I have just come back from playing a gig in a small band accompanying a choir. The concert programme included arrangements of pop (Simon & Garfunkel, Madonna, Lighthouse Family), classical (Mozart), opera (Carmina Burana), swing (Sinatra), and musicals (Oklahoma, West Side Story). I used one of my Precisions with the tone set at about 30%, and didn't feel the need to change any settings all night.
I wasn't being lazy, it just sounded great from one song to the next so I left it.
Why do I mention this? Quite often someone's question about a flexible or versatile bass is answered in terms of the range of sounds available from two or more pickups and/or onboard EQ. Tonight's experience highlighted an alternative answer.