GreeneKing Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 (edited) I created a thread a while back describing how I fitted an ACG02, filter based pre-amp into Alan (Niceguyhomer's) Black cherry Spector Euro 5LX. These are truly great basses with good ergonomics, necks and quality of construction. The Tone pump in combination with the active EMGs is very good at 'in yer face bass' imo but there are times Alan (and I) were looking for more subtlety and 'warmth'. Having listened to Alan's several times now, both being played by Alan and others, I realise that my 4 was eventually going to get the same treatment, so: They get easier every time (fitting is very straighforward). The ACG02 in mine is slightly different in that the volume and blend are board mounted and combined and there's an extra passive control for both pups. So that's Vol/blend at the front, High pass filter/cut & boost at the top, Low pass filter/resonant peak at the bottom and the single knob at the rear (!) is the passive tone. Alan was a little short of gold knobs (evidently most folk have better taste) so I've nicked some black ones from my Harlot til they arrive. How does it sound? Just like I'd have hoped. Still all that Spector growl but with a whole lot more scope besides. I think that's 5 of these I've fitted now Peter Edited February 16, 2009 by GreeneKing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Hi Peter, I really enjoyed the thread where you fitted the pre. very interesting to read with all the detailed pics and so on. I quite like the black and gold knobs on this actually! I was wondering if you had the facilities to record any of these basses with the ACG - I have only heard them in ACG basses (Other than the J.East demo at the SEBB) but would be interested to hear them in a familiar context. Cheers ped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted February 16, 2009 Author Share Posted February 16, 2009 I'll get something done Ped. It'll be more sound than music - nothing new there Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 There's sound clips of the ACG 01 two filter pre-amp fitted in a Warwick somewhere in the reviews section IIRC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Oh yes, the fretless Thumb? I thought it really suited that bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted February 16, 2009 Author Share Posted February 16, 2009 And suitably prompted I'll probably stick with the 'odd knobs'. Black for the filters is actually pretty cool (black magic) Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niceguyhomer Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Ooh matron ....how does it sound passive?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted February 16, 2009 Author Share Posted February 16, 2009 (edited) Well Alan it's not actually a passive vs active thing. What the passive knob does is 'bleed off' your tone just like a passive pot in a passive bass does, but at the point where it feeds into the pre-amp board. Like a passive pre-preamp pickup control. It's a one knob whole tone adjustment. It's subtle but noticeable. I'll do a range of sound clips tomorrow. I'd describe the passive tone as a useful addition rather than an essential. We must get together for a comparo Al. Peter Edited February 16, 2009 by GreeneKing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niceguyhomer Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Will do Pedro as soon as I've learned this week's set Might have a blues band audition Saturday too. Bloody hell, my head's spinning :wacko: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted February 17, 2009 Author Share Posted February 17, 2009 (edited) Here's a few sound clips taken from the Spector post modification. The blend is centred and for all except the penultimate clip the passive tone is wide open. I'm just playing intervals of major 3rds down the far end. One basic way to look at the filters is to take the 'meat & gravy' approach. The low pass filter at one extreme lets through just the lowest frequencies and as it's rotated more and progressively higher mids are added to the tone without taking away the lows. This is the 'meat knob'. The top knob enhances the peak at the filter cut off frequency. The high pass filter when shut down just allows the highest frequencies past and as its rotated progressively lower mids are introduced . The two filters do overlap so you're not missing anything. This is your 'gravy knob'. The top knob on this is a cut and boost that has the added function/beauty of enabling the signal through it to be shut right off. The passive tone is just that, a pickup tone bleed off to earth. So here's the tone with both pups, passive tone not cut and high pass midway with cut/boost at the centre detent. So the gravy is set. What I'm doing sample by sample is opening the low pass to alter my most basic 'meat' of the tone. It's not necessary to listen to every sample to get the idea. [url="http://www.zshare.net/audio/55768053cfd0911f/"]1st sample[/url] [url="http://www.zshare.net/audio/55768754ced39d94/"]2nd sample[/url] [url="http://www.zshare.net/audio/557692881b18cab1/"]3rd sample[/url] [url="http://www.zshare.net/audio/55769511c34c4a0f/"]4th sample[/url] [url="http://www.zshare.net/audio/5576968230d2d3e9/"]5th sample[/url] [url="http://www.zshare.net/audio/55769728d1f4ebeb/"]6th sample[/url] The next sample shows the passive tone 1st in and then cut: [url="http://www.zshare.net/audio/55769918103348ad/"]Passive tone being cut[/url] The final tone just gives an idea of range. [url="http://www.zshare.net/audio/557699768037ee9b/"]Tonal range[/url] Peter - who realises on listening to the clips that I may have too much 'gravy' in the mix Edited February 17, 2009 by GreeneKing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funkmaster Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 [quote name='niceguyhomer' post='411295' date='Feb 16 2009, 04:38 PM']...Might have a blues band audition Saturday too...[/quote] Great stuff Alan! Hope that works out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niceguyhomer Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 [quote name='Funkmaster' post='412039' date='Feb 17 2009, 02:59 PM']Great stuff Alan! Hope that works out.[/quote] Thanks Dave -I wish I'd picked your brains on Sunday - I'm clueless when it comes to blues bass but I'll give it my best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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