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ACG onboard preamp (ACG/John East design)
- Thread starter emjazz
- Start date
bongomania
Commercial User
I haven't yet, but I am strongly eying it for my Fender Deluxe Jazz. I have another bass for "simple, passive, natural" tone, so I may as well get a more intense pre for my J, and the filter system seems very cool. I use resonant filters a lot in "effect" form, so I can dig it as an integral part of the bass voicing.
Filters are not necessarily passive, and in this particular case they are active and resonant, and therefore capable of boost.
Filters are not necessarily passive, and in this particular case they are active and resonant, and therefore capable of boost.
Very interested in this preamp...saw it when searching around the net a while ago and have been eyeing it for a while. Finally clips have been provided in this thread! And geez do they sound good....
Thinking about this as an upgrade for my Warwick Corvette 4 string...anyone experience this preamp with a Warwick?
Thinking about this as an upgrade for my Warwick Corvette 4 string...anyone experience this preamp with a Warwick?
Thanks Oreomeister! This definitely looks like the most flexible preamp available. I am thinking of starting with that, and then if I still want more from the bass, I'll swap out the MEC pickups for something else. Although, this will have to go on the GAS list since I've not the cash right now...
I installed the ACG preamp in my fretless last night. I'll find out soon on the gig tonight if it's as good as folks say. First impressions through my headphone amp say "yes". 
I installed the ACG preamp in my fretless last night. I'll find out soon on the gig tonight if it's as good as folks say. First impressions through my headphone amp say "yes".
Very nice! That preamp should be the end all to be all for fretless.
Thanks Oreomeister! This definitely looks like the most flexible preamp available. I am thinking of starting with that, and then if I still want more from the bass, I'll swap out the MEC pickups for something else. Although, this will have to go on the GAS list since I've not the cash right now...
Hi
Just to point out the review on Basschat is for the ACG EQ01 the original pre-amp which is now only available in my own basses. The EQ02 is the version being discussed in this thread. The two filter sections in the 02 are identical to the 01 the only major difference between them is that the 01 has one bass filter per pickup the 02 has one bass filter for both pickups.
Alan
The pre-amp is particularly good in a fretless as emjazz suggests. I personally love fretless bass and I think the filters just seem to work really well on it.
Alan
Ah, I see. Is the treble filter the same as on the EQ01?
I'm having an internal conflict telling me that since my bass was $1000 new, how can I justify buying a preamp that is 1/3 of its price?
Well, how much do you like your basses tone right now? If you're on the ultimate quest for tone, imo, it's probably worth it to try something like this assuming you're not satisfied with your current tone. I like my current tone but it's still got a little ways to go to truly get there. Also, the 18v electronics in my current preamp caused a problem for me.
I just ordered one of these puppies, I hope to add a review and more clips to the stash.
I just ordered one of these puppies, I hope to add a review and more clips to the stash.
Definitely keep me (and all of us) posted when you get this. What kind of bass will you be putting it in?
I am, of course, on the ultimate quest for tone. I wouldn't say I hate my bass's tone right now; I just think it can do better than it's doing...I'd say the best word that's been thrown around on the forum to describe what I'm after is a more "open" sound. I know the MEC preamp is nothing too special, so I'm thinking this might do the trick, but then there's always the pickups too...it never ends
Wow! Holy crap!
The gig tonight was a terrible room for sound and the preamp sounded really really really good.
Monday's gig is outdoors so I'll get a better idea of what it can do.
The gig tonight was a terrible room for sound and the preamp sounded really really really good.
Monday's gig is outdoors so I'll get a better idea of what it can do.
Ah, I see. Is the treble filter the same as on the EQ01?
I'm having an internal conflict telling me that since my bass was $1000 new, how can I justify buying a preamp that is 1/3 of its price?
Both the bass filter and the treble filter are exactly the same.
Wow! Holy crap!
The gig tonight was a terrible room for sound and the preamp sounded really really really good.
Monday's gig is outdoors so I'll get a better idea of what it can do.
What I use this preamp most for is to dial in my sound for the room or rig that I'm playing in. I've never been successful in having such an easy time with it as I have with the ACG pre.
This preamp is all they say it is. Monday's outdoor gig on St. Petersburg Beach proved that to me.
I don't think I've ever sounded as good and the tone of my fretless was unbelieveable!
.....now if I can only learn how to play 
It's very quick and clean sounding, although it does take some learning to work the EQ - and it is touchy. It's difficult to describe in words what this thing sounds like - very organic and warm & natural - and I'm very glad I bought it.
It's more fun to play when you know you sound good.
It's more fun to play when you know you sound good.
amen!
There's nothing more satisfying than a good tone...which is why I ordered one.
Once you get that perfect tone, things are great and everything else is just fluff.
