Is a tone control necessary? - Page 2

Jaxson612 · July 30th, 2008, 10:30 PM

Only if you don't mind blistering the ears of a beagle at 50 paces!

TELECASTERbstrd · July 30th, 2008, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darrell

Only if you don't plan to go from the neck to bridge and back...or plan on running back and forth to the amp.

I don't see how it is possible to have the bridge and neck to match that closely.

I'm serious here... What?
Who cares, does it matter?
Match two different pup's in two places?
They are different animals. I raise them to try "TRY" to match volume, but that's it.

TELECASTERbstrd · July 30th, 2008, 10:37 PM

Oh, the answer to the question is still... no!

robt57 · July 30th, 2008, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TELECASTERbstrd

They are different animals. I raise them to try "TRY" to match volume, but that's it.

My Esquire has a hidden neck PUP, and even with the Bridge PUP low, low, low in the bridge plate the neck pup requires a twist of the vol pot and the bridge does not. And the bridge at full is not something, a tone I use all that often. The Esquire has a 500k Tone Pot. Even the neck PUP under the guard does not get the vol pot wide open very often.
They are slightly over wound PUPs FWIW.

surfoverb · July 30th, 2008, 10:53 PM

My Esquire is wired direct/vol/vol+tone so that last position is the only versatile one and I use that the most...My Tele I roll the vol and tone off a tad on the bridge and go full on both with the neck...My amp settings are something like treble-6 mid-10 bass-3 reverb-3 bright-off!

Yes!

Colt W. Knight · July 30th, 2008, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatmanstratman

One school of thought is that you don't really need a tone control on a Telecaster with the wood they use and all that stuff....

Anyone else agree with those thoughts?

I just saw that video you are referencing with John 5. I was wondering what you were talking about there for awhile.

bluesjuke · July 30th, 2008, 10:57 PM

For those of you that don't know, you can drive your amp so much better using the tone control.

If your not using it you are missing out on so much that your guitar can give.

bradpdx · July 30th, 2008, 11:07 PM

Necessary? That's rather subjective. But I use the tone knob on my Tele all the time, and on my Strat as well. I use the stock 250K/0.05mfd arrangement.

I should add that I do not play much rock, and use overdriven sounds only about 10% of the time; I'm just not very interested in those sounds. I tend to hear the instrument in a more "raw" fashion than most rock players as a result.

On stage there is always a need for subtle changes to suit the moment. I set my amp up so that "full up" tone is pretty darn bright, then work down from there. I rarely, if ever, play the bridge PUP with the tone full up - usually about 1/3 down in order to balance with the rest. That arrangement gives me the on-the-fly versatility I like to make the mix sound right.

I might use the tone control full up for fills and rhythm parts, then back it off for leads where the guitar is of course louder and more forward. It depends upon what is happening at the moment.

Of course, I use the Tele tone knob for "wah" effects. In order for those to work right, the amp has to be set pretty bright.

Since somebody asked, my amp settings (Fender BFDR, 1965) are usually Treble at 7 or 8, Bass at 3. I certainly don't want too much bottom end in the mix, that's just mud for me as a vocalist.

robt57 · July 30th, 2008, 11:12 PM

I also like to do dual Swells once in a while, with a rubber band over the vol and tone pot knobs. This is a fun and neat effect on a Tele. You can swell the vol and tone simultaneously.

It sounds... well... kind of..... I just can't type it...

Pickalittle · July 31st, 2008, 01:37 AM

I use the tone control at times during a performance. Sometimes I need to take some of the bite out of the treble. Sometimes I work the treble to get a "crying" sound out of a sustain. I know some guitarists greater than I'll ever be never touched the tone, but I do for specific sounds I'm after.

Joe Chaney · July 31st, 2008, 06:55 AM

i think so

Old Cane · July 31st, 2008, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluesjuke

If your not using it you are missing out on so much that your guitar can give.

So I'm missing out on sounding muffled?

Tiki · July 31st, 2008, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robt57

I also like to do dual Swells once in a while, with a rubber band over the vol and tone pot knobs. This is a fun and neat effect on a Tele. You can swell the vol and tone simultaneously.

It sounds... well... kind of..... I just can't type it...

I've never heard of this ... can't wait to try it. Thanks.

mattaslacker · July 31st, 2008, 01:39 PM

A tone pot is not necessary, but it can be for tonal modifications on the fly.
If I was playing a set of Slayer covers I would not necessarily need a tone knob on my guitar. If I were to play a set of Blues numbers I may like a tone knob. That's just me, I've owned guitars with and without them.

