How do you set your Tele's tone control?

Lance · April 2nd, 2003, 01:24 PM

On my NOS...completely off.
The other Teles, almost off.

impmann · July 10th, 2008, 02:59 AM

Can I have a vote for 'everywhere'? I use the tone control to vary the sound of the guitar - usually varying it during the song for different colours/textures, plus I use it as a psuedo wha (a la Mr Gallagher). Its the most powerful tool in the Tele's arsenal IMHO and the reason why I think Leo's first is his finest.

spicolli · July 10th, 2008, 03:05 AM

i use my tone in every position and i change alot while playing.

Fatmanstratman · July 10th, 2008, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by impmann

Can I have a vote for 'everywhere'? I use the tone control to vary the sound of the guitar - usually varying it during the song for different colours/textures, plus I use it as a psuedo wha (a la Mr Gallagher). Its the most powerful tool in the Tele's arsenal IMHO and the reason why I think Leo's first is his finest.

Yep - that's a + 1 for me.

Why would you want to fix the tone control at one particular position? It's just the same as asking "How do you set your Tele's VOLUME control?"....

Seems a bit of an odd question to me - apologies if there's some hidden reason for asking it, which you will reveal later - but its kinda like asking "Which string do you pick first during any song?"......

I'm ok, I'm ok...... just need to walk round the room for a few moments and breathe deeply......

tjalla · July 10th, 2008, 04:13 AM

Poll is missing another important setting - *just* rolled back a hair - at least that's my default

Klaus Kemmerling · July 10th, 2008, 04:17 AM

Hi,
basic setting is full on - and from there I change it permanently while playing

Klaus

Smirkster · July 10th, 2008, 04:27 AM

Tone full on - volume, too.

telechucker · July 10th, 2008, 04:28 AM

Mostly flat out (full on) - if I feel it's a bit too much I pull it back - usually when I'm on the front pickup and want to do some jazz type stuff. Regards.

teleman1991 · July 10th, 2008, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjalla

Poll is missing another important setting - *just* rolled back a hair - at least that's my default

Yeah same, thats pretty much my constant position. I don't want to take away tone but i dont want the bite of it all to be too trebly on my ears, i can't say i do change it around alot when im playing in a band situation, if i'm on my own then yeah i fiddle

Dean Gray · July 10th, 2008, 05:14 AM

I back it off a bit to start and keep going from there.

PJ · July 10th, 2008, 05:19 AM

Rolled-off about 1/10, as TJ suggests is missing from the poll.

Cole · July 10th, 2008, 06:22 AM

the tone knob is my friend... I'm constantly using it to color my sound especially for the rear pup. I use it more than my volume knob... and I use that a lot. My typical tone settings fall between 50-100% God bless .047 orange drops!

Mike Bruce · July 10th, 2008, 06:36 AM

Usually full on, and I get as much tonal colour from my hands as possible. When I do use it, it's only the top quarter of its range. It also depends on what effects are used, if any.

Mike Bruce

hal · July 10th, 2008, 06:53 AM

in the neck and middle positions. I usually back it down about 1/4 in the bridge position. I use a combination of pick and fingers, or just fingers. And I have some fingernail in there. I keep them for fingerpicking the acoustic. I have a lot of acoustic gigs.

Roli · July 10th, 2008, 07:06 AM

I tried to like the rolled-off-tone-knob sound many times - it just can't happen. I set the amp to suit my tastes instead. Same goes for the volume knob most of the time, too. Maybe I'm hearing things, but the whole thing sounds richer for me that way. Even if I achieve the exact same amount of trebles attempting the desired sound from both ways - tone knob or amp - I find the rolled back tone knob sounding duller, stiffer. I only use 'em controls for volume swells/tremolo and the ocassional fake wah. It's weird, cause there are so many players getting amazing tones with using the guitar controls. Thinking about it a bit more, it can be that most of those players use picks, and I don't. Picks always add attack/treble to the tone.

Dan German · July 10th, 2008, 07:09 AM

How do you set your Tele's tone control?

With my finger.

