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Why do people like complicated basses?

#122
I can get any tone ever imagined with this bass.

FBass02knobs.jpg


But seriously folks, I like to set my amp on middle ground, then I can change tone on the fly from my bass. The ideal for me is the J-Retro preamp in my JO5, with its 3-band EQ and semi-parametric mid. Most of my other basses have 3-band EQ. Between that and the pickup blend control, I can go from the very aggressive tone needed for something like Mystery Achievement to a mellow tone for Clapton's Wonderful Tonight without walking over to my amp.
 
#123
Munjibunga said:
I can get any tone ever imagined with this bass.

FBass02knobs.jpg


But seriously folks, I like to set my amp on middle ground, then I can change tone on the fly from my bass. The ideal for me is the J-Retro preamp in my JO5, with its 3-band EQ and semi-parametric mid. Most of my other basses have 3-band EQ. Between that and the pickup blend control, I can go from the very aggressive tone needed for something like Mystery Achievement to a mellow tone for Clapton's Wonderful Tonight without walking over to my amp.
Click to expand...


Anything with that many knobs ought to be able to play itself and then turn around and sleep with the lead guitarists girlfriend.
 
#125
Munjibunga said:
I can get any tone ever imagined with this bass.

FBass02knobs.jpg


But seriously folks, I like to set my amp on middle ground, then I can change tone on the fly from my bass. The ideal for me is the J-Retro preamp in my JO5, with its 3-band EQ and semi-parametric mid. Most of my other basses have 3-band EQ. Between that and the pickup blend control, I can go from the very aggressive tone needed for something like Mystery Achievement to a mellow tone for Clapton's Wonderful Tonight without walking over to my amp.
Click to expand...

What does the fourth pot from the left on the second row do?
 
#128
Flying an airplane thru Bravo Airspace is complicated....an on board EQ...uh...not so much. Real real simple actually. Works the same as the one on your amp, but right at your silly little finger tips for on the fly adjustments. Pretty basic.
 
#129
BigOldHarry said:
I actually agree. Your amp has an EQ - - why does a bass need it too?

That said, I'm fine with a three band EQ on a bass... but more than that seems overkill. Heck, 3 bands seems like overkill to me, but like I said...
Click to expand...

+1
Look at a J bass for example , usually full/full/full and a tone to die for , any changes are usually amp eq oriented . Most people usually stick to the one killer sound the bass has , if you need to adjust tone to suit different rooms at different gigs its usually done by adjusting the 60-250hz on the amp eq .
 
#130
'full, full, full,' I just don't get that. It is the same as setting the EQ flat, but eliminates the option to boost a frequency. With that configuration, the only option is DB reduction. Set flat (which is the same EQ shape at a lower volume) frequencies can be reduced and boosted. If you are a 'dimer' just set the EQ flat and boost volume...same thing.
 
#131
JimmyM said:
this thread has inspired me. i'm going to add knobs to my basses. they're not going to do anything but i'm adding them.
Click to expand...
Works for Lee Sklar!

Lee Sklar: "I used to have a bass with a "producer switch" on it. That's what I called it. All I did was drill a hole and install a toggle switch; it wasn't wired to anything. When the producer would ask for something different, I'd flip the switch and he'd go [gives a thumbs-up sign], "That's great!""
Click to expand...
:D
 
#138
I just heard a bass player who used a bass with only a volume control. He used an extensive pedal board and the house sound system. He said that he could get all the variety in tone that he needed by changing his hand position and changing how he plucks the strings (fingertips vs. the meat of his finger). He did sound good!
 
#140
Orangeclawhamme said:
I just heard a bass player who used a bass with only a volume control. He used an extensive pedal board and the house sound system. He said that he could get all the variety in tone that he needed by changing his hand position and changing how he plucks the strings (fingertips vs. the meat of his finger). He did sound good!
Click to expand...

He's just removing the knobs from the bass and putting it on the floor. How is this any less complicated than a bass with 5-6 knobs?
 

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