Jake D · July 31st, 2008, 01:55 PM

I'm with you, sir. Maybe I just don't get the whole woman tone thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Cane

So I'm missing out on sounding muffled?

robt57 · July 31st, 2008, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiki

I've never heard of this ... can't wait to try it. Thanks.

I may have actually come up with that one myself. ;)

Try different rotations of the pots when you put on the rubber band, use a wider heavier rubber band.

I also have all my Tele controls reversed, so the pinky grab on the tone is perfect reach wise.

Let me know what your result/impressions are.

Tele Fan · July 31st, 2008, 03:20 PM

I've got to have one but YMMV.

Tele295 · July 31st, 2008, 03:47 PM

I think it is for me.

Sire · July 31st, 2008, 08:24 PM

I use it. Big difference in "tone" between 1 and 10. Kind of like asking if treble is needed on an amp.

TG · August 1st, 2008, 04:37 AM

I use alnico 2 bridge pickups (Dimarzio Area T currently) and alnico5 neck pickups so I have no problem going from one to the other.
I never touch my volume control other than to turn it right off for breaks or whatever, and I never touch the tone control either. I hate the mushy sound most 'tone' controls make. I just set the amp right and play, much the same as I would with an acoustic. If I want a different 'tone' I used the selector switch. The 3 options fill all my requirements.

But having said that, a while back I put in an orange drop .015 capacitor...and a 500k tone pot...and now I find I can use the tone control (although usually I still don't). It makes relatively subtle differences over most of the sweep without it becoming muffled.

Tim Armstrong · August 1st, 2008, 04:48 AM

I hardly ever touch the tone control on my Tele (or my bass).

Heck, I've been playing electric guitar for about 35 years and only in the last 15 have I started using the volume knob!

Cheers, Tim

Big John · August 1st, 2008, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaxson612

Only if you don't mind blistering the ears of a beagle at 50 paces!

Well, it might stop him smoking !

Johnny Bee · August 1st, 2008, 07:46 AM

I used the tone control in the days when I used the bridge p/u-- a while back.
Didn't used the bridge p/u for a long while in 3 wildly different bands, took the p/u out and biffed the tone pot at the same time. Now I'm h/bucker in the neck position, single 500K volume pot straight to the output. Crybaby on the floor, small adjustments effected with my picking hand position. Never happier.
Johnny.

Jeri · August 1st, 2008, 08:13 AM

Dont use the tone contol at all... on my 72 ri I do use the 2 volumes tho... Would like to have a vol for each pup and no tone... thought that for ages but never got round to finding out if its poss or how to do it if it is

July 30th, 2008, 10:37 PM	#43 (permalink)
TELECASTERbstrd Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hill Country TEXAS Posts: 745	Oh, the answer to the question is still... no! __________________ Howdy Y'all, most of my stuff pertains to country music. my MySpace Music Hill Country Horseworks

July 30th, 2008, 10:53 PM	#45 (permalink)
surfoverb Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,889	My Esquire is wired direct/vol/vol+tone so that last position is the only versatile one and I use that the most...My Tele I roll the vol and tone off a tad on the bridge and go full on both with the neck...My amp settings are something like treble-6 mid-10 bass-3 reverb-3 bright-off! Yes! __________________ "You released the ****** fury!"*

July 30th, 2008, 11:07 PM	#48 (permalink)
bradpdx Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Portland, OR Age: 50 Posts: 855 1 Photos	Necessary? That's rather subjective. But I use the tone knob on my Tele all the time, and on my Strat as well. I use the stock 250K/0.05mfd arrangement. I should add that I do not play much rock, and use overdriven sounds only about 10% of the time; I'm just not very interested in those sounds. I tend to hear the instrument in a more "raw" fashion than most rock players as a result. On stage there is always a need for subtle changes to suit the moment. I set my amp up so that "full up" tone is pretty darn bright, then work down from there. I rarely, if ever, play the bridge PUP with the tone full up - usually about 1/3 down in order to balance with the rest. That arrangement gives me the on-the-fly versatility I like to make the mix sound right. I might use the tone control full up for fills and rhythm parts, then back it off for leads where the guitar is of course louder and more forward. It depends upon what is happening at the moment. Of course, I use the Tele tone knob for "wah" effects. In order for those to work right, the amp has to be set pretty bright. Since somebody asked, my amp settings (Fender BFDR, 1965) are usually Treble at 7 or 8, Bass at 3. I certainly don't want too much bottom end in the mix, that's just mud for me as a vocalist. __________________ ---------- Tech Geek and Sensitive Artiste String bender ordinare!

