80's Superstrats and bypassing tone pots

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nightwing122087

New member
When talking about superstrats, I never really hear too many people talk about bypassing the tone knobs. But in the 80's, it seemed like almost everyone and their mother used to do this. It must have been a fairly big part of the overall sound of rock guitar at the time, and I admit a like a lot of those guitar tones.

Does anyone here like to bypass the tone controls on their guitars? Is there a difference between bypassing the control completely and putting in a 1 meg pot in the guitar for more highs? Are there any other advantages other than a bit of added brightness?

Your thoughts?
 
Re: 80's Superstrats and bypassing tone pots

On my HB/SC loaded Strats w/Floyds I still don't bother with tone controls. I'm a throwback like that I guess....:rolleyes:
 
Re: 80's Superstrats and bypassing tone pots

If I were doing an 80's superstrat and I didn't need the tone pot, I would leave it out. I would agree that for certain guitarists, part of the "scream" could be attributed to the lack of a tone pot.
 
Re: 80's Superstrats and bypassing tone pots

This is all gaga.

The difference of bypassing a 500 Kohm tone pot while leaving the volume pot in place is barely audible.
 
Re: 80's Superstrats and bypassing tone pots

I think the biggest contributor to the 80's high gain sound was making sure you got your hair tangled in the bridge.
 
Re: 80's Superstrats and bypassing tone pots

Kramer Baretta- JB and a volume pot.. Nothing else needed..
 
Re: 80's Superstrats and bypassing tone pots

Pipe dream, says I. If all you're doing is wank-rock, a 1-hum 1 volume wank-wonder will do you, but for the other 98% of the populace, that's too limiting. Tone knobs are a benefit, not a hindrance. That's why they're called "Tone" and not "Treble".

Learn to use them effectively.
 
Re: 80's Superstrats and bypassing tone pots

DrNewcenstein said:
Pipe dream, says I. If all you're doing is wank-rock, a 1-hum 1 volume wank-wonder will do you, but for the other 98% of the populace, that's too limiting. Tone knobs are a benefit, not a hindrance. That's why they're called "Tone" and not "Treble".

Learn to use them effectively.
Click to expand...

Bawhahahahahaha!
 
Re: 80's Superstrats and bypassing tone pots

DrNewcenstein said:
Pipe dream, says I. If all you're doing is wank-rock, a 1-hum 1 volume wank-wonder will do you, but for the other 98% of the populace, that's too limiting. Tone knobs are a benefit, not a hindrance. That's why they're called "Tone" and not "Treble".

Learn to use them effectively.
Click to expand...

You do know how contradictory this sounds when one looks at the unknobbed, singlehum War Angel next to it, right? :D
 
Re: 80's Superstrats and bypassing tone pots

99.9% of the time I don't touch the tone knobs. If I can get a guitar with just volume, I go for it. If its got tone controls I leave them. If I'm rewiring a guitar anyway, I might just not hook up the tone controls.

That said, the tone on my EMG loaded Model 4 is useful for neck single coil positions, but only barely.
 
Re: 80's Superstrats and bypassing tone pots

Zerberus said:
You do know how contradictory this sounds when one looks at the unknobbed, singlehum War Angel next to it, right? :D
Click to expand...

Fascist!


:lol:


Yeah, I know, it's contradictory AND hypocritical - but it's fun to stir the pot :D
 
Re: 80's Superstrats and bypassing tone pots

I find that bypassing the tone makes the guitar much more sensitive to touch and pick attack. I also find that the sound is more open.
 
Re: 80's Superstrats and bypassing tone pots

This is all gaga.

The difference of bypassing a 500 Kohm tone pot while leaving the volume pot in place is barely audible.
Click to expand...

I must be tripping balls then, cause I can hear the difference?

at the same time, wouldn't do it with EMG's, I feel they need to be held back a bit.

Personal taste for everything. Not everyone'ss a shredder, and not everyone's Jimmy Page.
 
Re: 80's Superstrats and bypassing tone pots

If you already have a tone pot installed, there is a way to have it all, to 'future-proof' yourself for when your mindset may be different.


can you say 'no-load tone pot' ?
 
Re: 80's Superstrats and bypassing tone pots

easyrider66689 said:
I find that bypassing the tone makes the guitar much more sensitive to touch and pick attack. I also find that the sound is more open.
Click to expand...

Yep, that goes for me as well. I only use tone knobs on Strats when I want to get Jeff Beck-ish tones. Otherwise I just never touch them. Not a part of my style I guess.
 
Re: 80's Superstrats and bypassing tone pots

I lets take it this way: You wont hear a difference, if you dont dont compare it with a flick of a switch. But its much easier to get these screaming overtones without a tone pot.
 
Re: 80's Superstrats and bypassing tone pots

hamerfan said:
I lets take it this way: You wont hear a difference, if you dont dont compare it with a flick of a switch. But its much easier to get these screaming overtones without a tone pot.
Click to expand...

But that is often a result of these superstrats having 250/250/47 circuits, although they have a humbucker that clearly likes 500/500/22 better. It's just that people put in Strat controls in Strats and, particularly in the 1980ties, didn't turn their brain on.

So the resonance peak is being killed and you partially correct this mistake by removing the tone pot.

Removing the volume pot, or replacing it with a 1 Mohm pot, will be more effective, but of course that removes more capabilities than removing the tone pot removes.
 
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