One knob... I like it.

[skyline_01]

My gss Sumo has one knob and a selector switch

I've become intrigued with these lately. I'd like to experiment with running my pedalboard through this amp (or another like it) instead of a bass head.

I've got a Radial Bassbone, plus overdrive, compressor, and HPF/LPF pedals then a Sushi Box tube DI at the end. What more do I need, right?

 

[Moe Town]

This got me thinking. I love the idea of a single knob amp. But EQ settings dial in a the same sound for different rooms you're in. Concrete box brewery vs cosy cafe, for when the tone control on the bass doesn't cut it. So in a way more knobs gives a more consistent sound/mix when live. I see it as a way to keep things the same, not to provide flexibility in tone.

I usually only fiddle the bass and treble for this. So a active 2 band EQ preamp on the bass solves this, for me.

 

[Marko 1]

I've become intrigued with these lately. I'd like to experiment with running my pedalboard through this amp (or another like it) instead of a bass head.

I've got a Radial Bassbone, plus overdrive, compressor, and HPF/LPF pedals then a Sushi Box tube DI at the end. What more do I need, right?

 

[Zbysek]

I'd love to have a SS bass head with one knob, namely the "gain" for volume, the master function dimed, as I go for a clean tone.

EQ set to flat, maybe down a little on the lowest frequencies so my B always rings out like the others...

A touch of compression in place, I don't tend much towards dynamics...

That's how I work my head now, everything stays the same but my Gain knob, no pedals, I just use whatever controls are on whichever bass I'm playing, and adjust finger positioning to vary the tone.

I was literally looking at my heads (I have two same heads only difference being watts) and thinking of making a new cover plate eliminating all but the Gain and the input jacks (on/off switch is in the rear).

I just think it would look cool... weird looks cool to me.

What more do y'all need?

I am using pedals to sculpt the sound for FOH. I am using the amp's EQ to tailor my monitoring sound onstage. It's important (for me) to be able to change EQ settings without affecting FOH. YMMV.

I concur that amp with one knob would look cool though. Especially if the knob was titled "More" and went to 11...

 

[Marko 1]

This got me thinking. I love the idea of a single knob amp. But EQ settings dial in a the same sound for different rooms you're in. Concrete box brewery vs cosy cafe, for when the tone control on the bass doesn't cut it. So in a way more knobs gives a more consistent sound/mix when live. I see it as a way to keep things the same, not to provide flexibility in tone.

I usually only fiddle the bass and treble for this. So a active 2 band EQ preamp on the bass solves this, for me.

 

[Marko 1]

.........................................

I concur that amp with one knob would look cool though. Especially if the knob was titled "More" and went to 11...

I left out the bad part of your post

and kept the good part.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

GR Bass Pure line of amps. Very close with only gain and master volume.
View attachment 4846238

Yes, I was wondering whether the OP knows the difference between a gain knob and a volume knob. The are often misunderstood.

 

[Guitalia]

 

[Marko 1]

Yes, I was wondering whether the OP knows the difference between a gain knob and a volume knob. The are often misunderstood.

The OP keeps his master up and works the gain for volume because he likes it clean.

That said, from what I can tell, the OP is actually kinda smart.

 

[lomo]

As long as it goes to ELEVEN.

 

[MrKpawz]

After much pondering and procrastination at work:
- 1 volume knob with a range from "(shh) - LOUD" with 11 notches. bonus points for more visible notches within the range

- 1 mute flipy switch

- 1 3-way flippy switch labeled "BLEH / UMPH / MOAR" - no EQ boosts, smiley curve EQ, +6db boost to all points

 

[Salicete]

As long as it goes to ELEVEN.

Damn, day late and a dollar short...ya beat me to it.

 

[Riff Ranger]

Ouch... nevermind.

"Require" may have been too strong a word. I remember it keeping up with drums and guitar up around 18 or so, and I was really young so I might not have realized how loud I was. It definitely benefited from the addition of a Demeter tube preamp with a fully parametric mid control; I remember running the knob on the Acoustic much lower after the addition of that piece, even though I played in a pretty loud rock band at that point.

I suppose that leads into my answer to your follow-up question. What do I need in an amp at a minimum? Effective ways to cut honk and accentuate attack. Two semiparametric mid controls seems like the most direct way to dial that in.

 

[Zak TMD]

Sorry, forgot to put this inspiring pic in the OP.
View attachment 4846222

Was coming here the mention them!

 

[Jefenator]

I have long perceived an inverse correlation between playing satisfaction and knob quantity. The closest I get is my old Sun 200s.

The Aguilar DB728 400 watt tube power amp was said to be able to accept a passive bass in its input. I'd love to try that sometime!

 

[Confunk]

So I'm guessing you won't be buying one of these then...

But seriously- The GR PURE 800 intrigues me, as I've got more than enough eq on many of my basses.
On the flip side, I have a very unique/cool KILLER Criminal (passive) bass that has only a balance knob besides the volume of course.
The intrinsic sound of the bass is more than good enough- It's a P/J with Duncans btw.
Same thing would apply with an amplifier- My tube amps are almost that basic, B M T.

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

Ooh, that would be interesting
Have an amp that has every bell and whistle you could want on it and have push down potentiometers like the Ibanez Tone-Lok pedals, then make a cover to snap over the faceplate so they would be covered and no one would know it's there!

 

[Sharko]

I'd would be easier to buy an amp with a lot of knobs and just break them all off

 

[mexicanyella]

With a hot-enough active bass and a pawnshop Peavey M-3000, you could have the one-knob rackmount amp of your dreams. One big knob, one big power switch. Would the LED signal meter spoil the vibe for you?

Lots of power amps have the input sensitivity controls on the back...and some of them (Crown, maybe others) are switchable to 0.775 V input sensitivity. Again with enough instrument output, You could appear to have a no-knob amp!

 

[Marko 1]

I'll just leave this here...

I went to play that earlier, my wife was in the room,

I quickly stopped it.