J Bass Controls: Stack Knob vs 3 knob?

[Elvis Nixon]

So I’m looking at Fender reissue Jazz basses for my studio. I’ve played the three knob controls with global volume and tone with the pickup pan controls.
I’ve never played a stack knob which I am assuming that the two knobs are volume and tone for each pickup. I’m more interested in the stack knob I think. Any opinions pluses and minuses on the stack knob? How does it sound vs. the 3 knob? I’m kind of leaning toward the stack knob since I already have a 3 knob Jazz bass. I’m looking for a vintage style Fender Thanks for the input.

 

[R&B]

I have a few Fender J basses, though I am mostly a P guy. The best sounding one to me is the ‘62 AVRI with stack knob setup and stock pickups. Note that I hardly ever mess with tone controls and never solo one pickup. I’m a non-slapper. Full-throated, fingerstyle tone for me. If you’re looking to shape the tone or favor one pickup, the VVT setup is probably easier to work with.

P.S. Welcome to TB.

 

[Elvis Nixon]

I have a few Fender J basses, though I am mostly a P guy. The best sounding one to me is the ‘62 AVRI with stack knob setup and stock pickups. Note that I hardly ever mess with tone controls and never solo one pickup. I’m a non-slapper. Full-throated, fingerstyle tone for me. If you’re looking to shape the tone or favor one pickup, the VVT setup is probably easier to work with.

P.S. Welcome to TB.

Thanks for the welcome. It happens that I’ve been looking at ’62 AVRIs. Personally I’m also a P bass guy. I’m looking at this for a studio instrument. I do use tone controls and volume. I was looking at the stack knobs because of being able to adjust the volume and tone for each PU rather that global volume and tone.

 

[ajkula66]

If you find stacked knobs - which I personally prefer - less than useful you can always revert to VVT with minimal time and expense involved. My experience with AVRI series basses in general has been positive and I'd advise you to grab it if it's in good shape and priced right.

 

[Elvis Nixon]

If you find stacked knobs - which I personally prefer - less than useful you can always revert to VVT with minimal time and expense involved. My experience with AVRI series basses in general has been positive and I'd advise you to grab it if it's in good shape and priced right.

That’s a real good point. I can rewire it and get a VVT control plate if I wanted. I already have a Fender CS VVT J bass.
I’ll tell my GF that I was commanded to buy this bass. haha

 

[R&B]

Another VVT option is an MIJ JB62. The higher end ones are magnificent.

 

[bassclef112]

I have a thing for the stack knobs, not because I'm a knob spinner when I play. I just like the idea of having a tone control on each pickup. Not having them is not a deal breaker for me by any means.

My tech did this for me and it's a great set-up. Don't ask me anything about the wiring, I just drive.

Stack knob set-up in parallel with a Master volume that pulls up for series. Best of both worlds!

 

[Jim C]

My only thinking on stack knob controls is that the the knobs I've seen are really heavy.
Maybe not a big deal to you but the 2-piece solid brass units x 2 controls add some weight.
Maybe they are aluminum now??

 

[Elvis Nixon]

I have a thing for the stack knobs, not because I'm a knob spinner when I play. I just like the idea of having a tone control on each pickup. Not having them is not a deal breaker for me by any means.

My tech did this for me and it's a great set-up. Don't ask me anything about the wiring, I just drive.

Stack knob set-up in parallel with a Master volume that pulls up for series. Best of both worlds!

View attachment 3813189

Yeah I like a separate tone and volume for each PU. I have a wide variety of styles of music coming into my studio. Dub/ reggae, blues and jazz, punk, metal, funk, DC go-go, etc. I want the most diverse sounds and I think the stack knob is it.
That’s a killer bass! I hadn’t thought about wiring up a series/parallel option. That would be cool to add a simple switch. A have a SBMM short scale Stingray that comes stock with a single/humbucker/series knob and a boost that engages when you push down on the volume knob.

 

[Jazz Ad]

It usually takes Fender decades to understand what's wrong with their products. For the 2 knob stack it only took 2 years.

 

[bassclef112]

Elvis Nixon - thanks for that! It's one of my desert island basses.

On my last Warmoth J build I had it rear routed. No control plate but I still wanted stacker flexibility so I split them up like a Les Paul.
2 Volumes and 2 Tones.

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

To most folks (definitely including me), volume, volume, tone is easier/quicker to use. I can't hear a real difference between them personally, but I don't usually do a whole bunch of tone knob adjustment on passive basses so my opinion may not matter.

 

[lz4005]

So I’m looking at Fender reissue Jazz basses for my studio. I’ve played the three knob controls with global volume and tone with the pickup pan controls.
I’ve never played a stack knob which I am assuming that the two knobs are volume and tone for each pickup. I’m more interested in the stack knob I think. Any opinions pluses and minuses on the stack knob? How does it sound vs. the 3 knob? I’m kind of leaning toward the stack knob since I already have a 3 knob Jazz bass. I’m looking for a vintage style Fender Thanks for the input.

Fender's passive three knob Jazz wiring is volume/volume/tone, not volume/blend/tone.

The stack knob layout was abandoned quickly because the two tone controls load on each other, essentially both acting like master tone controls at once. In the stock configuration at least. There are other wiring schemes that give separation. But generally speaking in the studio you won't be rolling off the tone much if at all, so it's sort of a non-issue.