Jazz Bass Knob Settings

[tonesponge]

Is there a standard setting for the knobs that everyone uses (especially the tone knob). I'm used to guitars where everybody leaves the pickup volumes all the way up, sets the tone knobs all the way to treble, and installs a capacitor to roll off highs if they want to do that.

So do we just turn the pickups all the way up and turn the tone knob all the way to treble? Do people turn one volume knob at a time all the way down on occasion to use just one pickup?

 

[()smoke()]

I used my tone and volume controls all the time on guitar, even more than bass, but anyhow, there are a lot of sounds in a jazz bass electronics configuration--try everything full on, both pickups and tone, then try the neck pickup off and the bridge pickup full on, and roll the tone down to about 1/4...then try the opposite, you'll get the idea of the many sounds to be had--then try moving your plucking/picking hand forward toward the neck and back toward the bridge with each setting, lots of sounds with just your hands too

 

[BassBob1]

i tend to use my jazz bass with the knobs all the way up 95% of the time.

 

[metalmariachi]

It all depends on the song, usually if playing predominantly one pick up I blend the other in around 50%.

I also usually have my tone rolled back around ¼ of the sweep to mellow the sound.

MM

 

[superdick2112]

I like it bright & snappy, so the bridge vol. & tone are set at 10, and the neck is set at 9.5 to avoid the dreaded comb filtering.

 

[plangentmusic]

I like working the volume.

I like working the tone.

I like working the blend.

Why have J and use just one sound?

That's why I had my J modded to have a tone, blend and master.

 

[TomB]

Passive J-basses are similar except that the two pickups were designed to humbuck when both are full-on. This setting is good for reducing noise, but the interaction also takes away some single coil goodness. I tend to back off one or the other pickup about 25%, depending on the desired flavor. I've never much used the tone knob on a passive J, and usually just keep it wide open. I tend to run a passive P tone control open as well, at least in live situations

 

[Thrillhouse]

Not sure which guitars you're familiar with. I use my volume/tone controls on guitar all the time as do most guitar players I know. With bass however, in particular a jazz bass, I can't remember a time I have really used the tone knob, but I do usually roll back the neck pickup slightly to emphasize the bridge pickup's more aggressive tone and vice versa when I want a deeper/smoother tone.

 

[onosson]

I adjust my J dials all the time but usually end up somewhere around this: Neck 90-100%, Bridge 60-70%, Tone 50-60%.

 

[tobin999]

my jazz is set like this most of the time.
neck pu off
bridge pu full
tone full

but sometimes i will roll the neck pu to about 3/4 and roll the tone back.

 

[esa372]

Check out this thread, too:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=690657

 

[rob72]

I've got a b-dec so I spend more time fiddling with the amp for "interesting" tones than I do the pickup vol & tone knobs. I usually leave the neck pickup at 100% and blend in the bridge pickup at 0, 80 or 100% depending on what works best with the selected b-dec program.

 

[Marty Forrer]

I mostly have neck pup 100%, bridge pup 75%, tone rolled off 50%. Gives a nice fat vintage sound.