Tone knobs on Jazz Basses - how much are they actually USED?

[mikewalker]

I'm curious about this! Most of my basses I run tone control wide open, all the time. I rarely dial down the tone ever, in typical use. (not counting the very rare situation where I might want a real thumpy acoustic bass -ish effect)

What say you?

 

[Scoops]

Carrots...(Flatwounds)

 

[twinjet]

Depends entirely on the song. I really can't answer your poll as of yet. I never play all the time on just one setting.

 

[creaturegods]

When I had a jazz bass (Fender Road Worn '60s), I had every knob at 10 100% of the time.

 

[mikewalker]

poll tweaked!

 

[Picton]

I’m twiddling the tone knob all the time. I can dial in almost any tone I want.

Unlike on my guitars, where tone is almost always dimed.

 

[bassdude51]

Tone knobs? For almost all Jazz Basses, it is tone knob. Singular tone knob. With the exception of the few J Basses with dual concentric knobs.

 

[Scoops]

Thanks for the poll adjustment

I usually play a V/V/T config. To get a different tone, I usually fiddle with the pup volumes rather that the tone pot.

 

[bassdude51]

Thanks for the poll adjustment

I usually play a V/V/T config. To get a different tone, I usually fiddle with the pup volumes rather that the tone pot.

Dump the VVT and go VBT (volume blend tone) Much, much better for pickup blending!

Bourns blend pot. There's a center indent for both on full.

Seymour Duncan's website give the wiring for a blend. It's pretty easy to do 'cause I did it.

 

[mikewalker]

Yes, I meant "the tone knob" in general, I guess I worded the thread 'tone knobs' in the sense of 'a plurality of knobs on multiple jazz basses'

Tone knobs? For almost all Jazz Basses, it is tone knob. Singular tone knob. With the exception of the few J Basses with dual concentric knobs.

View attachment 3248864

 

[twinjet]

poll tweaked!

Voted.

When flats are on, I don't typically use treble knobs. This is an L-2000 in the recording, but it's quite similar to one of the tones I go for when I have flats on a Jazz.

 

[mikewalker]

Voted.

When flats are on, I don't typically use treble knobs. This is an L-2000 in the recording, but it's quite similar to one of the tones I go for when I have flats on a Jazz.

Nice!
So just to clarify, that's your classic "jazz bass with flats, tone knob on full" sound??

** or in the case of an "active-EQ", bass, the treble control flat?

 

[jeffb28451]

Is THAT what they are?

 

[Scoops]

Dump the VVT and go VBT (volume blend tone) Much, much better for pickup blending!

Bourns blend pot. There's a center indent for both on full.

Seymour Duncan's website give the wiring for a blend. It's pretty easy to do 'cause I did it.

View attachment 3248867

I have basses with both. My preference is V/V/T

 

[5StringBlues]

Everything wide open on a stacked knob Jazz, unless it's a fast shuffle where l have to dig in. Tone knob at around 50 % for that.

 

[Ghastly]

I mess with mine all the time... all over the place depending on the song (and my mood that day)...

 

[flyingfinbar]

I entertain the idea of turning them puppies down, but they just sound so good cranked up.

 

[Andy235]

Flats only. Usually rolled down heavily.

 

[fhm555]

Dump the VVT and go VBT (volume blend tone) Much, much better for pickup blending!...

Not my experience at all. I tried it and lost a lot of the tones i used. I also tried a tonestyler and several other variations on the basic VVT and they all left me with fewer tone options. These days i’m back to the basic VVT.
Also, always round wounds.

 

[LBS-bass]

Active jazz basses do have tone knobs, more properly they are EQ knobs, and generally leave them flat but will occasionally use them for certain songs.