FYI
1 Like
While it may be faster to have markings for visual cues I have wonder why ears aren’t just as good. I have several guitars and basses with unmarked volume and tone knobs. I can listen to them and tell approximately where I want something set. Or, I dime the knob then roll back until I get what I’m looking for. IMHO as players we don’t learn to listen to ourselves nearly enough. Listening skills are a huge part of learning to play.
4 Likes
I can see having graduated knobs as a production aid for someone like a session player that might need to dial in the exact same tone to match a take. Just makes the workflow a little quicker and more repeatable.
Going by ear is probably better for almost all other players though.
1 Like
The funny part of this is that more often than not a producer is asking the bassist for something different on another take to have variations to select from. A lot of guys fuss with the knobs a bit then go pretty much right back to what they played before. Or they may use a different bass entirely.
If the engineer is sharp and know his stuff he has far more ability to tweak the bass tone in the mix so he does. The producer believes he hears some difference from a mic’d cab but it’s actually the engineer whose gonna manipulate it from the DI line to the board. Then everyone ends up happy. LOL
2 Likes
Suggestion.
Keep it original.
Feel how much the knob is turned will be more than enough after a couple hours of practice.
2 Likes