cockroach wrote:Ehh?
Do you all use the same settings all the time?! Surely not? Or have I misunderstood?
I usually set the amp up with some appropriate clean channel tones, a reasonable amount of treble, bass and middle, and effects if required, echo, reverb etc then give the amp plenty of volume, and then control everything else from the guitar volume and tone controls and the pickup selector- these settings then not only vary from tune to tune but may also change during the tune (e.g. going from rhythm to a solo and back to rhythm again)
I've always found the tone and volume controls on Fenders and Fender type single coil guitars to be very versatile and usable for all styles, whether for live work, studio stuff etc.
(For instance, should I want to change sounds for different styles very quickly on the Squier Tele, the front pickup with tone rolled nearly off (nearly full bass) and a highish guitar volume setting gives me a great jazz sound, then back the guitar volume right off with both pickups on and full treble on the guitar tone control gives a very good almost acoustic sounding Bruce rhythm sound, then onto the back pickup with about two thirds volume and the tone control backed off a little from full treble, and it's great for Buck Owens or Luther Perkins. Similar quick tweaks on my Strat copy work just as well to give a wide tone and volume range for virtually all styles)
'Roach,
Just as I said. I use the different pickups to vary the tone in conjunction with pedals and other effects, even leave the amp set up the same only changing volume as necessary, mostly by volume pedal. A flick of the pickup selector will give me an instant tone change that is as I expect it to be, and these days with 'amp modelling' etc even the tone gets automatically reset for you for the sound you want at that precise time. You would also be aware that the early Stratocaster (and the original Marvin for that matter) had no tone control at all on the bridge pickup, and the other two in my opinion were a 'set and forget' affair anyway.
Each to their own though, what suits you is right for you in the end methinks.