How to adjust vol vol tone controls?

[Stewie]

Hate to be that guy, but that’s why my Jazz is gone and I only play P basses.
If I still had a Jazz, it would be volume blend tone

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Would Master vol / stacked pickup vols / tone work?

 

[devnulljp]

VBT is the way to go.
it's an easy mod and way more useful (IMO) than VVT.
I put a 3-way switch in my PJ, but the 77 Jazz is VBT with a centre detent.

 

[Abyssus Sonum]

Why not try a volume pedal like the Ernie Ball MVP?
It's an active pedal, which means you don't alter your sound when changing the volume level, it has a boost function and a minimum volume level. That means you can set your loudness to a desired level when the pedal is all the way back, and with the pedal fully engaged you'll have all the gain you need.
Plus, it has a tuner output; connect a tuner pedal to it and it will always show you your pitch, even if the pedal is turned all the way off.

 

[Killing Floor]

The best way to adjust VVT is to turn it into a VBT. It’s a Fender so you gotta open it up to shield it properly so while the hood is open it’s 10 minutes extra.

 

[logdrum]

The best way to adjust VVT is to turn it into a VBT. It’s a Fender so you gotta open it up to shield it properly so while the hood is open it’s 10 minutes extra.

I did not read that OP does not want a pedal. Yep, you can buy a prewired harness + plate with a VBT conversion so you can keep your VVT harness + plate in case you change your mind. I think they are slightly different sounding and to me I like the VVT arrangement for a passive jazz bass. ~60 years it has worked for millions of guys/gals

 

[pbassnut]

I bought a Fender Roadworn Jazz, with the above control layout. I was thinking I would hotrod it to active, but I’ve become intrigued with the stock passive sound. But I’ve only ever had basses with a master volume, so in the middle of a song when the band gets louder, I can’t turn up with either of the vol controls without changing the tone. Do you have to adjust both vols equally? That seems difficult on the fly. And I can’t really turn around and adjust the amp. Don’t want to use a pedal. Suggestions?

Me personally ... everything wide open is how I roll 99 44/100% of the time. I can get loud enough/soft enough by varying how aggressively I play. Now if I were a taking solos, I would need a way to jump out in the mix like maybe using a footswitchable pedal that adds grind and gain. However, I can't solo my way out of a wet paper bag so it's not, I repeat NOT an issue.

 

[LiptonJigglers]

IMO I'd say spend more time with the controls and get to know them better.
VVT has its own peculiarities and can be very useful in tone shaping.. it just takes perseverance.
If you are still thinking of making a change to your bass, I'd suggest a 3 way toggle switch so you can isolate or blend each pickup..

 

[pbass2]

so in the middle of a song when the band gets louder, I can’t turn up with either of the vol controls without changing the tone. Do you have to adjust both vols equally? That seems difficult on the fly. And I can’t really turn around and adjust the amp. Don’t want to use a pedal. Suggestions?

Just curious - do you really turn up/down your bass volume during songs as part of your bass performance? Or do you mean the band starts getting louder as the show goes on, things start getting cranked up, you have to adjust, etc?

 

[Sparky Mark]

I bought a Fender Roadworn Jazz, with the above control layout. I was thinking I would hotrod it to active, but I’ve become intrigued with the stock passive sound. But I’ve only ever had basses with a master volume, so in the middle of a song when the band gets louder, I can’t turn up with either of the vol controls without changing the tone. Do you have to adjust both vols equally? That seems difficult on the fly. And I can’t really turn around and adjust the amp. Don’t want to use a pedal. Suggestions?

As many have said; if you just want to increase your volume at certain points use a simple volume pedal. Any rewiring or active onboard preamp risks losing the tone you seem to be happy with.

 

[Spiketronic]

My jazz combo plays with a lot of dynamics. Any song can get a lot quieter or louder depending on who is soloing and their volume and phrasing. Fingers can only do so much in this context, turning around to reach down to the amp is out of the question. I don’t want to be dragging a pedal and extra cord around, it’s bad enuf (from other jazz player’s standpoint) that I’m no longer playing upright. I’m gonna try the vol, blend, tone rewire. If that doesn’t work I’ll go back to VVT, get some knurled knobs and try to effect a ‘double volume swipe’ up or down.

Thanks to all!

