Your Tone Control Preferences

[mimaz]

I prefer "volume" and "blend"....then it generally doesn't matter after that. If it's passive, just a simple traditional tone control is fine...it's gonna be close to wide open most of the time anyway. If it's an active bass, 3 band of EQ is great, but if it's only 2 bands that's really not a problem.

 

[CreatveUsername]

I like my amps handling EQ. All I really need on a bass itself is a working volume knob, and maybe one tone knob for good measure .

 

[pinz]

In over 20 years of gigging I have always run all basses with full Volume and Tone,always.
I let the amp/effects do any final sound shaping,thats just how I am.
A bass could even have no tone/vol controls as long as it was wired for full output I would be just as happy.

 

[MusicBear]

I tend to prefer control configurations that are simpler.

In my younger days I went through a phase where I needed every available wiring permutation possible with added switches and knobs. Then I realized that I was spending more time playing the bass controls than I was actually playing the bass!

Most of my basses have stock control configurations, or nearly so. A standby switch was added to my P-Bass; an on/off switch for the mute compartment pickup in my Ric. My fretless has just a mute switch, no other controls. One bass which was substantially modified from stock pickups has (simple) controls to match.

 

[vmabus]

Just volume would be good. And what's with all the knobs on the amps?

 

[Freekmagnet]

I picked "An Insane Number of Controls That Can Only Be Found On Boutique Basses" because the answer seemed like the most ridiculous of the answer. I've played and P's, J's and MM's and all of the tone setups served a different role relative to each bass.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Almost voted for one volume, one tone.

But the 4-way switching with master volume and passive tone on my Dingwall ABZ is incredibly flexible, yet very simple to use.

 

[Pathogen]

If I had it my way, there would only be one control. Not even a knob, but just a switch that was "on" or "off" would be perfect. I'm a set it and forget it kinda guy, and I get most of my tone from my rack.

 

[bass_walloper]

For passive electronics, I like the MIJ Fender Jazz Bass Special. The combination of TBX tone control and 3-way pickup toggle switch are exactly what I need. I've played basses with a blend knob and I never use it in any of the "in between" positions; it's either neck 100%, bridge 100%, or 50/50.

The most useful active eq I've come across so far is the MIJ Fender Power Jazz Bass Special, which is pretty much the same as the passive version of that bass (with a master volume instead of volume for each pickup), but with a unique and very versatile active eq. It's simpler than a 3-band eq and just as good or better IMO.

Link Removed

 

[gregmon79]

It depends on the music Im playing. If its the band Im filling in for right now, I use my P with active vol and tone. If its my main band, I have an active 3 band EQ, vol and 3 way selector switch. I use my main band bass more often but I love my P too for other things. It all depends. I recently got a p/j affinity and while I like both pups volume maxed, Im starting to like the jazz pup rolled off just a tad. But overall, I voted 3 band EQ and volume. I could do without the 3 way switch because I hardly ever move it out of its center position but I do like the options it provides.

 

[Nephilymbass]

For active fretted

I have a Aguilar 3 band with volume/blend/stacked bass & treble/and a push/pull mid to select frequency. Upgraded from a 2 band and didn't have to drill holes in the bass or anything.

For passive fretless

i have a volume/volume/tone but have been debating swapping the tone knob for a on/off toggle. The bridge pickup and tone are always full on, the neck pickup i mess with a bit. But I'd like the toggle because i hate having to find the tone every time i plug it into my rig.

 

[boomboom4200]

USA fender deluxe p bass.the tone cranked just a bit and everything else dead center.I was told a while back, make your stage sound a little more treble ish, and it translates to good foh. Hasn't failed me yet

 

[dan1952]

One volume and one tone, and I almost always leave both full up.

 

[stratovani]

One volume, one tone. Keep it simple, stupid (K.I.S.S.)!

 

[dlegault]

I fall into the 'other' category, and I wire direct to the jack (no controls).

 

[skwee]

Well, it wasn't by conscious thought, but I discovered that on the two major bass purchases of my life there has been three-band eq with an active/passive switch (Peavey Dyna), and switchable pickup scheme, with an active/passive switch (my Jag deluxe).

 

[villhelmromero]

I prefer a volume/tone/3 way pickup toggle/killswitch setup. and preferably a p/j pickup configuration

 

[vmabus]

I fall into the 'other' category, and I wire direct to the jack (no controls).

Right on!

 

[GIBrat51]

I voted "Something Else". Although I have just about every kind of control layout on at least one bass. I prefer V/T V/T and a 3-way switch. I almost always play with both pickups, so I try to get the tone of each set to complement the other; the volumes equal; and do any other fiddling around with the amp. This is a moot point, of course, with single pickups, like my P-Bass and Kramer Duke; just turn everything up to 11 and let it rip. My Gretsch Broadkaster has the typically weird Gretsch controls, but I've managed to get it to do what I want-with a cheat sheet and lots of patience. The Alembic? I'm still not sure what some of the knobs and switches do; I'm pretty sure one of them opened my garage door the last time I messed with it, though.