I like to keep things simple, only play metal so I don't need lots of different tones, my P's just have a volume control, always run the tone fully open so I got rid of it, not that there's room for a tone pot now even if I wanted one, I'll be swapping the volume for a kill switch soon.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Your Tone Control Preferences
- Thread starter Angel Switch
- Start date
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,978
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
I have a few various V/T control arrangements on basses I own and play. I personally enjoy dealing with each for what it provides and don't really have a preference. But in general, I do like having controls on the instrument.
My favorite arrangement isn't on the poll.
It's a volume and a tone control for each pickup, and a three-way pickup selector switch.
Music Man Stingray Bass: Volume control 100%. The three tone controls set in the middle detent, or flat position.
Jazz Bass: All three controls (neck pup, bridge pup, tone) at 100% (Same for my fretless Jazz, except for no bridge pup level at all)
Alembic Series 1 Bass: Pup selector set in middle position/both pups. Both volumes 100%. Both Q pots at 100%. Both tone switches set for boost (this gives the Series 1 that wonderful "snick" sound).
On all 3 basses, I wish I could have these settings locked down and have a simple push/pull pot to turn the instrument on or off.
And I thought I was the only weird guy that wanted my instruments to run this way, but I see that I'm not. I do not want to mess with knobs or switches on the instrument. If I need a different sound, I switch instruments.
Cool survey, BTW.
Geri O
Jazz Bass: All three controls (neck pup, bridge pup, tone) at 100% (Same for my fretless Jazz, except for no bridge pup level at all)
Alembic Series 1 Bass: Pup selector set in middle position/both pups. Both volumes 100%. Both Q pots at 100%. Both tone switches set for boost (this gives the Series 1 that wonderful "snick" sound).
On all 3 basses, I wish I could have these settings locked down and have a simple push/pull pot to turn the instrument on or off.
And I thought I was the only weird guy that wanted my instruments to run this way, but I see that I'm not. I do not want to mess with knobs or switches on the instrument. If I need a different sound, I switch instruments.
Cool survey, BTW.
Geri O
vol and tone for each pickup. If more than 1 pickup I like switches too/
eg. vol/tone on a p.
vol/tone vol/tone on a j. 3 way switch.
no actives for me.
eg. vol/tone on a p.
vol/tone vol/tone on a j. 3 way switch.
no actives for me.
I favor Volume, Balance & Three-Band EQ, but I have to say that on a bass like my Rickenbacker 4001S, this arrangement wouldn't really work because the tone control and volume on the bridge PUP are radically different than that of the neck Pup. This said, I always loved the plain ole P bass, with tone control dimed to treble.
I voted P bass style but my new bass is my favorite because it has more control in the tone pot than I have ever experienced before.
It is an Ibanez MDB3 with a recessed tone pot on the back. It is subtle and smooth!
It is an Ibanez MDB3 with a recessed tone pot on the back. It is subtle and smooth!
I chose Insane Number of Controls that You Can Only Find in a Boutique Bass.
Total of 11 knobs and 2 switches. Active-Passive with onboard Octave up, active eq, tone and vol for each pup, among other things. Will be in a build if I choose to do one soon.
Would you like to see the schematic I drew the other day? I'll post it if asked, although I have yet to test it so it isn't final.
Total of 11 knobs and 2 switches. Active-Passive with onboard Octave up, active eq, tone and vol for each pup, among other things. Will be in a build if I choose to do one soon.
Would you like to see the schematic I drew the other day? I'll post it if asked, although I have yet to test it so it isn't final.
I really thought that my control setup would have been one of the standard choices. My bass, a Schecter Stiletto Custom 4, has a volume and a tone control for each of its two pickups. My G&L L2000 had the same configuration, something fairly common in the six string guitar world.
Ever pick-up selection possible, volume (doesn't need to go all the way to zero) and a kill switch.
EQ and low-pass filter in a pedal so all your basses can use it
EQ and low-pass filter in a pedal so all your basses can use it
I like a V, Bl, T, M, B setup. Assuming that 50% is center detent I usually will run a 60/40 split towards the bridge p/u. About 60% Treble, 40% Mids and 50-60% Bass.
)
I prefer the set up that both my Ricks have, and my Gibson EB3. 2 volume/2 tone (or a volume and tone control for each pickup). I do prefer the Rick's toggle switch to the Gibson's rotary switch for pick up selection, though.
