What Does Presence knob do on fender amps? Explained

bigtikidude

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25669
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
United States

Posted on Jan 15 2017 01:42 PM

Saw this on the Fender email I got today:
https://fender.com/articles/tech-talk/be-in-the-moment-the-presence-control-explained

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Jeff(bigtikidude)

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windmill

Joined: Mar 22, 2006
Posts: 269
3 Contributor Pins

Posted on Jan 21 2017 06:50 PM

Thanks for posting this.

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Freshwater Surfin'

The Murray Basin
Australia

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JObeast

Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
Turkmenistan

Posted on Jan 21 2017 08:10 PM

"When pushing an amp into distortion, though, the presence control behaves differently. It changes the “texture” of the distortion and adds complexity to the sound, making the amp feel a little “less predictable” for higher notes."

I did not know that.

Maybe if I had kept my Brownface Bandmaster "Presence" control turned down I would still be playing with that outfit...

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Squink Out!

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RobbieReverb

Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 2384
San Jose, Ca.
3 News Pins

Posted on Jan 22 2017 12:48 PM

Thanks for sharing this, Jeff.

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Bob

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derekirving

Joined: Nov 03, 2011
Posts: 660

Posted on Jan 22 2017 12:54 PM

I can't handle presence above 4 on my RI '59 bassman. Too glassy / spiky for me.

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Schwenman

Joined: Dec 05, 2016
Posts: 17
Houston
United States

Posted on Jan 23 2017 08:35 PM

Cool post and very informative.

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ArtS

Joined: May 09, 2008
Posts: 1393
Isle of Kent, MD
United States

Posted on Jan 24 2017 12:03 PM

Oh... now I get it! Thanks!

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SpaceTimC

Joined: Apr 18, 2015
Posts: 189
Bay Area, CA
United States

Posted on Jan 24 2017 04:48 PM

Cool info - I have a Presence control on my Bugera V22, and simply assumed it was a bit of a volume boost.

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The Reverbivores - we're local favorites!

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thomasd

Joined: Aug 17, 2012
Posts: 94
Eugene, Oregon
United States

Posted on Jan 25 2017 02:16 PM

The presence control on my 61 Bandmaster adds some treble "bite". Above 6 it gets nasty sounding, so that is the max I use.

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A Man from S.U.R.F.
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SurfBeat

Joined: Dec 31, 2008
Posts: 284
Riverside, CA
United States

Posted on Jan 25 2017 05:36 PM

derekirving wrote:

I can't handle presence above 4 on my RI '59 bassman. Too glassy / spiky for me.

Fender put that gadget on two amps I own, a 60 Vibrasonic and 61 Showman. I immediately took the presence knobs off both amps because I don't like the sound it creates, too much treble. I know I am in the minority regarding that gadget.

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stevel

Joined: Oct 12, 2012
Posts: 219
Hampton Roads, Virginia
United States

Posted on Jan 26 2017 03:25 PM

looks for presence knob on Fender Twin Reverb

shrugs

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ArabSpringReverb

Joined: Jul 13, 2012
Posts: 490
San Diego CA
United States

Posted on Jan 26 2017 06:05 PM

That's what the bright switch is for ...I wonder if that's like full presence or like , say turning presence up half way? I generally only use the bright switch with the on-board tremelo .Its bright ...

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abdul_tom

Joined: Dec 04, 2006
Posts: 251
United Kingdom

Posted on Feb 03 2017 01:24 PM

the bright switch runs the signal through a cap that cuts bass. Any boost in treble is only perceptual because of the lack of other stuff, whereas the presence control actually allows more high frequencies to be heard.

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Rondo1

Joined: Apr 01, 2016
Posts: 89
1 Download Pin

Posted on Mar 01 2017 08:01 PM

I was always told that when the bright switch is on, that is the sound the amp would have if it didn't have a bright switch (if that makes any sense). With the bright switch off the signal goes through a "dull defeat cap" which gives you a more bass heavy (muffled in my opinion) tone. Of course, I don't know beans about electronics so...

