interpol52 Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 I have a P bass and just put the volume on full all of the time. Does anyone know of any tone benefits or drawbacks of having the volume at less than full? I just wonder sometimes why a single pickup bass such as a Precision would have a master volume. I get it when basses have separate pickup volume. Can anyone enlighten me? Am I dim and missing a trick?! It is highly likely... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3below Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 (edited) One of my projects (long term lol) is a bitsa bass. No volume, no tone, just a pickup blend control. With passive basses I just run them full on. I now have a Warwick Corvette (bought via this very forum) and the tone control seems to do something useful - a new revelation in 40+ years bass playing. Edited January 29, 2015 by 3below Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 The volume control is to turn the bass down either a little, or completely to zero, depending on needs. Of course, if that's never needed, one could do without. You're the player; it's your call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
interpol52 Posted January 29, 2015 Author Share Posted January 29, 2015 [quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1422575127' post='2674361'] The volume control is to turn the bass down either a little, or completely to zero, depending on needs. Of course, if that's never needed, one could do without. You're the player; it's your call. [/quote] Yeah I just wondered if anyone used it to shape their overall sound or tone. I automatically reach for the volume on my amp head if I want to make adjustments, I have no idea why! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 I always have volume and tone up full on a passive P bass. It's the only way to get full output from the pickup. I had to learn how to use an active bass and get my sounds from a tone circuit, it's a completely different kettle of weasels. In either case I always set my volume from the amp anyway, because it's what I'm used to. Some people have their P pickup wired direct to the output jack and the control knobs are redundant. Makes sense to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 I'm an always up full kind of guy too. I do wonder though if anyone uses their volume knob to clean up a driven valve amp sound, as I believe our guitarist cousins are wont to do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Jamin Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 (edited) If I'm not playing in a section of music I'll often turn my volume fully down. Just to play safe. I imagine it was probably useful when most gear wasn't at the standard it is now (P-bass came out in the '50s) and buzzing/various noise problems was maybe more of an issue. Like old lighting rigs causing RF interference and such. No output from bass = no/less background noise. A couple of places I play at have dimmer packs that kick out a lot of RF which can play havoc with your pick-ups. It could also be used as a gain control to clean up/overdrive valve amps etc. It could also be used for volume swells, which sounds nice every now and then. I find it handy anyway! Edited January 30, 2015 by Ben Jamin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveK Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 As far as I'm concerned, an on/off switch would be just as useful on a P bass... or an active bass, come to that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK Jale Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] Always full up on a Precision for me. But the knob can be useful in the first tune if I've had to guess the master volume setting because we haven't had a soundcheck. Which is often. Also good for delicately rolling off the last note as the cymbals die away... a professional little touch which I'm confident invariably goes unnoticed. [/font][/color] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 My p bass volume is really a mute control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edpirie Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Useful for home practice with a TH500 so I don't have to fine tune the amp vol knobs down to their 'only just on' point. Otherwise full. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 My volumes are always at either full or nowt. If I'm too loud I'll just not hit 'em as hard... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highfox Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 I guess it depends what P bass-pickup combo you have. I have a 51 RI Precision that I put a Lindy Fralin pickup in and the sound really changes a lot when you play with the volume pot. I guess it's a very hot pick-up, it's almost like a pre-amp or overdrive knob! My other P-basses are always on full or then off when on standby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skej21 Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 [quote name='SteveK' timestamp='1422583428' post='2674405'] As far as I'm concerned, an on/off switch would be just as useful on a P bass... or an active bass, come to that! [/quote] I always put my Korg Pitchblack tuner in the signal chain and use it as an 'on/off' button... and obviously it's intended purpose too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 The volume knob on my G&L SB1 does most certainly affect the sound, other than the