Filtered basses with added tone controls?

[jazzyvee]

I have series and signature basses that i would like to add a bass boost option only either as a  3 position switch or a filter knob that operates from about 120 down to around 80hz and 3 position switch so i can have two fixed boost positions. I would like it to be  independent of existing filters so it can be effected regardless of their positions. I would be happy for the frequency knob to be an internal trim pot and just have the switch on the body. I know i can get that range from my SF-2 but sometimes i need to be able to drop-the-bass from the bass and the sweep of the standard filters don’t go low enough for the existing q switches to boost the frequencies i want. It is something i talked about to alembic some years back but at the time Ron’s bench time was booked into the forseeable future. So i put that idea aside. But it would be good to be able to get something sorted before full gigging starts. Time to call HQ.

[edwardofhuncote]

Sounds like an interesting mod Jazzy... not quite what I was expecting from the thread title, East-Meets-West like my Custom being rotary boost/cut functions. I can see how this might be useful for you from your recent studio thread. Just pitching this idea out there... how about a 3-position treble-cut instead of a bass boost? Or both? Think; sorta' like a Super-Europa.

[jazzyvee]

Hi Ed, I just changed the title. :-)  The reason for the first one is because I was thinking about how the East Meets West works with an Europa system so that I may understand how it would work on a different alembic like a series bass. So I changed to see if I can get an understanding of how the bass treble controls would work alongside a filtered bass. Would the signal off the pickups be split and half goes through the filters and half goes through the bass and treble system then added back together after before the volume?. If they were both in line with each other then that might cause some problems.

For my needs I would think I'd need the bass control only as from the bass I can't do anything to the bottom end below the range of the on board filters. So just being able to hit a bass boost switch like I can do on my standard Europa would be fine. As you know from my studio thread there is enough top end on the bass so in fact I'd probably find a treble cut useful as well. in reference to the studio, I haven't heard from them about that so I guess it must be OK. Thankfully my other session with my main band Musical Youth went fine and I just got a version to listen to this afternoon thoughI suspect it hasn't been mastered yet. 

[JimmyJ]

Jazzyvee, 

While an onboard RW designed bass boost switch would definitely be the most "hi-fi" approach, it would also be the most costly. Isn't there is a great sounding pedal that could do what you're looking for?  (I don't know anything about pedals).  Or, reach over and twist the knob on your SF-2 at the appropriate time. 

Jimmy J

[StephenR]

Jazzy, I have the variable bass and treble pots installed in my Modulus bass along with a filter and 3-postion Q switch. I really like the bass and treble controls and find them useful for quick tonal changes on the fly. As you may already be aware the variable controls are asymmetric and cut more than they boost but the boost seems plenty robust. The bass control center frequency is 100Hz and the treble 5 kHz. I had the boost and cut switches in my Distillate and, while useful, they are also limiting, either the preset amount of cut/boost is what you are looking for or it isn't. Cutting treble affects bass  response and vice versa so it is helpful to have control over both.

Relatively sure that the bass and treble controls come after the filter/Q in the circuit so they can be used for fine tuning. Someone with more technical background can confirm. Hope you can find a simple and efficient solution to your dilemma.

[adriaan]

From what I understand, it doesn't matter which comes first, EQ or filter, but they will be in line. Something to do with multiplication - my memory gets fuzzy though.