Author Topic: Q-Switch (Read 244 times)

jalevinemd · « **on:** April 13, 2014, 07:28:31 AM »

What effect does the Q-Switch have on tone? My Alembics all have the Skylark electronics with the on/off/bright switches and filter for each pickup. I'm considering making a change for my next build.

Thanks.

lbpesq · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2014, 08:58:44 AM »

Jonathan:

It adds a little boost just at the cutoff frequency. Sort of a slight treble/presence boost without losing the bottom. I have a three-way Q on my Ferlembic (the pot leaf guitar that started life as an Alembic inspired Fernandes Masterhand), and the off-on-bright switches on my Further - my main two players. I use the Q more than the bright setting. I usually leave the Q in the middle position, with occasional excursions one way or the other. If I had the Further in for work, I'd be tempted to have the off-on-bright swapped out for the three-way Q's. Hope this helps.

Bill, tgo

jalevinemd · « **Reply #2 on:** April 13, 2014, 09:21:57 AM »

Thanks, Bill.

So is having a Q-switch and an on/off/bright on the same guitar kinda redundant then?

lbpesq · « **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2014, 09:31:54 AM »

Unless you switch to a blade pickup selector, you'll need at least on/off switches. The bright might be a little redundant but if you have the on/off anyway, why not? For full disclosure, I should mention that I've been thinking about changing my Further to a blade pickup selector. It certainly works better for quick, on-stage, changes.

Bill, tgo

jalevinemd · « **Reply #4 on:** April 13, 2014, 11:31:27 AM »

That's what I'm thinking about. More like the Europa electronics. But I'd like two pickups, a three position blade, individual normal/bright switches, individual volume and filter plus a Q-switch.

pace · « **Reply #5 on:** April 13, 2014, 12:58:26 PM »

I think the normal/bright AND Q's would be redundant, especially if you roll back the filters a tad anyway (knowing your musical tastes, I doubt you leave your filters wide open ever). I guess the setup you're looking for would be closest to anniversary electronics, w/ a blade selector in place of the rotary, and no mono/stereo toggle

jalevinemd · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2014, 01:10:57 PM »

The only thing I use the bright switch for is to help get an acoustic guitar sound. With the filter all the way up and the bright switch on, the approximation is uncanny. I was hoping to use the Q-switch as more of a solo boost, but it doesn't sound like there's much additional gain from activating it.

lbpesq · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2014, 03:11:11 PM »

I don't think you'd be happy using the Q as a solo boost. If that's what you're looking for, and you want it on-board instead of using a stomp box or two channel amp, you might look at adding a stratoblaster.

Bill, tgo

jalevinemd · « **Reply #8 on:** April 13, 2014, 04:28:11 PM »

Bill,

Yeah the Blaster is probably the way to go. I'd like to see if they can have an extra knob to allow me to adjust the level of gain on-the-fly. I've got a similar setup on my Scott Walker. It has a Cutler pre-amp that gives me up to 10 dB boost. Nice feature for solos or for getting just a bit of dirt from the clean amp.