Hi Yanc,  
 
I'm surprised also.  One thing I can say for certain is according to Mike Lull (the guy who installed my midi pick up), he said he set the trim pots to balance the two pick ups with each other.  Have you adjusted yours?  If you haven't, that might explain our similar tones, with our dis-similar settings.  If you have adjusted your trim pots to balance the pick ups, well...the only thing I can say is, the plot thickens.  
 
It seems to be such an extreme difference in settings, I would think they shouldn't sound alike, but they do.  Hmmm...
 
I don't know.  I just don't know.
 
Anyone else?  
 
Thanks Yanc.
 
Kimberly  

Standard Epic has just one trimpot for overall output level. So the second one on Kimberly's Epic must set the level for the midi out?

Hi Adriaan,  
 
Damn...that blows my theory right out of the water.   I remember Mike saying something about adjusting the *levels*, but if an Epic only has one adjustment he must have said he adjusted the *level*.  It can't be the midi pickup because it's one of those 'warts' that you see 'hanging on' to basses and guitar.  The only adjustments it has is a selector for instrument only (which bypasses the synth), instrument and synth, or synth only (which bypasses the bass), and an overall master volume for the synth which I use for balancing the bass and synth mix, (or sometimes I use bass volume to adjust the mix depending on which of the two gives me the headroom I need to make the mix).  Nothing at all to do with bass volume.  So, when playing 'straight bass' via the midi bypass, the bass volume/pan/tone can only be controlled/adjusted by the bass volume/pan/tone controls.
 
Thanks for the information Adriaan and as I said before and seemingly even more so now, the plot thickens.
 
Kimberly - Clueless in Seattle

Me senseless in Breda.

One other thing to consider is the knob installation. Just because the knob points the same direction as another, doesn't mean they both have the same starting point. We have our normal way of installing knobs, but especially if you've had work done on the electronics, they may have been installed to point a different direction.  
 
Normally on an Epic, the center of the bass and treble controls, as well as the center of the pan control will point directly toward the strings, that is, perpendicular to them. The volume knob is usually oriented so that maximum volume is pointing toward the peghead, or parallel to the strings.  
 
Some left handed basses have specially made left handed pots. Even if the knobs are installed in the same position, if the pots are mirror images, you will see different positions.  
 
Different woods and different string numbers even on the same wood will produce different sounds. The particular strings and the individual playing will also affect the tone. When I play a bass here, hand it to another person to play without changing the settings on the bass or the amp, it can sound like a completely different bass.  
 
There's lots of variables.

Hi Mica,
 
  Thank you for the information.  And as you say there are a lot of variables, certainly more than I would have and have considered.  'Who wudda thunk it, left handed pots?'  Wow... but then I think about some and realize... hey that's me, kind of.
 
  As far as mine goes (left handed Epic), wide open volume does point toward the peghead, though the pan/bass/treble have the center detent position at about 10 o'clock when looking at him in the playing position.  I will note that on my boy the bass and treble are mirrored.  Clockwise for the bass and counter clockwise for the treble for the full open positions.  It's all good and certainly works just fine for me.  Just speaking 'for the record'.  
 
  Thank you again for the information and hope to meet in person sometime.  Maybe even in a couple of weeks as I'm heading southeast from Washington to Louisiana and I'm just starting to schedule the dates and route.  Who knows...  
 
Best Regards,
 
Kimberly  

Kimberly, if you make it as far as NE Florida drop me a line.  I'd enjoy coming out to hear you.
 
Sam

Ditto on above if you get a gig in or around Raliegh,N.C.
 
Chuck

Hi Sam and Chuck,  
 
At this stage in the game anything's possible.  However, you may both rest assured if I'm in the area(s) I'll be in touch.  How very cool for the ego.  
 
Thanks!
 
Kimberly