obvious volume increase/decrease. Like Highfox's example of the Fralins, the G&L Magnetic Field Design pups are super hot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Volume knob on my EBMM Stingray only has any effect in the last 20% of its travel. Next to useless, its more of a mute than a control! Which is why its full on up when i'm playing & wound back when i'm not. Got used to doing it & now use it as more of a mental switch, part of my concentration routine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vsmith1 Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 (edited) Wary of sounding like a numpty... I have my vol at about 75% and adjust my amp to give the vol I need. I have the capacity to adjust for so boosted moments. Also I find that I need to boost a little if I am on the bridge J-style pickup. [Do I need to adjust pickup heights?] As regards the tone, then I adjust it a lot depending on what song I'm playing, like roll off the tone for older style songs, or roll off if using a plectrum. Context for this is I'm playing covers and the band has a wide variety of songs and styles, so I don't have the same settings throughout the set list. On my amp, I have a footswitch operated mute, but also turn the vol right down at the end of sets, sessions, etc. Just have the habit formed to check that the vol is up. I use the Mute on the BH250 and built-in tuner or now with my new BX700 a tuner pedal. Edited January 30, 2015 by vsmith1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Always full on with my P bass, tone varied slightly to suit the song accordingly. If I'm not needed at all for a while I can mute with my tuner pedal. Final output vol always at the amp end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 full on for volume and tone, I use the much better amp or FX controls to alter the sound, lets face it the signal from a passive pick is weedy enough without making it weaker IMO obviously, once read some where that Mike Dirnt bypassed his controls for this reason. As for turning the volume down between songs, our guitarist does this, I've lost count of the number of times he's forgot to turn it back up again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 On most Precisions, the first thing to go when you start to roll off the volume is a bit of top end. So yes, you can alter the tone with just the volume knob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 (edited) With regard to muting between songs and so on, I do this by holding the strings with my left hand. I also tend to use the same settings throughout a set and change the tone where necessary by alternating between fingers and pick, or plucking at different positions between neck and bridge with the right hand, fretting/muting differently with the left hand, palm muting, and so on. I'm a great believer in the old 'it's all in the fingers' adage. And anything that takes fiddling with EQ, control knobs, pedals or scrotum out of the equation is all to the good, imho. Playing live is chaotic enough as it is without unnecessarily adding to the mayhem and making life difficult for yourself. IMHO, obviously. YMMV. Edited January 30, 2015 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1422614105' post='2674568'] On most Precisions, the first thing to go when you start to roll off the volume is a bit of top end. So yes, you can alter the tone with just the volume knob. [/quote] indeed, I find the tone knob useful, the volume knob less so other than an as a mute for unplugging or somesuch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckinthepod Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 [quote name='vsmith1' timestamp='1422610318' post='2674505'] Wary of sounding like a numpty... I have my vol at about 75% and adjust my amp to give the vol I need. I have the capacity to adjust for so boosted moments. Also I find that I need to boost a little if I am on the bridge J-style pickup. [Do I need to adjust pickup heights?] As regards the tone, then I adjust it a lot depending on what song I'm playing, like roll off the tone for older style songs, or roll off if using a plectrum. Context for this is I'm playing covers and the band has a wide variety of songs and styles, so I don't have the same settings throughout the set list. On my amp, I have a footswitch operated mute, but also turn the vol right down at the end of sets, sessions, etc. Just have the habit formed to check that the vol is up. I use the Mute on the BH250 and built-in tuner or now with my new BX700 a tuner pedal. [/quote] I'm in a similar situation everything up on the bass is full blow rock out tone. I ease off volume, blend the P&J and roll back the tone for the more classic rock numbers Bowie, Stones etc and if I want the bass to be less dominant in the overall sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horizontalste Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Can't comment on a P bass but the volume pots on a jazz can alter the tone quite dramatically, more of a pickup balance thing but definitely tone altering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Volume always on full. If I need to be a bit quieter/louder I`ll hit the strings accordingly. Easier than twiddling the volume control and not getting it in the right place, so then having the wrong volume for the rest of the song/gig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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