Master Volume - all the way up?

I did when I had a passive bass. I think the volume knob on some passive instruments sucks something out of the tone. (Again, all depending on the bass)

I'm complete opposite on active basses. I set the master on the amp high, then adjust the volume knob on my bass.

 

I do this on my Jazz since it's the tone I prefer.. both vol and tone all the way to 11..

 

Though I leave a little headroom on the passive (maybe 10-15%) in case I'm not at the amp and need a little more. On the active basses - definitely use the amp as the tone does change when you use the instrument's volume pot. I have no issues at all using the active tone pots, but on the passive..it's all in the amp.

 

Almost always my volume is dimed.

The only time it isn't is when I am recording or rehearing with my band using earbuds. I am used to having speakers behind me so I can actually hear myself. I tend to be sneaky and set at 75-80% - that way I can turn myself up if I can't hear the bass.

Gigs? Always on 10.

 

I generally have volume up 100% on the instrument unless I have to change volume during a number. Even then, I'll generally leave the instrument volume at 100% and set the gain on my Behringer BDI-21 so that when I need more gain, I just kick the pedal on.

I might note that this is about the ONLY time that I run a gain control on any electronic device at 100%. Generally, running any gain control wide open adds significant noise to the signal. However, since I own passive basses and there's no amplification in that part of the circuit, doing this doesn't add noise.

 

i just play softer. i tend to dig HARD until the point of blisters and sore joints in my fingers. so when i need quiet, ill play softer. **** a compressor.. i AM the dynamic processor. volume stays maxed. tone is either at 10 or 0.

 

o/ on my mim p-bass...

 

I always have the volume up 100% on my basses, all of which are active. I use my technique to control dynamics, but for if for some reason I need less, or I can't play lightly enough for a passage, I'll turn the volume down a bit on the bass.

 

I rewired my Jazz for volume, blend, tone.
I use TI flats which sound great if played with a light touch, but sound crappy if I dig in.
The volume is set at about 50% on the bass and I turn it up if I find myself starting to play harder.

 

I'm into how the overall sound is..

I pull back at least 40%.. it's easier to get a band to turn up than turn down.

Tim

 

It'd be a crime not squeezing every crumb of tone out of my P. Turn it up to 11.

Might as well be playing keyboard if I wanted the amp to generate the sound.

 

I play with volume a lot. My basses have a treble leak cap so my tone doesn't darken when I turn volume down. Essential to passive instruments IMHO.

 

I run my bass master all the way up. I use my amp master to adjust stage volume. After sound check, I generally don't make adjustments so I don't screw up the FOH sound.

 

I always dime the volume (though nothing else) and adjust at the amp, it sounds a little lacking to me when it's turned down, though i do turn it down sometimes when i'm gigging and can't get to my amp.

 

MY one knob Hoppus Precision gets cranked wide open. On My Ric, the bridge PUP gets cranked all the way, but the neck PUP gets turned up to about 9 or so.

 

Always wide open.It's too easy to accidentally hit the volume knob and blow everybody off the stage with it turned down part way.

 

It's almost always 100% for me. Occasionally I'll drop the volume a little on my G&L's, because the tonal changes can be worthwhile, and the pickups are so hot that you still have plenty of output. For example, the super-hot, aggressive SB-2 takes on a more vintage P-bass tone with the volume rolled back, and even at 80% it's hotter than a typical P-bass.

 

Always 100%.
But that's why I also own a volume pedal...