July 30th, 2008, 11:12 PM	#49 (permalink)
robt57 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Lost Yankee in Nashville Age: 51 Posts: 3,535 21 Photos	I also like to do dual Swells once in a while, with a rubber band over the vol and tone pot knobs. This is a fun and neat effect on a Tele. You can swell the vol and tone simultaneously. It sounds... well... kind of..... I just can't type it... __________________ Leo's Great, Leo's Good, let us thank him for our... Twang!

July 31st, 2008, 01:37 AM	#50 (permalink)
Pickalittle Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: USA Age: 56 Posts: 294	I use the tone control at times during a performance. Sometimes I need to take some of the bite out of the treble. Sometimes I work the treble to get a "crying" sound out of a sustain. I know some guitarists greater than I'll ever be never touched the tone, but I do for specific sounds I'm after. __________________ Don't die with the music still in you! Psalm 150

July 30th, 2008, 10:30 PM	#41 (permalink)
Jaxson612 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Somewhere in the swamps of Jersey Posts: 107	Only if you don't mind blistering the ears of a beagle at 50 paces!

July 30th, 2008, 10:57 PM	#47 (permalink)
bluesjuke Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bluesland, Texas Age: 52 Posts: 542	For those of you that don't know, you can drive your amp so much better using the tone control. If your not using it you are missing out on so much that your guitar can give.

July 31st, 2008, 06:55 AM	#51 (permalink)
Joe Chaney Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: aude, France Age: 16 Posts: 455 2 Photos	i think so __________________ If you're not careful, It'll stick to your cheeks, and You'll smell like a native, For a couple of weeks In France

July 31st, 2008, 01:39 PM	#54 (permalink)
mattaslacker TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Beverly, MA Age: 32 Posts: 60	A tone pot is not necessary, but it can be for tonal modifications on the fly. If I was playing a set of Slayer covers I would not necessarily need a tone knob on my guitar. If I were to play a set of Blues numbers I may like a tone knob. That's just me, I've owned guitars with and without them. __________________ "Anyone can make the simple complicated. Creativity is making the complicated simple." Charles Mingus

July 31st, 2008, 03:20 PM	#57 (permalink)
Tele Fan Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Louisville, Ky Age: 29 Posts: 1,649	I've got to have one but YMMV. __________________ Life is better when you just make it up as you go along.

July 31st, 2008, 03:47 PM	#58 (permalink)
Tele295 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Haunted Amp, CA Posts: 3,380 14 Photos	I think it is for me. __________________ "Turn it up and it doesn't need any reverb." - Danny Gatton www.dannygatton.info Tiger Town Aces - Music That Bites Back In Redd we trust! Free Bill Kirchen! If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

July 31st, 2008, 08:24 PM	#59 (permalink)
Sire TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Central Wisconsin Age: 47 Posts: 83	I use it. Big difference in "tone" between 1 and 10. Kind of like asking if treble is needed on an amp. __________________ My Page http://kandmfarms.com

August 1st, 2008, 04:37 AM	#60 (permalink)
TG Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Beside a bog in the west of Ireland Age: 47 Posts: 4,461 7 Photos	I use alnico 2 bridge pickups (Dimarzio Area T currently) and alnico5 neck pickups so I have no problem going from one to the other. I never touch my volume control other than to turn it right off for breaks or whatever, and I never touch the tone control either. I hate the mushy sound most 'tone' controls make. I just set the amp right and play, much the same as I would with an acoustic. If I want a different 'tone' I used the selector switch. The 3 options fill all my requirements. But having said that, a while back I put in an orange drop .015 capacitor...and a 500k tone pot...and now I find I can use the tone control (although usually I still don't). It makes relatively subtle differences over most of the sweep without it becoming muffled.

August 1st, 2008, 04:48 AM	#61 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 9,525	I hardly ever touch the tone control on my Tele (or my bass). Heck, I've been playing electric guitar for about 35 years and only in the last 15 have I started using the volume knob! Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

August 1st, 2008, 07:46 AM	#63 (permalink)
Johnny Bee TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ultra-Far North Qld, Australia Posts: 20	I used the tone control in the days when I used the bridge p/u-- a while back. Didn't used the bridge p/u for a long while in 3 wildly different bands, took the p/u out and biffed the tone pot at the same time. Now I'm h/bucker in the neck position, single 500K volume pot straight to the output. Crybaby on the floor, small adjustments effected with my picking hand position. Never happier. Johnny.

August 1st, 2008, 08:13 AM	#64 (permalink)
Jeri Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: brighton Posts: 105	Dont use the tone contol at all... on my 72 ri I do use the 2 volumes tho... Would like to have a vol for each pup and no tone... thought that for ages but never got round to finding out if its poss or how to do it if it is