Which direction should jazz bass knobs face?

[dannster]

Totally- they're really hard to turn when they're flipped in.

Not to mention all your guts are hangin' out then too.:scowl:

 

[WarriorJoe7]

I say geddy should just bypass all the tone sucking pots and just have them on for show.

As for mine I always have the one closest to me pointing at the bridge pickup for maxxed out and then the others parallel.

I wonder if Leo Fender had a certain method that he followed for each bass?

 

[gjbassist]

They shouldn't face any direction. You should remove those ugly knobs that look like they belong on a 1970's television and replace them with some that look better. That is the first cosmetic change I make to any jazz bass!

 

[WarriorJoe7]

They shouldn't face any direction. You should remove those ugly knobs that look like they belong on a 1970's television and replace them with some that look better. That is the first cosmetic change I make to any jazz bass!

replace them with strat knobs!

 

[Bijoux]

I'm not sure if there's an official "Fender" spec on that, and I don't remember how my basses were before I changed them.

This was discussed in the "Geddy's Tone" thread a few months back with reference to Geddy's basses. He indicated that he dimes everything, all the time. I posted some photos of the knobs all facing the same way on each bass, but varying between his basses. I would have thought that he'd have Russ re-align the knobbage such that they're at the same consistant "o'clock" position, but that's not the case.

I am also a "full on" guy, so I've adjusted mine to all point "12 o'clock" when they're dimed. This way, I can look down and be sure I haven't rolled them off by accident, no matter which of my basses I'm playing.

But I'm OCD...

That seems pretty elaborate.
I thought I'd mention, I once asked Ken Smith about the knobs on my bass, and I asked him if he could change my knobs to some new knobs that had more of a "click" (center) so on my active preamp I would have a better idea of what frequencies I boost or cut while playing. I am always sculpting my sound as I go. Anyway, he told me that the knobs that he uses are meant to be like that, where you can barely feel the center so it will encourage musicians to use their ears as oppose to rely on visual clues. Although I agree with the concept it's really hard to do that when playing live with a band.

 

[Dee_01]

WOW ... Im not gonna lie, posting this questions like this on a forum full of bored bass players, you kinda asked for it dude

Seriously... I have always wanted to know the answer to this exact question!

 

[gjbassist]

replace them with strat knobs!

Personally I like the Tele or P bass style knobs the best.

 

[Stradavus]

I have mine set so that when they're dimed they are at a 90 degree angle to the pickups.

 

[bh2]

They should face away from you on the control plate, otherwise they will actually be 'inside' the bass which will mean tone adjustment will be a little tricky. Also the electronics will probably need a bit of re-wiring and you may need to rout the body to make room for the inward facing knobs.

 

[JansenW]

I find, like most basses, the knobs face outwards.

 

[Jim C]

They should face away from you on the control plate, otherwise they will actually be 'inside' the bass which will mean tone adjustment will be a little tricky

Thanks mate; clearly the correct answer; forest from the trees

 

[tttmmoorree]

the man doesn't want to know you're preference, he wants to know how fender jazz bass knobs come stock from the factory, i also want to know

 

[tttmmoorree]

i mean your* not you're

 

[MixBass]

I need more info: what year, country of origin, and how do the tuners face?

 

[ModuMan]

I own too many basses at this point... all the knobs point in different directions relative to each other. Some have the pickup pan going one way, some the other (I'm looking you Zon and Sadowsky).

So, practically speaking... I don't care. I stopped looking at them. I know what they all do so I turn things until they sound right.


But forget getting the knobs aligned, my favorite pastime is setting up the tuning pegs when installing new strings so that when tuned to pitch they are all facing the same direction. Genius!!! (???)

 

[mpdd]

zombified - full follows the midpoint of the control plate

 

[honeyiscool]

I always set up my knobs so that at max (or center detente, depending on knob), it faces upward toward me.

 

[jd56hawk]

Everyone does realize they're set at the factory (exactly the way they were originally designed to) in a specific way, right?

 

[Turnaround]

I would think that you would adjust the knobs so that when they're dimed, they are at eleven.

 

[felis]

When full on, they're right in my face.