Strat Activators - help me identifying these

[matbard]

Hi guys,


I recently acquired on *bay a complete set of Activators pickups and electronics for a Stratocasters(3xsingle coils). Those seem all genuine Alembic parts. However, the electronics has a third pot/circuit board that fits in the lower Strat pickguard hole. In my humble knowledge, the Activators kit comes with volume and filter control, with an optional Q-Switch. Which is the function of the third control?





Thank you to all that can solve the mystery...


- Matteo

[elwoodblue]

I'm pretty sure it's an AE-3 electronics set, so that would be Volume,Treble and Bass.
Here's a thread where Mica helped me identify with my "extra" module 

[jazzyvee]

Installing those is one of the nicest things you can do for a strat!

[matbard]

Hi again,

Just a little question: which value is the Volume pot on those electronics?

thank you in advance,

[mica]

10K

[Football]

Curious if you miss having the Q-Switch with these?  Don't totally understand the electronics, wondering if you can get still similar results by turning the pots, as you would with the switch.

Also, could you have added the switch to your setup?

I always think of these setups as being the two pots and one Q-Switch, as you thought of them previously.

[StephenR]

I don't think the stock Strat Activators come with a Q switch. Mine didn't but I bought them back in 1986. You can order an Activator package with an added Q switch or add one to an existing instrument pretty easily. If there is no Q switch it means that there is about an 8 dB boost at the center frequency. With the Q switch you can have a 0-3-6 or 0-6-9 dB boost at the center frequency, you specify which when you order the switch. Without the Q switch there is no way to defeat the boost only change the center frequency.

This post is helpful in understanding how the filters and Q switch work.
http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=308.0