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Does anybody not like onboard EQs?

FatboyJ115

FatboyJ115

Guest
Jul 11, 2014
76
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27
Carthage, Missouri, USA
#1
Just like the title says... Does anybody not not like onboard EQs? I feel its more annoying than it helps. like even when considering basses I try to avoid ones with 3 band EQs built in. I guess I just hate having so many options. Just, Too many knobs for me, I even took all the knobs off my sr300 except for a volume. I prefer the simple lay out of a P-Bass.

I'm really not sure how to explain this anymore but I'm just making sure I'm not alone on this. :bag:
 
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#4
It comes in real handy when I need it, but I never bought my two basses with the intention of actually wanting it. I keep the onboard settings flat, and rely on my amps EQ. I'll only boost and cut when I think it's necessary and I'm too far from my amp (which I usually am).

With my first bass: only the blend knob actually turns. So if I dare use it, I have to be very careful about my technique to change volume and tone.
 
#5
I generally find them to be too complicated. I like passive basses that sound good from the get go. If I need to hear certain frequencies more in certain rooms, I can use my amp for that. However, my main gigging bass does have a two-band preamp that sounds very musical. I haven't used it in about a year since the batteries died, but when I was using it, I simply left my amp completely flat.
 
#14
For me, it depends on the bass. For instances, I cannot even comprehend the concept of a Stingray with no preamp. Likewise, a Rickenbacker with a preamp would be strange.

There is also something to be said about the preamp, itself. While I love the old Fender American Deluxe P-basses with the P/JJ configuration, I absolutely hated the original preamps. They were noisy and the mid-frequency adjustment range was unused for my needs. However, the stock 3-band (yes, 3-band, not the famous 2-band) Stingray preamp is my favorite and I'd love to throw it in several different models of bass.
 
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#15
I think they're very useful and I probably won't get any more basses without active preamps, but certainly some people prefer to keep things passive. Personally I don't notice much difference in changing settings on my preamp from changing settings on the amp.

I keep my preamp mostly flat anyways, but there are times when I need a bit of mid boost or bass boost and so on. Being able to do that without going to the amp is pretty nice, and in shows where I get DI'd, it's my only option for EQing my sound.
 
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#16
FatboyJ115 said:
Just like the title says... Does anybody not not like onboard EQs? I feel its more annoying than it helps. like even when considering basses I try to avoid ones with 3 band EQs built in. I guess I just hate having so many options. Just, Too many knobs for me, I even took all the knobs off my sr300 except for a volume. I prefer the simple lay out of a P-Bass.

I'm really not sure how to explain this anymore but I'm just making sure I'm not alone on this. :bag:
Click to expand...

I depends I guess. There's no wrong way to go about it here, it's just what you prefer. P-basses are minimalist and still cut through the mix, and some people value simplicity. Others want some more tonal options. Even passive players chase tone options or gain by swapping/adding pickups, or adding switching options. Active electronics are designed for a similar purpose.

I haven't yet played a fully active bass that I actually like, but there is one bass I simply love that has active electronics on board. That is the G&L L2000. It's one of those basses that is designed to be USED passively or actively, instead of having passive available as a fall back plan. It's kind of like a hybrid active/passive bass.

It's pretty simple to use I think. You have the standard 3-way pickup switch, but you have two more switches to add some options.

1. Series/Parallel humbucker modes (series adds bass and low-mids)
2. Passive -> Active -> Active + Treble Boost modes

In conjunction with the PTB system you have the ability to dial in the treble and bass, or enhance the mids a bit if you turn on active and cut those both back a bit. The PTB system works even in passive mode, you can roll off the bass or treble as needed without turning on the active electronics!

This is probably the third time I've ranted about that bass, but that's how much I like it.
 
#17
Not a fan of active electronics in P and J basses. I guess that's the purist in me.

Best setup I've come across in the Big Al SSS. Its passive with passive tone control but has a 4-band EQ that's great when needed. Plenty of switching options too, most of which are usable.
 
#19
Can't say I'm much of a fan, except in Stingrays. Even then I prefer the 2-band. L-2Ks are way to complicated for my tiny brain. I like simple passive P-Basses best for most applications. Plug 'n' play.
 
#20
Passive for me- I run my Fender Aerodyne JB- with both pickups full on and the tone Full open, or just a smidgen off.
For my Carvin JB- I run it in Passive mode ( I actually removed both 9volts to cut down on weight). The active mode only seems good for slap and pop to me, too compressed for anything else.
3 knobs for me as well, with minimal fuss.
 

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