Quote:

Originally Posted by impmann

Can I have a vote for 'everywhere'? I use the tone control to vary the sound of the guitar

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatmanstratman

Yep - that's a + 1 for me.

Why would you want to fix the tone control at one particular position? It's just the same as asking "How do you set your Tele's VOLUME control?"....

I also wonder whether this is leading to something. If the choices offered were the answer to the question, we would have a 3 way switch for the tone instead of a knob. One of the reasons I use reverse controls is so that I have better access to the tone control.

Tele Fan · July 10th, 2008, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by impmann

Can I have a vote for 'everywhere'? I use the tone control to vary the sound of the guitar - usually varying it during the song for different colours/textures, plus I use it as a psuedo wha (a la Mr Gallagher). Its the most powerful tool in the Tele's arsenal IMHO and the reason why I think Leo's first is his finest.

Same here.

BottyGuy · July 10th, 2008, 07:11 AM

Neck and Middle - Full On
Bridge - Rolled back 1/8 to Full On depending on my mood.

Scotland · July 10th, 2008, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by impmann

Can I have a vote for 'everywhere'? I use the tone control to vary the sound of the guitar - usually varying it during the song for different colours/textures, plus I use it as a psuedo wha (a la Mr Gallagher). Its the most powerful tool in the Tele's arsenal IMHO and the reason why I think Leo's first is his finest.

I'm firmly in that camp too. I find the tone control to be a better sound shaper than any pedal available.

JKjr · July 10th, 2008, 07:39 AM

I'm constantly fiddling about with my knob

Telemarkman · July 10th, 2008, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scotland

I'm firmly in that camp too. I find the tone control to be a better sound shaper than any pedal available.

Yup!

Bruce_99 · July 10th, 2008, 08:48 AM

I´m some kind of a "SPINAL TAP" guy -
my pots (tone & volume) are goin up to 11

Joe Chaney · July 10th, 2008, 08:52 AM

i'm with the people who twiddle it around
it's a useful little thing, if it was meant to stay in the same position, there wouldn't be one,

Gaber_771 · July 10th, 2008, 09:04 AM

recently i figured out that i can control gain and overdrive a little with it so i'm using it more now... i didn't used to much, but you live and you learn right...

rand z · July 10th, 2008, 09:05 AM

i try to set it so as to take any "shrillness" out of the equation. i still want the "highs" and "clarity," but not the "icepick" we refer to here.

this applies to any pickup; and my overall eq-ing of any playing or recording that i do.

imho.

rand z tropicalsoul.net

View Poll Results: Is you Tele's Tone control...
Full On	77	52.03%
Completely Off	7	4.73%
About Halfway	21	14.19%
At that point when the mids just start to kick in	43	29.05%
Voters: 148. You may not vote on this poll

April 2nd, 2003, 01:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
Lance Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,157	How do you set your Tele's tone control? On my NOS...completely off. The other Teles, almost off. __________________ Lance "not very good...but I make up for it by playing loud"

July 10th, 2008, 02:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
impmann TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Northants, UK Age: 37 Posts: 34	Can I have a vote for 'everywhere'? I use the tone control to vary the sound of the guitar - usually varying it during the song for different colours/textures, plus I use it as a psuedo wha (a la Mr Gallagher). Its the most powerful tool in the Tele's arsenal IMHO and the reason why I think Leo's first is his finest. __________________ If music be the food of love, crank that amp baby

July 10th, 2008, 03:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
spicolli Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: 315 Age: 32 Posts: 361	i use my tone in every position and i change alot while playing. __________________ Rock and roll around my head Fifty watts happening

July 10th, 2008, 04:28 AM	#8 (permalink)
telechucker Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 46 Posts: 162	Mostly flat out (full on) - if I feel it's a bit too much I pull it back - usually when I'm on the front pickup and want to do some jazz type stuff. Regards. __________________ A man's best friend is his Tele - not his dog.

July 10th, 2008, 04:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
tjalla Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 1,687 7 Photos	Poll is missing another important setting - just rolled back a hair - at least that's my default

July 10th, 2008, 04:17 AM	#6 (permalink)
Klaus Kemmerling Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cologne/Germany Age: 44 Posts: 189	Hi, basic setting is full on - and from there I change it permanently while playing Klaus

July 10th, 2008, 04:27 AM	#7 (permalink)
Smirkster TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Volente Posts: 70	Tone full on - volume, too.

