Electronic Configurations

[Alfredo (kayo)]

Has anyone ever requested to have a q switch with quick tone switches for each individual pickup?  How did it sound?  On the standard MXY4 2 pick-up layout, are the q and tone swtiches routed on the sound to both spick-ups or just the trable or bass.

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Hello Alfredo,
 
if I understand your question well I'll try an answer. Some Alembic models -the signature and the Series I and II- have a Q-switch per PU. On the SII you have a variable Q-switch per PU.
The other models (Rogue, Europa) have Q-switches and tone switches and thpse are routed for the both elements. In my early-Alembic days I had a Spoiler-bass. The q-switch influenced the sound as a whole, the other knobs were (If I remember well: volume, pan and tone control).
Standard a Q switch is 2 position: neutral and + 6db. In the signature setting (and series I) the Q switch is 3 position: neutral, +6db and +9db. I'm not sure of the specs.
Your question of sound is not answerable in text. For the q-switches: they are boosting/cutting an amount of high-tones on top of the tone setting. It's very apart as tone and really usefull. You can imagine that there is a difference if you have it separate for the two pick-ups. I don't know if -when you decide to have 2 q-s- you also need to have a tone control per PU.
Maybe there are other people here that can better answer that question. But I suggest in another box of the club.
CU
 
Paul

[Michael DeVincenzo (jlpicard)]

Alfredo, I had the pleasure of visiting the factory in '99 and I saw a Rogue with double Europa electronics. That is; one filter, Q , and bass & treble quick change switches for each pickup! (plus volume and pan of course) Mike

[Daniel Tracey (dannobasso)]

I have a bunch of Spoilers in various figurations. I really like the selector switch for bas, treble and both pickups. Without going too nuts, you can change the tone easily by using the switch. I just recieved a 2 pickup Excel 5 and the pan pot makes a change in a hurry but it does not have the exactness of a quick change that a selector does. I think you have to think about how often you need to switch your tones in a performance situation. Most of the time its just gun it and go for most rock bassists. Signatures canb have a selector added on like Stanley's basses. Dialing in the blend is great but if your hand slips on the knobs, well, you know. Danno

[Michael DeVincenzo (jlpicard)]

Hi, Looking for some input here; Does a volume for each pickup(as on a series bass) have any real advantage over a pan control? Not having spent alot of time with a series bass recently, I can't recall if one would be better than the other.

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Hoi Michael
 
Paul (again).
It's a blending difference. With the SII i work like this: I start looking for a good sound on my bridge PU: using the volume setting full and working with the Low-pass-filter and CVQ. When I'm happy there I'm turning the volume of the neck PU with it. So on that moment I'm ADDING a sound to the first. Also that PU I colour with CVQ and low-pass. I had the luck to once buy a SII so I have a mastervolume on top of that. Because adding the two PU definitely pumps up the volume too.
The results are very various ...I don't have a good word for it. The pan solution was always very predictable in sound and never worked for me. I once had a Mark King Signature (signature electronics) and my friend Edwin in The Netherlands changed it in fact to a 3 volume knob setting...WEW!
By the way: I'm most of the time so happy with the bridge sound alone. It's why on my dreambass (see Dreaming..for now the humble bass) there is only one signature PU (slightly shifted).  
It's the reason why I called it the humble bass.
 
Take care Michael!
 
Paul