Damonjames Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 I've always been a vol + pan guy but now I'm really feeling the vol + vol + 3 way selector (recent Ric convert). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowhand_mike Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-ZARN Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Recently converted my Spector Euro 5 from vol/vol to vol/pan. Much greater control now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damonjames Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damonjames Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 I really prefer vol pan, winding 2 volumes on at the same time is more awkward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modman Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 I've found, when playing in pit bands for musicals, a volume/pan setup is absolutely crucial for smoother endings and quicker tonal adjustments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiliwailer Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass Pedal Geek Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 [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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 (edited) [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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfretrock Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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