Dread Bass Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 I love this preamp! I have been using other basses recently and felt something was missing. I used my ACG Recurve last night at practice with the filter preamp and it was tone heaven. Combined with my Aguilar rig I don't think I have ever been so happy with my tone. Anyone else loving the filter pre? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 It does look very good, slightly different to the Wal preamp but the same sort of concept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dread Bass Posted February 14, 2014 Author Share Posted February 14, 2014 It does share a similarity to a Wal preamp. I've never tried a Wal but I dig the flexibility of filters once you get your head round it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 Don't own one yet...but seriously aim on putting that right in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMG456 Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 [quote name='Dread Bass' timestamp='1392395772' post='2368225'] It does share a similarity to a Wal preamp. I've never tried a Wal but I dig the flexibility of filters once you get your head round it. [/quote] It's like a Wal circuit but with much more flexibility. For each low pass filter, you can control both the cutoff frequency and the amount of boost around the Q point - on the Wal, the push-pull pot gives you a fixed, pre-set boost. Again on the high pass filter - it's fully variable for frequency and boost - the Wal just has a preset "Pick Attack" on the push-pull master volume, although you can vary the boost amount by tweaking a little pot inside the control cavity. I'd have to say that for live work, the Wal circuit is easier to control ( for me anyway) with less capability for digging yourself into an EQ hole! The added complexities of the ACG circuit makes it something of a gift for recording if you spend the time learning how it works and have access to full frequency range monitoring. It's the most flexible and powerful on board eq circuit I've come across yet. Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dread Bass Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 Cheers for that Ed. When I use mine live I tend to open both the low pass filters and close the high pass filter. It gives a great cutting sound with a present mid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzyvee Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I've had ACG filters installed into one of my alembic basses for a few years now. That bass is a 5 string Europa with a single low pass filter, q switch low and mid cut and boost switches, pan and master volume.. I had The ACG installed as i was trying to remove the GAS I had for an alembic series bass and thought it would give me a similar setup to an alembic Series II bass but with the addition of the high pass filter. However whilst I gained a lot of tonal flexibility, I found that I the character and punch that original electronics had was not there, and as a result I hardly gigged with that bass at all which is a shame as that was my first call bass prior to the mod. So....at the weekend I put the original alembic guts back in and it's like meeting up with an old friend again. I must clarify here that I don't think there is anything wrong with the ACG filters I think they didn't suit that bass. I could get the really low dub bass sound which is what I need sometimes but not the right character tone or punch in the lower mids to carry the groove in the band. I have recently bought a bolt on bass so they may end up in there as I have read bolt ons have a natural punch in the mid range. If I get to bass day I may have another chat to Alan and John about this and see what they suggest. Since having the ACG filters I've acquired a series II alembic and they are tonally very different. Jazzyvee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I've got one and think it's great - it really fits with my streamer stage one and I've been so happy with the tone and sound of it. I love the real richness it has. I can understand though why, as Jazzyvee says, it's not for every bass - and sometimes the directness of the sound of a bass with a regular preamp or passive is what you need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skelf Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Jazzy you need to try the latest version of the pre-amp the 03 which has been further refined to produce much more control over the all important mids. The push/pull low mid and hid mid controls make a big difference as does the reduced range on the lowpass filters. Having spent years trying to be all things to all men I have had a rethink in order to produce a more focused pre-amp to use with the MC Series of pickups. If you get to London please drop by to hear the new pre-amp. This obviously applies to anyone interested and down at the show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 [quote name='skelf' timestamp='1392663781' post='2371328'] Jazzy you need to try the latest version of the pre-amp the 03 which has been further refined to produce much more control over the all important mids. The push/pull low mid and hid mid controls make a big difference as does the reduced range on the lowpass filters. Having spent years trying to be all things to all men I have had a rethink in order to produce a more focused pre-amp to use with the MC Series of pickups. If you get to London please drop by to hear the new pre-amp. This obviously applies to anyone interested