Are you a vol/vol or a vol/pan kinda player?

[Damonjames]

Hey everyone, just a little though here as I feel like I have had a lightbulb moment. I have just swapped my vol/vol controls on my bass for vol/pan and it's awesome!!! I can't imagine why you would want it any other way....
I always have at least one of the pickups on my p/j and previously my jazz fully on, so to tweak the mix meant two knobs needed fiddling. Now I just leave the volume maxed and pan between the two to get the blend!

Anyone have any negative is this approach?

[neepheid]

If it works for you, great. To help you imagine someone wanting it a different way - I don't care for blends, I'd rather have a switch. I use a blend pot like a switch anyway (all one way or the other or the middle detent). I have no need for the minute differences which may or may not result from having certain percentages of each pickup and I've got even less desire to fiddle with it.

[ezbass]

I've always been a vol + pan guy but now I'm really feeling the vol + vol + 3 way selector (recent Ric convert).

[lowhand_mike]

vol/pan, i like you like to have the volume up (actually cant think of much of a reason for the vol on a bass as i tend so set it and leave it and control the vol fromn the amp but i digress) and blend between the pickups but really only ever play on center dent thingy or neck pup for a precisiony kind of sound. center blend is the sound of my bass so i like it and use that.

[P-ZARN]

Recently converted my Spector Euro 5 from vol/vol to vol/pan. Much greater control now

[Damonjames]

I always found that full vol on both pickups on my jazz (before o changed to dp123's gave a poorer output than favouring one pickup, it has to do with the outputs being I phase or something technical (I Annan electrician so should know this) so always favour one or the other

[Delberthot]

I tried both on my Precision but preferred the blend. In fact I used the blend more than the active 2 band active EQ

On the Yamahas it's a pickup switch similar to a Rickenbacker and vol & tone. I run everything full on and it gives me the best sound.

Edited May 22, 2015 by Delberthot

[JapanAxe]

Only one of my four basses has two pickups, and that one has a blend control, which works very well. I never got on with the 2 vols when I had a Jazz, and swapped one of the vols for a 3-way switch!

Damon - is your bass active or passive, what blend pot did you use, and where did you get it from?

[CamdenRob]

I've always found the VVT of a jazz bass a bit difficult to work with as I like to keep a bit of volume back in case I need a boost live. Its difficult to do that on a VVT without changing the tone.

I'm sold on the Wal setup of EQing each pickup separately then blending with a master volume at the end of the chain.

[Damonjames]

Hey JapanAxe, it's fitted to my Spector euro,
And I got the pots from waveydavey so I'm
Not sure as to to the make

[IanA]

I really prefer vol pan, winding 2 volumes on at the same time is more awkward

[chrismuzz]

in theory, pan is better, as there's less knob twiddling involved in changing your tone... Wouldn't do me any good though as I'm a "both pickups on full" kinda guy

[Kev]

I'v never understood, as a bassist, why a volume knob is needed. I have never used it, and probably never will. Have a killswitch if you must, otherwise just do without

[Modman]

I've found, when playing in pit bands for musicals, a volume/pan setup is absolutely crucial for smoother endings and quicker tonal adjustments.

[hubrad]

Yup, Vol/Pan for me.. easy to knock the volume down in one go, whether for effect or off at the end of a number.

[Woodinblack]

You people who don't know why you have to knock the volume off a bit so you can turn it up half way through - do you not play with 'normal' guitarists that turn everything up half way through?

But yes. vol / pan. I have a jazz now, that is a pain.

[Chiliwailer]

Just got my very first vol / pan after all these years and I instantly found it incredibly useful. I set the grub screw on the pan knob to the centre point so I can remember sweet spots easier. Why didn't I do it to my Jazz Basses all those years ago, must be a pretty simple mod.

That's it for me now, volume & pan all the way, love it.

Edited May 23, 2015 by Chiliwailer

[KingBollock]

Both my actives came with vol/blend. I converted my passive P/J from vol/vol to vol/blend, just for an excuse to fiddle with it, not really thinking it would work that well, but I like it. I'd covert my Aria J/J too but I intend making it active at some point and the preamp will come with a blend anyway.

