Blog: The Unassuming but Sometimes Neglected Tone Control
- Thread starter Evan Skopp
- Start date
aleclee
Major General GAS
Re: Blog: The Unassuming but Sometimes Neglected Tone Control
Nice! I once read something about how a Tele is unusable if you don't work the tone control. As a Tele owner, I'd say that there's a fair bit of truth to that.
For a long long time I never touched the tone control on my guitar. These days as I try to use more varied/nuanced tones, I find it an easy way to dial in my rig to match the tone in my head.
Nice! I once read something about how a Tele is unusable if you don't work the tone control. As a Tele owner, I'd say that there's a fair bit of truth to that.
For a long long time I never touched the tone control on my guitar. These days as I try to use more varied/nuanced tones, I find it an easy way to dial in my rig to match the tone in my head.
Ashurbanipal
Well-known member
Re: Blog: The Unassuming but Sometimes Neglected Tone Control
I find the tone control more useful with single coils, and a lower value cap, like .018µf, so it's a decent sound even when turned down to 0.
I find the tone control more useful with single coils, and a lower value cap, like .018µf, so it's a decent sound even when turned down to 0.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Blog: The Unassuming but Sometimes Neglected Tone Control
Uh, no thx... Tone pot is generally one of the first candidates to go. But that's me, and I like srsly short signal paths, at the very least for the bridge bucker (guitars) or neck pup (basses). Only reason I haven't kept the VOLUMES off too is cuz i havent found me a pretty enough killswitch yet, and using an unconnected push pull pot seems kinda weird. IMHO, minimizing pots is the way to go to give your signal those last 5-10% extra bite that really pushes it into pure win territory.
However, it's not like I'm a tele player.
YMMV
Uh, no thx... Tone pot is generally one of the first candidates to go. But that's me, and I like srsly short signal paths, at the very least for the bridge bucker (guitars) or neck pup (basses). Only reason I haven't kept the VOLUMES off too is cuz i havent found me a pretty enough killswitch yet, and using an unconnected push pull pot seems kinda weird. IMHO, minimizing pots is the way to go to give your signal those last 5-10% extra bite that really pushes it into pure win territory.
However, it's not like I'm a tele player.
YMMV
FuseG4
Our Neighbor Totoro
Re: Blog: The Unassuming but Sometimes Neglected Tone Control
These days to get a nice warm tone I find myself starting with the controls on zero and work my way up til I find what I like.
If that means dialing the treble and gain up on the amp that's fine but it means I can always go to "everything on 10" for a boost.
I wonder how many guitars or pickups or amps I got rid of because I found something too bright or harsh...? Knob twiddling... wish I had discovered it 10 years ago.
These days to get a nice warm tone I find myself starting with the controls on zero and work my way up til I find what I like.
If that means dialing the treble and gain up on the amp that's fine but it means I can always go to "everything on 10" for a boost.
I wonder how many guitars or pickups or amps I got rid of because I found something too bright or harsh...? Knob twiddling... wish I had discovered it 10 years ago.
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: Blog: The Unassuming but Sometimes Neglected Tone Control
I never touch the tone control when playing actives, on occasions with passive humbuckers, and ALL THE TIME with single coils.
I never touch the tone control when playing actives, on occasions with passive humbuckers, and ALL THE TIME with single coils.
TheLivingDead
Dawn Of The Shred
Re: Blog: The Unassuming but Sometimes Neglected Tone Control
I remember when I barely used em. And if I did it was all the way up and all the way down. You can imagine I wasn't too thrilled about its uses.
BUT as I got better as a player and my ears developed I found that it's nearly essential! I mean who wouldn't want that extra option of tone control? In the right hands, it can help create some truly great tones.
I remember when I barely used em. And if I did it was all the way up and all the way down. You can imagine I wasn't too thrilled about its uses.
BUT as I got better as a player and my ears developed I found that it's nearly essential! I mean who wouldn't want that extra option of tone control? In the right hands, it can help create some truly great tones.
Powdered Toast Man
New member
Re: Blog: The Unassuming but Sometimes Neglected Tone Control
Absolutely, yes! I didn't realize how amazing the Tele bridge pickup alone could be until I learned to use the tone knob. Now I play on the bridge pickup 95% of the time. Just roll that tone knob back and forth for the right amount of cut or warmth.
I also found that since I learned to use the tone knobs on the guitar, I almost never touch the amp settings now.
I think it's a common thing for inexperienced players to put their guitar's knobs all up to 10 at all times and only adjust the amp. I know I used to for years.
Absolutely, yes! I didn't realize how amazing the Tele bridge pickup alone could be until I learned to use the tone knob. Now I play on the bridge pickup 95% of the time. Just roll that tone knob back and forth for the right amount of cut or warmth.
I also found that since I learned to use the tone knobs on the guitar, I almost never touch the amp settings now.
I think it's a common thing for inexperienced players to put their guitar's knobs all up to 10 at all times and only adjust the amp. I know I used to for years.
TimmyPage
New member
Re: Blog: The Unassuming but Sometimes Neglected Tone Control
I come from a jazz background, so I played guitar with the tone knob on 2-4 for years straight. I'm still adjusting to the sound of a fully open tone pot, even some of the darkest, meatiest sounding guitars sound plinky to me still.
There's such an incredible range of tone to be had with it though, if you aren't a metal/punk etc player there's so much you can gain from playing around with the tone knob. Recently I've really taken to a rolled down bridge pickup tone for fusion-esque or blues solos; you roll it down to 4 or 5, just enough to keep a little fizz while making the attack of your pick completely smooth, it's a really great sound.
(And I want to clarify, the metal/punk thing isn't a negative statement, but they are genres based around that bite, tightness, clarity, attack and output. I can fully understand why so many metal guitarists will have the tone knob removed from the circuit or not on the guitar in the first place)
I come from a jazz background, so I played guitar with the tone knob on 2-4 for years straight. I'm still adjusting to the sound of a fully open tone pot, even some of the darkest, meatiest sounding guitars sound plinky to me still.
There's such an incredible range of tone to be had with it though, if you aren't a metal/punk etc player there's so much you can gain from playing around with the tone knob. Recently I've really taken to a rolled down bridge pickup tone for fusion-esque or blues solos; you roll it down to 4 or 5, just enough to keep a little fizz while making the attack of your pick completely smooth, it's a really great sound.
(And I want to clarify, the metal/punk thing isn't a negative statement, but they are genres based around that bite, tightness, clarity, attack and output. I can fully understand why so many metal guitarists will have the tone knob removed from the circuit or not on the guitar in the first place)
Inkstained
New member
Re: Blog: The Unassuming but Sometimes Neglected Tone Control
It's blog posts like this one that set the SD forum apart from the Poseur Page and the others. Nice.
It's blog posts like this one that set the SD forum apart from the Poseur Page and the others. Nice.
