Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: godoze on October 28, 2004, 01:31:33 PM

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: godoze on October 28, 2004, 01:31:33 PM

Is it possible to add a Q switch to an epic ?

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: mint_bass on October 28, 2004, 03:07:34 PM

hello
 
i do beleive it is but i no little about it one of the group will no more welcome to the club by the way do you just have an epic or do you have other basses. I have an epic with a bubinga top i think its the best bass there
 
 i have often thought about adding a q switch myself and i am sure it is possible i think the pickup blend knob is replaced by the new q switch
 
talk to you soon
andrew

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: mint_bass on October 28, 2004, 03:08:46 PM

hello
 
i do beleive it is but i no little about it one of the group will no more welcome to the club by the way do you just have an epic or do you have other basses. I have an epic with a bubinga top i think its the best bass there is
 
 i have often thought about adding a q switch myself and i am sure it is possible i think the pickup blend knob is replaced by the new q switch
 
talk to you soon
andrew

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: bsee on October 28, 2004, 03:42:59 PM

I doubt it.  Since you have bass/treble controls instead of a filter, the Q switch wouldn't have anything to interact with.

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: mica on October 28, 2004, 04:03:03 PM

You can add a Q switch to an Epic, but you have to exhance the existing bass and treble module for a filter and Q switch module. You can do this yourself, without soldering.  
 
Call 707 523 2611 and Valentino or I can take your order for the part. Please tell us you're swapping out bass and treble controls, because we'll supply a larger washer for the Q switch to mount in the original hole.  
 
Bob is right, there isn't anything for the Q to work with on a stnadard Epic. The Q is an aspect of a filter, so you've got to have at least one filter to get to Q-land.

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: hollis on October 28, 2004, 04:51:32 PM

Hey Bob,  
 
This is a little off thread...
 
Is my memory playing tricks on me again or did you ever get a chance to add a Q switch to your Persuader?  If so, how'd it work out?  
 
If that wasn't you, please disregard...

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: bsee on October 28, 2004, 05:57:26 PM

Hollis, I was considering it, but never acted.  I love the tone the way it is and I guess I couldn't imagine that I would ever want to turn it off.  I suppose there are a few more tones in there that I can't reach, but I can't say that I am missing them.  As simple as I thought the Persuader controls were, very subtle tweaks to the filter make such lovely changes to the tone that work so well.  If I had a Europa, Signature, or Series bass to A/B it with, I might change my mind.  Maybe I just don't know what I am missing.

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: hollis on October 28, 2004, 06:09:07 PM

Bob,  
 
I know what you mean about the tone of a Persuader. Yours must sound killer with the purpleheart lams. And the simplicity of the controls is indeed very deceptive.  I wonder, doesn't the Q switch boost what's already there? I'm considering the switch, but I don't want to turn off any of the sounds I've already got, I just thought some boost might be fun....
 
(Message edited by hollis on October 28, 2004)

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: bsee on October 28, 2004, 06:17:47 PM

By default, you get the 8 db or so boost at the filter cutoff frequency.  The Q switch gives you the ability to turn off that boost.  The three position Q switch oves you the ability to choose between 0, 6, and 9 db of boost for a bit more control.  I suspect that this boost is a part of what makes an Alembic different from anything else out there.
 
One thing is that I am primarily playing blues / classic rock type music.  If I were playing more varied styles, I might feel the need for tones that can't be achieved with these electronics.

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: hollis on October 28, 2004, 06:25:15 PM

So the zero boost shuts the filter off?  I thought it just gave the filter no extra boost.
 
Looks like another day of learning for me.

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: adriaan on October 29, 2004, 02:12:57 AM

The Q switch works on the twangy accent that the filter adds to the attack of the note, at the cut-off frequency. That is an effect that comes 'naturally' with low-pass filters.
 
The 'signature' Alembic sound is to boost that accent by another 8 dB. On the Essence package, and apparently also on the Persuader package, this boost is always on.
 
A 2-way Q switch allows you to turn the boost off: you still get the natural accent of the filter, and you can add the 8 dB boost if you want to. Spoilers come with the Q switch, as do the Signatures.
 
A 3-way Q switch (standard on Series I) allows you to turn off the boost, or add a 6 or 9 dB boost.
 
Finally, on a Series II you can turn a pot to determine the exact amount of boost that you want.

