Just start out with everything flat on the Parametric side with Graphic EQ set to "Off" Then adjust the Drive to your taste and start adjusting settings to what or how you like it. Remember, if the Bass by itself sounds like crap, no amount of tone controls will fix it. You need to have a good sounding bass and then use little bit of tone controls on the bass itself BEFORE you start going to the tone control on the head. But, once you get on a gig or at home everything will change so most of what we say here may go right out the window. The Acoustics at the gig will have a big effect on your tone also. This happens with drums and cymbals as well!
Also, tone will change from Bass to Bass if you have more than one. My brother has a 5 string Fender USA made bass and a 5 string Lakland with Bartolini pickups. The Fender sounding Flat like someone had put a blanket over the amp cab. So everything had to be changed on the head and he couldn't get it to come close to the Lakland in sound.
I have been lucky to have my Fender Jazz (Mexican made) to sound right there with or better than my Cavin's (Icon 5 and SB-4000). I had EMG's put in it about 15 years ago (so it's active) when everyone was using Bartolini's. I don't have separate bass and treble on the Fender Jazz, just a simple one tone control knob but it just an awesome sounding bass comes very close to that Marcus Miller sound but does other things better IMHO and it has the Rosewood neck. I always get compliments on the sound and what strings and pickup I use since it's that nice sounding. People were actually shocked to find out it had EMG's on it. It's so nice sounding it's all over my Bro's Lakland and that's a $2K bass he has for a wider range of tones and styles I can use it for.
Now my SB-4000 is very good and on par with the fender but has that little nastiness (in a good way) due to the Swamp Ash body with maple neck with maple Birdseye fret board (No Finish on the neck or fret board). They Both sound nice but slightly different, which is a good thing. The Icon 5 has that other sound I like, sounds very close to a MTD 535. So it bring something different to the table but can get the tones close to the Fender and SB-4000 which I can't get the Fender or SB-4000 to sound like the Icon 5 for that MTD sound which is good too in a way. With the Mid sweep control on the Icon 5 helps a lot but can take some time to get some tones but you can get them, you just need to work on it.
These are just some examples of how things change for bass to bass and gear to gear.
Hope this helps!
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