https://www.talkbass.com/threads/pickup-blending.1377175/
This thread has some interesting discussion on it.
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Your Jazz Bass settings: static or fluid?
- Thread starter dougjwray
- Start date
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/pickup-blending.1377175/
This thread has some interesting discussion on it.
JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
- 14,723
- 20,970
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- I suck, but nobody really notices
There's only three pickup options. Both, neck, and bridge. Dialing one back doesn't create any difference in tone compared to one off/one on. Same goes with a blend knob, and also an active circuit.
Hence why guitars have switches. It's faster to move between them then turning knobs.
JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
- 14,723
- 20,970
- Disclosures
- I suck, but nobody really notices
Static: dime everything and let the sound guy worry about it. Every once in awhile he might ask me to change something, but that's the exception and not the rule.
EDIT: that's mainly for covers. For tribute work, things are a little more nuanced and dynamic.
EDIT: that's mainly for covers. For tribute work, things are a little more nuanced and dynamic.
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I like the idiosyncrasy and perceived issues of VVT specially if it's passive - unless the preamp has a good active buffer, I'd rather have VVT. I don't like balance knobs on passive (and many actives) - most of them suck to me. For PJ 3 way switch is almost mandatory
I play a lot with the pickup mix and I will not hesitate to go full bridge only -- There is a different sound with a bass boost on your preamp (external or on-board active) and only on the bridge.
Both full on is a good start for slapping - I hardly use it, maybe for quite passages where the guitar or piano is sparse so the hum is not on the speakers
I play a lot with the pickup mix and I will not hesitate to go full bridge only -- There is a different sound with a bass boost on your preamp (external or on-board active) and only on the bridge.
Both full on is a good start for slapping - I hardly use it, maybe for quite passages where the guitar or piano is sparse so the hum is not on the speakers
My uncle, Daniel Pecchio, who played with Glass Harp and The Michael Stanley Band, once told me that he preferred to play his 62 jazz bass wide open and shape the tone from the amp. This would've been in the 70s-90s.
I never understood that.
Hearing what my bass can do from the controls as my hand, whether it be the tone knob or just slightly rolling down the bridge pickup, to running bridge only, has me appreciating all of the things a bass can do.
But, he was much more successful than I'll ever be so, take all that with a grain of salt
I never understood that.
Hearing what my bass can do from the controls as my hand, whether it be the tone knob or just slightly rolling down the bridge pickup, to running bridge only, has me appreciating all of the things a bass can do.
But, he was much more successful than I'll ever be so, take all that with a grain of salt
I'm just curious. How many of you Jazz Bass users...
a) Always use one particular pickup selection-- your "signature sound"
b) Set the pickups for the room and leave them there
c) Tweak the pickup choice/blend throughout the gig, maybe even multiple times in each tune
No "I don't like Jazz Basses" responses, please!
May I suggest that you add a poll to this thread, with the options "static" and "fluid".
Most of the time, I favor the neck pickup slightly for maximum thickness. About 20% of the time, both are up full, and I very rarely favor the bridge pickup. (On my Sandberg TT-5 and G&L JB four, I have both pickups on full more frequently than I do on my Fender four.)
In a few live sets, I've switched between these settings. In my last original band, I always played the intro to one track with both pickups and tone on full, then rolled off the bridge pickup and tone as the band kicked in. In my current band (covers), I meant to favor the bridge pickup in one track, but I forgot to adjust during the show. Didn't matter. I was playing my Sandberg, and I think both pickups were up full.
In a few live sets, I've switched between these settings. In my last original band, I always played the intro to one track with both pickups and tone on full, then rolled off the bridge pickup and tone as the band kicked in. In my current band (covers), I meant to favor the bridge pickup in one track, but I forgot to adjust during the show. Didn't matter. I was playing my Sandberg, and I think both pickups were up full.
I disagree, especially when it comes to JB. You can get a large variety of tones in between fully open/closed PU. May be the norm of guitars (e.g. LP), but not on the Jazz. That's the versatility of the Jazz, and has been used for decades by thousands of bass players.
Yeah, as I said, I've read about it; however, that's not a thing with a properly wired VVT Fender Jazz. I've owned a few over several decades, including a pre-CBS Fender Jazz.
That's not been the case in my 35+ years with VVT Jazz basses.
I have to wonder to what extent these reports are a function of perceptions with hearing damage.
//No offense to anyone.
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I always roll off the volume and tone of the pickups because I prefer to control the volume and tone from the instrument. I don't want to go back to the amplifier if I don't have to.
Fingerstyle: bridge pickup solo, tone 75%
Slap: both pickups 100% or neck pickup solo, tone 100%
Slap: both pickups 100% or neck pickup solo, tone 100%
I'm just curious. How many of you Jazz Bass users...
a) Always use one particular pickup selection-- your "signature sound"
b) Set the pickups for the room and leave them there
c) Tweak the pickup choice/blend throughout the gig, maybe even multiple times in each tune
No "I don't like Jazz Basses" responses, please!
C for me, varying among four general settings; neck pickup favored, bridge pickup favored, both pickups wide open, or pickups in series. Tone control settings also vary with each of the pickup settings.
Same with all my other basses, I'm a set it and forget it guy.
Neck pickup is on 100%.
Bridge pickup is only rolled back a hair, to where the low-mid bump comes on, so probably around the 90-92% mark. The bass just sounds fuller that way.
Tone is about half way on. My amps (Mesa) are vey bright as is it, I don't need anymore than that.
Neck pickup is on 100%.
Bridge pickup is only rolled back a hair, to where the low-mid bump comes on, so probably around the 90-92% mark. The bass just sounds fuller that way.
Tone is about half way on. My amps (Mesa) are vey bright as is it, I don't need anymore than that.
I use a wireless unit and walk out front at soundcheck. I adjust for the (empty) room and generally leave it there for the rest of the night. But I do this practically every gig. Set it and forget it.
