Basses with the most control knobs and switches.

[Korladis]

Yeah, I've always disliked the dual volume knobs on Jazz Basses, at least with the lack of a switch. I guess that's because I'm used to the 4 knobs + pickup selector switch layout from the basses I've had, though.

 

[mojomike001]

Not the most, but enough for an honorable mention:

Love my Big Al. It gives a whole lot of control over what comes out of it, but with an easy to operate layout.

 

[Doner Designs]

If i remember correctly, his bass is a Guild Starfire Bass that Alembic completely overhauled!

He must get the exact tone anyone would want.

One of my favorite pictures ever!

 

[Doner Designs]

I would love to have something like that air force bass where the shield switch controlled a massive overdrive.

I think we will wire them that way from now on. It's a great idea that did not occur to us at first because the first build was a strat clone (passive guitar) and we used it as a kill switch on that. But, the boost idea is a good one for guitars too - an oversize battery box could hold the battery and the booster.

The bass has a bartolini TC3 boost-only preamp and if it were not already wired up I would definitely have put that on the covered switch. An added benefit would be that the bass could be played with the cover closed.

 

[Doner Designs]

 

[lz4005]

Carvin doubleneck from the 80's.

Each neck has volume/volume/tone, a pickup switch, two coil taps and a phase switch. Plus a neck selector switch.

And two output jacks.

 

[AndyW83]

Lesh for the win

 

[MEKer]

The Soviet "Stella" base. Supposedly the first stereo bass. Ugly whatever it is. 15 knobs/pots/switches. Probably invented by S.M.E.R.S.H.

 

[Doner Designs]

I guess I already posted this one, but here it is with different knobs and a master volume control added.

It has 14 knobs & switches combined. I call it the Old 442 Bass. Four bands of EQ, four pickups and 2 coils per pickup. Active tone controls and Z mode switch are on an Audere Preamp. Controls are:

Vol-Neck pair
Vol-Bridge pair

Treble
Hi Mid
Lo Mid
Bass

Master volume
Master passive tone

Mini toggle on/off for each pickup

Three way Pro-Z mode switch

Oh and the covered switch cuts power from the battery when open

 

[Doner Designs]

 

[Franklin229]

How about my early Ken Smith with built in envelope filter-not as many knobs as some but there are knobs for sure-

 

[zontar]

some of those old bc rich basses have quite a few knobs and switches on them.

I knew a guy who had one once, and I couldn't figure out what half of them did--and half of the other ones didn't give me sounds I could use.

It was a real nice bass to play-and you could get very good sounds out of it--but the controls made it feel like flying a plane without autopilot.

 

[Bigmuffdiver]

All those knobs... brrr!

I own a Jaguar bass. I never use any of the control knobs besides the volume, and every once in a year the tone knob.
If I'd buy a new bass, I wouldn't mind buying a 2 knob one

 

[Doner Designs]

 

[RandalPinkFloyd]

Alembics. With all those knobs you can control: volume, lows, mids, highs, mid-highs, mid-lows, mid-mids, pre-amp, amp, post-amp, EQ, Pre-EQ, Post-EQ, Boost, Turbo Boost, lights, smoke, thermostat, Contrast, Brightness, Color, Sharpness, Language, Factory Reset, OSD Control, Save, save as, copy, print, fax, wifi, bluetooth, 4g, 3g, EKG, Messages, settings, mute, headset, transfer, 3-way, hold, edit, more options, delete and of course, bookmark.

 

[esa372]

Alembics. With all those knobs you can control: volume, lows, mids, highs, mid-highs, mid-lows, mid-mids, pre-amp, amp, post-amp, EQ, Pre-EQ, Post-EQ, Boost, Turbo Boost, lights, smoke, thermostat, Contrast, Brightness, Color, Sharpness, Language, Factory Reset, OSD Control, Save, save as, copy, print, fax, wifi, bluetooth, 4g, 3g, EKG, Messages, settings, mute, headset, transfer, 3-way, hold, edit, more options, delete and of course, bookmark.

Yep - you can even adjust the drummer's tempo, and mute the singer's mic!

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[Doner Designs]

I think we posted a photo earlier. Here is a video.

Three volumes (one per pickup), four band EQ (Audere), 3 pickup on/off switches, Z-mode switch, momentary push button kill switch, toggle kill switch, dual output jacks.

 

[Doner Designs]

Yep - you can even adjust the drummer's tempo, and mute the singer's mic!

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Can you send me a wiring diagram for that one? I'd like to use this setup on our next project.

 

[spade2you]

I plan on doing something similar with Stambaugh soon, only I'll be adding MIDI. The vol will be push/pull to bypass the tone circuit. I'll have a regular tone knob and a Stellartone Tonestyler.

 

[ofajen]

My Wishbass will not win...

I've even considered replacing the volume pot with a simple switch to tie the output to ground.

Otto