Peerless - No Tone Knob?

**KB_Blues** · 07-25-2011, 06:29 AM

Hi all

I am considering upgrading my Ibanez.

I have been looking around online and found that a (real) shop about a hundred miles away that has a Peerless Manhattan that looks tempting. The thing is, it has only one pickup (bridge - no problem as I rarely use anything else), but this pickup only has a volume control and no tone control.

Is this normal? Is it basically a case of what you hear is what you get?

Just thought I'd ask what people thought about this before I jump in my car to go and try it out myself.

Cheers

KB

**MikeJ** · 07-25-2011, 06:34 AM

Bridge or neck pickup?

unusual to only have the bridge pickup...
I have an old Gibson JS with only a volume knob and find that no issue. Can pretty much get the tone I want from the amp and by varying where i am picking etc.

cheers

Mike

**BigMikeinNJ** · 07-25-2011, 06:45 AM

Do you mean a NECK pickup only ?? For a Peerless that would be more normal if it were NECK pickup. As MikeJ said it's not uncommon to see arch tops with JUST a volume pot - it makes for a more clean look, less clutter. There was a discussion here the other day about how to get the best jazz tone. A couple guys said have the volume pot almost maxed out and the tone pot full on and do all your EQ adjusting on the amp. So if you had a one knob guitar you would do your tone shaping on the amp.

I myself find that a little inconvenient and like to adjust my tone right on the guitar (small changes). Consider having a tech swap out the volume pot with a double stacked vol/tone pot - you keep the simple clean look and have less stuff cluttering up the pick guard. There are many to look at on eBay so you get an idea what I'm talking about.

TH · 07-25-2011, 06:48 AM

Not to be dense, but you mean neck pickup, right? Do you usually roll off the highs with the tone? It might be an issue. That sound, floating pickup with no tone can give a really acoustic quality to the instrument but it depends a lot on the pickup itself and what you like. It's the sound of Johnny Smith when you have a Gibson pickup in it. You can roll off the highs at the amp, or you can put a second mini pot on there and have a tone (not much real estate on that pick guard though), get a new pickguard with room for two posts is an option. Or you can put mini pc (printed circuit) controls under the pick guard the way Eastman does, or you can turn the volume control into a tone control and use a pedal for your volume. The last option is nice 'cause if your guitar is all acoustic, and feedback may be an issue, a foot volume lets you keep your hands on the wheel so to speak.
Try it out. It's right for some people, not so good for others. If you tend to roll off to a certain point, I suppose you can have a low pass filter hard wired into the signal path under the guard too.
David

**m78w** · 07-25-2011, 06:58 AM

I've played a Peerless Manhattan and it only has a volume knob, no tone know, so what you hear is what you get, though you can get a decent tone out of it like Matt Otten does. I like their 335 models a lot, I have one to teach on in my studio but I don't really gig with it much, though I could it's got a nice tone and easy playability.

this video is a different model but it doesn't have a tone knob either if I'm correct.

**KB_Blues** · 07-25-2011, 09:30 AM

Thanks for the relies!

I did mean neck pickup, don't know what happened there!

Monday morning I think.

I, yep, I usually stick to the neck pick up and roll off the highs. But I do like to vary my tone depending on what I am playing and so I might miss having the control

Thanks for the advice about the split volume/tone knob, didn't know about them.

Also, thanks for the video - Certainly a beautiful sounding guitar (appreciate it's not the same model). Quite acoustic sounding. If I couldn't see it I might guessed it was an acoustic with a really good piezo and a mic. Nice sound though.

I suppose it's one of those things that you just have to try out to see if it suits. But it's nice to know that there are options if the guitar is otherwise perfect.

Anyway, I've decided to drive up later in the week to check the Peerless out in person; they also have another couple of contenders in stock so it shouldn't be a wasted journey!! Can't wait!!

Thanks all

(And thanks to Matt for the great site and lessons)

**Strickland** · 07-25-2011, 09:38 AM

Easy fix. I only had a volume knob for some time and checked into adding a tone control and my guitar repairman suggested a stacked pot, this put both volume and tone on one knob. It is actually a volume knob on the bottom and a slightly smaller tone knob right on top of it like a wedding cake. Doesn't look weird at all doesn't involve drilling more holes in your pickguard (or guitar) and works just like it's supposed to.

**m78w** · 07-25-2011, 11:32 AM

thanks KB! Glad you're diggin the site, good luck with the Peerless, I really like mine and the cost is perfect.

