Strat Tone Knobs

weird_oh84

Joined: May 24, 2023
Posts: 207

Posted on Feb 23 2025 05:50 PM

Who else never uses their tone knobs on a Strat ?

I pretty much always keep it “open” , even when the bridge position gets ice picky … I’d rather it be way too bright than muffled and lifeless…

The only instance I can think of when the tone knob turned on sounds great is on “Peggy Sue” by Buddy Holly …

Are there others who feel the same?

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edwardsand

Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 801

Posted on Feb 23 2025 07:15 PM

The standard tone knobs on a Strat are for the neck and middle pickups - there is no tone knob for the bridge pickup, so you couldn't adjust that anyway. But for me, on any of my guitars, I adjust the tone knob sometimes depending on the song and style of music. For surf, I usually leave it all the way up. For some more raunchy sounds, sometimes I'll turn it down a bit. In the end, I'm more likely to adjust the tone on my amp.

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ArtS

Joined: May 09, 2008
Posts: 1401
Isle of Kent, MD
United States

Posted on Feb 23 2025 07:39 PM

Agree for surf I keep it full treble.

—

Surf.The most dangerous of genres...

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MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus
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taijiguy

Joined: Mar 27, 2006
Posts: 213
Newington, CT USA
United States

Posted on Feb 24 2025 06:11 AM

I never use tone knobs on any guitar for any type of music.

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rockndawg

Joined: Aug 06, 2018
Posts: 64
2 Contributor Pins

Posted on Feb 24 2025 07:08 AM

I'm the same "I never use tone knobs on any guitar for any type of music."

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synchro

Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4555
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
United States

Posted on Feb 24 2025 09:16 AM

It’s pretty rare for me to use a tone cut. Even when playing Jazz, I tend to keep the tone wide open. I roll back the tone, slightly, at the amp, but that setting usually doesn’t change, no matter what I’m playing. For example, the two band EQ on my Deluxe Reverb is set to 4 Bass and 6 Treble, and has been for years. The pickup switch, right hand technique and choice of pick do the rest.

—

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

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jtrollmann

Joined: Jun 24, 2021
Posts: 135
South Bay, CA
United States

Posted on Feb 24 2025 10:08 AM

On my AmPro II strat I play 100% on the bridge pickup. I keep the tone knob around 8. On the DRRI, treble at 5 and bass at 3.

—

-John

"...enjoy every sandwich." -Warren Zevon

Fender Stratocaster American Pro II
Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue

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Samurai

Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2288
Kiev, Ukraine
Ukraine

Posted on Feb 24 2025 10:38 AM

I use it sometimes in live situation, especially on a bridge pickup but not really much

—

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

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https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

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Stormtiger

Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2687
Ventura, CA
United States

Posted on Feb 24 2025 12:30 PM

I constantly use the tone and volume knobs. I did the Frailin blender pot mod so I have a master tone.

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chiba

Joined: Sep 02, 2022
Posts: 537
Central VA
United States

Posted on Feb 25 2025 02:37 PM

I used to take the tone pots out of the circuits of my guitars, that's how little I use them. Now I leave them in simply so I don't have to rewire the guitar again if/when I sell it.

—

--
Project: MAYHEM -and- Moonbase Surficalus by Hypersonic Secret now available!

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J_Durango

Joined: Oct 15, 2017
Posts: 91
Ulverston
United Kingdom

Posted on Feb 26 2025 05:37 AM

I've rewired my Strat to be have just master volume and tone. In the main because I despise the standard position of the volume knob - I find it really gets in the way.
Though to answer the OP's question I rarely use the tone knob.

—

The Spiratones - Instro/Surf from the rain-soaked north-northwest of England

Last edited: Feb 26, 2025 05:37:58

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Danilyaster

Joined: Nov 29, 2023
Posts: 6
Ekaterinburg
Russian Federation

Posted on Feb 26 2025 05:38 AM

I use the tone knob very rarely, mostly on the neck when I'm playing accompaniment. In general, I think the knob is too much, I prefer it when the guitar has a frequency cut-off switch.

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synchro

Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4555
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
United States

Posted on Feb 26 2025 08:24 AM

J_Durango wrote:

I've rewired my Strat to be have just master volume and tone. In the main because I despise the standard position of the volume knob - I find it really gets in the way.
Though to answer the OP's question I rarely use the tone knob.

I’m pretty much the same, preferring a master volume and master tone to individual volume and tone controls, such as the classic Les Paul comtrol set.

Danilyaster wrote:

I use the tone knob very rarely, mostly on the neck when I'm playing accompaniment. In general, I think the knob is too much, I prefer it when the guitar has a frequency cut-off switch.

Danilyaster wrote:

I use the tone knob very rarely, mostly on the neck when I'm playing accompaniment. In general, I think the knob is too much, I prefer it when the guitar has a frequency cut-off switch.

—

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

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synchro

Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4555
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
United States

Posted on Feb 26 2025 08:27 AM

Danilyaster wrote:

I use the tone knob very rarely, mostly on the neck when I'm playing accompaniment. In general, I think the knob is too much, I prefer it when the guitar has a frequency cut-off switch.

There are some true advantages to a tone switch, such as are used on many Gretsch models. The “mud switch” of the ‘50s and ‘60s tended to have large caps, and the sound was pretty dark, but newer Gretsch models use smaller caps, and the mud switch becomes much better suited to modern tastes.

