How often do you actually use your volume knob?...

[G On Bass]

It's either all up or all down and I control volume/dynamics with playing technique. I tend to set the appropriate level for the band using the amp with the volume knob on the bass all the way up. If they stop being able to hear the bass they have gotten too loud.

 

[Jay2U]

On my P-Bass it's always on 100%. The 100% output of the G&L is a bit too high for most effect pedals, so that one is on about 75% and stays there most of the time.

 

[DrThumpenstein]

Lots. Some of our songs sound better fingerstyle, some are better with a pick. Volume difference is just too great, so I usually cut back ~20% on volume when I switch to a pick.

Also, for changes in tone, I often dial the bridge pickup in or out. I play my PJ most of the time, which has a V-V-T configuration.

 

[Frety_Kruger]

I love to remove my volume and tone i always keep them wide open anyway on my p basses

 

[redstrand]

Depends on the pickup, usually full on

 

[saltydude]

I must use it a lot. It’s always off when I pick it up so......
I never set it though. It’s either 100% or nothing. Honestly all I need is an on off switch. Now you’ve got me thinking.

 

[bassliner50]

Always use volume knobs on my P's.

 

[songwriter21]

I use mine to fade out a lot of songs, as well as volume swells here and there, and that's when I have a bass with master volume (blend pot, too). Dual volumes make me gradually mute the strings at the end of songs...no big deal, really, just cleaner with a master volume (use a pedal in that case for swells).

 

[pcake]

i dime my basses, then never touch the volume knobs again. at gigs i've used it a couple times as a faster way to get instant silence, but if my amp is nearby, i just turn it off. my amp is where i use the volume/master knob.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

(Gratuitous shot of my P that has no volume) View attachment 4076031 I was wondering how many of you actually use their volume and if so, how often and in what context. I realized that I had never touched the volume on this particular instrument and that seemed like a waste of knob. So, what was the volume is now the tone with a push/pull killswitch and sitting in the former tone location is a Bill Lawrence Q-filter. I could have left the tone where it was but it felt better moved to the volume spot. Overall, I do not miss the volume at all and would do the same thing if I ever get another P (unless it's vintage). How often do you use your volume? Do you start off around 75%... That way you can adjust your level on the fly mid-song? Or maybe use it to tame really hot pickups? I know it depends on the bass but let me know your thoughts.

For the last 50 years of playing Fender Basses, the volume knob is always up all the way with one exception, set at below 80% for playing at low volumes in my practice room it’s a little less harsh. That said, in an ensemble setting, having that additional bite at full volume gives you better articulation and you can hear it in the mix better.

 

[coyote1]

I get a different tone at 3/4 volume than at full volume. This happens when your instrument is not awash in effects. Likewise, I’ll often do volume swells with the knob rather than a foot pedal. I grew up doing that on Stratocasters, and the habit has stuck.

I can’t imagine seriously using an electric guitar or bass without at least one volume control on it.

 

[Funk With Me]

Before the c19 shut everything down I was playing a weekly bar gig that was heaps of fun. It’s a relatively small place where my amp has to carry the bass to the whole room. We played a wide variety across genres. In this situation I found myself using the volume control quite a bit, where “normally” I don’t use it much. One night I brought the Jazz Bass and having volume control for each pickup drove me nuts.

 

[MAJOR METAL]

I use it far more often than turning knobs on the amp.

 

[MoeTown1986]

I use mine all the time. Mainly to fade in and out of beginnings or ends of songs. Or even in musical breaks or certain bridges. I use my tone knob way more, though.

 

[Highroler79]

(Gratuitous shot of my P that has no volume) View attachment 4076031 I was wondering how many of you actually use their volume and if so, how often and in what context. I realized that I had never touched the volume on this particular instrument and that seemed like a waste of knob. So, what was the volume is now the tone with a push/pull killswitch and sitting in the former tone location is a Bill Lawrence Q-filter. I could have left the tone where it was but it felt better moved to the volume spot. Overall, I do not miss the volume at all and would do the same thing if I ever get another P (unless it's vintage). How often do you use your volume? Do you start off around 75%... That way you can adjust your level on the fly mid-song? Or maybe use it to tame really hot pickups? I know it depends on the bass but let me know your thoughts.

Nice bass, I never use my volume knob. I play with a pick almost all of the time, when we do breakdowns parts of the song where elements drop out, I will play lightly with my fingers to adjust. Works great

 

[Highroler79]

Lots. Some of our songs sound better fingerstyle, some are better with a pick. Volume difference is just too great, so I usually cut back ~20% on volume when I switch to a pick.

Also, for changes in tone, I often dial the bridge pickup in or out. I play my PJ most of the time, which has a V-V-T configuration.

Jazz Stubbys 3's? for picks?

 

[Lardass5000]

been playing bass since 1983.
Use volume knob as on/off switch.

 

[matthewbrown]

All the time. I also use my bass control to swell the volume on the last note of many tunes.

 

[Killing Floor]

I use it to full off between any songs in any live or rehearsal situation.
I use it for accent when needed. To me it's way easier than using a separate pedal but this is preference.

Since this is normally where someone would post a pic and say "Jaco had a volume knob" I'm gonna mix it up and say "Victor Wooten's gonna getcha with knobs stacked on top of knobs!"

 

[spade2you]

On guitars, all the time. Bass, rarely. I'd use it to completely mute and occasionally when I'd boost frequencies while keeping the overall output roughly the same.