Also considering doing it to my twin humbucker skinny stringer. I wonder how a blend with a tone pot for each pick up would work? Can you get blend pots that you can pull, that would work as a kill switch?

[Bass Pedal Geek]

I got this one recently:
http://bass-pedals.com/fender-precision-bass/nordy-pj5-active.html

I ordered it based on having tried Carey Nordstrand's personal 5-string P and I told him I wanted a bass just like that, but with a J at the bridge as well. When we discussed the preamp layout, he suggested V/V instead of V/B because that was the best possible way to isolate the P pickup entirely, which was the initial starting point for me. So we did that. Whether I'd be able to tell any real differnce had it been a V/B preamp, I don't know... I have another bass that is V/B and totally agree with you with regard to the pratical side of that layout. :-)

[IanA]

[quote name='Bass Pedal Geek' timestamp='1432504236' post='2782197']
I got this one recently:
http://bass-pedals.com/fender-precision-bass/nordy-pj5-active.html

I ordered it based on having tried Carey Nordstrand's personal 5-string P and I told him I wanted a bass just like that, but with a J at the bridge as well. When we discussed the preamp layout, he suggested V/V instead of V/B because that was the best possible way to isolate the P pickup entirely, which was the initial starting point for me. So we did that. Whether I'd be able to tell any real differnce had it been a V/B preamp, I don't know... I have another bass that is V/B and totally agree with you with regard to the pratical side of that layout. :-)
[/quote]
That is a beautiful bass I bet it sounds amazing, have spoken with Carey and Mo and Adrian on the phone a number of times, they are great guys. The build quality on their basses is second to none IMO. I have a Nordy VJ4 that I am thinking of changing to vol/pan.... I think that would make it just perfect!

[ezbass]

[quote name='IanA' timestamp='1432505666' post='2782212']

That is a beautiful bass I bet it sounds amazing, have spoken with Carey and Mo and Adrian on the phone a number of times, they are great guys. The build quality on their basses is second to none IMO. I have a Nordy VJ4 that I am thinking of changing to vol/pan.... I think that would make it just perfect!
[/quote]Another big up for Nordy customer service. I recently asked a question about the Big Single height on my Ibanez and Adrian couldn't have been more accommodating.

[Skybone]

Don't mind whether it's vol/vol or vol/pan, it's having the choice that counts. Though I would choose vol/vol/3 way over vol/pan any day.

It still amazes me, when you get a twin pickup bass that doesn't have either option in this day and age. Surely it makes more sense to have one or the other for the sake of versatility?

[Guest MoJo]

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1432399156' post='2781170']
You people who don't know why you have to knock the volume off a bit so you can turn it up half way through - do you not play with 'normal' guitarists that turn everything up half way through?
[/quote]

I have one of these to combat that problem

[url="http://s1332.photobucket.com/user/markmojo1962/media/Basses/20150323_185709_zpsxwqwqu30.jpg.html"][/url]

I can set up a patch with a 'normal' volume level and then set a 'boost' volume level and save it. If anyone turns up, step on the button.....WHAMO!

On topic: I prefer a volume/switch setup as I always have my pickups full up

Edited May 25, 2015 by MoJo

[Roland Rock]

I've never used a vol/vol tone setup, but I don't think I'd like it.

I use vol/blend and it's great, but tbh I'd be just as happy with a three way switch instead of blend. Actually thinking about it a switch would be better as you can see at a glance what setting it is on.

Edited May 25, 2015 by Roland Rock

[pfretrock]

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1432309853' post='2780352']
I've always been a vol + pan guy but now I'm really feeling the vol + vol + 3 way selector (recent Ric convert).
[/quote]
I've just rewired my Tele bass to vol + vol + tone by adding a second vol. It was vol + tone + 3 way selector. Now it is wired similar to a ric, the redundant 3 way switch now used to switch in two hi pass filters on the bridge pickup. An improvement on the slightly muddy neck pickup all or nothing 3 way switch.