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Do you use the tone control on your P-Bass?
Yes - all the time 36%  36%  [ 10 ]
No - might as well dismantle it 25%  25%  [ 7 ]
Sometimes - depends on the situation 39%  39%  [ 11 ]
Total votes : 28
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Post subject: tone controls - to use or to ignore?
Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 12:57 pm
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I'm interested to know how many people actually use the tone control on their P-Bass and how many don't - obviously not a scientific poll but there should be some dedicated Fender P people here so it should make a nice sample.

Let's limit it to passive basses - active EQ is a whole 'nother matter.

Personally I never touch my tone control - I just leave it all the way open (volume too for that matter). I didn't play a Precision for a long time (15 years?!!) but recently got back into them, so I'm interested to see the results! Please comment too!

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Post subject: Re: tone controls - to use or to ignore?
Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 6:34 pm
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I usually have mine wide open, but I roll it back depending on the music I'm playing. Most jazzy or bluesy songs beg for a fatter, warmer sound. Occasionally I'll adjust it during a song, usually if I find the notes I'm playing sound buried and I feel like I need more punch. I rarely find myself dialing it back if I start it wide open.


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Post subject: Re: tone controls - to use or to ignore?
Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 8:32 pm
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jasonthefox wrote:
I usually have mine wide open, but I roll it back depending on the music I'm playing. Most jazzy or bluesy songs beg for a fatter, warmer sound. Occasionally I'll adjust it during a song, usually if I find the notes I'm playing sound buried and I feel like I need more punch. I rarely find myself dialing it back if I start it wide open.


I use my tone control in the exact same manner..... :)


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Post subject: Re: tone controls - to use or to ignore?
Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 3:50 am
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I only roll it back when I got a bit too much harsh or shine and I don't wanna fart with my amp. It's either all on or all back.

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Post subject: Re: tone controls - to use or to ignore?
Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 8:23 am
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hieronymous wrote:
I'm interested to know how many people actually use the tone control on their P-Bass and how many don't - obviously not a scientific poll but there should be some dedicated Fender P people here so it should make a nice sample.

Let's limit it to passive basses - active EQ is a whole 'nother matter.

Personally I never touch my tone control - I just leave it all the way open (volume too for that matter). I didn't play a Precision for a long time (15 years?!!) but recently got back into them, so I'm interested to see the results! Please comment too!

I haven't played my Precision on a gig since the late 80's-early 90's, but I did the same as you described. Setting up, all adjustments were done on my amp or the board. Oh, and I used a SansAmp as well. Usually once I had my sound dialed in, well that was it. I was a one trick pony back then. :D
Always worked for me.

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Post subject: Re: tone controls - to use or to ignore?
Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 12:44 pm
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I need to use my tone control. I can't run back to my amp and mess with it most of the time because we play tunes one after another alot. There is the thing of after a couple hours everyones hearing is fried and I may need to jack up the treble a little to get the honk. On a stage where our amps are on ear level with people in front of use- I'm sure their hearing is fried after a couple hours also. It's called "Heavy Loud Rock" dudes and I love it. Take no prisoners and no sissies allowed.


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Post subject: Re: tone controls - to use or to ignore?
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 1:05 pm
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Mostly all the way open. In country and blues I roll it back a bit.

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Post subject: Re: tone controls - to use or to ignore?
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:44 pm
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I have my passive Precisions setup to be really bright and full range. I run a lot of high end and low end EQ while scooping the mids so that the graphic equalizer basically looks like a "u" or a "v." My two main Precisions have roundwound TI EB344 PowerBass strings, probably among the brightest string sets around. I start with the instrument tone control all the way toward bass and just crack it a bit toward treble to start. As the sets wear on or as the song requires I increase the instrument tone a bit more toward treble and roll off the volume a tad till it sounds right. If I start with the treble and volume both wide open then I have nowhere to go but down. Since I use a fair amount of compression, any instrument volume control changes impact density and sustain more than the actual instrument volume. What comes out of my amp pretty much only matters to me on stage as usually I'm patched into a PA with a pair of power amps feeding 18" subs so my amp settings are just for my personal entertainment since the DI out is previous to any amp EQ. I've tried it both Pre and Post EQ and prefer to give the sound tech the reins as he can hear the front of house mix better than I do.


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Post subject: Re: tone controls - to use or to ignore?
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 9:49 am
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Well, they're there for a reason.

Changing tone control settings changes the "mood" or the "feeling" of the notes you're playing, in combination with volume control and picking strength and technique.

The more you are able to use all of them in a sensitive way, the more feeling you can express when playing. Being able to use all controls available on your guitar/bass is what sets beginners apart from pros because it enables you to form and shape sound, expression and feeling.

That's the theory!
It takes a whole lot of practice and experience and it's essential to become a good player, whether it's guitar or bass.

IMHO, a player will never reach the hearts of an audience if he/she plays continously with "throttle full open".

I do use them all but even after many years of playing (guitar, that is) I still practice and work on using them effectively to assist the song I'm playing. I also use them on my bass but with way less experience since I hardly play bass.

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Post subject: Re: tone controls - to use or to ignore?
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 2:44 pm
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The bass I just bought, doesn't have a tone control.

I never really used it anyway, I can usually get the tone from my fingers, attack, and position (Placement).

Mellow=closer to or on the neck with a softer attack,,,etc.

Thinking back, I had a Gibson Ripper with a tone switch, (4 position I think), and I did use that, but hardly ever the tone pod.


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Post subject: Re: tone controls - to use or to ignore?
Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:53 am
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Never on my P Basses, but I do on my AVRI 62 J Bass.

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Post subject: Re: tone controls - to use or to ignore?
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 12:25 pm
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I almost never touch the tone knob at all. The only times I have have been when I'm doing soundcheck and the room is really harsh. Then, I might roll of 20% or so to get the warmth back.

99% of the time though, it's... to the max!


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Post subject: Re: tone controls - to use or to ignore?
Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 7:27 pm
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Thanks for all the votes and responses! Pretty evenly matched I would say. I just put my Duck Dunn Signature through its paces the other day and never touched the tone control once. Like someone else said here, when I want to change tone I do it with my hands - position, technique, etc.

Keep the comments coming! 8)

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Post subject: Re: tone controls - to use or to ignore?
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 2:22 am
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I very rarely use the volume or tone control - except using the volume control as a mute. I have used the tone control in the studio when I made the mistake of using WAY too new strings. I find the best control I have is in my fingers. I swap frequently (often mid song) between pick and finger style. I pick anywhere from right on the bridge to right up the neck. Sometimes I delicately caress it, sometimes I belt it! :wink:


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Post subject: Re: tone controls - to use or to ignore?
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 11:00 am
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I play with three groups, doing top 40 country, old pop standards, and classic rock, respectively, and our oldies group played a lot of Christmas music last month. So I use the tone control all the time, depending on the instrumentation (the first band is lead vocals/rhythm guitar/lead guitar/bass/drums, with everything amplified; the second is lead vocals/acoustic rhythm guitar/harmony backup vocals/bass/percussion, and the last lead vocals/rhythm guitar/drums - when available - percussion/bass) and the material, and we play in venues from an old Victorian home living room to on flatbed trailers outdoors to theaters, with the (now occasional) dance hall thrown in.

In other words, I NEED the tone control!


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