Volume/volume/tone vs. Volume/blend/tone controls?

[Basically Bob]

I am in the process of having a custom bass made and just wondering what some of you think about these two options for the control knobs. I am using a Nordstrand NP4 for the neck pup, combined with a Nordstrand Big Split bridge pup.

ie: Will a "blend" pot isolate the pups as well as individual volume pups?

I am not very knowledgeable about electronics and have spent a fair amount of time "searching" without any luck so any advice or perspectives would be grearly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[darkstorm]

Ive owned both versions. Vol, blend, 2-3 band active eq, vol, vol, 2-3 band active eq. With seperate volumes you get a little more fine tuning ability for shifting the voice via pup blending. Nothing else changes. In some ways I do like that little bit of extra dial in you can do with seperate volumes.

 

[line6man]

There are thousands of topics posing this very question. Do a search.

The general consensus is that is comes down to personal preference. Pick the scheme that is most convenient to you.

Will a "blend" pot isolate the pups as well as individual volume pups?

A blend pot is two volume pots in inverse parallel. The only difference between VBT and VVT is that the blend pot feeds it's two volumes into an additional volume pot, and there are functionality differences between the controls.

 

[TDSLaBassiste]

IME, VBT is harder to do myself. I prefer it though because when I turn down my volume, I don't need to worry about balancing the p'ups again. But, like darkstorm said, VVT allows for finer tuning of the blend.

 

[Basically Bob]

Thanks, guys, much appreciated. Exactly what I needed.

Bob

 

[ga_edwards]

IME, VBT is harder to do myself. I prefer it though because when I turn down my volume, I don't need to worry about balancing the p'ups again. But, like darkstorm said, VVT allows for finer tuning of the blend.

This!

With a blend pot, you have consistent volume whether your using front, bridge or both pickups.

Independent volumes although giving more control, inherently has more variable volume differences, assuming you normally run both on full and back off slightly one or the other. If you were to fully roll off one, you'd lose volume.

So it all depends on how you prefer to control tone and volume when you play.

 

[Basically Bob]

Thanks again ... Ordering pots for VBT, today.

On a side note, here's a rundown of the bass:

- 4 string fretless, position markers on the side, only
- swamp ash body
- curly maple neck - 1.625" at nut
- ziricote fingerboard - 9.5" radius
- bone nut
-Nordstrand P4 neck pup
-Nordstrand Big Split bridge pup
-Hipshot, 1/2" ultralight, all chrome tuners
-Hipshot vintage style bridge
-Black Pbass pickguard
-Chrome control knobs (VBT)
-P-style body with a "tele-style" headstock

I went with the builder, last week and purchased the wood, pups are "in-hand", tuners and bridge are in transit and all other parts will be ordered today.

Can hardly wait to plug this baby into my new Streamliner!

 

[kaiuk]

Thanks again ... Ordering pots for VBT, today.

On a side note, here's a rundown of the bass:

- 4 string fretless, position markers on the side, only
- swamp ash body
- curly maple neck - 1.625" at nut
- ziricote fingerboard - 9.5" radius
- bone nut
-Nordstrand P4 neck pup
-Nordstrand Big Split bridge pup
-Hipshot, 1/2" ultralight, all chrome tuners
-Hipshot vintage style bridge
-Black Pbass pickguard
-Chrome control knobs (VBT)
-P-style body with a "tele-style" headstock

I went with the builder, last week and purchased the wood, pups are "in-hand", tuners and bridge are in transit and all other parts will be ordered today.

Can hardly wait to plug this baby into my new Streamliner!

PLEASE tell me how those pups sound. i want to build the same combo

 

[Basically Bob]

Kaiuk, I sure will! Really looking foward to this build.

 

[96tbird]

VBT makes it so much nicer to keep vol constant and dial in the voices.

 

[iunno]

To me, a blend pot is just like a slow to operate 3 way switch with a volume drop in the middle, Vol\Vol seems to have a bigger effect on the sound with an in between setting.

 

[JTE]

To me, a blend pot is just like a slow to operate 3 way switch with a volume drop in the middle, Vol\Vol seems to have a bigger effect on the sound with an in between setting.

A properly wired blend has no volume drop in the center.

John

 

[96tbird]

IME vvt has volume drops when you twiddle the knobs anyway. VBT is just easier to deal with and I don't get a drop at.center. in fact none dicernable anywhere. Ungrounded mn taper.