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Volume/Volume or Volume + Blend?

Jeffrey Wash

Jeffrey Wash

Jan 2, 2011
548
89
Santa Cruz
www.jeffreywash.com
#1
Hi all - I'm going to install a pair of Nordstrand Big Splits in a bass of mine, also going to replace the Ag OBP3 preamp with a Nordstrand 3B-4 Preamp.

With the Nordstrand preamp I have the choice of having individual volume controls for each pickup or a single volume plus pickup blend control. I have a lot more experience with the latter configuration - in all my years of playing (30?) I've never owned a Jazz or 'Jazz style' bass so this will be a first for me.

I'm wondering: is there any practical difference between having a separate volume control for each pickup - like traditional Jazz basses - or having one volume control and a pickup blend control?

My hunch is probably not, but I wanted to get some 2nd opinions, especially from more experienced Fender Jazz players, to see if there's an aspect of it that I'm overlooking.

Thanks...
 
#2
You can tweak a bit more with vol/vol. vol/blend lets you dial in your desired tone and only need to worry about one volume for the overall level.

I like vol/vol, but it's all just personal preference really!

If you are used to vol/blend, and have never had any issue using it that way, I'd just stick to what you know :)

:bassist:
 
#4
I think you get a little bit detail adjustment with vol vol. Tad more tweakability for pup blending variation. But not enough to be a deal breaker about vol blend setup. Unless the blend control just wasnt giving you a nice range of detail tweakability for pup blending variations. In which case Id put the bass back on the shelf for someone else to buy. My guitars have vol vol, my two pup basses have vol blend cause theyre all std active setup. If I get another 2 pup bass it will have vol vol though. Lol.
 
#5
I'd totally go for the blend option.
Having had a vol/vol set up, I find it just annoys me when I'm trying to set tones up, especially in P/J configs.

I assume that's the opposite for most people using P/J configs as they might favour the P pickup but want just a bit of extra quack that the bridge J pickup can bring.

Personally, I just wanted something simple, and I think a blend is better for those who are a bit more plug 'n play.
 
#6
i'm a strong fan of the vol/blend. i often adjust my volume slightly while playing. if i have a vol/vol setup, it's very difficult to bump your overall volume without inadvertently changing the tone. in fact, i'm reading up on switching my vol/vol jazz to a vol/blend.
 
#7
VVT. on my peavey, i tend to leave the bridge and tone wide open, and adjust with the neck volume. more thump, dial it up. crisper tone, dial it down. since it's a non-epoxied rosewood board, and fretless, with roto 77's on it, i think the fingers do more for the tone than the knobs ...

and the way the peavey is wired, with both vol wide open, it hum cancels. i actually only have a knob on the neck vol pot. the other 2 are bare posts.
 
#8
I think it's something quite personal, but I prefer the vol vol, most of the time, once I started playing, I will need to move just one of them, because I know that I want more or less of what the P or the J pickup is giving to my sound.
The only negative point is that if you don't have a mute or a volume pedal, you have to remember 2 pot position instead of just one with the vol/blend set up.

Just thinking about it, I would have go for the vol/blend set up, but once I tried the vol/vol one on my spector (EMG PJ) it felt like making much more sens for me so if you have the opportunity to experience the vol/vol (not just 5min by yourself but really playing with other musicians) you'd have a better idea of it, but obviously if you had both in your place, you wouldn't be asking the question on TB and at the end, the difference is really not that big.
 

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