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ACG onboard preamp (ACG/John East design)

#101
I put a J-retro into my MiM Fender Jazz Fretless a couple years ago. Currently it's got Bartolini's and TI Flats. I love everything about it, but this thread has now caused major GAS. I'm thinking, the ACG is a drop-in replacement for the J-retro, and I should just do it. Not to solve a problem, but to open up more possibilities. Question: do I lose anything here, like the basics, massive boost compared to totally passive, and the wonderful mid-range control from the J-retro? And is there any hope for life after battery death, mid-gig? The J-retro has a switch for passive bypass. Seems like that's a V3 option on the ACG.

There's no room on my bass for a passive tone control, as I don't have a side mounted jack. Is that a serious setback? I find I enjoy the passive tone control on my Nordy VJ4 with the Nordy preamp. That one does have a side mount jack, and a back-mount battery popout box. Maybe I should have a side mount and and a battery box installed on the fretless, so I can get the full ACG with passive tone control. Input on this appreciated!

This bass cost me about $400 originally. Kind of funny that I've put in 2x that amount in upgrades. TI-Flats, then Dimarzios, then the J-retro, then Bartolinis and a Copper Shielding job. But that was kind of the point-- get a (relatively low cost) bass to start with and experiment with swapping out the various parts and components. It's been fun, and every step has been a step up. The ACG seems like a good next step!
 
#102
Hi
The two pre-amps work in a different way so hard to compare directly. No passive option the pre-amp is fully active so if the battery goes down then no sound I am afraid. As you say possibly something for future versions. The passive tone does give you an additional tone shaping option which most people seem to like and if you already like the feature it may be worth the effort to get the side jack.
Alan
 
#103
What Alan said +1-get the passive tone. I use it a lot, but I play fretted and mostly use it to alter tone between single/stacked coil modes with my Fat Stacks. Maybe you could live without it, but it's easy enough to install a side jack and then have no regrets.
No passive option, but I've never wished for it on any active bass I've owned. I have a passive bass for that.
And I also have a U-retro, which used to live in this bass(it will go into another) and I agree, U-retro is a very fine unit. I selected it largely because of the sweepable midrange control, so I 'feel' your concern.

Here's my story: My friend Mike was looking for a preamp+pups for his new 6 string. He's a big Alembic fan but was having trouble getting what he wanted, so I suggested he try this pre as it works similarly. He bought it but then was able to get the Alembic stuff after all, which he prefers, so he offered it to me to try if I wanted as I am always building and trying new stuff. As I said earlier, I've used 3 band conventional EQ's forever(and will continue to do so for some instruments)so I was skeptical of the whole methodology and was afraid my bass might end up sounding like an Alembic, since they use a very similar technique. I love the Alembic sound but didn't want my Jazz to sound like one.
I needn't have worried. Basically, where a 3 band allows subtle and rather general changes, this allows absolute, surgically precise(and if you want, RADICAL) control over the voice of your bass. It's incredibly powerful. Imagine a 15 or 20 band graphic EQ controlled by only 4 knobs-that's in essence the kind of control you get. And I don't miss the bass boost knob, which I always thought I would need to bring up the thump for slap style. Instead, I reduce everything else(with one knob twist)in order to 'increase' the bass and treble-instant Marcus. It's different but it really works-Mike told me to think of it as 'Reductionist' EQ. But this unit takes the Alembic approach further by allowing boost as well as cut. There is a learning curve but it's absolutely worth it. And once you get over the curve it suddenly makes complete sense. Weird but true.
 
#110
Hey all....just wanted to chime back in here......I went a couple of months without an ACG preamp in my bass. I took it out to keep for another bass and replaced it with an Aguilar, as I was trying to sell that bass. I thought the Aguilar worked quite well actually and was wondering if I should go with a more typical preamp in my next bass. Well, I sold that last bass and placed the ACG into another bass that I'll be using until my custom Ristola 6 string is done......man, I love the ACG even more now. I still don't use the treble knob myself, but I absolutely love having that bass filter stack. I can get a great sound through any amp that I play through.

I want to say that with the ACG, I really get the same feeling playing this preamp that I do with a passive bass, just with much more capability to alter the tone. What I mean is that I feel that the preamp stays very true to the natural tone of the bass itself. It doesn't alter the instrument's base tone at all. It doesn't interrupt the responsiveness of the instrument. I really feel like with any adjustment of the preamp you're still left with a sound that represents the bass's true nature, you're just altering the coloring.

Anyhow, it's a really powerful tool that I'm more and more pleased to have in my bass.
 
#116
Just thought I'd add to this thread as long as it's been bumped.

I just received my new fretless with the ACG preamp and while I'm still finding my way around it, I can tell you that I really dig it so far. Now if only these new strings would break in I'd really be in business. So many cool tones to be coaxed from this pre.

StammieII008.jpg
 
#118
TheBigO said:
Just thought I'd add to this thread as long as it's been bumped.

I just received my new fretless with the ACG preamp and while I'm still finding my way around it, I can tell you that I really dig it so far. Now if only these new strings would break in I'd really be in business. So many cool tones to be coaxed from this pre.

StammieII008.jpg
Click to expand...

Love those B301/2(?)-inspired basses! Bet they sound awesome. Question...who installed them into your bass? I have my old Guild and it would probably bring it back to life and then some if I installed a ACG preamp into it!
 
#119
Skelf said:
It does work particularly well on fretless. The filters just seem to combine well with the fretless type tone. Like the bass as well.
Alan
Click to expand...

It really does. I'm sure this pre kills on a fretted bass too, but my fretless absolutely sings.

I've been interested in this preamp for a long time but was a little hesitant to pull the trigger. Chris Stambaugh just said, "if it interests you, give it a shot. Preamps can always be swapped out." Good advice. Of course, now I can't imagine ever taking it out of this bass.

Thanks jgroh. I dig them a lot too. I've gone through a ton of basses, but when I had the means to get a custom bass I went back to that first Guild for inspiration.

The first one sounds like a cross between a Ric and a souped up Jazz, but this new one sounds like a fretless Thumb from Mars. :bassist:
 
#120
jgroh said:
Love those B301/2(?)-inspired basses! Bet they sound awesome. Question...who installed them into your bass? I have my old Guild and it would probably bring it back to life and then some if I installed a ACG preamp into it!
Click to expand...

You're too quick for me jgroh, you edited your post while I was replying. ;)

My bass is a Stambaugh so he did the install. But from what I understand it isn't a difficult process as preamps go. The B-301 would need an extra hole drilled though.

Love those basses. Such a great tone. And the original pickups were among the best they ever made. Fred Hammon says they are his second favorite after the Hagstrom Bi-Sonics that the Darkstars are based on.
 

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