Do you prefer simple or complex controls on your bass(es)?

[ThinCrappyTone]

Complex passive, please. The more switches, knobs and dials the better.

 

[Stewie]

Couple of P basses, and an upright with a magnetic pickup that goes straight to wireless. 3 basses, 4 knobs.

 

[Hundred proof]

Either or ... P bass simple to active with dual preamps (it’s still dead simple to use)

 

[scuzzy]

Either or ... P bass simple to active with dual preamps (it’s still dead simple to use)

mostly commenting on your avatar. not sure if you are fond of old granddad in particular, but I believe all bourbon should be bottled at 50% abv. it's just best that way.

 

[Cutter8]

The Mo’ West preamps in Chopper’s Alien Audio basses would be my Goldilocks “Baby Bear” example when it comes to controls. Unbelievably musical and versatile — not too complex, not too simple, but just right.

6 knobs (labeled according to position in pic):

1. Top Left = Tone with Hi-Fi/Vintage push-pull switch
2. Middle Left = Balance
3. Bottom Left = Volume with Onboard O/D push-pull switch
4. Top Right = Treble
5. Middle Right = Mid
6. Bottom Right = Bass

 

[rovito]

My newest basses have the controls bypassed. Pickups go straight to the output jack.

 

[klejst]

Simple passive preferred however I can deal with simple active if need be.

 

[godofthunder59]

I have something like 60 basses with all manner of pickup configurations. My favorite is the 60's Gibson Thunderbird II.

 

[darwin-bass]

Ah, the poll result is very telling.

 

[Liko]

Both my actives are Vol/Pan/3-Band, and my main passive is a Jazz that I rewired VVTT. So I guess that counts as "complex".

 

[Laurent]

I like my stuff wired simple!
Two knobs and there might be one too many.

 

[edencab]

I'm not Chekov at the helm, I don't have time for too many buttons, switches, knobs...Vol, tone, blend, fiddle with amp, play!...IMHO

 

[dralionux]

I had the Music Man Reflex HSS, traded it for a G&L L2000 which has simpler controls and weights 1.5 lbs less

 

[Passinwind]

All four of my basses are active-only and they all currently have three band preamps. One of those preamps uses four tone control knobs as well. Simple by my standards, YMMV.

 

[stigbeve]

I always liked the controls on my '08 Corvette 6. Stacked treble and bass, blend and then volume (pull for passive).

 

[Geri O]

Ah, the poll result is very telling.

Yeah.

It sez a lot of folks don’t agree with my choice.

Which is perfectly fine.

 

[scuzzy]

I had the Music Man HSS, traded it for a G&L L2000 which has simpler controls and weights 1.5 lbs less

which music man? I find the HSS controls to be rather intuitive, although there are many. on/off for each pickup, vol/tone/stacked hi-lo mid/stacked bass-treble.

i do love the G&L's though. an asat has been on my short list for a long time.

 

[scuzzy]

I always liked the controls on my '08 Corvette 6. Stacked treble and bass, blend and then volume (pull for passive).

i would consider that a simple active. i also like that a lot. although I like and use every style listed.

when it comes to simple active preamps, the design and preset parameters are key. warwick does a great job making a usable simple preamp. as does ebmm.

 

[jd56hawk]

disclaimer: This thread is a great excuse to post a pic of my favorite basses.

I believe that the majority of the folks on this forum will likely say simple, ala Precision bass with a volume and tone, or simply a volume, or perhaps straight to the jack. I have one p-type bass, and I do love to play it on occasion due to it's simplicity and versatility within that simplicity. But although I own and enjoy playing several passive basses, I still default to basses that are primarily active, with the ability to go passive.

I think that I now have my primary 4 basses. They are all 4 active with passive options. I would group them into "boutique" -style 4 and 5 string, and more "traditional" (non-coffee table) -style 4 and 5 string.

View attachment 3801052

Between these 4 basses, there are....

• 10 pickups
• 23 knobs
• 14 switches
• 8 batteries
• 38 pickup combinations

All can go from active to passive. 3 out of the 4 have a passive tone control, which has proven to be a very useful thing. One of them, the passive tone control works in active or passive mode.

It has taken quite a bit of exploration and tweaking to learn each up to this point, and how I can utilize their potential. I certainly have more learning to do. I primarily play at church and at home. Playing at church is comparable to playing in a cover band (but with less booze) so you never know what bass or amp might show up on a recording. Versatility has been good for my mental state, as I like to sound as close to the recording as possible, although I'm sure most people don't know or care.

So what do most of you prefer?

Simple Active - no switches, simple 2 band EQ or similar
Simple Passive - no switches, tone control
Complex Active - Lot's of knobs and switches
Complex Passive - Lot's of knobs and switches

Plenty of options even with my Dean Exotica acoustic bass by flipping the Aural Exciter or the Phase Shift on or off in conjunction with 3-band equalizer.
Can't think of a more versatile ABG.

 

[Standalone]

I'm a set-it-and-forget-it player.

I'm a set it and forget-where-i-set-it player