**benjazzman82** · 07-28-2011, 12:47 PM

Hi there guys. Ben from south UK here. I play a peerless manhattan throuh a cube 40xl. The soind is pure and woody. You can get great different tones by playing with the eq on the amp. I never foind the lack of a tone control a problem...and i have always used guitars with them. Saying that, i also just picked up a Peerless Jazz city. Great guitar. One 57 humbucker and a tone control. Their guitars are superbly set ip from the word go and craftmanship is second to none.
I play in a jazz trio 4 nights a week and its just perfect.
Beat of luck on your quest and keep us updated.
Ben

**tonyknight** · 07-31-2011, 07:19 AM

Hey Ben, I've been thinking of getting a Peerless for quite some time now. How do you compare the Manhattan with the Jazz City? Also against the Monarch if you have a feeling for that.

I know this subject is well-covered in the forum, but a new view is always useful as it's really unlikely that I'll get the opportunity to actually try these guitars out side by side. Basically I like warm, mellow, sweet tones, plus easy playability as I'm getting arthritic problems in my fingers which really screws up the dexterity :-(

Cheers,
Tony

TH · 07-31-2011, 07:28 AM

Hi Tonyknight, not Ben here but if I might state the obvious, for the guitar you get, have it set up professionally to really low action and for lighter strings. How low and light will be up to you but a good setup and the right pickups to give voice to those strings will make a world of difference in the end. My experience has also been that the more acoustic an instrument is, the more of the intimate response of an archtop I can get with a light touch. But that's just me, and it has always pointed me towards the light responsive end of the spectrum. I take it you've tried Eastmans, right. I won't go further on that topic 'cause this is a Peerless thread but that's where I've found satisfaction.
David

**benjazzman82** · 07-31-2011, 11:45 AM

Hey Tony. Hope this finds you well.
At the moment its hard to say which i prefer. I seem to be gigging more on the Jazz City at the moment. The Manhattan is certainly louder accoustically....i guess because everything is floating, it allows the top to resonate more. I had the Manhattan set up by a great luthier and techy. He also stone polished the frets so they are all 100% even. I think this also allows for a super low action if thats your thing. It will detract from a typical jazz tone though in my opinion. Of the two, i would say the Manhattan does it for me. Its got the typical Benedetto looks, its realy simple in design with the floating pickup.....which is not too bright by the way. Its just a top shelf guitar for very little money. I was very into ibanez artcores for a while but i am now a Peerless convert. Unfortunatley, i have not had the pleasure of playing the Monarch. Judging by Matt Otten vids on you tube though, i would have to say it up there with the others.
Hope that helps.

Ben

**tonyknight** · 07-31-2011, 11:57 AM

Hi Ben and David,

thanks for the insights. I'm certainly not looking for super low action as I agree that would be potentially disastrous for the tone :-) There needs to be a balance between the action and playability as it pertains to my needs. I'm finding that the Gibson guage is easier on my fingers than the Fender guage, and I'm also finding that my gorgeous Collings 000 acoustic is becoming more and more difficult for me to play due to its incredibly fast but narrow neck!

From the lots I've read, and the far too little that I've actually heard on vids and mp3s, I think you're on the ball, Ben. It sounds like the Manhattan or the Monarch are the best contenders without paying an awful lot more. And with my beginner's level of jazz (advanced on other styles though) I'm not sure that I'd see or hear the benefit of more expensive guitars unless its due to a neck which is more conducive to my playing limitations.

But to David's point, I'm essentially open to all brands. I've always chosen the guitar based on how it feels, plays, and sounds - well, except for my very first guitar almost 40 yrs ago which was a pretty unextraordinary Gibson SG, but hey, I wanted a good crunching Gibson at the time! So ideally, I will find a good shop or two where I can at least do some comparisons which, as I said, isn't always easy where I live.

Cheers,
tony

**benjazzman82** · 07-31-2011, 07:52 PM

Hi Tony.
Just to say if you type "Peerless Manattan" into you tube you will see a video by me. I think its headed "ben pedley jazz guitarist II". Its just a quick version of St Thomas but its nails the way my Manhattan sounds live.
Sorry i can paste the link but i dont know how to do it from my phone.
...Just had a corking gig with the Manhattan and had 2 guitarists come ip and ask me what it was.
All the best.
Ben

**tonyknight** · 08-02-2011, 02:58 AM

Thanks Ben - I'll check that out and perhaps KB-Blues might want to as well as that was the thrust of his original question :-)

**KB_Blues** · 08-02-2011, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by tonyknight

Thanks Ben - I'll check that out and perhaps KB-Blues might want to as well as that was the thrust of his original question :-)

Thanks for the replies and the link - great playing and the Peerless sounds fantastic!

Sadly, my new guitar purchase has been put on hold as I have had gearbox trouble; the 'new guitar fund' became 'car repair fund'.

I didn't even get to drive to Derby to check one out! Probably a good thing as it would have made the purchase failure much harder to take!

I have had to content myself with ordering a new set of snazzy Tomastik strings. I feel so much better now.