Idea for filter & Q switch mods for Epics & Orions

[keurosix]

OK LG, I'll bite:
How would you hook up the filter with the B&T circuit to make an EMW set? I know a few more holes need to be drilled, but do the circuit boards connect up in tandum, or is their a need for a special harness?
Kris

[lg71]

keurosix, good question! I was just going to amend and ask that...
 
Does anyone know if we can simply/easily insert the B/T +/- switch(es) easily?  
and what frequency and by how much does it boost and cut?
 
Of course, the treble might not do anything when the Filter cuts below its point.  
But the Bass + might/should ad more bass at all time, if it's set below 350Hz (most likely), this can/should be good.

[the_8_string_king]

My custom 8-string Europa has both a filter and variable Q AND bass, mid, and treble controls -for each pickup.  While having both eq and filter controls is the ultimate (except for having a built-in SUPERFILTER AND EQ controls -or a synthesizer), I agree that the LP filter & Q are much more versatile; they have a broader and more... fundamental type of effect on the sound.
 
Eq controls are great, but they just make you have more or less bass, treble, and/or (if applicable) mid.
 
The the LP filter and Q let you sound like you have 10 different basses, or 12, or whatever.
 
This is why Distillates, and the Europa and Rogues have my favorite stock electronics.  They're the best of both worlds.  Taking it step further by upgrading the bass & treble controls to variable dials -like the EMW setup- is even better.  Also, getting a variable Q is great.  After having the Q setup I have, which has 2 toggles for each pickup that let me adjust the Q 0/4/8/12 dbs, I'd need to have at least a 3-position Q.  The 4db setting between the 0 & 8 is VERY useful, a more mellow setting that very noticably adjusts the Q.  I don't use the 12 db setting too much, nor do I turn the Q off much.
 
Yeah, having the LP filter & Q is MUCH more versatile than the EQ controls; but having both is incredible.
 
My next bass is going to have Europa controls plus a mid-range switch and a 3 or 4-position Q, hopefully 0/3/6/9 dbs.
 
I hope you can add/retrofit the controls to your bass with little/no difficulty.
 
I'll look forward to hearing the results!

[lg71]

The_8_string_king, thanks a lot for  your comments, I am very interested, but also a little confused with your explanation, you say you have 2 positions Q-switches and get 0/4/8/12 dbs out of it, can you clarify please?
 
I am glad to know that the treble, mid and bass switches work fine with the Filter + Q-switch, I didn't know there was a mid one, that's great. Would you know the values (Frequency/db)?
 
Also you are saying that there are 4 positions Q-Switches, that's interesting too, I didn't know... I wasn't given many options when I ordered mine.  
 
Well, I really like the idea of boosting/cutting, Bass, Mid and highs as well as using the Filter + Q-switch.  
 
Further, I think it would great to have a sweep-able frequency using a pot, as opposed to three different switches for bass/mid/high (although that would only give one chosen frequency to play with, which I'd favor anyway, over fixed multiple frequencies, as used  on switches) , I guess we could have a pot and a switch. This idea of a pot would be a bit like having a CVQ as opposed to Q-switches.  
 
Thanks,
LG

[bsee]

Mark-
 
I suppose that's why they do 0/+6/+9 on the stock Series I electronics.
 
 
LG-
 
I would guess that Mark has one switch that is 0/+4 and another that is 0/+8.  If the switches are additive, you can get 0/+4/+8/+12 depending on how they are set.

[lg71]

Bsee, thanks for your reply.  
 
That's very interesting, I fink that it would be great to have a section on the FAQ dedicated to this sort of techie stuff, with more in detail specs.  
I still don't know what the bass/mid/high switches do and were, in terms of frequencies/db... Then I just saw in a brochure that they also do the treble and bass pots.
 
That's a new one I am learning, 2 Q-switches in series! Any photos or diagrams out there?
 
I though of trying two Low-pass filters in series... obviously, it would mainly make a difference while used in conjunction with the Q-switch(es)
 
I still think that the NEXT BEST thing would be a notch/peak filter (sweep-able with a pot), and two available options for cut/boost; a preset Q-switch (-/0/+) or with recycling an altered/tweaked Pan pot, to cut/0db/boost, maybe -/+15db and 40Hz to 8Khz.

[the_8_string_king]

Each pickup has 2 3 position switches that work with the filter.  On is what I call, the control switch.  It chooses between 3 options: filter off/filter on (no Q)/filter on (4/8/12 db, depending on the position of the other 3 position Q switch.
 
This setup works really well.  Although I've found that I rarely actually use the control to turn the filter off (which just means it sounds maximum brightness regardless of what position the filter is in, and the filter doesn't affect the sound while it's turned off.)
 
If I did it again, I'd probably have 1 switch be 0/X/12 dbs of Q, with a second 3-position switch deciding between 3/6/9 for the other switches middle position.
 
But yeah, when I got my custom, they told me I could use the 4-position switchs they use on the series basses for Q functions (or about anything).  I do seem to recall they were more expensive than the 3 position switches.
 
