Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: kellar on May 24, 2008, 01:02:00 PM
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Does anyone actually use them on their guitar? My volume controls seem to shape my tone enough and the two extra tone controls just seem to annoy me for whatever reason. As a matter of fact, I took the knobs off of them in an attempt to pretend they are not there. It actually looks kind of cool. :D
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I only really use the tone control for the bridge pickup when playing jazz stuff (i roll it down)
But then again i rarely do that...
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I quite often roll the tone off my neck pickup, especilly on strats. I like it thick :D
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I use the tone controls on all my guitars except my EMG-loaded Explorer where I don't even have them wired up.
On my Mule-loaded Les Paul I roll the tone down to fatten up the tone for solos. I'm running NOS bumblebees in that guitar and for tone caps there really is nothing better.
My Tele is generally a tiny bit too cutting for most of my needs, so I run the tone at 7 just to shave that edge off it - seriously fattens that Tele up.
Same deal on my LP junior - tone around 7 just to take the edge off things.
I must stress that good quality tone caps make all the deference - for years I never used the tone pots on my guitars as it just muddied things up, but a good tone cap can really add versatility.
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I usually get a really bright jangly tone then use the tone to drken it accordingly. It means that i can get more tones just by usibg my tone control!
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I use them all the time - I find I can get a serviceable Peter Green tone on one a strat by playing with the tone controls on the middle/neck position. I also do the early Clapton trick of rolling off the tone on my Mule equipped bridge to get that Stepping Out tone.
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I use my tone controls all the time.
Years ago (with a strat) I learnt to set up my amp tones with more top-end than I need then roll it back on the guitar tones - gives you the feeling of loads of versatility from your guitar alone.
I learnt this off watching Rory Gallagher live several times in the late 70s and early 80s. In an interview in the mid-late 70s he said he turned all the bass down, all the treble and mids up, all the volume up, and then used his guitar controls. It worked for me for while, but I find those settings a little extreme nowadays!
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Definitely agree with the right caps, but also the right pots. A change of my Charvel pots to decent CTS pots made a world of difference.
Mark.
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Which gives you better brightness in a Les Paul, the Modern or Vintage way of wiring the cap?
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I am assuming that not wiring up the tone controls will make the overall sound brighter, correct? If so, all that needs to be done is wire the pickups to the volume pots, correct? Do I need to ground the volume pots to each other?
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Everything should be grounded to one point (to avoid ground loops) if at all possible!
I followed one of these online guides (and I'm sure someone else will link to it, because I can't remember what it was called). It helped (amongst other tricks, too) with some squealing issues I'd been having.
Roo
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Cool man, so basically just one ground wire attaching the volume pots would do? I'll try it out.
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The slightly overkill way of wiring and shielding a guitar
http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/shielding/shield3.php
star grounding makes a lot of sense though
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Thanks for the link Wez, good info!
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I hardly ever use them. On some rare occasions I might use the mud switch on my Gretsch. My volume is always on max too. I like to push the full guitar signal in the amp.
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I never use them, seem utterly redundant to me. Use the volume control a lot though, I find a good volume pot and a powerful BKP and the tones are right there. Sexy.
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on knobs if u turn them up, the numbers get bigger (1-10) so i just turn mine up all the way and leave the tone to my amp, having my tone knob oin teh gutiar all the way up seems to me like im getting 10 out of 10 tone he he he
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I actually disconnected the tone controls today. It brightened my guitar right up. I won't be using them anymore.
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No, never.
Ive taken them off nearly all my guitars, and my next one wont have one to begin with.
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No, never.
Ive taken them off nearly all my guitars, and my next one wont have one to begin with.
+1
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Been thinking about it- what can I do with an empty knob? My telecaster has a single bridge humbucker (holydiver- nice) connected to a single volume, with the tone not connected. Is there anything interesting I can do with this redundant knob?
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Been thinking about it- what can I do with an empty knob? My telecaster has a single bridge humbucker (holydiver- nice) connected to a single volume, with the tone not connected. Is there anything interesting I can do with this redundant knob?
That's funny, I have been asking myself exactly the same thing. Right now I have the knobs removed since the pots aren't connected. It doesn't bother me that just the posts are sticking out, but what else could I do there? I wish they weren't there at all to tell you the truth. My next guitar will be without tone knobs.
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Variable coil taps?
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My pickups don't have 4 conductor wire.
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It depends on what the guitar is used for for me.
The guitars I use in a metal or hard rock context I never use the tone controls, I've removed them from a couple.
But guitars I use for Jazz/Blues or that I gig weddings and functions with I use the tone controls relentlessly.
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Nope.
No tone control, and no volume control if I can help it.
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Nope.
No tone control, and no volume control if I can help it.
I really have to try that one day. I've heard good things about it (lotsa clarity)
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Nope.
No tone control, and no volume control if I can help it.
I really have to try that one day. I've heard good things about it (lotsa clarity)
put a rotary switch in place of the tone pot so you can bypass the volume pot - see how you like it.
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Nope.
No tone control, and no volume control if I can help it.
I really have to try that one day. I've heard good things about it (lotsa clarity)
put a rotary switch in place of the tone pot so you can bypass the volume pot - see how you like it.
Good thinking batman!
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Nope.
No tone control, and no volume control if I can help it.
I really have to try that one day. I've heard good things about it (lotsa clarity)
put a rotary switch in place of the tone pot so you can bypass the volume pot - see how you like it.
Good thinking batman!
Aaaaaahhh that was my idea!! I wouldn't use a rotary switch though, just an on/on or push-pull.
:roll:
Well yeah I'm probably not the first to think of it, but it wasn't on the seymour duncan list of wiring diagrams.
On topic: I use my tone controlls a lot. I like to leave my amp on a setting and change tones on the guitar. I'm a man of subtlety so the more variation the better.
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Up to now, I would have also said that I hardly ( if ever ) used the tone controls - but now I have a 335 ( copy ) loaded with Alnico IV Stormy Mondays, the range of tonal possibilities / sonic palette has gone huge !
Until I get used to it - and find my favourite combinations, it is like handling a flight deck !
:lol:
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I use the tone controls all the time, especially on the neck pickup - I love that really warm, soupy tone you can get, with no audible pick attack.
Tend to leave the bridge tone on 10 with humbuckers, sometimes turn it down a bit with single-coils.
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Since I installed Stellartone Tonestylers I use the tone pots all the time. And yup, one position on those things is with no tone control included in the circuit for that bright, no load sound. Not cheap, but passive and I love 'em. I've never had so much versatility from tone controls alone.
cheers
tremblox