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

Ideal onboard electronics setup

  • Simple Active

    Votes: 92 17.9%

  • Simple Passive

    Votes: 341 66.5%

  • Complex Active

    Votes: 60 11.7%

  • Complex Passive

    Votes: 20 3.9%
  • Total voters
    513
#123
Yeah, I like 'tweak-ability'...

'77 Alembic Series I.
#77-621 (angled).jpeg


'17 Alembic Custom
14588_bodyfrontNL.jpg


Then of course, there's always the rack-pack; DS-5R > F-1X > SF-2 (for when the knobs and switches on-board just won't get you there.) :laugh:

Alembic Rack.jpeg
 
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#127
I did the set and forget trick for 20 years cause I didn't want to bother with my preamp settings... and playing in a soul / R&B band, I didn't need much tone variations.
And it perfectly went this way!
Then I joined a cover band, in which I play 30 different band songs a set, and I needed to change sound to match...
That is when I discovered the power of my inboard preamp! I can jump from a vintage P to a MM and then to modern aggressive Warwick sound without moving from my place on stage!
It's the same as with effects! Used to plug directly in the amp, now I got a full pedal board!
My advice would be, take a look at your knobs... it might be worth it...
Maybe you'll stick with your passive old tone. But you'll do it because you decided, not cause you were to lazy to figure out how it works!
;):thumbsup::)
 
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#129
I like my knobs where I can reach them! I wonder how many of those who opt for simple passive setups also have a pedal board? For myself, I like to eq my bass on the bass and leave the amp pretty much alone once I start playing, and use no pedals, just compression onboard the amp. So I like an active preamp with a blender and 3 tone controls. The switch on my Volo I pretty much ignore. Literally the only disadvantage to a complex active setup that I can see is a dying battery. And that's been a problem for me only once on a gig, and quickly solved.
 
#131
scuzzy said:
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
Click to expand...
I've always subscribed to the K.I.S.S acronym.
 
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#132
eddododo said:
I REALLY appreciate a simple, well thought out, and especially WELL-TUNED set of controls.
Click to expand...

If it's not designed well, it won't matter how simple or complex, it has to make great sounds. Gotta be well tuned!

jamro217 said:
I don't mind either style but knowing how everything works is a must.
Click to expand...

My bass discontent and trading slowed greatly once I started spending hours learning how active onboard eq's respond. The first thing I try to find is a manual or eq specs with set points.

BritBass 2 said:
Both active and passive , as long as sounds good I’m happy .View attachment 3801644View attachment 3801645 View attachment 3801646
Click to expand...

Nice collection!

Basta-bass said:
I did the set and forget trick for 20 years cause I didn't want to bother with my preamp settings... and playing in a soul / R&B band, I didn't need much tone variations.
And it perfectly went this way!
Then I joined a cover band, in which I play 30 different band songs a set, and I needed to change sound to match...
That is when I discovered the power of my inboard preamp! I can jump from a vintage P to a MM and then to modern aggressive Warwick sound without moving from my place on stage!
It's the same as with effects! Used to plug directly in the amp, now I got a full pedal board!
My advice would be, take a look at your knobs... it might be worth it...
Maybe you'll stick with your passive old tone. But you'll do it because you decided, not cause you were to lazy to figure out how it works!
;):thumbsup::)
Click to expand...

Agree 100%.

I've had complex basses that only had 1-2 usable settings. On the reflex and big Al instruments, there are literally dozens of usable sounds on each. It's gotta be a well made circuit or complexity is useless and frustrating.

Great responses so far, panning out like I expected.
 
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#133
I have lots of P basses with only 2 knobs, and lots of basses with many, many knobs. I like both, but still only use one sound. I find the sound I like, by either jockeying a bunch of knobs, or both full up on a fender, and leave it there.
My favorites- My Neil Moser era BC Rich. Twelve knobs and switches, and one usable sound. Have you ever tried the phase switch on a Moser? Don't! I have a Pushic with 7 knobs, and 5 switches, and the only one I really use is the L.E.D. on/off switch.
 
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#134
40Hz said:
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.
Click to expand...
Anthony Jackson has a deal for you!
Anthony.jpg
 
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#136
even the most insane layout is not "complex" if you know how it works.

I had a guitar with four knobs and four toggle switches a while back.. 3 pickups, vol/vol/vol/tone, switches were all simple kill switches for each pickup. may be a lot of controls, but it's pretty insanely simple.

i like controls that are intuitive. active with vol/vol/tone, bass/mid/treble is pretty intuitive. maybe because i've played basses with that or a very similar layout for so long, who knows.
 
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