Guest MoJo Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 (edited) When I first got into bass playing, my main influences were Steve Harris, Geddy Lee and Chris Squire among others and my preferred tone choice was a growly 'tone-wide-open' P-bass. As I've matured I experiment with the tone control a little more, especially if I'm playing an old soul number or the like, I'll roll the tone off. My predecessor in my current band played a P-bass with a pick with the tone constantly rolled off. I heard Killer Queen on the radio earlier and noticed that John Deacon played on that with a very rounded tone and it prompted me to ask the question above Edited June 26, 2018 by MoJo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 I`ve found that on my Precisions I generally have the tone on full, but if I want to roll it off it`s about a third - I set the fixing screws from the control knobs to be facing downwards when fully off, and then when backing off line it up with one of the screws on the pickguard. This way it`s got a bit of each so to speak, and goes from a gnarly/growly/twangy sound to a more traditional warm P-sound. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.c60 Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 I used to roll mine almost completely off (P wit flats) but I've started to roll off less recently for a bit more "presence" for want of a better word. It's all down to what sounds right to you really! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevsy71 Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 I used to do the same as Lozz above, which works great. Now I leave it wide open and switch between an 'SVT' and 'B15' present on my Sansamp VT. When playing live I'm less likely to forget which tone I'm on when there's a glowing red light! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EliasMooseblaster Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 Vary it to suit - it depends on the bass I'm playing, but also on the room I'm playing it in, who I'm playing with, and even what mood I'm in! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 usually wide open except on the few reggae/ska songs we do then I have the tone closed (P bass) so I use them as on/off switches really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 I can't recall the last bass I had with a tone control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 3 hours ago, stingrayPete1977 said: I can't recall the last bass I had with a tone control. It was that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 Open all the way here. Why would I want to muffle it? I'd sooner put cotton wool in my ears. I've wired a couple of basses straight to the jack socket before now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 Usually between 80% and fully open. As with volume, I like to have a little bit of tweaking room on the bass. Hate fiddling with the amp once I'm playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CameronJ Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 8 hours ago, Lozz196 said: I`ve found that on my Precisions I generally have the tone on full, but if I want to roll it off it`s about a third - I set the fixing screws from the control knobs to be facing downwards when fully off, and then when backing off line it up with one of the screws on the pickguard. This way it`s got a bit of each so to speak, and goes from a gnarly/growly/twangy sound to a more traditional warm P-sound. Pretty much this for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeystrange Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 4 hours ago, stingrayPete1977 said: I can't recall the last bass I had with a tone control. Probably about 12 or 13 years ago for me. I realised I didn’t have any use for a tone control and have removed it from every bass I’ve had since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 4 minutes ago, joeystrange said: Probably about 12 or 13 years ago for me. I realised I didn’t have any use for a tone control and have removed it from every bass I’ve had since. Wow. Reminds me of a local bass player I used to watch, in my formative years. As he spoke to the audience between songs (yes he was the lead vocalist for the band too), he had a habit of rubbing his thumb on the volume and tone controls as if to constantly check that they were both fully up, no doubt triggered by an embarrassing event in the past. It must have developed into such a nervous affliction that, the last time I saw him play, he'd removed both controls on his bass and filled in the holes. I can only assume that he'd wired the pickups directly to the output socket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trueno Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 I keep mine wide open now. I'd be happy to have a bass without a tone control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 Tone up all the way on my Ps and Js when played fingerstyle, tone rolled off slightly (volume too) with a pick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 8 minutes ago, Trueno said: I keep mine wide open now. I'd be happy to have a bass without a tone control. 1 x volume. Perfect. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 1 hour ago, BrunoBass said: Tone up all the way on my Ps and Js when played fingerstyle, tone rolled off slightly (volume too) with a pick. This Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CameronJ Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 4 hours ago, BrunoBass said: 1 x volume. Perfect. They’re lovely - especially the roadworn white! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 Wide open on my Fakers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yank Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 Neck pickup full up, Bridge pickup off, Tone off. With flats. Round and warm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 Full on - and take care of any EQ from amp or DAW. With a passive bass you really want all the output the pickup has to offer. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 On my Aria SB700 I'll use fully open, fully off and backed off a wee bit (that's a technical term). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akio Dāku Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 23 hours ago, EliasMooseblaster said: Vary it to suit - it depends on the bass I'm playing, but also on the room I'm playing it in, who I'm playing with, and even what mood I'm in! +1 very much this. ^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 I like my G&L SB2 which doesn't have one, with my Lakland Jazz has the tone is on full permanently, any tonal variance comes from pickup volumes, amp/Pre-amp tweaks and hand position/playing style Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonse Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 On my back up P, around 80% open. On my main player Rick, fully open. That sound is why I bought the thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.