Philosophical bass knob

[korovamilkdud]

Here's a question that popped into my head today.

We know of course that trying to use a ton of bottom end and scooping out the mids is about the worst way in the world to try to fill out a mix. So knowing that mids give your tone character and warmth and treble gives it some punch and clarity (as long as you don't overdo it)...

why a bass knob? What is its function? What does turning the bass knob up really do for your guitar's ability to cut through a mix?

 

[Aceman]

Re: Philosophical bass knob

I have no idea - but the title of thios post is an awesome band name!

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Philosophical bass knob

I think that a 3 band active EQ with a trimpot for Mid Contour would be very valuable in a guitar.... then you could experiment all the time.

 

[3'scompany]

Re: Philosophical bass knob

So your guitar tone has some balls. Just cause you need some mids and highs to cut through doesn't mean that the bass is worthless, IMO. I like my tone to have some power and I can tell when a live band utilizes bass or not. I hate thin and weak sounding guitar tone. Without enough bass the electric guitar sounds shrill to me. Give me balls or give me death.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Philosophical bass knob

I like a bass control that affects either that low end "chunk" for riffing or that low mid woofing frequency. Both need adjusting based on your volume setting.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Philosophical bass knob

The important thing to know is that there's more to guitar tone than just "cutting through the mix."

Mids and highs are of course super-important, but a tone with no ass sounds flat and brittle. You gotta have some bottom, man!

 

[Rich_T]

Re: Philosophical bass knob

The important thing to know is that there's more to guitar tone than just "cutting through the mix."

Mids and highs are of course super-important, but a tone with no ass sounds flat and brittle. You gotta have some bottom, man!

Exactly. Sometimes I dont want to cut through the mix, I want to blend in, for a huge wall of noise sound. I want to be able to FEEL the guitar shake my nuts.

 

[korovamilkdud]

Re: Philosophical bass knob

Ah...and my eyes are opened. I've begun turning up my bass some. You know what? The "thud" is fun. :headbang:

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: Philosophical bass knob

The bass end of the spectrum adds a percussive element. As much of modern electric tone relies on thumpy palm-mutes...Top-tapping a "spanish guitar" is one of the great, stylistic attributes of flamenco guitar, and is centuries old. :fing2:

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Philosophical bass knob

it's another knob to dime & therefore increases your RPL (rock percentage level) by 10-35%

 

[Loserchief]

Re: Philosophical bass knob

Without a bass knob to adjust droptunings would turn into pure mud because of the added lowend. Also it adds balls as others have stated and cutting back on it on some guitars and amps can do wonders ofr clarity