Author Topic: New Item: Pan Preamp for Activator Family Electronics  (Read 2795 times)

mica

  • alembic
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 10595
New Item: Pan Preamp for Activator Family Electronics
« on: May 18, 2016, 06:14:46 PM »
A little improvement we just started adding to all our Epic, Essence, and Orion basses is now available for retrofitting in your own bass or 2-pickup Activator system. The pan module now includes a DUAL preamp, so there's one gain trimpot for each pickup, instead of one global gain control.

These are available now in our online store. Use coupon code CLUB-PAN and save $30 until June 18.

If you have an Essence, Epic, or Orion bass, you just pop out the old pan module and play a little legos reconnecting everything. Then you can set the pickups to any height you want and correct the gain with the trimpots. The original preamp on your filter control or treble control will no longer be used for gain and should be turned all the way down with a label over it to keep future you from messing with it (like is shown below).

If you have a PJ set in a Persuader bass or an old Activator in another manufacturer's bass, you'll also have to replace the 2-volume harness too. There's an option to to add the 1-volume harness with 2 different styles of jack. If you're not sure, just get the original one, but if you have lots of room, get the bigger more heavy-duty jack we're using now.
« Last Edit: May 19, 2016, 01:42:30 PM by mica »

David Houck

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 15596
Re: New Item: Pan Preamp for Activator Family Electronics
« Reply #1 on: May 18, 2016, 07:08:04 PM »
Very cool!

rv_bass

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4383
Re: New Item: Pan Preamp for Activator Family Electronics
« Reply #2 on: May 18, 2016, 07:32:58 PM »
A very handy little upgrade!

sonicus

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5947
Re: New Item: Pan Preamp for Activator Family Electronics
« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2016, 07:57:55 PM »
I like it , I like it alot ! :)
 
 Wolf

edwin

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 3433
Re: New Item: Pan Preamp for Activator Family Electronics
« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2016, 09:10:44 PM »
This is great! What Wolf said!

edwardofhuncote

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 8021
Re: New Item: Pan Preamp for Activator Family Electronics
« Reply #5 on: May 19, 2016, 06:39:54 AM »
Mica, would this be also an advantageous option for East-Meets-West electronics?

keith_h

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 3490
Re: New Item: Pan Preamp for Activator Family Electronics
« Reply #6 on: May 19, 2016, 10:21:49 AM »
Mica, would this be also an advantageous option for East-Meets-West electronics?

You beat to the question about this being compatible with the EMW package.

FC Bass

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2323
Re: New Item: Pan Preamp for Activator Family Electronics
« Reply #7 on: May 19, 2016, 10:42:04 AM »
The advantage is maximum for P/J equipped basses, because of the volume difference. On my Orion the MXY's are pretty much equal, so the advantage is a bit less. But it's always nice to have total control, so I think one will find its way to my Orion eventually. :-)

Must get one for my fender though asap, but it also needs a Filter module (it's in the Orion now)
Mica: Could this work without a filter module?  (so you only have Pan and Volume)
Damaged Justice, Dutch 'tallica tribute: Facebook, Youtube

'83 Spoiler
'88 Spoiler
'99 Orion 5 fretless
'10 Elan 5
'23 Series II Europa 5

mica

  • alembic
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 10595
Re: New Item: Pan Preamp for Activator Family Electronics
« Reply #8 on: May 19, 2016, 11:17:46 AM »
You can use it with the East-Meets-West electronics by turning down the preamp the same way. There will actually be 2 preamps set to unity gain in the EMW setup,  but the preamps are still needed to drive the bass and treble controls and the filter, just the gain duty has been moved tot he pan module.

It's possible that it could work without a filter or bass+treble module, Flip. But it would need to connect to a small experimental board or the volume would drop a few dB at the center of the detent on the pan module. If you order one and want to try the experiment, Flip, just add a note int he comment section of the order and we will include it. Dad will request some feedback from you if you decide on that. You can always remove that board later and connect it to a traditional filter module.

mica

  • alembic
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 10595
Re: New Item: Pan Preamp for Activator Family Electronics
« Reply #9 on: May 19, 2016, 11:41:08 AM »
And to clarify, all new builds will have this new pan module.

edwardofhuncote

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 8021
Re: New Item: Pan Preamp for Activator Family Electronics
« Reply #10 on: May 19, 2016, 02:24:57 PM »
And to clarify, all new builds will have this new pan module.

I was hoping such was the case.  ;D

jazzyvee

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 8706
  • Bass, Guitar, Preamps.
Re: New Item: Pan Preamp for Activator Family Electronics
« Reply #11 on: June 19, 2016, 10:57:13 PM »
Just curious if this would work with an Orion Guitar to replace the pickup selector switch?
The sound of Alembic is medicine for the soul!
http://www.alembic.com/info/fc_ktwins.html

mica

  • alembic
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 10595
Re: New Item: Pan Preamp for Activator Family Electronics
« Reply #12 on: June 27, 2016, 12:19:37 PM »
I can't see why it wouldn't work with any of our 2-pickup systems. If your pickups don't have the connectors on them (some pickup selector configurations lack them), you can request some that can be splice on the pickup leads.

sstillwell

  • club
  • Junior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 28
Re: New Item: Pan Preamp for Activator Family Electronics
« Reply #13 on: July 01, 2016, 11:08:39 AM »
Ooh, I may need to retrofit both of mine eventually...I'm pretty happy with the pickup blend as it is, but yeah, flexibility FTW.

edwardofhuncote

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 8021
Re: New Item: Pan Preamp for Activator Family Electronics
« Reply #14 on: November 12, 2016, 07:00:10 AM »
Going to perform this mod on my Persuader 5-string guys... talked to Mica about it yesterday, to make sure it wouldn't be outside my capabilities. I'd been thinking about it for a while, but put it off because... well, I really have no complaint with this bass as-is. This, I'm told, will make it 'more awesome'.  ;D

Wolf seems quite tickled with it on his Essence bass, and as I understand it, my new bass will also come with the new-improved dual pre-amp Pan module. So it kinda' makes sense, from a cosmic symmetry standpoint too.   ::)