New bass day! I’ve just bought this bass and I love it already. It’s my first bass with active EQ and I’m looking forward to playing around with the tonal options, but I’d appreciate some tips.
I play in a band with my neighbours and we have a eclectic set list. I’d like to know which settings will let me play a background supporting role with a darker blendier tone and which to use to for a punchy more resonant sound.
With the EQ, set it to neutral first. Play there and get a sense of how it sounds that way. The way the EQ knobs work is that they act as a boost or cut. To get a darker tone, boost the low end by about 10 (thinking of the knob like a clock), treble by about 5, and leave mids at neutral. See how that sounds and adjust as needed. For a punchier tone, you’re going to look for an inverted V. Put mids at 10 and leave bass and treble at 0 and again adjust as needed.
Thank you!
There are 2 kinds of tone setting of the same “tone”. One for your ear when you practice by yourself and another how it sounds with your band. Sometimes it sounds so good and you have it just perfect but your special tone just disappears in the mix, time to go back and tweak it a bit.
It’s a skill you need in your bag everyone is very supportive when you are starting out but sooner or later you’ll get really good the. They just want you to sound good but not that good, 
That’s a really useful reminder. Thank you! I’m a long way from getting really good but it’s still part of sounding like a group and not half a dozen soloists 
I’m reminded of this great quote from Nick Mason.
“A band is essentially a drummer and a bassist, plus assorted novelty acts”.
That made me laugh, but I’ll maybe not tell the rest of the band 
Welcome Heather! Don’t sweat trying to find that optimal tone, just play. Most of the songs will benefit from a neutral or flat tone, maybe with no mids to highs at all. Bass lives down low and you’re helping build the rhythm for the others to play against. Your right hand it just as important as your left. Good fretting is important, but how you play those notes with your right is equally as important, if not more so.
I read a quote yesterday that said “A bass guitar is nothing more than a kick drum with notes.” Pretty good advice.
Not the first time I’ve been caught overthinking! Excellent advice and reassuring. That’s something I can do.