and down at the show. [/quote] I cant make the show...but as an ex Wal & Alembic owner this pre sounds like the stuff of my dreams! (incidentally I preferred the Wal pre to the Alembic) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skelf Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 (edited) I have never really used the Alembic pre but we did try to get into the same ballpark with the filters going as high as the Alembic. However I am very familiar with the Wal pre-amp which I think is great. So in re focusing my own agenda it leans more in the direction of the Wal. It will come in 3 variations with the 3K version having pretty much the functionality of the Wal with the added features of the 03. A 4K version of which more details to follow and the 5K which has the active/passive tone control added. Edited February 17, 2014 by skelf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 [quote name='skelf' timestamp='1392665714' post='2371380'] I am very familiar with the Wal pre-amp which I think is great. So in re focusing my own agenda it leans more in the direction of the Wal. [/quote] Which is why I want one in my life My pal has a 1970's Alembic series 1 - but for me the Wal pre is so much simpler (and sounds every bit as good). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzyvee Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Hi Skelf thanks for your input I hope you don't think that I am attacking your product. I was careful not to make that implication. If I can get to the show I will certainly pop by to check out the new system. Jazzyvee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skelf Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Didn't think that at all input is always good. It is because of people telling me what they think that has allowed us to refine and hopefully improve the pre-amp. I think with the new version we have pretty much what I think will be the final version,mind you I have said that before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skelf Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 [quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1392666048' post='2371393'] Which is why I want one in my life My pal has a 1970's Alembic series 1 - but for me the Wal pre is so much simpler (and sounds every bit as good). [/quote] You are welcome to drop in any time you are in the area. After the London show there will be instruments to try out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 [quote name='skelf' timestamp='1392671690' post='2371524'] You are welcome to drop in any time you are in the area. After the London show there will be instruments to try out. [/quote] Thanks Alan...that was my next question! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 [quote name='skelf' timestamp='1392663781' post='2371328'] Jazzy you need to try the latest version of the pre-amp the 03 which has been further refined to produce much more control over the all important mids. The push/pull low mid and hid mid controls make a big difference as does the reduced range on the lowpass filters. Having spent years trying to be all things to all men I have had a rethink in order to produce a more focused pre-amp to use with the MC Series of pickups. If you get to London please drop by to hear the new pre-amp. This obviously applies to anyone interested and down at the show. [/quote] I was about to say something similar in relation to the hi and lo mid boosts but Alan beat me to it. Owning a newer ACG filter pre and having owned the earlier model I can appreciate how Alan has improved on an already good filter pre amp. Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dread Bass Posted February 18, 2014 Author Share Posted February 18, 2014 [quote name='GreeneKing' timestamp='1392675558' post='2371585'] I was about to say something similar in relation to the hi and lo mid boosts but Alan beat me to it. Owning a newer ACG filter pre and having owned the earlier model I can appreciate how Alan has improved on an already good filter pre amp. Peter [/quote] Got to agree with this. I had version 1 of the filter preamp and changed it for a v2 and it is much more focused sounding. Interesting hearing a comparison to the Alembic pre. I own an Alembic buts its an Epic so doesn't have any filters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassy Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Forgive my ignorance, but aren't all pre-amps with tone controls filter based? If not what's the essential difference, in principle rather than implementation, between and AGC one and any other? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skelf Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 They are but when talking about filter based pre-amps it generally means the use of lowpass filters rather than the more common cut and boost EQ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dapper Bandit Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Had the opportunity to play with my recently fitted EQ01 over the weekend (bass returned to me the day we began recording our new EP!). A revelation, never been happier with an EQ before, spent a few minutes reading the manual and had a sound I was very happy with in no time at all. Believe the hype, I've got a syrupy dub tone from my neck pickup and a snappy Stingray-esque tone at the bridge and the blending between the two really opens up a world of possibility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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