Happy Jack Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Big discussion in my band at the moment about volume levels and settings, not helped by the fact that I think the guitarists use their controls / pedals / amps in a fundamentally different way to me. Mutual incomprehension. Interested to find out whether I'm as far off-target as they seem to think I am. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 I assume you mean the volume on the bass! I'll leave my Bridge pickup on full, adjust the Neck pickup to taste for tonal reasons, and use my amp for gig volume. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 The fewer permutations with me the better at a gig. I have the volume on full, the treble rolled back slightly (on my Ps) and don't touch them from the soundcheck onwards. I tweak the amp volume if needs be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 It's on or it's off as far as I'm concerned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6stringbassist Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 I don't have one ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxrossell Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 [quote name='Happy Jack' post='658506' date='Nov 18 2009, 08:22 PM']Big discussion in my band at the moment about volume levels and settings, not helped by the fact that I think the guitarists use their controls / pedals / amps in a fundamentally different way to me.[/quote] I could be wrong but that may have something to do with the fact that the volume pot dictates the amount of gain driving the front end of the amp, which for a guitarist means that if they roll off the volume pot they have less overdrive or distortion. It actually doesn't have that much effect on the db volume when running into a high-gain channel until below 5 or so, whereas on a bass the volume pot acts more like a master volume (unless you're also using gain breakup effects). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 It's the most useless thing on a bass ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 I either have it on 10 or 0, so I suppose I could get away with a switch instead, but I think switches look ugly on basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 I don't understand the problem. It's the balance and suitability of the volume levels for the tune / event / room / audience that matters, not if it indicates 1 or 12 on the volume setting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Full on. No compromise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwbassman Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Tend to set my bass volume to full - set gig level at the amp - let the fingers deal with dynamics... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Full on 95% of the time but roll back a notch for quieter passages, intros etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Tut Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 I'm glad someones posted this. Andy Viccars (well respected local luthier and bass player) always reckons you should roll the volume on the pickup back a bit to find it's sweet spot. I usually have mine full on but do roll it back occasionally for quieter passages - but I'm interested - DOES volume level affect the tone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teej Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 um... my upright doesn't have one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 On full (it sounds better) all of the time. Only used to fade out ringing notes at the end of songs. That's it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pentode Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Did someone mention Andy Viccars? Ees' a top geezer - done some cracking work on my basses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wesfinn Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 a always slightly roll back from full. I get a sweeter tone that way. plus my p bass clips a bit with the volume on full. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzz Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 I have both of mine slightly rolled off my my Jazz bass as the pups sound nicer like that, it's normally around 75%/95% forward/back split, with my Aerodyne I have to roll off the p-pup otherwise it just overrides the j-pup. T-Bird is similar to the Jazz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chardbass Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 All or nothing. Play hard, play soft or tweek, bass and mid controls for a bit more harrumph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTool Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 [quote name='BigRedX' post='658609' date='Nov 18 2009, 09:47 PM']On full (it sounds better) all of the time. Only used to fade out ringing notes at the end of songs. That's it.[/quote] +1 exactly the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spinynorman Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 If I've got one volume control, it's full on most of the time, unless I really think I'm too loud mid song. If I've got two, one gets rolled off a bit. Never had 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashevans09 Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Hmm I alter it from time to time depending on the song. I try to avoid messing with my amp because the smallest tweak on it results in a huuuuuuge change in volume which considerably annoys sound guys + others in band. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Mostly on full as the envelope filter works better when used if there is a hotter signal going in. I used to have is rolled back slightly, but there's no difference soundwise. Only time I turn it is when I want no sound & it goes right down. An on/off switch would be better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 If the question is "does your bass sound better if the volume controls are set at 10, 8 or 5?" then we should probably differentiate between actives and passives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrenochrome Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Full all the time on all basses. With guitars it can be very different as a dirty amp can sound clean when the volume of the guitar is backed off, as someone mentioned earlier. This allows quieter/cleaner passages in a song without fiddling with amp or effects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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