• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

NBD - my first Fender ever!

#21
Pots (V,V,T) behave a little funny (90% of volume change happens in the last 10th of the whole pot movement).
Click to expand...
pastorjamesc said:
This is a trait of all the Blacktop Basses. Several of us have replaced the pots and fixed the issue, IF its an issue. Some aren't bothered by it.
Click to expand...

I just got the same bass (black), and I have the same thing happening (90% of volume change happens in the last 10th of the whole pot movement).
I am new to changing post. Please let me know, what kind of pot do I need that will fix the issue?
 
#24
stuntbass77 said:
I remember saying "I'll never play a fender" :) Can someone pass the ketchup so I can eat my words. Nice bass, congrats!
Click to expand...

I was one of those guys, too. Then a P-Bass followed me home. Considering that it lept off the wall and landed in my hands, then wouldn't let me put it down, I had no choice but to have a Fender. Funny how that works. But, I'll still never have a Jazz. Really. I mean it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: stuntbass77 and jg42
#25
stgabhas said:
I just got the same bass (black), and I have the same thing happening (90% of volume change happens in the last 10th of the whole pot movement).
I am new to changing post. Please let me know, what kind of pot do I need that will fix the issue?
Click to expand...

I ordered a set of vintage Jazz pots for mine. (It's the P-version with the humbucking Jazz pickups) Link Removed used the vintage Jazz, which I think would be the same for the P in the case of a blacktop? To the blacktop owners thread and read 33 pages of goodies and suggestions.
 
#26
I used to own one, put some fender flats on it to make it really come alive.
Split p pickups need flats imho.
As far as the pots go, they used 500k pots, so they are pretty quick to get a strong output signal. I suspect they had to use 500k pots because the pickups use ceramic magnets which are kinda low output.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: jg42
#27
stgabhas said:
I just got the same bass (black), and I have the same thing happening (90% of volume change happens in the last 10th of the whole pot movement).
I am new to changing post. Please let me know, what kind of pot do I need that will fix the issue?
Click to expand...

As long as you make sure the pot you replace it with is logarithmic and not linear it should fix the issue. The human ear has a natural...curve to how it perceives volume. The louder something is, the more decibels (dB) it takes to notice a change in volume. It sounds like right now the pots in your bass are linear, and that's why you're not noticing much of a change over the whole range. I could be wrong on this (please correct me someone if I am!) but if you replace the pots you have with logarithmic ones of the same resistance then you should be good!
 
#28
I put in the 250k pots I put the link to and it made the world of difference for me. BUT again to each their own. If you like full up and rocking, then why bother changing them out just crank 'em up and control from the amp.
I like to use the volumes as blend so I was interested in more control than just having them loud so any trade off I didn't notice.
 
#29
jg42 said:
Thank you, guys for all the likes and kind words!

So, decided to record some tracks today to hear what it sounds like in the mix. First of all - this is the first time when I didn't need the additional "beefiness" of Great River Mic Pre/DI. All of my other basses provide different kinds of tones, but none of them creates a deep solid thumpy foundation like this passive bass. Now, I admit that I've changed the stock strings (trebly and clunky - at least on this bass they are) almost right away and Elixir Medium is da bomb: edginess is gone and low mids are added - exactly what this bass needed.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I was trying to make that point in another thread - stock strings are the first things that need to be swapped, responding to someone who didn't like the Fender strings on his Fender bass. Stock strings not being to one's personal taste is not a manufacturer quality issue.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jg42
#31
SirMjac28 said:
Congrats I love the entire Blacktop series I wish Fender would have continued it.
Click to expand...

thank you!

Why? Did they discontinue it? Weird, I see it on their website.
image.jpg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: SirMjac28

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back