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: godoze on October 29, 2004, 06:52:02 AM

Could i add a filter or would i now be getting into the realm of eonomically unfeasable ?  would i get the natural Alembic sound with an Essence ?
 
Thanks !
 
Don

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: godoze on October 29, 2004, 06:54:41 AM

I want to be in Q-Land !

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: geddy on October 29, 2004, 08:41:30 AM

So mica this would work on an orion as well?
 
how much is it for the filter swap out kit and the q-switch installation? Also are we limited to a 2 way switch in this case or can a 3-way be installed?

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: mica on October 29, 2004, 11:57:00 AM

Yeah it's the same story on an Epic or Orion. A regular AE-2 module (filter with 2-position Q switch) is currently $350. For a filter with 3-position Q switch, add $45. You can swap between the bass/treble and filter/Q arrangements in probably 15 minutes. Probably a good idea to hold onto your original controls, you may want to swap them back for a particular sound.

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: godoze on November 01, 2004, 01:37:07 PM

so the bass /treble controls go when the filter and Q switch are installed ?
 Thanks for all of the information everyone. Please let me take a moment to tell that I feel that I've come full circle in regards to basses. When i was a kid in the early 80's I wanted an Alembic. After 25 years of playing a particular makers very fine basses I came back to alembic; It felt like coming home...
 
Thanks again..

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: godoze on November 01, 2004, 01:44:57 PM

Here is a picture of my epic(http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/13787.jpg)

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: godoze on November 03, 2004, 09:19:40 AM

I am going to order the filter with the 3 pos. q switch. will there be any soldering involved or are these connectors all snap-fit ?
 
thanks,
DZ

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: godoze on November 03, 2004, 09:21:55 AM

Sorry, I just reread Mica's post about solderless connections...

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: godoze on November 08, 2004, 09:41:48 AM

The Filter and 3 position Q switch are on the way !
 
anyone interested in an A/B test of electronics on this once the filter is installed ?

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: geddy on November 08, 2004, 12:32:36 PM

thanks for the info mica, sounds quite reasonable!

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: godoze on November 14, 2004, 03:44:04 PM

The Filter and Q are in...but the results are poor...
 
I do not not know what i could have done wrong.
 
Whe ni first plugged the bass in i had no response. After about 30 seconds i got some volume.
 
Now, There is very very little volume and what seems like zero function from the q switch.
 
Any ideas ?

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: adriaan on November 15, 2004, 03:12:09 AM

The circuit board is probably touching the side of the control cavity, and the signal is shorted out against the conductive shielding paint. Try touching the pins with your bare fingers, while plugged in: you will still get the zooming sound.
 
Move the circuit board around GENTLY so that it no longers touches the side of the cavity.

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: godoze on November 15, 2004, 05:15:21 AM

I looked at that; the only thing touching the control cavity is the insulated wire coming from the pickups to the board. I tried a new battery and that made no difference.

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: godoze on November 15, 2004, 08:10:02 AM

help?

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: David Houck on November 15, 2004, 08:44:19 AM

Try posting a picture of the installation.  Maybe someone will spot the problem.

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: adriaan on November 15, 2004, 08:47:10 AM

Maybe you put one of the connectors on the p/u leads on backwards? The receiving end budges, so you could probably have managed to do that.
 
Anything else that would cause the signals to be out of phase ...

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: godoze on November 15, 2004, 09:05:37 AM

 I do not think it is possible to puts the leads on the wrong way. They = have those little locks that snap fit to make sure the connection is = made.

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: godoze on November 15, 2004, 09:06:37 AM

 I will do that; good idea.

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: adriaan on November 15, 2004, 09:10:38 AM

The little locks that snap-fit may have been forced by someone in the past ...
 
Let's have some pictures.

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: godoze on November 16, 2004, 06:29:24 PM

All's well that Ends well...
 
Upon inspection i noticed that the filter board was in contact with the volume control. In orderto remedy this i had to remove some material from inside the control cavity so that the filter board would not be pressed against the wall.
 
Once that was accomplished and i plugged and screwed it all back together it works like a charm.
 
Not only that but it seems as though i'm hearing a different bass ! Oh, the possibilities. I am seriously digging it.
 
here is the final deal... (that big chrome washer wil be replaced with a suitable black one as soon as i can find one !)

Title: Adding a Q switch to an Epic
Post by: godoze on November 17, 2004, 05:01:58 AM

the picture(http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/14428.jpg)