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STELLARTONE TONE POT

Discussion in 'Pickups & Electronics [BG]' started by angelopb, Jul 27, 2009.

  1. Jul 27, 2009 #1
    angelopb

    angelopb

    Oct 8, 2004
    Tampa/St. Petersburg
    Anyone ever try one of these. I play a passive P-J custom. Its a 36" scale 5 string, which gives it pretty great fundamentals and low bass. But th maple fingerboard makes it sound bright. I am just looking to get more growl and midrange/low mid flavors. They are like $100. I am not interested in going active.

    I researched TB and the stellertone b/f posting but I have not seen anything useful- somebody who has tried one for bass and can share their opinions.

    much appreciated.
     
  2. Jul 27, 2009 #2
    newbold

    newbold

    Sep 21, 2008
    Toronto
    it's not a tone pot...it's a 'tonestyler'.
     
  3. Jul 27, 2009 #3
    laklandplayer

    laklandplayer Supporting Member

    Jul 10, 2001
    USA - Memphis, TN
    I put one in a 5 String Yamaha RBX5A2 and it is great!

    It gives excellent control over your tone and it does not make the bass sound you've thrown a blanket over the sound when you use it.

    Every tone setting is useful.

    I got the model with the click detents so I can recall settings.

    It is worth the money and I plan on installing another on another passive 5 that I own.
     
  4. Jul 28, 2009 #4
    line6man

    line6man

    Jun 20, 2008
    Close to Los Angeles, CA
    Does a maple fingerboard really make a bass sound that much brighter than (I'm assuming) rosewood?
    The difference between maple and (rosewood) is subtle. I doubt that your bass could be too bright solely as a result of a maple board. There are many other factors that could contribute to the problem, not just fingerboard material.
     
  5. Jul 28, 2009 #5
    lowtide

    lowtide Commercial User

    Oct 14, 2006
    Bradenton, Florida
    Owner: Buzzard's Bass Shop
    I'm going on like my 15th install and I love the way they control the tone. There's just many more options and control over the simple one cap tone pot. The tone is "styled" is the best way I can put it . . . and it's a simple install. Of course the 100 bones isn't that simple but it is worth it.
     
  6. Jul 28, 2009 #6
    Jazz Ad

    Jazz Ad Mi la ré sol

    Mar 16, 2002
    Langueux, Brittany, France
    Considering your needs, a Villex Rotary tone booster would likely be a better choice.
    booster_graph.gif
     
  7. Jul 28, 2009 #7
    angelopb

    angelopb

    Oct 8, 2004
    Tampa/St. Petersburg
    It's bright. others might describe it as articulate. And yes, a maple/maple neck is brighter than maple/rosewood neck. I also think the extra long scale alters the way the bass responds. There are gains for sure, but as you approach the 10th position on G,D, and A strings it looses growl that a normal jazz bass retains. The standard jazz bass sound does not have the lows or highs that my monster jazz has. But they do have more growl. So I am just trying to see what I can do to exploit tones from the PUPs.
     
  8. Jul 28, 2009 #8
    angelopb

    angelopb

    Oct 8, 2004
    Tampa/St. Petersburg
    Thanks. That is what I wanted to know.

    Lakland, I too was going to go for the one with detents.

    Jazz Ad, That graph shows a 7db gain with a 3,000 hz lower shift. That looks interesting. I am not sure how a passive device can increase output by 2.5x, unless I am reading the graph wrong. I will check it out.

    Thanks all.
     
  9. Jul 28, 2009 #9
    newbold

    newbold

    Sep 21, 2008
    Toronto
    Since your fingerboard is Maple, if it transmits tone, it's going to pump out more lows...what is your bass' BODY wood? Ash? Alder? Poplar? Basswood? Walnut?

    The harder the wood on your neck, the more the tone is dependant on your body wood.
     
  10. Jul 28, 2009 #10
    bongomania

    bongomania Supporting Member Commercial User

    Oct 17, 2005
    PDX, OR
    owner, OVNIFX and OVNILabs
    It robs energy from one frequency range and uses that energy to boost another.
     
  11. Jul 28, 2009 #11
    angelopb

    angelopb

    Oct 8, 2004
    Tampa/St. Petersburg
    http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=134658&stc=1&d=1248814589
    It's alder. But the body is proportionally bigger than a standard J-bazz. The idea when i designed it was to attempt retain some 4's lines and proportions. This pic somewhat distorts the look.

    So Rotary Tone Booster or Stellertone?
     
  12. Jul 30, 2009 #12
    newbold

    newbold

    Sep 21, 2008
    Toronto
    I'm asking similar questions myself.

    From everything i've read about the tonestyler, I'd say go for a Tonestyler. It'll keep you closer to where you are now while opening up your tone a bit more.

    I'm trying to get more feedback about Bill Lawrence's q-filter, as I want to be able to have a lot of passive tone control.

    As far as where I am now, I really want a great 4 string p-bass. My Jazz is a MIM V and it's treated me really well so far. I know that I won't be able to get much for it if I sell/trade it, so I want to make it shine.

    New controls, new pickups...in that order.

    Before I get the stacked vol/tone knobs and set them up with q-filters and add the series/parallel switch and wiring I want to know a bit more about the change in tone these q-filters produce...which I think is where you're coming from with the tonestyler.

    I hope I'll be able to fit it all on a control plate
     
  13. Jul 31, 2009 #13
    newbold

    newbold

    Sep 21, 2008
    Toronto
  14. Jul 31, 2009 #14
    angelopb

    angelopb

    Oct 8, 2004
    Tampa/St. Petersburg
    Yes. that link is for guxxxx versions.
    Were are you dinging the Bill Lawrence stuff. I went to the web sites and did not see anything for bass. So perhaps a new BL PUP, S/P circuit + a stellertone? Nice overhall but I need a parts list for the BL stuff.