Definitely, yes. The frequency, the width and the hight of the "bump" depend on many factors though, like pickup type, position of the volume knob and even what the amp you feed it into...
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Stellartone - ToneStyler
- Thread starter viclobocga
- Start date
I have come to believe that the Tonestyler's response is very dependent on the pickups involved. I have two of the older 16 position units. The first one is installed with a single DiMarzio DP123 hum canceling jazz pup. Sounds stellar! It's everything they claim and more. It reminds me of a passive version of an alembic low pass filter.
The second one I had installed in a custom build paired with a Nordstrand music man 4.2 pick up. Lackluster results. Not much differentiation, just didn't sound very good. So I switched it out with a two band active EQ which was much better in that application. And I held on to my tonestyler.
Last night I installed that tonestyler in my 1980s Curlee with two DiMarzio P pick ups. OMFG, it absolutely KILLS. Not only does every rolloff yield an awesome musical tone, but the true bypass is much clearer, brighter, and more present than the old tone with the pot open all the way. Tonestylers are brilliant, my favorite passive tone control.
The second one I had installed in a custom build paired with a Nordstrand music man 4.2 pick up. Lackluster results. Not much differentiation, just didn't sound very good. So I switched it out with a two band active EQ which was much better in that application. And I held on to my tonestyler.
Last night I installed that tonestyler in my 1980s Curlee with two DiMarzio P pick ups. OMFG, it absolutely KILLS. Not only does every rolloff yield an awesome musical tone, but the true bypass is much clearer, brighter, and more present than the old tone with the pot open all the way. Tonestylers are brilliant, my favorite passive tone control.
Yes, the cut-out frequency and amount of mid-boost are highly dependent on pickup's inductance and resistance. And wiring (parallel or series) plays huge role too. Those are joys of passive electronics, it's alive 
Actually it does add the mids. The pickup's inductance together with stellartone's capacitors make a resonant circuit so the frequency just before the hi-cut gets boosted. I did circuit simulation taking this effect into account, here what it does:
Thank you T-34. I knew I wasn't crazy.
My StellarTone was installed on a custom Pbass with a Guild Bisonic pickup replica.
ST just doesn't work with it, no way. That mid bump is really annoying.
I've swapped to a regular tone knob.
The pot is all covered in solder. (It's a Wishbass). I am fairly certain it's a 250K ohm pot but I can't confirm. As far as the Capacitor values in the Tonestyler, IDK. They only had one bass model back then, whatever they spec'd. If you are asking about some other cap, there are none. Only caps in the path are the Tonestyler.
A couple years ago I put one in a MIM J with a set of Dimarzio model J's. It was cool and some of the tones were really cool, but when I played it with the band I could never find a tone that fit like I could with the plain old fender tone circuit. I wound up taking it out and going back with the stock tone setup. I intended to try it with some other pups at a later date but wound up selling it instead.
I could see it being a real positive addition to a P bass, but it just didn't have what I wanted in my J.
I could see it being a real positive addition to a P bass, but it just didn't have what I wanted in my J.
I would also like to know what value caps they use. I have the older (2013) Bass Ten model. The only thing I know is that at position 10 ("wide open") there is no cap and at position 1 there is a .1uF cap. Not sure about positions 9-2.
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I am considering a very similar set up, but with Area J's on my MIM FSR Jazz. Did you remain V/V/T or did u blend?
If you don't mind me asking, what style of music was the band? Just trying to get a feel for what to expect if I do it.
I plan on using Chrome Flats with the set up. My goal with the sound is a more classic, full woody thump. I am not looking to be prominate in the mix as much has add a solid bottom with deep texture.
It's been a while but i think i tried it both ways (v/v/t and v/b/t) and prefered the v/v/t.
I was playing in a two guitars, drums, and bass, backing a vocalist. It was Hendrix, JJ Cale, Jackson Brown, etc. mostly rock with blues, americana, even a bit of country.
I've always pretty much used D'Addario nickel roundwounds.
