What do you consider more useful on a guitar, tone controls or volume?

[zachoff]

I usually play pretty wide open on my G&Ls, Reverend, and Gibson basses but on my Yamaha BBs I dial the tone down just a tad.  I guess that means tone for me since my volume is pretty much always at 10.

[inductorguitars]

It's an extender to give the string more tension. I can't remember the science behind it, but even though it's not on the playing (saddle to nut) length, it works. I think I got the idea from the 101 Bass Tips book by Gary Willis.

At first I was like no way that would work - then did a quick search.
It's all about the compliance of the string - you are adding more compliance with added string length. Hence it takes more movement to bend a note to a higher pitch.

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showpost.php?s=92fa3ca01c13f0acbc855d9b8e134cdd&p=2089473&postcount=15

[Hemisaurus]

You have twenty seconds to comply

ta, Erik.