Passive Tone Control - Open, Closed or Both?

[Guest MoJo]

When I first got into bass playing, my main influences were Steve Harris, Geddy Lee and Chris Squire among others and my preferred tone choice was a growly 'tone-wide-open' P-bass. As I've matured I experiment with the tone control a little more, especially if I'm playing an old soul number or the like, I'll roll the tone off. My predecessor in my current band played a P-bass with a pick with the tone constantly rolled off. I heard Killer Queen on the radio earlier and noticed that John Deacon played on that with a very rounded tone and it prompted me to ask the question above  

Edited June 26, 2018 by MoJo

[Lozz196]

I`ve found that on my Precisions I generally have the tone on full, but if I want to roll it off it`s about a third - I set the fixing screws from the control knobs to be facing downwards when fully off, and then when backing off line it up with one of the screws on the pickguard. This way it`s got a bit of each so to speak, and goes from a gnarly/growly/twangy sound to a more traditional warm P-sound.

[phil.c60]

I used to roll mine almost completely off (P wit flats) but I've started to roll off less recently for a bit more "presence" for want of a better word. It's all down to what sounds right to you really!

[Kevsy71]

I used to do the same as Lozz above, which works great.  Now I leave it wide open and switch between an 'SVT' and 'B15' present on my Sansamp VT.  When playing live I'm less likely to forget which tone I'm on when there's a glowing red light!

[EliasMooseblaster]

Vary it to suit - it depends on the bass I'm playing, but also on the room I'm playing it in, who I'm playing with, and even what mood I'm in!

[PaulWarning]

usually wide open except on the few reggae/ska songs we do then I have the tone closed (P bass) so I use them as on/off switches really.

[stingrayPete1977]

I can't recall the last bass I had with a tone control. 

[NancyJohnson]

3 hours ago, stingrayPete1977 said:

I can't recall the last bass I had with a tone control. 

It was that one.

[NancyJohnson]

Open all the way here.  Why would I want to muffle it?  I'd sooner put cotton wool in my ears.

I've wired a couple of basses straight to the jack socket before now.

[Mykesbass]

Usually between 80% and fully open. As with volume, I like to have a little bit of tweaking room on the bass. Hate fiddling with the amp once I'm playing.

[CameronJ]

8 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

I`ve found that on my Precisions I generally have the tone on full, but if I want to roll it off it`s about a third - I set the fixing screws from the control knobs to be facing downwards when fully off, and then when backing off line it up with one of the screws on the pickguard. This way it`s got a bit of each so to speak, and goes from a gnarly/growly/twangy sound to a more traditional warm P-sound.

Pretty much this for me.

[joeystrange]

4 hours ago, stingrayPete1977 said:

I can't recall the last bass I had with a tone control. 

Probably about 12 or 13 years ago for me.

I realised I didn’t have any use for a tone control and have removed it from every bass I’ve had since.

[Guest MoJo]

4 minutes ago, joeystrange said:

Probably about 12 or 13 years ago for me.

I realised I didn’t have any use for a tone control and have removed it from every bass I’ve had since.

Wow. Reminds me of a local bass player I used to watch, in my formative years. As he spoke to the audience between songs (yes he was the lead vocalist for the band too), he had a habit of rubbing his thumb on the volume and tone controls as if to constantly check that they were both fully up, no doubt triggered by an embarrassing event in the past. It must have developed into such a nervous affliction that, the last time I saw him play, he'd removed both controls on his bass and filled in the holes. I can only assume that he'd wired the pickups directly to the output socket

[Trueno]

I keep mine wide open now. I'd be happy to have a bass without a tone control.

[BrunoBass]

Tone up all the way on my Ps and Js when played fingerstyle, tone rolled off slightly (volume too) with a pick. 

[BrunoBass]

8 minutes ago, Trueno said:

I keep mine wide open now. I'd be happy to have a bass without a tone control.

1 x volume. Perfect. 

[Les]

1 hour ago, BrunoBass said:

Tone up all the way on my Ps and Js when played fingerstyle, tone rolled off slightly (volume too) with a pick. 

This

[CameronJ]

4 hours ago, BrunoBass said:

1 x volume. Perfect. 

They’re lovely - especially the roadworn white!

[Skybone]

Wide open on my Fakers

[Yank]

Neck pickup full up,  Bridge pickup off,  Tone off.  With flats.  Round and warm.

[discreet]

Full on - and take care of any EQ from amp or DAW. With a passive bass you really want all the output the pickup has to offer.

[TrevorR]

On my Aria SB700 I'll use fully open, fully off and backed off a wee bit (that's a technical term).

[Akio Dāku]

23 hours ago, EliasMooseblaster said:

Vary it to suit - it depends on the bass I'm playing, but also on the room I'm playing it in, who I'm playing with, and even what mood I'm in!

+1 very much this. ^

[Graham]

I like my G&L SB2 which doesn't have one, with my Lakland Jazz has the tone is on full permanently, any tonal variance comes from pickup volumes, amp/Pre-amp tweaks and hand position/playing style

[Jonse]

On my back up P, around 80% open.

On my main player Rick, fully open. That sound is why I bought the thing.