Local Guitar tech to install Q switch?

[RobBottom69]

I hope this is the right place for this question, but I'm ordering the Q switch for my Essense and was wondering if anybody knew a good guitar person on the SF Peninsula who can install it. Also, what's the difference between the 2 and 3 position switch?

Thank you,
Rob

[rv_bass]

Hi Rob,

The two position switch has 0 or 8 db boost; the three position switch has 0/6/9 db boost.


http://alembic.stores.yahoo.net/qforac.html


Rob

[RobBottom69]

Thanks for the reply. Is there a reason for one over the other? Or is it simply having 2 levels of boost versus one.

[hieronymous]

Definitely go for 3 position! 0 to +8 is a pretty extreme boost - I find the +6 of the 3-position switch to be much more usable myself.

[StephenR]

Another vote for the 3-position switch...

[edwin]

And a third for the three!

[lbpesq]

Fourth for 3-way, and also prefer the "6" middle position of the 3-way.  If you know your way around a soldering iron, it's not too difficult to DIY. 

Bill, tgo

[David Houck]

... If you know your way around a soldering iron, it's not too difficult to DIY.

I'm guessing that drilling a hole through the top of your Alembic using only a soldering iron might be somewhat risky.

   

[adriaan]

It looks like the 3 way http://alembic.stores.yahoo.net/qforac.html has the 0-6-9 settings, but I'm pretty sure you can ask for one with the 0-3-6 settings. (There might be an upcharge.)


I found the standard 8 dB boost a bit harsh, so I got the 0-3-6 one for my Spoiler. If your rig is one without tweeters, the higher settings may not be as bad.

[edwardofhuncote]

+1 more vote for the 0-3-6 switch... both of my five-strings have that feature, and I find myself using it much more than the stock 0-8 switch on my Distillate.   

[keith_h]

Isn't diversity nice?

I like the 0-6-8 as I prefer the more noticeable effect it has. These days I use one cabinet with a tweeter and one without.

As I recall basses without the Q-switch always have the full boost so if you like the sound of that I'd go for a 0-6-8. If the standard setting is too much then I'd consider the 0-3-6.   

[hieronymous]

Also, if you're local you could always have Alembic do it for you and hopefully get a tour of the factory when you drop it off!

[RobBottom69]

The 3 switch it is. I'm about a 2 hour drive from Santa Rosa. I'm currently in the process of getting another job so I may have some down time between jobs to do it.

[David Houck]

Call ahead and ask if you can schedule a tour.

[jazzyvee]

Another vote for the 3 position switch. I installed it on my two signature basses to replace the standard 2 position switch. On a gig I rarely use the positon 3 but I do use it sometimes at soundcheck to clearly hear the tone I want, only because on a noisy stage I can't always hear subtle changes in tone but from the filter with the q on the highest setting I can but then I turn the Q back to  a lower setting. A point to note that in the higher of the filter if you have the filter wide open or close to that setting it can be challenging to use effectively unless you have a clean playing technique.