Being able to vary the Q from 0-12 in 4 db increments is close to perfect.
 
For my next custom, I just thought of having a 4-position switch to adjust the Q from 3/6/9/12 db, and a 2-position off/on for the Q.  Or maybe even a 3-position, where up and down are 0 & 15 dbs, and the middle position is 3/6/9/12 depending on the 4 position switch!
 
But I'm not overly interested in the 15 db position.  I find the 12 db setting is more than strong enough, and I don't use it that much.
 
For my purposes, if I were to retain the 0 and 12 db options, but have 3 positions in-between (3/6/9 db) instead of 2 (4/8 dbs) this would be completely perfect!!!
 
The mid switchs were custom for my bass.  I don't know the value, but they're VERY useful.  I had my bass for some time before I realized they actually apparently adjusted the range differently for each pickup.  How thoughtful!
 
I LOVE using the bridge one for boost, and I usually use the neck one for a cut, which really enhances the whole smile curve.
 
If I had the $, I'd have a second mid-range switch (another 3-position toggle) that selects upper/middle/lower mid-range -to be cut or boosted.
 
But the mid-switches are great; they interact with the Q in the mid-range very well, and add a lot of options to what you can do with the sound.

[the_8_string_king]

Each pickup has 2 3-position switches that work with the filter.  One is what I call, the control switch.  It chooses between 3 options: filter off/filter on (no Q)/filter on (4/8/12 db, depending on the position of the other 3 position Q switch.
 
This setup works really well.  Although I've found that I rarely actually use the control to turn the filter off (which just means it sounds maximum brightness regardless of what position the filter is in, and the filter doesn't affect the sound while it's turned off.)
 
If I did it again, I'd probably have 1 switch be 0/X/12 dbs of Q, with a second 3-position switch deciding between 3/6/9 for the other switches middle position.
 
But yeah, when I got my custom, they told me I could use the 4-position switchs they use on the series basses for Q functions (or about anything).  I do seem to recall they were more expensive than the 3 position switches.
 
Being able to vary the Q from 0-12 in 4 db increments is close to perfect.
 
For my next custom, I just thought of having a 4-position switch to adjust the Q from 3/6/9/12 db, and a 2-position off/on for the Q.  Or maybe even a 3-position, where up and down are 0 & 15 dbs, and the middle position is 3/6/9/12 depending on the 4 position switch!
 
But I'm not overly interested in the 15 db position.  I find the 12 db setting is more than strong enough, and I don't use it that much.
 
For my purposes, if I were to retain the 0 and 12 db options, but have 3 positions in-between (3/6/9 db) instead of 2 (4/8 dbs) this would be completely perfect!!!
 
The mid switchs were custom for my bass.  I don't know the value, but they're VERY useful.  I had my bass for some time before I realized they actually apparently adjusted the range differently for each pickup.  How thoughtful!
 
I LOVE using the bridge one for boost, and I usually use the neck one for a cut, which really enhances the whole smile curve.
 
If I had the $, I'd have a second mid-range switch (another 3-position toggle) that selects upper/middle/lower mid-range -to be cut or boosted.
 
But the mid-switches are great; they interact with the Q in the mid-range very well, and add a lot of options to what you can do with the sound.

[the_8_string_king]

Oops!

[lg71]

The_8_string_king, I wished I was told that I could do stuff like that with the Q-switches, it's never to late anyway... Your post is very valuable to me, I am very grateful that you went in so much details.  
 
I love synthesizer and my favorite section is the Filter(s), before it used to be; Low pass filters and resonance (Q) and envelopes, but these days, they have taking this so far, that IT IS EXPECTED to see low pass, band pass, peaking, combing filters and so on... so once you start playing with a low pass Alembic filter, it makes you want to have a bit more control, which is understandable.
 
My favorite tools are Dynamic processors (compressors, limiters/levellers, gates...) and Filters (fully parametric EQs, Low pass, band bass, notch and so on...) and I am very comfortable with them.  
I am NOT too crazy about Choruses, Flangers, Distortions and so on... although useful, they are plenty good ones out there and cheap, so not much of a challenge...  
 
I was offered to have a Filter bypass option on the first bass, I didn't go for it though, I though it would have been much more useful to have the filter frequency response extended the a point, where it could bypass itself, like a full blown low pass filter that you find on most modern DSP software EQs, they go like, 20Hz to 20KHz.
 
So, is it really unusable when you bypass the filter? Because that gives me ideas, like it could work nicely with the treble and mid switches...
 
I agree with you when you said that the MID switch is useful, I haven't heard it with my ears, but I can hear what it might sounds like with my inner ears. To me its a must I think, I really need/want that Aria SB Mid sounding flavor, it cuts through the mix so nicely, for the type of music I like.    
 
I am going to put an AD on the relevant section of this forum; looking for some bass/mid/treble switched or pots...  
 
- i want a MONSTER, like me LOL ... so I am not alone!