise than i used to be (or maybe i just practice more by myself), i think that's mainly why i started turning the tone down (while also working on improving my technique).

 

[BassBrass]

I also judge basses against my Carvins as that bass has become my sound and the necks & ergonomics just fit my hands and body. I have collected 4 of this model Carvin LB50 basses 3 Koa and one in the Ebony finish. #1 is Taz that is mostly stock but have had to make a few repairs over the years. #2 Toney has EMG HB pickups, the some ones used in early Steinberger basses with passive electronics and a slightly odd tone filter for each pickup, that bass was my stealth P bass for ages with deadish strings but is about to get a super light set. #3 is Tweety an ebony finished model that has a set of GHS Piccolo Bass strings. #4 is Tygr the beauty of the bunch that has always felt a bit stiff compared to the others and is my bass that gets various strings from flats to nylon tapes or the current rounds in D standard.
View attachment 7329746
Top to bottom; Tweety, Toney, Taz & Tygr

Quite a family there. I forgot to mention, mine is RED. It's quite a red. Turned around (set neck) it looks like something from the red-world fell into this one. Yes the neck is unique with a nod towards Rickenbacker straight, but slightly narrower. (Perfection) They are finally getting closer to a resale value worthy of the quality, why sell a $2000-5,000 value item (inmyopinion) for $500?, although a steal if you know what it is! c.1992 I was playing with a guitarist who played a blond Carvin same era guitar. He still has his too (and his Rolland Chorus 2/12) but is using a custom Tele because it's much lighter. Mine is on permanent display.

 

[pfschim]

I voted never.
On my primary player, a Lull M4V in passive mode, I am using very dead roundwounds (7 year old DR Pure Blues). I do run the tone down about 20%-ish in general, and have taken that down to maybe 50% for certain more thumpy things, but because the strings are so dead on their own, 100% tone down would sound like a wet cardboard kick drum, and just not work for me and the stuff I'm playing.

I play jazz basses pretty exclusively, and I pretty much do the classic Neck p/u on full (or near full), Bridge p/u rolled off a bit, but not enough to get me too much hum, and tone rolled off a bit. Always seems to work for me, but YMMV of course.

enjoy!

 

[Jaco Taco]

My tone gets rolled off to zero when I put a fuzz pedal on. Love the sound of fuzz with the tone at zero.

 

[wyleeboxer]

I’ve been experimenting on my last two gigs with my tone on zero or around 15% on for the entire gig. My setup is P bass, Dimarzio model P pups, light guage Ernie Ball cobalt flats, Traynor SB500 into various cabs… the band is a Fleetwood Mac tribute.
I love the mid range bump when rolled off completely and it’s ok when I get into the 15% from zero range. But at zero I can dig in to get some natural dirt that jumps up front in the mix or the notes are really focused and articulate in the mix when playing normally. So far so good!

 

[chris_b]

Tone? Off is too bassy, full on is too toppy. Somewhere in the middle is good. The right spot depends on a lot of factors, the bass, the band, the room, my ears on the night.