A case against VVT on a 4004

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 1:18 pm

It's a small thing, but BIG in my eyes. When I am playing up tempo stuff, I have the switch in the down position and play behind the bridge, for mellow stuff in the upper position and play up the neck. I put the tone halfway and the vol max. I also have her middle position for a third tone. The mids are boosted on the amp, with everything else flat. It's a quick flip to get both sounds I need. It would seem a more difficult operation with a VVT setup, no?

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 1:25 pm

I'm tiired. I am thinking I misunderstand that mod? Me go take nap now.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 2:20 pm

for me I get the best tones out of any 2 pickup bass when one pickup is at 10 and the other is at 7 ... this goes for pretty much every 2 pickup bass that I have ever played ... so one toggle, one volume, and one tone will never give me the tone I desire most ...

However I do like a guitar wired toggle, volume, tone ...

most 2 pickup basses will give you a way to blend the pickups ...

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 2:27 pm

Yes, but you use effects to vary your tone, The switch is all I got!

edski · Post by **edski** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 3:43 pm

I agree with Charley that I've never felt compelled that the 4004 needs the extra flexibility. Seems like a valid idea, I prefer the idea of dual concentrics however, but I'm happy enough the way it is.

I did finally play my J bass through my new LDS 4x8 cab and I did like the tones, so I might be thinking again about the concentrics harness for the 4004...hmmmm...

But it's not like I dislike anything about the sounds I'm getting out of the Laredo. It's all a very circular argument that can quickly lead to neurosis...

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 4:01 pm

"for me I get the best tones out of any 2 pickup bass when one pickup is at 10 and the other is at 7 ... this goes for pretty much every 2 pickup bass that I have ever played "

I second that.

jps · Post by **jps** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 4:25 pm

I third that.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 5:13 pm

I don't like VVT. Something that drew me to a Rick bass originally was that it had a selector switch - something that many (most?) basses don't. Love having it.

I like the concentric setup and will probably go with it for my Laredo when I get it back in playing shape. In the end, though, the 4001/4003 nails it for me.

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 5:18 pm

"Something that drew me to a Rick bass originally was that it had a selector switch"

Perhaps 'cause you're a guitar player at heart. I think that's my attraction.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 5:28 pm

I've always considered myself a bass player first, but heck, maybe I am. All's I know is that i'd much rather use a pickup switch to get drastic tonal changes then fuss with knobs, ala a Fender Jazz (Not a knock against the Jazz, I like 'em). Especially live.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 5:47 pm

I like the toggle ... but I have to have a way to blend pickups ...

zoomduck · Post by **zoomduck** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:39 am

I concede to concentric control completely !

teeder · Post by **teeder** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:49 am

I have my bridge vol on full with the front pu on 7. They stay that way always. Sometimes I will select just the front or rear as needed, but I don't touch the vol's.
On my Jazz, I do the same, but then I leave it there for everything. I just change my finger location and attack as needed.

edski · Post by **edski** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 11:10 am

Having one resistor at about 70% and the other at 100% strikes some mental note from college physics. Something about the inverse of the number "e" (about 2.72) playing a role...rf circuits are "best" at (1 - 1/e), about 63.3%.

"7" is a good approximation - you are in the potentiometers "sweet spot".

The other one is cranking.

Some folks love with their pu's direct to the output jack...some need the ultimate flexibility of the 4001/3 design. Some need a P bass, some like it VVT.

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 12:06 pm

It doesn't make much sense that EVERY bass vol with two pickups works the same. I would think you should adjust them so the output does not vary when switching between pickups. To set one at 7, no matter what, seems.......I won't say it.