• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Vol/Vol or Vol/Blend? Why?

#41
I'm used to the Jazz the way it is. I play with them both full up anyway, and fool around with the Tone knob. What really made a difference to me was when I got a Fender CS, 1960 bass with the concentric tone knobs. Now I can play the bridge pickup tone knob up more and keep the neck pickup tone knob more towards the mellow end. This allows me to get more of that distinctive Jazz bridge pickup "burp" tone without the clank that I don't like. Other settings on those concentric Tone knobs allow more subtle tone shadings than just having one for both. Frankly, I don't know why those knobs fell out of favor; certainly enjoying them on that bass.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: SLO Surfer and lidl e
#43
No preference, I just twist the knobs I got until the bass sounds good.

If precision or convenience of twisting a couple knobs was a big deal to me, I suppose I'd prefer VBT. With markings and detents. :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: GreyMark
#45
Most of the basses I've owned over the years have been either V/V/T, V/T/V/T, or selector switch/master volume. It's only in the last few years that I've owned any V/B/T basses.

The verdict: I really don't have any strong preference, to be honest. I take each bass for what it is and work with the tones that are available from it. If I were building from scratch there's a good chance I would choose the circuit based upon what parts I had on hand. I know that sounds pretty haphazard but, honestly, once I'm on the bandstand I just don't think about these things much.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Outbush, JRA and Passinwind
#46
Each has its advantages, all well documented in this thread. Somehow on my Marcus miller Jazz I kind of like the vol/vol layout just because it feels a little more vintagey. But that bass also has knurled metal knobs for the volumes and I can wrap my fingers around them to do swells. Not sure if I could pull that off as easily with standard Jazz volume knobs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JRA
#47
I turn the volume down in between songs. Having only one knob makes it a mindless task instead of fiddling around making sure two knobs are off. I never played a vol/vol bass nor would I want to.

I also like that the blend knob has a detent at the center position. It makes it easy to remember where I set it for different tones. I don't think vol/vol does that, am I correct on that?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Outbush, XLunacy, Gearhead17 and 1 other person
#51
On a two pickup bass my favorite layout is a stacked vol/vol pot vs separate volume pots or a blend knob.

I find that separate volume pots make it difficult to quickly adjust volume on the fly if you're using both pickups, and blend knobs frequently cut volume at the center detent.

A stacked vol/vol pot allows you to set the blend of the pickups where you want it, then if you need to move the overall volume up or down you just simply hold both knobs on the stack and turn, thus keeping the two pickups in the same ratio to each other. In essence, a master volume knob.

Throw in a three way (neck/both/bridge) pickup selector switch for ultimate flexibility. And if you want a kill or mute function use your tuner pedal.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Outbush
#55
el murdoque said:
I've always played volume/blend setups, but my current bass is V/V/T.
I kind of got used to it, but I fail to see the advantage. With a single volume knob, I can do volume swells. Or I can back off a bit, but keep the PU mix. I have a Jazz setup and usually play with the neck pickup full on and the bridge pickup turned up just enough to eliminate single coil hum.
Should I return that bass to the maker for any kind of maintenance, I will have it rewired to V/B/T.
Click to expand...

Hats off to anyone who can do a volume swell with a knob. I have a pedal
 
  • Like
Reactions: HolmeBass
#58
I've owned quite a few basses, and I'm trying to remember if any were V/V/T. I think my Roscoe was... but then again, I remember doing volume swells with the knob. Maybe I had it dialed full to one PU.

I guess I've never been too attached, but am certainly more used to V/B/T.

I bought a Birdsong from a TB'er last year (I love it!). He had it rewired from vvt to vbt. I have been curious what it would be like with the OG setup. He also replaced the neck pu with a hotter one; I am going to switch it back to stock. The gain difference between the two is way too large. Come to think of it, that is also an issue on my Warwick, which is a problem with tone changes on the fly. I can see where a vvt setup could be better in that regard. Ive adjusted the pu height to try and even that out as much as possible on both basses, but that isn't really an ideal way to try and approach that issue imo.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back