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Varitone and tone control, good idea or bad?

ejaggers

ejaggers

Aug 18, 2009
2,728
2,681
Fort Worth, TX
#1
I’m modding an Affinity Pbass and thinking about a varitone switch. A site has a kit with one tone and one varitone. Please give me your opinion about: Super Tone Kit Bass or Guitar #14:

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Also, do you have a preference between split and solid shaft pots? if so, why?
 
#4
I personally would not be interested in that kit #14. I wouldn't want to have a second knob just to access 5 different cap values, 2 or 3 of which are probably way higher than I'd ever really need.

I know some folks enjoy being able to switch between 2 or more cap values. Personally, I'm good with just .047 these days. (Used to have .1 but it was a bit much.)

I am curious to try this approach eventually: (I know it costs 7 times more.)

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#5
I've had two instruments with a Varitone: an Ibanez ST-980 eight-string bass, and a Gibson ES-345TD guitar. Much as I loved the concept of having the various tones quickly & easily available, I found that on both instruments I ultimately wound up using the #1 position (least filtered) probably 99% of the time.

iow, the practical usability of the sounds offered by the Varitone circuits doesn't seem to correspond to the iconic standards of "good tone" that we're conditioned to strive for imho.
 
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#8
Thanks to everyone for your input. I got the Affinity really cheap, and although nothing was wrong with it, I decided to hotrod it. That’s the reason for the varitone in the first place. But I’m split on it because it may be more trouble than it’s worth.

metalmariachi, I’ve seen those ToneStylers, and they look sweet, but this is a low budget mod. I’ve already sprung for some Fralins.


Jefenator, It’s really easy to talk me out of this, and I agree with your logic. But if you went to a ToneStyler, wouldn’t you be right back to this scenario?
 
#9
ejaggers said:
Jefenator, It’s really easy to talk me out of this, and I agree with your logic. But if you went to a ToneStyler, wouldn’t you be right back to this scenario?
Click to expand...

It looks like the ToneStyler is a bit different from that kit #14. The kit is basically a standard tone control with a switch that lets you choose between 5 different cap values.

If I'm not mistaken, the ToneStyler doesn't use a pot at all - it just switches directly in to the capacitors. It appeals to me more than the kit because IMO it has a more useful sweep: 16 settings between full bypass (which would be cool) and 0.1 (which is plenty dark). I've seen nothing but glowing user reports thus far.

But it is kind of spendy. Cool as it looks, I don't think I'll be buying one for each of my 5 passive basses.

If I were tinkering on a budget, I'd be tempted to try this:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=596256
 
#13
Jefenator,

I saw the varitone designed by Dark Horse, in fact, that’s what I was gonna use initially, until I saw kit #14. I’m definitely not knowledgeable in this area, but they look like the same thing for the most part. Except #14 has an extra tone control.
 
#14
If you have your tone pot all the way down that kit will act just like a tonestyler but with 5 instead of 16 positions. I would go for this kit instead of a varitone (which is a notch filter) or a tonestyler (too expensive). The only problem with this kit is that the two lowest positions (highest cap values) are way to muddy. I would personally not put in anything higher than a .1 value cap.
 
#16
My current knobs use split shaft pots, and since I'm changing anyway is there any advantage using one over the other (split/solid)? I don't really want to change knobs, but most upgrade kits I've found are solid. Why?

Bootzilla

I hate to sound fickle saying it would be easy to talk me out of this, because it’s just as easy to talk me into it. What a bummer!!! Anyway, since you said to use a .1 cap as the highest, I have questions for you:

1. Would the second tone control clear up the muddiness?
2. If not what would you use instead of the .22uf and.44uf
 
#17
The tone knob works as normal so if full open it (almost) doesn't effect the sound and when you roll it off it will gradually cut frequencies below the cutoff point. This cutoff point is dependent on the cap value and higher cap values have a lower cutoff point. If you only roll the tone knob back a little you could use those higher values without getting things too muddy. You could try the higher caps and they might work but it is difficult to roll of only a little on the tone knob so most people use it fully open or fully closed. I haven't tried them myself tho and this is only forum knowledge (p basses used to come with .1 caps and most people found them too muddy)

For other cap values anything between 0 and 0.1 will do. If you order the guitar one you only have one value below .1 which you might actually like and at least 4 useful settings.
 

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