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Post subject: Superbassman and 100T EQ controls
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 9:04 am
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Hello - i am new to this forum ... so please be patient and dont hit me too hard ...

My main rig these days is the SuperBassman 300 paired with a Mesa-Boogie Diesel 2x15 - a killer rock combination with tone, punch and definition to die for.
I am very happy with the SB300, it cured me from missing my old SVT fridge from back in those days and I'd like to say how much I appreciate fENDER's good work on this monster.

I really think they did it VERY right with this amps ... but for me there is one little question left :

First we have the Vintage Channel with the passive (FMV) tonestack and the Bass, Mid and Treble-knobs labelled from 1 to 10. Everything perfect.

Then we have the Overdrive Channel with the active EQ with controls for Bass, Mid-frequency, Mid-Level and Treble.
The Bass, Mid-Level and Treble controls allow us to cut or boost the signal at a given (for Mids : sweepable) frequency.
These 3 pots have center detents, so we know where FLAT is.
Flat means Zero - no boost and no cut ... and here it comes :

Why are these 3 EQ knobs labelled 1 to 10 ?
These controls are 'Cut & Boost' - they even have a center detent -
center means Flat -
and flat means 0 (zero) ...
but if we center the EQ knob (flat) we see 5 on the knob -
on full cut we see 0 - on full boost we see 10 ... !??!

I remember my old fENDER 'Studio Bass' form the 70ies. One Channel, 200w RMS out of 6 x 6L6.
It had a 5-band active EQ called 'Equalization and Harmonic Control' ( same on the 70ies Super Twin).
Those EQ knobs were labeled -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5
where negatives were cut and positives were boost and Zero with center detent was flat.

Ain't this the way an active EQ should be labelled or did I get something wrong here ?
This kind of labeling (negative to positive) is the long seen standard in studio and live gear all around the world and fENDER would have stayed in its own good old tradition of labeling active EQ-Controls if they had put this right.
(btw.: the the numbers on the mid-frequency knob are also disputable ...)

So - this might be nitpicking and I also know, we all dial in our sound with our golden ears only and never with our reddened eyes.
But we are talking about 2 Grand and a traditional music gear company competing for the throne of tube-bass-amplification ...

I understand, that in the production process it is cheaper and easier
to put the same kind of knobs no matter where on an amplifier -
1 to 10 - doesn't matter where ...

but hey, fENDER ...
you made the Super Bassman a modern tube bass amplifier as perfect as it can get,
and then you put these imho wrong knobs on top of it ?

So , does anybody have an idea why fENDER puts those '1 to 10' knobs on the EQ-Controlss instead of '-5 to +5 ?
Did they fail thinking about it, did they forget it, are there cosmetical, technical or economical reasons or is there something else beyond my limited power of comprehenshion ?
Anyone who can enlighten this mysterium ?

sorry - this got a long post - excuse my english and dont get me too serious -
anyway - join in ... You're welcome ...


BTW : Does anybody know where to get those fENDER skirted knobs labelled -5 to +5
production seems to be discontinued ... maybe some spare parts ... somebody ... somewhere ... ? ( 3 knobs needed)

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'70 P, '72 P, '04 Jazz CC,
'78 Bassman 100 + 2x15" cab
SB300


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Post subject: Re: Superbassman and 100T EQ controls
Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 1:26 am
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Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:18 pm
Posts: 1921
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Well, I can only tell you this. The reason is because these amps are based off classic Fender aesthetics and that is knobs numbering 1-10. On a knob numbering 1-10. Flat is noon. One more thing to ponder in your assertion about the Fender classic tone stack. On my old 74 Bassman 100 there were only 3 controls for the bass circuit instead of 4. There was NO mid control. None. If you wanted to bring out your mids. You ran your bass and treble FLAT. Flat was around 5 and 6. That might give you the answer you're looking for if you think about it for a bit. Fender already did it for you really.

As far as -/+ Fender knobs? No clue. The older Bassman 300 might have had them, or the more modern style amps. The Super Bassman isn't really a Fender design. It's based off the old Sunn amp. Unlike the 100t with the exception of the modern tone circuit (which I never use) and the more articulate vintage channel eq (with the mid pot) is a dead ringer for my 74 100. It runs the exact same tube compliment. The only difference is the fuses because of all the modern bells and whistles. It nails that same exact Fender tone perfectly.

I hope you find what you're looking for. Good luck and enjoy that head!

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2012 Fender Custom Shop 55 Precision Bass
2012 Fender American Vintage 57 Precision Bass RI
2014 Fender Super Bassman and Bassman 100T/410 Neo


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Post subject: Re: Superbassman and 100T EQ controls
Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 2:22 am
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Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2014 2:00 am
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Thanks for chiming in .

I am not talking about the classic, passive tonestack of channel one ... where usually 1-10-1 is FLAT. No problems here !

I am talking about channel two, which is acive and therefore is a totally different kind of animal.

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'70 P, '72 P, '04 Jazz CC,
'78 Bassman 100 + 2x15" cab
SB300


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Post subject: Re: Superbassman and 100T EQ controls
Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 8:09 am
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Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:18 pm
Posts: 1921
Location: Upstate, NY
Oh, no. I get what you're saying. However, it's not really a different animal. Values are just that. Values. Just numbers on a dial. I've played both passive and active tone stacks and have never, ever worried about the number on the knob. For two reasons. First. With old gear knobs. They can become stripped, fade, broken, ect. Second, in the end they are irrelevant. They are simply a way to reference your position as far as tone you like. You know where noon is. Fender even made it easier than the old days. So for each knob you just figure out where you like it set. Whether you like it set at -1 or 4 matters little.

For instance, on a 3 pot vintage tone stack I never say "5,5,4" I say "noon, noon, and 10:30" For two pot vintage stacks. "noon and noon". This allows you to operate any amp. No matter what kind of knobs it has. On Rhythm guitar, "10:30, 10:30, and noon". Also, it's handy when talking to sound guys. Because you have no idea what their controls are laid out like often. So knowing where you like the knobs set independently of individual manufacturers controls is handy.

Fender pot posts are fairly standard. I would simply remove the knobs and see what type of post they are. Then go on line and search "solid shaft -5/+5 knobs" or whatever you need. They may not look exactly like the factory knobs, but does that really matter?

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http://www.reverbnation.com/casanovafrankensteinandthevoodoomachine
https://www.facebook.com/CFandtheVM

2012 Fender Custom Shop 55 Precision Bass
2012 Fender American Vintage 57 Precision Bass RI
2014 Fender Super Bassman and Bassman 100T/410 Neo


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