..? for BASS players...

[Mitchell]

Who uses their TONE controls and how, experiments w/caps, etc???

Tell me more, please.

[FenderBender]

I use my tone controls by turning up the treble when using a pick, to make each note clearer, and turn it down when using my fingers. I usually leave the amp settings the same. Fender 5 String Jazz.

[Kap'n]

During my short tenure on a Precision Bass, the tone control is everything on that instrument, literally and figuratively.

Everything else is technique.

[FenderBender]

Absolutely! And it works the same way on my 5 string Jazz.

[FrankJohnson]

Usuajlly - tone about 1/4 on and I have 1 micro fer. caps in both SX basses that I rewired for darker tone.

[Mitchell]

Interesting!

Usuajlly - tone about 1/4 on and I have 1 micro fer. caps in both SX basses that I rewired for darker tone.

Do you mean .1, etc?

Ive havent heard squat about BASS players and their tone controls, so Im interested in learning more. Whats the favor'd cap, etc?
Thanks!

[chuckocaster]

all the way up, or all the way down, pick or no, just depends on what i'm looking to get. also, with a p bass, where you pick on the string (ie closer to bridge or closer to neck) changes the tone too.

i think i have a .05, i just use my ears to tell me if it's not bright enough or too bright.

[doc540]

Jbass: everything wide open for fingers, roll off some treb for a pick

all other tone changes made at the preamp (tech21 RBI)

[rodl2005]

'Jazz Bass. I use the tone on about 1/4 toward the bass side for my jazz stuff gives a nice thumpy bottom roundness thru my ampeg. -usually the bridge p/up 3/4 & 1/4 neck. Funk & rock-usually full bridge p/up 2/3 neck p/up tone on 3/4 tward the treble side- this gives a good all round roundness??? & can turn up the treble on tone knob for more cut thru the band. :)

[Rickenjangle]

I've not used any of my controls so far, but I notice when I play with a pick, and contrary to what I would have thought, the bass actually seems quieter rather than louder. I haven't really figured out how to deal with that, yet, but sometimes when I want to pump 8ths or 16ths my fingers get tired, or even start to develop blisters (since I don't play bass all the time, I don't have permanent calluses).

[FenderBender]

I've not used any of my controls so far, but I notice when I play with a pick, and contrary to what I would have thought, the bass actually seems quieter rather than louder. I haven't really figured out how to deal with that, yet, but sometimes when I want to pump 8ths or 16ths my fingers get tired, or even start to develop blisters (since I don't play bass all the time, I don't have permanent calluses).

What thickness of pick are you using.This effects how much "pluck" you get with the pick motion across the string. Also, a handy little trick for doing those 8th and 16ths. Use whats called the "alternating pick method", which means picking the note on every upstroke and every downstroke. That way you get twice as many notes per up/down motion. You can double the beat with half the work. Just an idea from an old Fender thumper. :)

[davey]

I haven't messed with the caps in my basses, in fact I don't use the tone controls much on either my guitars or basses. I'll roll them off if it gets too "clicky" or whatever- otherwise my sound is pretty much determined from my rig.

[Mitchell]

Thats pretty much the norm from what I hear.
Half play w/fingers and dont use the tone controls and others do.
Ive read in other places that the better the pups and pots the more use of the tone control, which is logical. Ive got some 1950's C-D .1 mf wax caps that Im going to offer up in the "FS" section after I get them all ready.
QUESTION: Whats the bass set-up on that "Seinfeld" show???
You guyz like kinda that tone/sound?

[Gravity Jim]

The bass on "Seinfeld" is a keyboard... i.e., a "ROMpler" that produces a synth tone based on a ROM-stored sample of an instrument. It's not really a bass.

But I'm sure the guys here can tell you what kind of bass produces that sort of "slap" tone real well.

[Mitchell]

Kool, thanks Jim... :)

[P-Bass player]

On my P-bass, the tone is full up, but I do back it off slightly depending on the song/volume/etc.

[FenderBender]

But I'm sure the guys here can tell you what kind of bass produces that sort of "slap" tone real well.

I have found that maple neck basses produce a brighter slap tone than rosewood necks. Pickup type, string type and gauge, and where on the string you slap also affect the sound.
I can't really recommend a brand name of a bass for slapping and pooing because, technically any bass is capable of these types of sounds, depending on the above characteristics.
Hope this helps.

[FenderBender]

Confucius say:
"90% of the slapping and popping style is contained in the fingers and thumb of the bass player, rather than in the bass itself". :ahem

[Mitchell]

Thanks.

Saturday, I was in a Pawn Shop cruis'n and I seen that some dude was pawning his Fender Bass and fighting for every last cent w/the ps guy.
He left upset and the bass stayed w/the ps.

..... :toobad

[FenderBender]

Thanks.

Saturday, I was in a Pawn Shop cruis'n and I seen that some dude was pawning his Fender Bass and fighting for every last cent w/the ps guy.
He left upset and the bass stayed w/the ps.

..... :toobad

How much does the PS want for it?

[FrankJohnson]

Interesting!


Do you mean .1, etc?

Ive havent heard squat about BASS players and their tone controls, so Im interested in learning more. Whats the favor'd cap, etc?
Thanks!

Oh.....yeah.........thats what I meant.....missed the decimal there......

I am not completely illiterate.....just have fumbly fingers!

(The becomes teh more than any other typo)

[FenderBender]

I am not completely illiterate.....

But I am, and dang proud of it! ;)

[Mitchell]

How much does the PS want for it?

I dont know anything else about it, sorry..

[Bluzbass]

I'm with Doc, everything wide open and adjust at the amp

[shoebox22]

Am Jazz with the S1 switch and I'm still experimenting with it.

I'm also a veritable newbie so I'm also still learning exactly where I want to place my fingers so sometimes I'll be playing closer to one pickup and sometimes I'll be up on the neck if I'm sitting down.

Love the S1 switch, though. That's giving me an extra gear and dimension to play with.

[hilojim]

I re-wired my jazz so the tone pots are not used. Also installed series/parallel pots for dimarzio jazz pickups. Volumes run wide open in series position.

[FrankJohnson]

I like what I get out of almost all of my toys by turning the volume back about 1/8 turn or so....rolling it off and keeping the amp fairly hot, heavy bass, moderate/moderate heavy mids and highs rolled back to about 1/3 - 1/2 at the amp. Pre amp is up between half ands 3/4 and master is at the "threshold"........I dial it in at the bass and with my fingers/playing attack...


I dunno...it works better for me.