Distillate bass boost/cut center frequency?

[gearhed289]

This may be top secret information, but does anyone happen to know what the center frequency for the bass cut/flat/boost switch on a Distillate is? I like it so much, it's literally always on (boost).

[edwardofhuncote]

Good question! I know it provides a 6dB boost or cut, and it feels pretty fluffy. I will guess about ~85-100 hZ.

[pauldo]

I ran mine on 'boost' for ages and then one day I found the subtly nuanced joys of flipping the switches in other positions! 

I found that it really isn't that subtle and can be just the right thing in certain situations, especially given my somewhat 'heavy handed' playing style.

to paraphrase someone else's tag.... Oh the joys of an Alembic!

[gearhed289]

Fluffy is a good word. I was thinking lower though. Would be interesting to know the Q as well.

Even though I grew up on all the "trebly" bass players, I still always go for the "more bass" options on my settings. 

[edwardofhuncote]

Just from the FAQ page on Distillate controls, the onboard Filter is spanning 350 Hz to 6 KHz, and the Q-switch is boosting 8dB of whatever the cutoff frequency is set at. I'm not sure if or even how that bass and treble boost/cut function works around the filter part. I get the distinct feeling that they are totally separate. The bass portion certainly feels like it attenutates or defeats a much lower frequency. Part of that Distillate Magic. It really was a fantastic invention.

[StephenR]

When I had my Distillate I rarely played it without the bass boost engaged. On my Series basses I can't imagine wanting or needing a bass boost.

I have the asymmetrical bass and treble pots installed, along with a filter and Q-switch, in my Modulus Quantum bass. I am assuming that the center frequencies on the bass and treble controls affect the same frequencies as the bass/treble boost/cut switches. The following post from Dave H gives the center frequencies for the variable bass and treble controls. If the switches affect the same frequencies then the bass boost is definitely below the range you can adjust with the filters.
http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=235.0

[xlrogue6]

My inner pedant demands that I interject that the frequency you're looking for is actually the shelving frequency, the frequency at which a high or low pass filter achieves its maximum cut/boost. Center frequency is for bandpass filters.

[edwardofhuncote]

Hmmm. Well, I wonder then (back to Tom's original question) if the frequency value for the bass switch is the same as the rotary bass boost/cut. It's assymmetrical, more cut available than boost, but I'd believe ~100Hz. My ears tell me that's about what's being boosted when I attenuate the switch.

[gearhed289]

Good call on the rotary bass/treble controls. I guess 100Hz is likely what it is for the switches too. I've been nosing around for a 5 string, but many do not have onboard bass boost of any kind. I'd be happy if there were some kind of "always on" bass boost module that could be soldered to the board. Maybe I should have this moved to "Dreaming for now".