Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
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Tone knobs on Jazz Basses - how much are they actually USED?
- Thread starter mikewalker
- Start date
I twiddle all the time but then I play a 3eq Ray - there's no point having all that control if you just go for one sound IMHO. But maybe a passive j would be different. I sometimes play a p and that's usually 50%
I always start by adjusting the volume for each PU (dimed is A LOT different sounding than 80%) and fine tune with tone.
I usually have the passive tone knob turned back about three quarters of the way.
The active treble is usually in the center position.
And the active bass is turned up maybe a quarter turn or less.
That’s on my Nordy VJ5 strung with GHS Progressives.
The active treble is usually in the center position.
And the active bass is turned up maybe a quarter turn or less.
That’s on my Nordy VJ5 strung with GHS Progressives.
A very interesting perspective on VVT vs VBT. You are very correct in saying that a pickup or pickups sound different at reduced pot volume when compared to full pot volume.
In playing a Telecaster guitar, my son says that it sounds much different when the pot is at half way then when it is on full. Even when he jacks up the amp volume up to compensate for the half way pot. It sounds different then when the pot is on full and equal amp volume.
For me, one big thing that I dislike with VVT is when I have my pickups blended to where I like them and then want to or need to reduce the volume...............it is very difficult to reduce the 2 volumes and keep the same blend when fiddling with those 2 volume knobs.
And that is why like VBT. When I reduce volume, the pickup blend stays the same 'cause there's only one volume.
Thank-you for your comment and I learned from it!
Mine is rolled off 40-50% for fingerstyle and 50-60% with a pick. My current Jazz is very bright, with previous Jazz basses I have owned I would usually run the tone at 100%
Last J bass I sold I played everything floored. I never found two volume knobs convenient, especially in live performance. I lik my Ibanez configuration: V/B/B/M/T. I use the blend constantly and the three tone controls to fine tune for the room.
Never really settled on a tone knob position in my now almost 20 years of playing. Just depends on the situation and the tone i am going for at that moment.
i use them regularly for adjustments.
no plan or formula, my ears may want more or less treble and thats the way to do it.
no plan or formula, my ears may want more or less treble and thats the way to do it.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Back when I played my G&L JB through a GK MB 210 combo, I tweaked quite a bit - usually between 25% and 75%. Full tone was too harsh.
Now I play through a Mesa D800+ into a Revsound RS210 and it’s almost always dimed.
Now I play through a Mesa D800+ into a Revsound RS210 and it’s almost always dimed.
VVT is the main reason I don't want a jazz bass...that and I prefer p bass tones.
Call me lazy, but tweaking 1 volume is better than tweaking 2.
I have been thinking of getting a cheap jazz bass and convert it to VBT to see if my opinion changes.
My tone control is pretty much always either full up or dialed a little back to taste (prolly around ‘8’ or ‘9’).
For context, that’s on a passive 4 string Jazz with rounds, my usual settings being neck pickup full (‘10’) and the bridge pickup rolled in just enough so I that I can hear it start to bring in some "clarity" to the neck (about ‘1’ or ‘2’-ish, I guess).
There’s a lot of sounds on a Jazz though, and I’m always tempted to fiddle, but the above is my home base. I rarely play with the tone way down, but I’m gonna try some settings I’ve read here in this thread — particularly the ‘bridge soloed with tone off’ setting. That one had never even occurred to me
For context, that’s on a passive 4 string Jazz with rounds, my usual settings being neck pickup full (‘10’) and the bridge pickup rolled in just enough so I that I can hear it start to bring in some "clarity" to the neck (about ‘1’ or ‘2’-ish, I guess).
There’s a lot of sounds on a Jazz though, and I’m always tempted to fiddle, but the above is my home base. I rarely play with the tone way down, but I’m gonna try some settings I’ve read here in this thread — particularly the ‘bridge soloed with tone off’ setting. That one had never even occurred to me
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KSD (Ken Smith Design) had an interesting Jazz setup. Active preamp with volume/blend, treble, and bass. The bass sounded silky smooth. That's the bass that got away and I still pine over selling it.
I always ran my JB wide open (though I was never completely happy with the tone). Now that I'm playing P-Basses, I adjust more often, but always seem to find what I'm looking for no matter if it's rounds or flats.
For me, rolling it up to 75/80% does the trick. Generally i don't like the ''last twist to crisp'' in the blend. Perhaps cause my ears and playing are more P'ish bound?
I certainly use the tone knob on my v/v/t jazz bass, my P and my active basses. In fact my default tone pot position is about 50%, then I adjust either way from there.
