P bass users... How do you set your tone control pot?

[::::BASSIST::::]

Just wondering how most guys use the tone pot on their P bass. I'm guessing most have it fully on. The other day I played a gig with mine accidently all the way down, and I think it sounded pretty dang good. Only after the gig did I realize why my tone sounded different.

 

[Tom Howland]

If I'm using a pick 80%-100%.
Fingers, 20%-40%.

 

[rkingly]

When I play my P- bass's 10 - 20 % tops. I prefer the sound that
way.

 

[Pilgrim]

I play with the tone on full treble, but my flats are almost 40 years old.

On passive basses, I used to run the tone about 50%. but over the past year I've begun running it all treble and using EQ on the amp. Turning the tone control down on the bass, attenuates high frequencies, and I've decided that I'd rather deliver those frequencies to the amp and modify them there if I want to.

 

[Jefenator]

On any passive bass, for me, it's all the way off unless I'm slapping.

 

[Fender32]

On my P with flats, I usually roll back to around 60%, depending on which amp modelling I'm using and on the P with rounds, I either go all the way up when using a pick, or roll back to about 70% when playing finger-style.

It's quite amazing how many voices one P Bass can have, if you just experiment with the tone and volume knobs .

 

[René_Julien]

2/3 to fully open.
Although these days I much more prefer 2/3 open.

Once in a while I turn it full down for a dubby sound.

 

[rockinrayduke]

I generally turn it down about a third.

 

[w33nie]

All the way with flatwounds and play near the neck

 

[aus_bass]

When I play my P- bass's 10 - 20 % tops. I prefer the sound that way.

Yep, that's how I like it too.

 

[mikeswals]

I always have them set 1/2 way. Any more than that and I get those spikey P honks that I really don't like.

 

[Baird6869]

When I play my P- bass's 10 - 20 % tops. I prefer the sound that
way.

+1. Almost rolled right off.

 

[20db pad]

My P-Bass doesn't have a tone knob. The previous owner did an unusual mod - an aftermarket pickguard was added that has only two holes in it, one for a volume knob and one for the jack.

In the interest of staying on topic, I don't miss the ability to roll off the tone, as I always dime the controls on a P-Bass.

 

[KYJazzy]

depends on what I'm playing, but it's almost never wide open or closed.

rock, blues, funk etc - around 70-80%

jazz, R&B, acoustic, etc - around 20-40%

 

[knumbskull]

there is so much tonal variety in the P-bass, i think it is forgotten sometimes

for me, here's how it is (with roundwounds*), starting from rolled all the way back:

0% - for jazz, some motown
20% - motown! all the way. little bit of grind for ya. still old school enough for some jazz tunes.
40% - Sabbath style rock. also good for old, Curtis Mayfield, Sly & Family Stone style funk.
60% - bit rocky, still a little funky. play up near the neck for Gezzer Butler heaven
80% - pretty open now. if a pick is your thing, you'll do well here. Think Dave Ellefson.
100% - Wheee! ROCK is the key with this setting. up near the neck you get nice clunky finger noise. Mmmm

*generally play flats these days. but i only use my P for 'older' type stuff, these days, too

 

[CrimsonGhost]

With cans running thru a Line 6 toneport usb interface and AMPEG svx software, with the SVT classic set to
gain, set to 2 o'clock.
Bass set to 2 o'clock,
Freq on 1,
mids on noon/1 o'clock
treble 1 o'clock.


With rotosound 45-105 flats and pick/fingers I roll the tone 3/4 from wide open. it just sweetens up the tone that much, wide open is way too harsh.

I play hard/classic rock/classic punk,.

 

[Mitchthebassplayer]

I've actually been battling with this for some time now. My 10 year old flats decided to unravel on my '69 P-bass and I was ordered by some of the guys I work with to play with rounds. The only set of rounds I was able to handle were DR Sunbeams, but I'm very confused about the sound I want now. With the flats, I kept my tone knob about 60% rolled off ALL THE TIME, but now I find myself fumbling around between 80% rolled off to completely open and I'm not sure how I feel about the treble-like pop I'm getting when it's open....

I think I'm going to have to say 60% rolled off with flats and 80% rolled off with rounds unless I'm slapping or playing "Ain't no stoppin us now" haha....then it's 20% rolled off

 

[tbone409]

100% through a fender no load tone pot, not that i'm adverse to turning it down, but i'd like think that i use my fingers to determine the tone (consequently i run through a tube mic pre (exceptionally clean) and power amp so no eq for me)

 

[Patrol42]

I turn it down all the way, loses some of it's presence if I turn it up.

 

[zeeverthebeever]

depends on what I'm playing, but it's almost never wide open or closed.

rock, blues, funk, SKA - around 70-80%

Reggae, R&B, 20-40%

Dub, dancehall, d&b, - that's when i close mine all the way down..