does tone control cut signal?

Another guitarist told me the other day that rolling off the tone control ruduced the signal. I thought just the treble frequency was cut not the signal, but I am pretty ignorant when it comes to all the electronic stuff.

So... does rolling off the treble reduce the signal? Or does it just not cut through as much so it sounds like a reduction?

Cheers
Matt

Or does it just not cut through as much so it sounds like a reduction?

It shouldn't affect the signal. It's all about perception. Plus, the more you cut trebbles off the less you cut through the mix. Another reason to percieve less signal.

Fabien

Any guitar signal is the sum of a lot of frequencies. The tone control subtracts some of the high frequencies – sends them to ground. (High frequencies go through a capacitor easier than low frequencies.) Since most of the amplitude of the signal is due to the low frequencies, this does not result in much change in volume.