3-position Q guitar/bass

[rv_bass]

Does anyone know if a 3-position Q switch ordered for a guitar can be used for a bass?  Is there any difference between a Q switch for a guitar or bass?  Thanks!

[jazzyvee]

I can’t say for certain but since it is only adding Q to the frequency set by the filter i would think it would br the same switch with electronics for both.

[rv_bass]

Thanks Jazzyvee.  I was thinking the same thing, but the Alembic Store website has selections for bass or guitar.  The Q switches are temporarily out of stock on the website right now, but I have one I purchased previously for a guitar and thought I would use it for a bass, but just wanted to make sure it is compatible with a bass.

[jazzyvee]

I sent my filter module back to alembic way back around 2006. It was one I got off ebay and wasn't behaving and asked for it to be upgraded for the 3 pos switch.
I'm sure one of the more expert members will confirm this soon.

[rv_bass]

Just checking to see if anyone knows if you can use a Q switch ordered for a guitar with activator electronics in a bass.  Thanks!

[StephenR]

The switches replace a single capacitor that is wired into the stock circuit. Since Alembic offers switches for guitar and bass I suspect the capacitors wired to each have different values. Perhaps the reason relates to differences between the bass and guitar pickups? As far as I know the filters all have the same range.

Sure someone who actually knows something about electronics will chime in soon.

[rv_bass]

Thanks, Stephen.  I was wondering since I have a new switch for a guitar that I ordered previously and have not used yet. I suspected there was likely a reason for distinguishing between the two when ordering, just wanted to make sure.  I’ll wait for the bass switches to be back in stock.

[mario_farufyno]

The switches replace a single capacitor that is wired into the stock circuit. Since Alembic offers switches for guitar and bass I suspect the capacitors wired to each have different values. Perhaps the reason relates to differences between the bass and guitar pickups? As far as I know the filters all have the same range.

Sure someone who actually knows something about electronics will chime in soon.

Capacitors show increasing reactance against passing low frequency signals and that is why they are used in filters. In regular passive tone circuits the capacitor value is changed to define a brighter or bassier overall tone response, so it is to be expected - if there are different switch models for guitar and bass - to have different cutoff frequencies for them.

[mica]

There are different values for the bass and guitar Q-switches.