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Do you prefer simple or complex controls on your bass(es)?
- Thread starter scuzzy
- Start date
Vol/blend/tone for two pickups
I always set the blend in the middle.
tone is either 0 or 11
volume varies
prefer passive just because I’ll forget to unplug batteried basses
I always set the blend in the middle.
tone is either 0 or 11
volume varies
prefer passive just because I’ll forget to unplug batteried basses
I want a bass with something like those Alembic filtering preamps onboard. That is what I want. A bass like that. Please.
(edit - It's pretty funny that I posted this just as the above was posted)
(edit - It's pretty funny that I posted this just as the above was posted)
I owned a BC Rich like this. From the top:
Master volume (passive)
3-way PU switch, 6-way varitone (5 plus off)
Preamp (gain only) volume and on/off switch
Coil taps for each PU
Passive tone
(mine also had a phase switch)
The total number of switch settings is 384, 192 passive and 192 active. Way too complicated, I never used the varitone, the coil taps or the phase switch. Even with all that, there's no way to balance the pickups when both were on. Ridiculous.
Much better is the Steinberger L2, active EMG pickups into two passive volumes plus a passive tone...just like a J-bass.
Also very cool is the 1980's Fender P Elite: passive volume and tone (with a detent) into a buffer (1:1 gain) preamp. The bottom half of the tone is just like a passive P, the upper half brings in an upper mid cut for Ric-like tones.
Simple active for me.
So you could have vol plus a tone switch and wire the PUs together (no blend pot)
Keep it simple for me.
No preference on active or passive, each has its own sound and I have both, just keep it simple: No more than 5 controls including knobs and switch.
No preference on active or passive, each has its own sound and I have both, just keep it simple: No more than 5 controls including knobs and switch.
I’ve worked out that the fewer controls I have on the bass, the less time I spend tweaking the sound and the more time I spend playing. Simplicity is good. I used to have a bunch of active basses (eg Ibanez) with three band EQ (sweepable mid and/or mid EQ centre freq switches), pickup configuration switches etc. Now, I’m mostly passive only and rolling off or opening up the tone knob is enough for me.
I like simple.
Bass and amp.
My current favorite bass has one Guild BS-1 Bisonic pup, volume, tone.
The amp has gain, master, depth, contour.
That's it.
Bass and amp.
My current favorite bass has one Guild BS-1 Bisonic pup, volume, tone.
The amp has gain, master, depth, contour.
That's it.
Yeah but most 2 pickup basses have 3 holes in em. I have plugged a hole on strats, it’s not preferred but will work.
I think positing Simple and Complex as diametric antipodes is disingenuous.
(I also think writing sentences like "I think positing Simple and Complex as diametric antipodes is disingenuous" is pretentious, but bear with me.)
I like versatile and intuitive controls on my basses. More often than not that means more knobs than what most folks would consider "simple" ...but if they are genuinely intuitive, there's nothing "complex" about it. Form follows function.
(I also think writing sentences like "I think positing Simple and Complex as diametric antipodes is disingenuous" is pretentious, but bear with me.)
I like versatile and intuitive controls on my basses. More often than not that means more knobs than what most folks would consider "simple" ...but if they are genuinely intuitive, there's nothing "complex" about it. Form follows function.
I’m pretty much good with whatever, as long as i’m familiar enough with the layout i can grab the right knob when i want to make an adjustment. I tend to keep it simple though, not because i can’t remember the layout, but because too many adjustments on a bass makes it difficult to go back to a setting i like after i move away from it. I can get back to it but if it takes more than a few seconds it’s worthless to me when playing live because i really don’t like to be the reason the rest of the band is rolling their eyes while i’m trying to get back to my sweet spot. I much prefer to let my amp do the heavy lifting then use my bass for fine tweaks as needed.
Let the amp/equipment do the work.
Simple passive.
Would rather focus on playing instead of twiddling knobs, flipping switches, wondering if and when the battery was going to run out, and remembering which knob and switch does what!
And the amp has plenty of simple EQ options.
Would rather focus on playing instead of twiddling knobs, flipping switches, wondering if and when the battery was going to run out, and remembering which knob and switch does what!
And the amp has plenty of simple EQ options.
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This right here.
Although I like having an onboard preamp, I leave the EQ settings flat, except to occasionally roll off the highs for moments that call for a less aggressive tone. I do all EQ-ing and tone at the amp. And if I’m on ears, no amp, and using my REDDI, I need no tone control. The basses sounds great just straight through the mixer.
I know, I know, “why spend the money on a preamp if you don’t use the tone controls?” Well, don’t let that worry anyone. That’s my cross to bear, as it were.
I clicked "like" for the bass on the far left (yowza!!!) and replied for your OG alarm clock.
I voted simple passive, because I own more basses in that configuration. My favorite basses are simple active ones, specifically Ernie Ball Music Man Sterlings. I like a master volume and tone (or eq) and selector switch rather than multiple volumes/tones on multi-pickup instruments, though truthfully I prefer single-pickup basses (MM- and P-style). The simpler a layout is, the less I'll be able to dick around with it and the more I can focus on just playing the instrument/song.
I tend to leave everything flat and the volume around 80% on an active bass or everything at about 80-90% on a passive bass, that way I have plenty of room to adjust as necessary should I need to.
I tend to leave everything flat and the volume around 80% on an active bass or everything at about 80-90% on a passive bass, that way I have plenty of room to adjust as necessary should I need to.
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I like it as simple or complex as is necessary to get me what I want. No more, no less.
In my perfect world there would be no controls on the bass or amp at all. And no pedals either. I could just plug in and the bass and amp would give me everything I wanted, when I wanted it, every single time without me ever once having to touch anything but the strings.
Kinda like the way it was way back when I was playing upright, and before I migrated over to electric bass guitar.
In my perfect world there would be no controls on the bass or amp at all. And no pedals either. I could just plug in and the bass and amp would give me everything I wanted, when I wanted it, every single time without me ever once having to touch anything but the strings.
Kinda like the way it was way back when I was playing upright, and before I migrated over to electric bass guitar.
