Bypassing the tone control????

[Jag Panzer]

Tim,

Can I get your thoughts on bypassing the tone control when wiring a guitar.

I've read several posts in other forums where guys swear that thier tone gets much better by getting rid of the tone control.

I imagine you would know more about this then anyone.

Mark

[HJM]

If you don't use it you might as well remove 'em!

You'll get a bit more drive to the amp in the frequency extremes, from what I've noticed. It's not night and day, but the difference is there.  Capacitors are about the worse things you can put in an audio path, the fewer the better in guitars and amps imho.

FWIW I like to use my tone controls!

Oh, and don't use those stupid treble bypass caps on volume pots - tone killers!!

[TwilightOdyssey]

I don't use the tone control on any of my guitars; mostly because I'm very simple, guitar-wise ... just a bridge HB, plug &  play!

I prefer it !!!

[bucketshred]

Well considering there won't be any little electronic doodah in the way of the pickup to input jack, there should be some difference in tone.

Although don't go with my thoughts, I can barely work a soldering iron.

Andy!

[Tim]

Tim,

Can I get your thoughts on bypassing the tone control when wiring a guitar.

I've read several posts in other forums where guys swear that thier tone gets much better by getting rid of the tone control.

I imagine you would know more about this then anyone.

Mark

Funnily enough I've cut the tone pot out on my Miracle Man LP and it does make a difference. The more there is between the pickup and the jack the more the signal gets loaded and you lose highs.We're only talking small amounts here but as usual it all adds up.
If you really don't use it, cut the connection which is usually a capacitor.

Some players even have a 'thick' switch which routes the pickup direct to the jack and bypasses all controls.

A properly wired up tone pot, correct value caps etc really is a great asset-just watch a player like Geoff Whitehorn-no pedals etc just guitar and amp-all the tones come from him and clever use of volume and tone pots-simple but very, very effective.

[Tim]

If you don't use it you might as well remove 'em!

You'll get a bit more drive to the amp in the frequency extremes, from what I've noticed. It's not night and day, but the difference is there.  Capacitors are about the worse things you can put in an audio path, the fewer the better in guitars and amps imho.

FWIW I like to use my tone controls!

Oh, and don't use those stupid treble bypass caps on volume pots - tone killers!!

Amen to that-they're just for poor sounding pickups. A good pickup doesn't need a treble bleed cap.

[HTH AMPS]

A properly wired up tone pot, correct value caps etc really is a great asset-just watch a player like Geoff Whitehorn-no pedals etc just guitar and amp-all the tones come from him and clever use of volume and tone pots-simple but very, very effective

I agree about using the volume & tone pots to create different tones, especially if you figure in coil taps into the equation.  I personally prefer the 'dial-a-split' trick off the Seymour Duncan website than tone pots - much more tonal options.  

Not quite so sure about the Geoff Whitehorn bit, he's ruined the last Paul Rodgers LP and his tone is awfull - dripping in chorus, yuk!!!  :(

 :twisted:

[HJM]

[quote="HEAVIER THAN HELL
I agree about using the volume & tone pots to create different tones, especially if you figure in coil taps into the equation.  I personally prefer the 'dial-a-split' trick off the Seymour Duncan website than tone pots - much more tonal options.  

 :twisted:[/quote]I'm about to get pissed off with Seymour here - is that a variable coil tap on a pot you're talking about - if so I hope they're not trying to take credit for it!

regarding Geoff, if you give him toys - he'll play.......but when we had him on the stand at Music Live, plugged into Tim's JMP 100w half stack, the tones he got were the best at the show imho.

[Tim]

A properly wired up tone pot, correct value caps etc really is a great asset-just watch a player like Geoff Whitehorn-no pedals etc just guitar and amp-all the tones come from him and clever use of volume and tone pots-simple but very, very effective

I agree about using the volume & tone pots to create different tones, especially if you figure in coil taps into the equation.  I personally prefer the 'dial-a-split' trick off the Seymour Duncan website than tone pots - much more tonal options.  

Not quite so sure about the Geoff Whitehorn bit, he's ruined the last Paul Rodgers LP and his tone is awfull - dripping in chorus, yuk!!!  :(

 :twisted:

Hmmmm, I know what you mean but if you actually see him play in the flesh his tone is excellent, all from his fingers and no FX at all. The playing on the PR album was good though the only thing that lets that album down is the song writing.

[HTH AMPS]

I saw GW live with Paul Rodgers a few years back in Newcastle, the songwriting was a bit naff (agreed) but his playing/tone just left me cold. I'm sure he's a good player, but I just haven't seen evidence of it yet.

As for the spin-a-split variable coil tap, they list it as a mod on the 'Duncan website - not sure if they're trying to pass it off as something they came up with though, more just a cool trick that people might want to try.

 :twisted:

[HJM]

I saw GW live with Paul Rodgers a few years back in Newcastle, the songwriting was a bit naff (agreed) but his playing/tone just left me cold. I'm sure he's a good player, but I just haven't seen evidence of it yet.

As for the spin-a-split variable coil tap, they list it as a mod on the 'Duncan website - not sure if they're trying to pass it off as something they came up with though, more just a cool trick that people might want to try.

 :twisted:

Probably using his cr@p JMP1 rig, never got on with mine....

[Tim]

Strange............one of the most common calls we get is regarding Geoffs tone, although you have to bare in mind the artist he's working for dictates what he does and PR called the shots from what I understand.
Hopefully Geoff will stop by our stand at LGS and do a spot of playing. HJM had a jam with him at Music Live and they both sounded great-Geoff was doing some great tonal shaping with just vol and tone knobs plugged into my JMP master volume, no FX just guitar and cord. The tone was staggering as HJM has testified. The sound clips he's done for us are good too-they're on the Crawler page.