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Topic: Tone or No Tone Control |
Harry Sheppard
From:
Kalispell, MT USA
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Posted 1 Nov 2008 7:31 am |
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| How many of you players actually USE the tone control on your guitars? My early Bakelites, Frypans and New Yorker don't even have a tone control so it is not missed. I usually set it wide open on the guitars I have owned that have one. I am to the point in a project that getting as many answers would be helpful. Thanks |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 1 Nov 2008 1:40 pm The QUESTION re: TONE CONTROLS
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If one is happiest not using a tone control, so be it.
For some of the more versatile players, the TONE control knob is as much a part of playing steel guitar as is the proper use of the foot volume control, 2 finger picks, a rounded bullet style bar and a matched amplifier.
Tone control knobs all started PRIOR to 1980. |
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Cliff Kane
From:
the late great golden state
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Posted 1 Nov 2008 2:14 pm
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| I do, and I also use the volume control. I wish all of my guitars had volume and tone controls on them. My lap steels and Fender pedal steel all have volume and tone controls; my Emmons pedal steels have a tone control but no volume control; my EMCI pedal steel has neither. It seems that this is some thing that recent guitar makers have decided is not wanted or is redundant. These controls are good to have......would you want to play a Telecaster without the volume and tone controls at your fingertips? |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 1 Nov 2008 2:19 pm just a note.....................
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Regarding YOUR LAST COMMENT........
I know a lot of 6-strings wouldn't have a Telecaster without a volume control as it would prevent them from constantly turning it up LOUDER and LOUDER! |
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Cliff Kane
From:
the late great golden state
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Posted 1 Nov 2008 2:28 pm
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ha ha, yes; they even make special knobs that go all the way to "11" to get that extra little push one sometimes needs  |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 1 Nov 2008 2:37 pm
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I put a 12 position knob on an amp, and it didn't seem to be louder 
My frypan has no tone control, so the amp has to be set accordingly. An extra step, but not a big deal.
I added a tone control to an early bakelite (under protest) didn't really want to drill another hole in a classic. |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 1 Nov 2008 2:39 pm Re: The QUESTION re: TONE CONTROLS
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| Ray Montee wrote: |
Tone control knobs all started PRIOR to 1980. |
Ray, I don't know what you mean in this last sentence.
_________________
Mark |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 1 Nov 2008 7:04 pm
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Some mfg. don't install a tone control. It's standard on some and an option on others.
I generally keep mine wide open to the brightest setting, but there can be times when a darker tone might be desirable. You don't have to use it, but you can't use it if you don't have it. |
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Twayn Williams
From:
Portland, OR
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Posted 2 Nov 2008 1:00 pm
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A volume and tone control is a MUST for me on a lap steel. I like to set the amp really bright and then pull down the tone with the tone control. Then, for bar slams and boo-wahs, I have somewhere to go. (Not that I'm any good at either of those techniques  ) It's definitely an irritation to me that my PSG has no controls.
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Primitive Utility Steel |
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Rocky Hill
From:
Prairie Village,Kansas, USA
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Posted 2 Nov 2008 4:19 pm
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I couldn't imagine not having a tone control. it's an option, use it if you want, or don't. As far as your PSG goes, adding tone control and or a volume knob is simple a addition that ANYONE can do, if your so inclined.
Rocky |
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Billy Tonnesen
From:
R.I.P., Buena Park, California
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Posted 2 Nov 2008 4:28 pm
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| Check out a previous post on Alvino Rey where he is using the tone control very effectively on an old standard called "Hindustan" (not sure of the spelling). Where do you think Noel Boggs and Speedy West got their inspiration for Tone Control effects ? |
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Doug Freeman
From:
Los Angeles, CA
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Posted 2 Nov 2008 5:41 pm
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| If you have one and like it, end of discussion. If you have one and don't use it, you might consider bypassing it because that capacitor, even with the tone control all the way open, will suck a tiny (but still noticeable) bit of high end output from your pickup. Whatever you do, DON'T ADD one to a vintage guitar! |
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Bob Simons
From:
Kansas City, Mo, USA
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Posted 3 Nov 2008 9:15 am
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For Ray- I slipped a 10db overdrive into my MSA Superslide connected to a volume pot and put a singlecoil on it. With my Mesa Boogie T-Verb I've drowned out MANY Telecaster players!!!!
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Zumsteel U12 8-5, MSA M3 U12 9-7, MSA SS 10-string, 1930 National Resonophonic, Telonics Combo, Webb 614e, Fender Steel King, Mesa Boogie T-Verb. |
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Stephan Miller
From:
Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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Posted 3 Nov 2008 4:41 pm
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| Harry, I'm the opposite, and always play with some treble roll-off-- the amount will vary depending on the tune, sometimes even within the tune. Given the choice, I'll take a tone control every time, and have even thought certain guitars could use separate tone controls for bass & treble strings. |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 3 Nov 2008 4:48 pm
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| Stephan Miller wrote: |
| and have even thought certain guitars could use separate tone controls for bass & treble strings. |
Not easily achieved..unfortunately. |
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