Delta Tone, No load, and TBX

[kp8]

Here is my feeble understanding of some of the more recent circuit technologies that Fender has used in their MIA series... First Fender came out with something called the TBX tone control. This technology was pretty accurately described by Terry and the Russinator in this thread:

http://tdpri.com/viewtopic.php?t=25431&highlight=delta

To quote the Russinator, who was quoting the Mr. Gearhead docs:

Q. "What does the TBX tone control do?"
A. TBX stands for treble/bass expander. The TBX tone control is a dual function stacked potentiometer control. From 1 to 5 (at the center detent), the TBX responds like a normal tone control routing the signal through a 250k pot with filtration through a .022mf capacitor. From 6 (at the detent) to 10, the TBX decreases the amount of tone filtering by routing the signal directly through a 1 meg pot. This feature allows more of the natural presence of the pickup sound to come through, and adds both treble and bass response to the sound of the guitar. "

okay... so that is that, but then Fender came out with the Delta Tone to replace the TBX. Now most folks talk about the Delta Tone thing as if it were just the No load pot. My impression is that the No load doodad is only supposed to represent one aspect of the Delta Tone system. The No load doohicky is just like a standard 250K pot but with a detent at 10 (100% max clockwise) that takes the pot out of the tone circuit entirely.

However, the question remains... what all else constitutes the 'Delta Tone' system? Is that just a type of pick-up? I know that the Delta Tone bridge p/up is supposed to be a bit hotter... but is that it?

-kp8--

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[mechanicdave]

About 5 years ago I owned an American Standard Strat with the Delta Tone pickups and no-load tone pot.
Nothing fancy, just a name for a perticular set of pickups. You know, Texas Specials, Pearly Gates, ect.....

[skepticult]

That's it.

It makes a big difference, especially at lower volumes. I leave my tone control off most of the time. Sometimes I'll turn it a little with amp sims because they tend to add harshness.

[Colo Springs E]

Originally Posted by skepticult

I leave my tone control off most of the time. Sometimes I'll turn it a little with amp sims because they tend to add harshness.

....do you mean rolled all the way back? If so, I can't imagine the application, as that sounds muddy as all get-out to me.

What sort of music do you play??

thx, -Eric

[weelie]

I think (here) "tone control off" would mean direct signal through, in other words delta tone tone control at 10. At 0 the tone control would be at the most "on" it gets.

[Ringo]

The no load pothas a detent at 10, so that the tone control is removed from the circuit.
I've got a new Powerhouse Strat that has one master tone with the no load pot, I don't like it personally, it's too easy to bump it into the detent. It will be coming out next string change.
I've had the TBX in a few guitars, it's pretty cool, adds a bit more sparkle or presence from 5-10.

[skepticult]

Originally Posted by weelie

I think (here) "tone control off" would mean direct signal through, in other words delta tone tone control at 10. At 0 the tone control would be at the most "on" it gets.

Yup, that's what I meant. Probably could have been clearer.

[skepticult]

Originally Posted by Colo Springs E

What sort of music do you play??

thx, -Eric

Bad.