Designing a bass - preamp selection - Nordstrand 3B 5b

[Davo-London]

If I was designing a 2 pickup bass from scratch, with the goal of it being an all-things-to-all-people bass, what sort of preamp controls would you want?

I've picked this Nordstrand as an example because it has:

- 3 band EQ (Treble, Mid and Bass)
- Volume (passive pull)
- Blend
- Tone (does this work in passive mode?)
- Freq selected on mids EQ (pull)

Not too many controls plus passive volume on pulling the vol knob, which should satisfy the passive-die hards.

I can't think what else would be needed? Can you?

Thoughts?

Davo

[BassManMike73]

It had a 3 band EQ and a tone knob? That seems a little weird to me.

[Davo-London]

Agreed but that's what their website states. It could be passive only?

Davo

[smeet]

Passive tone control sounds quite different from active treble roll off. It works in both active and passive modes. These are the exact controls I like, and this preamp sounds GREAT.

[Lo-E]

A number of preamps are available with a passive tone knob in addition to the active B/M/T controls. It usually works in both active and passive mode. Even when not offered by the company in that configuration, just about any preamp can be wired that way, if desired.

The benefits of it are twofold: you still have tone control in passive mode and, if desired, you can have the traditional-sounding treble roll-off of a passive tone control, but still take advantage of the buffering of active mode.

[hampulator]

That's one of my beefs...no tone control in passive. So(IMO) do it up right

[Davo-London]

Yes, Nordstrand confirmed the tone works in both modes!

Looks wicked on paper!

Davo

[Lo-E]

Works wicked in practice, too!

[BassManMike73]

I'd love to see a schematic for it! That sounds like a pretty interesting circuit!