July 10th, 2008, 05:14 AM	#10 (permalink)
Dean Gray Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 192	I back it off a bit to start and keep going from there. __________________ imagination is more important than knowledge...

July 10th, 2008, 05:19 AM	#11 (permalink)
PJ Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,801 4 Photos	Rolled-off about 1/10, as TJ suggests is missing from the poll. __________________ PJ "I don't know if it's art, but I like it."

July 10th, 2008, 06:22 AM	#12 (permalink)
Cole Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Louisville KY Age: 57 Posts: 172	the tone knob is my friend... I'm constantly using it to color my sound especially for the rear pup. I use it more than my volume knob... and I use that a lot. My typical tone settings fall between 50-100% God bless .047 orange drops! __________________ ~Cole Cole's website Cole's MySpace "The only currency we have is influential communication."

July 10th, 2008, 06:36 AM	#13 (permalink)
Mike Bruce Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Goderich Posts: 171	Usually full on, and I get as much tonal colour from my hands as possible. When I do use it, it's only the top quarter of its range. It also depends on what effects are used, if any. Mike Bruce

July 10th, 2008, 06:53 AM	#14 (permalink)
hal Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 764	Wide open.. in the neck and middle positions. I usually back it down about 1/4 in the bridge position. I use a combination of pick and fingers, or just fingers. And I have some fingernail in there. I keep them for fingerpicking the acoustic. I have a lot of acoustic gigs. __________________ Wherever you go, there you are.

July 10th, 2008, 07:06 AM	#15 (permalink)
Roli Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: ¤ Hungary ¤ Age: 30 Posts: 1,449 5 Photos	I tried to like the rolled-off-tone-knob sound many times - it just can't happen. I set the amp to suit my tastes instead. Same goes for the volume knob most of the time, too. Maybe I'm hearing things, but the whole thing sounds richer for me that way. Even if I achieve the exact same amount of trebles attempting the desired sound from both ways - tone knob or amp - I find the rolled back tone knob sounding duller, stiffer. I only use 'em controls for volume swells/tremolo and the ocassional fake wah. It's weird, cause there are so many players getting amazing tones with using the guitar controls. Thinking about it a bit more, it can be that most of those players use picks, and I don't. Picks always add attack/treble to the tone. __________________ How I Play Fingerstyle Guitar - blog for rookies and not so rookies - with videos now!

July 10th, 2008, 07:11 AM	#18 (permalink)
BottyGuy Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: North Carolina Age: 47 Posts: 180	Neck and Middle - Full On Bridge - Rolled back 1/8 to Full On depending on my mood.

July 10th, 2008, 07:39 AM	#20 (permalink)
JKjr Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: raleigh nc Posts: 160	I'm constantly fiddling about with my knob

July 10th, 2008, 08:48 AM	#22 (permalink)
Bruce_99 Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Germany Age: 32 Posts: 254 18 Photos	I´m some kind of a "SPINAL TAP" guy - my pots (tone & volume) are goin up to 11 __________________ we learn more from a three minute record than we ever learn in school.. www.myspace.com/steviejetset

July 10th, 2008, 08:52 AM	#23 (permalink)
Joe Chaney Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: aude, France Age: 15 Posts: 454 2 Photos	i'm with the people who twiddle it around it's a useful little thing, if it was meant to stay in the same position, there wouldn't be one, __________________ 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 10th, 2008, 09:04 AM	#24 (permalink)
Gaber_771 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: WV Age: 23 Posts: 291	recently i figured out that i can control gain and overdrive a little with it so i'm using it more now... i didn't used to much, but you live and you learn right... __________________ "floor it... thats a technical term"

July 10th, 2008, 09:05 AM	#25 (permalink)
rand z Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 946	i try to set it so as to take any "shrillness" out of the equation. i still want the "highs" and "clarity," but not the "icepick" we refer to here. this applies to any pickup; and my overall eq-ing of any playing or recording that i do. imho. rand z tropicalsoul.net