—

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

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weird_oh84 Joined: May 24, 2023 Posts: 207	Posted on Feb 23 2025 05:50 PM Who else never uses their tone knobs on a Strat ? I pretty much always keep it “open” , even when the bridge position gets ice picky … I’d rather it be way too bright than muffled and lifeless… The only instance I can think of when the tone knob turned on sounds great is on “Peggy Sue” by Buddy Holly … Are there others who feel the same? Top
edwardsand Joined: Jun 29, 2018 Posts: 801	Posted on Feb 23 2025 07:15 PM The standard tone knobs on a Strat are for the neck and middle pickups - there is no tone knob for the bridge pickup, so you couldn't adjust that anyway. But for me, on any of my guitars, I adjust the tone knob sometimes depending on the song and style of music. For surf, I usually leave it all the way up. For some more raunchy sounds, sometimes I'll turn it down a bit. In the end, I'm more likely to adjust the tone on my amp. Top
ArtS Joined: May 09, 2008 Posts: 1401 Isle of Kent, MD	Posted on Feb 23 2025 07:39 PM Agree for surf I keep it full treble. — 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
taijiguy Joined: Mar 27, 2006 Posts: 213 Newington, CT USA	Posted on Feb 24 2025 06:11 AM I never use tone knobs on any guitar for any type of music. Top
rockndawg Joined: Aug 06, 2018 Posts: 64	Posted on Feb 24 2025 07:08 AM I'm the same "I never use tone knobs on any guitar for any type of music." Top
synchro Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4555 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.	Posted on Feb 24 2025 09:16 AM It’s pretty rare for me to use a tone cut. Even when playing Jazz, I tend to keep the tone wide open. I roll back the tone, slightly, at the amp, but that setting usually doesn’t change, no matter what I’m playing. For example, the two band EQ on my Deluxe Reverb is set to 4 Bass and 6 Treble, and has been for years. The pickup switch, right hand technique and choice of pick do the rest. — The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. Top
jtrollmann Joined: Jun 24, 2021 Posts: 135 South Bay, CA	Posted on Feb 24 2025 10:08 AM On my AmPro II strat I play 100% on the bridge pickup. I keep the tone knob around 8. On the DRRI, treble at 5 and bass at 3. — -John "...enjoy every sandwich." -Warren Zevon Fender Stratocaster American Pro II Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue Top
Samurai Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 2288 Kiev, Ukraine	Posted on Feb 24 2025 10:38 AM I use it sometimes in live situation, especially on a bridge pickup but not really much — Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki Lost Diver https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin Top
Stormtiger Joined: Dec 12, 2006 Posts: 2687 Ventura, CA	Posted on Feb 24 2025 12:30 PM I constantly use the tone and volume knobs. I did the Frailin blender pot mod so I have a master tone. Top
chiba Joined: Sep 02, 2022 Posts: 537 Central VA	Posted on Feb 25 2025 02:37 PM I used to take the tone pots out of the circuits of my guitars, that's how little I use them. Now I leave them in simply so I don't have to rewire the guitar again if/when I sell it. — -- Project: MAYHEM -and- Moonbase Surficalus by Hypersonic Secret now available! Top
J_Durango Joined: Oct 15, 2017 Posts: 91 Ulverston	Posted on Feb 26 2025 05:37 AM I've rewired my Strat to be have just master volume and tone. In the main because I despise the standard position of the volume knob - I find it really gets in the way. Though to answer the OP's question I rarely use the tone knob. — The Spiratones - Instro/Surf from the rain-soaked north-northwest of England Last edited: Feb 26, 2025 05:37:58 Top
Danilyaster Joined: Nov 29, 2023 Posts: 6 Ekaterinburg	Posted on Feb 26 2025 05:38 AM I use the tone knob very rarely, mostly on the neck when I'm playing accompaniment. In general, I think the knob is too much, I prefer it when the guitar has a frequency cut-off switch. Top
synchro Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4555 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.	Posted on Feb 26 2025 08:24 AM J_Durango wrote: I've rewired my Strat to be have just master volume and tone. In the main because I despise the standard position of the volume knob - I find it really gets in the way. Though to answer the OP's question I rarely use the tone knob. I’m pretty much the same, preferring a master volume and master tone to individual volume and tone controls, such as the classic Les Paul comtrol set. Danilyaster wrote: I use the tone knob very rarely, mostly on the neck when I'm playing accompaniment. In general, I think the knob is too much, I prefer it when the guitar has a frequency cut-off switch. Danilyaster wrote: I use the tone knob very rarely, mostly on the neck when I'm playing accompaniment. In general, I think the knob is too much, I prefer it when the guitar has a frequency cut-off switch. — The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. Top
synchro Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4555 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.	Posted on Feb 26 2025 08:27 AM Danilyaster wrote: I use the tone knob very rarely, mostly on the neck when I'm playing accompaniment. In general, I think the knob is too much, I prefer it when the guitar has a frequency cut-off switch. There are some true advantages to a tone switch, such as are used on many Gretsch models. The “mud switch” of the ‘50s and ‘60s tended to have large caps, and the sound was pretty dark, but newer Gretsch models use smaller caps, and the mud switch becomes much better suited to modern tastes. — The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. Top

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Strat Tone Knobs