 

[pbass2]

My jazz combo plays with a lot of dynamics. Any song can get a lot quieter or louder depending on who is soloing and their volume and phrasing. Fingers can only do so much in this context, turning around to reach down to the amp is out of the question. I don’t want to be dragging a pedal and extra cord around, it’s bad enuf (from other jazz player’s standpoint) that I’m no longer playing upright. I’m gonna try the vol, blend, tone rewire. If that doesn’t work I’ll go back to VVT, get some knurled knobs and try to effect a ‘double volume swipe’ up or down.

Thanks to all!

Ah, interesting. Yeah for me volume pedals are good only if you really intend on doing swells. Otherwise I find when in the heat of a live gig, trying to subtly tweak a volume pedal is tricky, plus it's really easy to accidentally nudge the level by mistake (or someone else steps on it!). I'd rather just have a boost pedal. But pedal-less, I dunno, maybe just approach it as you would your upright (different beast tho I realize).

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

I basically set the pickups where I like them, keep the tone at around 50% or below, then dial it up for any boost. Works great, no mod.

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

VVT has a lot of tonal options that you will find easier to get at as you work with it more.
Volume and blend is faster to change, but more limited.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Another vote for Master Volme/Blend/Master tone. It just works without a lot of fiddly hassle.

 

[jefff100]

My jazz combo plays with a lot of dynamics. Any song can get a lot quieter or louder depending on who is soloing and their volume and phrasing. Fingers can only do so much in this context, turning around to reach down to the amp is out of the question. I don’t want to be dragging a pedal and extra cord around, it’s bad enuf (from other jazz player’s standpoint) that I’m no longer playing upright. I’m gonna try the vol, blend, tone rewire. If that doesn’t work I’ll go back to VVT, get some knurled knobs and try to effect a ‘double volume swipe’ up or down.

Thanks to all!

One thing you might want to consider since you are open to re-wiring the controls is to spend some time over at the G&L club thread & see how the L-series are setup.

You can get wiring diagrams over at the bassesbyleo.com site.

The L series G&L is essentially a passive bass with an optional preamp - but the preamp is mainly to boost signal.

The circuit is fully functional as a passive instrument with 2 band EQ. You can have a dead or missing battery & it's fine & you still have tone control.
3 knobs - Vol, Treble, Bass

Pickup selection is handled by microswitches

Food for thought.

 

[jim nolte]

I set both volumes at about 8 or 9 so they both have a little more if I need it and usually turn up one a little more than the other a little bit depending on what I want, there are a lot of different sounds with both volume controls down a little bit if you play around with them, if I need more volume I just turn up the one that's already accented and maybe follow it with the other one, the change is not near as dramatic as if you have them wide open and drop one. It took me a long time to really get acclimated to a Jazz bass, I didn't start really liking them until I read about this trick someplace or other.

Pretty much what I do, never liked the sound of both pups dimed one is usually slightly boosted over the other and if I need a quick boost during a song that’s the pickup I’ll turn up, never been a problem in the 50+ years I’ve been playing Jazz basses.

 

[mellowgerman]

I’m gonna try the vol, blend, tone rewire. If that doesn’t work I’ll go back to VVT, get some knurled knobs and try to effect a ‘double volume swipe’ up or down.

You can also source a no-load blend or make your own by opening up a standard blend pot and cutting the tracers on either end of the resistive track. That way, if you want to actually solo a pickup, the other pickup (and it's load) is essentially eliminated from the signal chain

 

[micguy]

27145956[/URL], member: 87082"]Just curious - do you really turn up/down your bass volume during songs as part of your bass performance? Or do you mean the band starts getting louder as the show goes on, things start getting cranked up, you have to adjust, etc?

I use my volume control a LOT - doing church gigs, at least where I do, we play with tons of dynamics. We go from a roaring rock band to playing quietly underneath someone talking quietly. A lot of our tunes build and build / going from really quiet to full bore. You can’t really pull that off without using a volume control.

We also start a set with a swell most of the time, and end certain tunes with swells. Without a good volume control (and a hum free bass), I can’t do my job.

 

[logdrum]

So if you used to play upright bass, why even bother with volume controls for the song dynamics. For me playing upright I adjust the master volume on the amp as the night progresses and sometimes I have a preamp sometimes not. Upright -- in jazz, I use my hands to adjust the volume. That's how I set by Fender Jazz bass as well - I like a bit of the bridge to dominate and I keep it that way throughout the night and mute the amp when not playing. If the band starts to get loud, I just adjust the master on the amp.