Two Midrange Controls or Just One?

[BQFS]

I have a beautiful all Koa Carvin fretless 4, an 80s bass that I have owned for about a decade. The original preamp died a while ago and I replaced it with something relatively inexpensive and didn't like the result.

Recently, I replaced the original pickups with a pair of Entwistle ones, which sound terrific. Because their output was so high, I thought perhaps that I could get away with a passive set of controls. I tried VVT, VBT, and VBT and Varitone. Nothing satisfied. Either there was too much signal loss due to loading or too much interaction when trying to dial in the tone I wanted.

So, having come to my senses, I am now searching for a high quality preamp and have decided on one of the Audere preamps. The main question is one midrange control with a switch to select center frequency, or two midrange controls, one for low-mid, the other for hi-mid. The cost difference is insignificant.

Two mid controls give more versatility, perhaps, but that's also one more control to fiddle with while playing. Generally, I try to avoid making too many changes once the set has started, but if I do have to change something other than volume, it is likely to be mid tone.

I have never had two mids before so I have no frame of reference. For those of you who have tried BOTH systems (please, not just one or the other - I would like to hear the voices of experiences, not just opinions), please let me know which you prefer and why.

Thanks in advance.

Bud in Eugene Oregon

 

[Killing Floor]

Look at East as well. His preamps have sweepable mids.

 

[Groove Doctor]

I prefer Basses with:
1. One Sweepable mid. More precise option.
2. Two mids. Two Options.
3. One mid - switchable. One of two options.
4. One mid - fixed freq. No options.

 

[Watchootognbout]

An Aguilar OPB-3 preamp has three bands of boost/cut and a selectable midrange frequency that provides flexibility to dial in just the right tone.
The push/pull midrange control offers user selectable frequencies of 400 or 800Hz, each with a full 16dB boost/cut capability.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I have a beautiful all Koa Carvin fretless 4, an 80s bass that I have owned for about a decade. The original preamp died a while ago and I replaced it with something relatively inexpensive and didn't like the result.

Recently, I replaced the original pickups with a pair of Entwistle ones, which sound terrific. Because their output was so high, I thought perhaps that I could get away with a passive set of controls. I tried VVT, VBT, and VBT and Varitone. Nothing satisfied. Either there was too much signal loss due to loading or too much interaction when trying to dial in the tone I wanted.

So, having come to my senses, I am now searching for a high quality preamp and have decided on one of the Audere preamps. The main question is one midrange control with a switch to select center frequency, or two midrange controls, one for low-mid, the other for hi-mid. The cost difference is insignificant.

Two mid controls give more versatility, perhaps, but that's also one more control to fiddle with while playing. Generally, I try to avoid making too many changes once the set has started, but if I do have to change something other than volume, it is likely to be mid tone.

I have never had two mids before so I have no frame of reference. For those of you who have tried BOTH systems (please, not just one or the other - I would like to hear the voices of experiences, not just opinions), please let me know which you prefer and why.

Thanks in advance.

Bud in Eugene Oregon

The audere pres are hard to beat.
The 4 band is a good kind of overkill
The centers are well placed, and don't end up sounding hyped. I'd take a 4 band any day of the week. Noll has one too. Not sure if worth the extra money , but have not owned one.
I find the mid shift switches to be annoying.
The center never seems to be in a useful place (for me) too limiting.
With the level knobs controlling BOTH frequency, allows more finesse in shaping.

 

[Pacman]

Not remotely Technique related. Thread moved.

 

[Jefenator]

If I had to have active onboard mid controls, I would much rather have just one that I could sweep to tune to my pickups & ears.
I base this on my experiences with amp controls and PA mixers.
For that extra knob spot on the instrument, I'll take a passive tone knob in conjunction with 2 bands of active boost. (Not the most common layout but it does seem to have a toe hold in modern designs - with good reason IMHO.)