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bigtikidude Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 25669 Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.	Posted on Jan 15 2017 01:42 PM Saw this on the Fender email I got today: https://fender.com/articles/tech-talk/be-in-the-moment-the-presence-control-explained — Jeff(bigtikidude) Top
windmill Joined: Mar 22, 2006 Posts: 269	Posted on Jan 21 2017 06:50 PM Thanks for posting this. — Freshwater Surfin' The Murray Basin Australia Top
JObeast Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan	Posted on Jan 21 2017 08:10 PM "When pushing an amp into distortion, though, the presence control behaves differently. It changes the “texture” of the distortion and adds complexity to the sound, making the amp feel a little “less predictable” for higher notes." I did not know that. Maybe if I had kept my Brownface Bandmaster "Presence" control turned down I would still be playing with that outfit... — Squink Out! Top
RobbieReverb Joined: Feb 28, 2006 Posts: 2384 San Jose, Ca.	Posted on Jan 22 2017 12:48 PM Thanks for sharing this, Jeff. — Bob Top
derekirving Joined: Nov 03, 2011 Posts: 660	Posted on Jan 22 2017 12:54 PM I can't handle presence above 4 on my RI '59 bassman. Too glassy / spiky for me. Top
Schwenman Joined: Dec 05, 2016 Posts: 17 Houston	Posted on Jan 23 2017 08:35 PM Cool post and very informative. Top
ArtS Joined: May 09, 2008 Posts: 1393 Isle of Kent, MD	Posted on Jan 24 2017 12:03 PM Oh... now I get it! Thanks! — Surf.The most dangerous of genres... Surfcat MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus THE JOURNEY HOME - Free download (2025) - Agent Octopus (Single) BANDCAMP - Agent Octopus YOUTUBE - Agent Octopus Surf BANDCAMP - Reverb Galaxy Top
SpaceTimC Joined: Apr 18, 2015 Posts: 189 Bay Area, CA	Posted on Jan 24 2017 04:48 PM Cool info - I have a Presence control on my Bugera V22, and simply assumed it was a bit of a volume boost. — The Reverbivores - we're local favorites! Top
thomasd Joined: Aug 17, 2012 Posts: 94 Eugene, Oregon	Posted on Jan 25 2017 02:16 PM The presence control on my 61 Bandmaster adds some treble "bite". Above 6 it gets nasty sounding, so that is the max I use. — Rock A Man from S.U.R.F. http://menfromsurf.com Top
SurfBeat Joined: Dec 31, 2008 Posts: 284 Riverside, CA	Posted on Jan 25 2017 05:36 PM derekirving wrote: I can't handle presence above 4 on my RI '59 bassman. Too glassy / spiky for me. Fender put that gadget on two amps I own, a 60 Vibrasonic and 61 Showman. I immediately took the presence knobs off both amps because I don't like the sound it creates, too much treble. I know I am in the minority regarding that gadget. Top
stevel Joined: Oct 12, 2012 Posts: 219 Hampton Roads, Virginia	Posted on Jan 26 2017 03:25 PM looks for presence knob on Fender Twin Reverb shrugs Top
ArabSpringReverb Joined: Jul 13, 2012 Posts: 490 San Diego CA	Posted on Jan 26 2017 06:05 PM That's what the bright switch is for ...I wonder if that's like full presence or like , say turning presence up half way? I generally only use the bright switch with the on-board tremelo .Its bright ... Top
abdul_tom Joined: Dec 04, 2006 Posts: 251	Posted on Feb 03 2017 01:24 PM the bright switch runs the signal through a cap that cuts bass. Any boost in treble is only perceptual because of the lack of other stuff, whereas the presence control actually allows more high frequencies to be heard. Top
Rondo1 Joined: Apr 01, 2016 Posts: 89	Posted on Mar 01 2017 08:01 PM I was always told that when the bright switch is on, that is the sound the amp would have if it didn't have a bright switch (if that makes any sense). With the bright switch off the signal goes through a "dull defeat cap" which gives you a more bass heavy (muffled in my opinion) tone. Of course, I don't know beans about electronics so... Top

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What Does Presence knob do on fender amps? Explained