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Do you prefer simple or complex controls on your bass(es)?
- Thread starter scuzzy
- Start date
I understand that. It's not what I meant. I don't play just for myself, having my Trace Elliot sounding top notch while the audience listen to the FOHPA according to the sound guy wills. Changing my amp eq only changes my stage sound. Changing my bass eq changes my overall sound. The level of my output is fixed by my comp/limiter in order not to clip, and my changes are rehearsed not to blur the guitars freqs.. so the sound engineer has no complaints...
I always sent a flat signal to the FOH. My rig is my own stage monitor.
Being honest, I don’t change my tone or presence much if at all. I work in larger ensembles, 8 pieces or more, and or vocal groups. I’m not “the show”. If I tried what you do I’d be an unwelcome distraction. Please don’t misunderstand me that I don’t appreciate what you can do as an artist with your gear.
What I miss most about my alembic was the complex double filter system.... but honestly there's more to it than that. My main basses now all have 2 band active eqs with semi parametric mids.
What I would REALLY prefer would be fully parametric mids, not semi (or at least a Q switch for the mid), and a switch for 2 different high frequencies for the treble control (or possibly the musicman 2 band preamp style where the treble control boosts a different frequency range than it cuts, without you ever knowing... it's so musical and helpful)..... plus I believe every active bass should have an optional passive tone control. Why? because passive controls do very different things than active treble controls do.... and many times I'd like to boost active treble while cutting passive treble to get a zing without being piercing.
But I'm an audio engineer also, as well and electrical engineer (And software.... yes I like engineering)... and I have a hard to being satisfied without this sort of crazy control.
What I would REALLY prefer would be fully parametric mids, not semi (or at least a Q switch for the mid), and a switch for 2 different high frequencies for the treble control (or possibly the musicman 2 band preamp style where the treble control boosts a different frequency range than it cuts, without you ever knowing... it's so musical and helpful)..... plus I believe every active bass should have an optional passive tone control. Why? because passive controls do very different things than active treble controls do.... and many times I'd like to boost active treble while cutting passive treble to get a zing without being piercing.
But I'm an audio engineer also, as well and electrical engineer (And software.... yes I like engineering)... and I have a hard to being satisfied without this sort of crazy control.
Ummm.... I couldn’t vote. I think intuitive is really important. Something can be complicated but intuitive (I think). Some electronics can try to do plenty with as few controls as possible and so are complicated despite a few knobs. As long as it’s intuitive I don’t care what else it is.
i should have clarified in the original post, but now my edit ability is past due. i clarified here what I intended in the original.
Do you prefer simple or complex controls on your bass(es)?
I've got one that I'm sure I'll be asking for expert help. A 1988 Pearl Purple LB70 with dual stacked humbuckers. It's a coronavirus project that's been sitting in a case for 8 years. Wiring is all screwed up, a mystery Circuit board, with no place to put a battery. I'm intrigued only because I've only got one bass that has more switches than this one.
My only issue... fixing the wiring so that I get more than one pickup to work, All I have to go by from Carvin is the original hand drawn switch diagram that came with the bass from the factory. I can't complain... it cost me 50 bucks and came with the original hard shell case.
My only issue... fixing the wiring so that I get more than one pickup to work, All I have to go by from Carvin is the original hand drawn switch diagram that came with the bass from the factory. I can't complain... it cost me 50 bucks and came with the original hard shell case.
My tone control is in the fingers, no further need for stressful knobs & switches, thank you.
This, 100%. The most appreciable feature of Sire’s preamp is the always-on passive tone control.
About preamps with different curves for boosting and cutting, many Bartolini have this logic. IIRC the preamps with switchable mid frequency change only the boost curve and not the cut.
There seems to be some simple/passive folks who are quite condescending to those that like 3-4 band active eq's. It doesn't have to be a lack of technique or magic fingers that leads some to a multi-band eq....step off the high horse. 
I agree there is no need for one player's preference to be universally "correct" here. My most complex set of controls is on my Stingray (3-band), and it's fine, although as we all know, SRs don't have a very neutral tone, and I do attribute a lot of that to the EQ. It's not a bad thing - different tools for different jobs. That said, I do prefer my P basses, which I tend to run with tone somewhere between 70%-100%.There seems to be some simple/passive folks who are quite condescending to those that like 3-4 band active eq's. It doesn't have to be a lack of technique or magic fingers that leads some to a multi-band eq....step off the high horse.
I'm sorry but as you seems really straigh forward, I'm gonna do the same here
I think you're wrong.
For the reasons I said before but not only.
With my Sadowsky inboard preamp, I can do anything you do with your passive jazz.
The opposite is not true...
Not exploiting the possibilities of the active sound just because "it's complicated" (which is not true) seems a little narrow minded.
Of course: IMHO, YMTO, FWIW etc. etc.
I sincerely wish you the best with your one tone.
