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Calling all ACG filter preamp users!

#102
I am thinking about pairing a set of EMG P5J with an ACG EQ-01 5K. Can someone tell me if any connection issues will occur since both products are solderless? Will the EMG's couple to the ACG supplied pots/connections without any modification?

Thanks
 
#103
Hi
They work with EMG pickups but not the passive tone it will not work correctly with active pickups. If you mean the EMG pickups have connectors on them then no they will need to be removed to supply a hot and cold to the pre-amp inputs. The EMG power lead can be connected to the spare + on the main board to power the pickups.
 
#104
Skelf said:
Hi
They work with EMG pickups but not the passive tone it will not work correctly with active pickups. If you mean the EMG pickups have connectors on them then no they will need to be removed to supply a hot and cold to the pre-amp inputs. The EMG power lead can be connected to the spare + on the main board to power the pickups.
Click to expand...

Thanks Skelf! I had planned on using Nordy's (NP5 and a Big Split), but am thinking the EMGs may provide more output.
 
#106
Skelf said:
The pre-amp has adjustable gain on the inputs. However the pre-amp is not a high gain pre-amp due to the nature of the filters.

Alan
Click to expand...

I'm rethinking the entire idea of the P/J in favor of a dual MM configuration. My thought(s) being the sheer number of variations that can be had if utilizing of pair of something such as Nordstrand's MM5.4 pup. I can find a P/J at the Big Box, but for a build, I want to concentrate on something "cooler".

I may be way off kilter here, but would the following be feasible:

Dual Nordy MM5.4 Quad Coils (or similar)
ACG EQ-01-5K
Two 3-way switches

Possibilities:
1. Bridge pup soloed (via blend knob on the ACG)

2. Bridge pup soloed and split-coil (choice of inner or outer) using a dedicated three-way switch (the switch would control outer coil, inner coil, both coils - similar to the $$ Warwicks)

3. Neck pup soloed (via blend knob on the ACG)

4. Neck pup soloed and split-coil (inner or outer via its dedicated three-way)

5. Both pups on

6. Both pups on and split-coil'd (and without getting into it, they can be inner coil, outer coil, etc, via the switches).

Does this sound possible? I haven't looked into the nitty gritty when it comes to the wiring, but first wanted to know if the concept is sound, and feasible with the EQ-01 and its connection types.

Thanks,
 
#107
echoSE7EN said:
I'm rethinking the entire idea of the P/J in favor of a dual MM configuration. My thought(s) being the sheer number of variations that can be had if utilizing of pair of something such as Nordstrand's MM5.4 pup. I can find a P/J at the Big Box, but for a build, I want to concentrate on something "cooler".

I may be way off kilter here, but would the following be feasible:

Dual Nordy MM5.4 Quad Coils (or similar)
ACG EQ-01-5K
Two 3-way switches

Possibilities:
1. Bridge pup soloed (via blend knob on the ACG)

2. Bridge pup soloed and split-coil (choice of inner or outer) using a dedicated three-way switch (the switch would control outer coil, inner coil, both coils - similar to the $$ Warwicks)

3. Neck pup soloed (via blend knob on the ACG)

4. Neck pup soloed and split-coil (inner or outer via its dedicated three-way)

5. Both pups on

6. Both pups on and split-coil'd (and without getting into it, they can be inner coil, outer coil, etc, via the switches).

Does this sound possible? I haven't looked into the nitty gritty when it comes to the wiring, but first wanted to know if the concept is sound, and feasible with the EQ-01 and its connection types.

Thanks,
Click to expand...

I know this is an old thread and you could have gotten and answer by now but just in case.

Yes this looks like a normal set up for any bass using the pickups in question. The switching is going on before it gets to the Pre so that should not cause any issues other than an extra switch for each pup. Pickup leads go to switch and leads from switch to pre.
 
#109
two month ago I put the ACG Eq-02 in my spector ns2000. I had EMGhz and swaped them for the EMG DCX and man does that thing sound incredible. It has more tones than I could have imagined. I love it.
 
#113
MPU said:
At his homepage. Contact via email. I bought one a few days ago.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Just ordered an EQ-02!

There was a comment earlier in this thread that said even with the preamp set neutral it made things sound better, and that's what really did it for me. Then I saw the sale price compared to bestbassgear.com and decided to go for it. I suppose I can always re-sell it, but it couldn't be any worse than the stock Fender pre in my Precision Lyte Deluxe bass right now.

I'm going to totally gut the electronics and install this preamp with an updated Fender bridge pickup (those dual-J size pups are hard to find!) and a Dimarzio Area P. Hopefully the EQ-02 will tie it all together nicely. I'm going for a jack-of-all-trades jamming/studio bass sort of thing.

Any thoughts?
 
#114
Bumping this for more replies on the EQ-02.

I'm really looking forward to this electronics rebuild project, and I'm getting a little antsy for my preamp to arrive, since it's the last piece of the puzzle.

I've been pestering Alan with a few questions and clarifications about the operation of the filters, and he's been nothing but helpful. Ive git a pretty clear sense of how it works on paper, but I'd love to hear from a few more people actually using the EQ-02 in different types of basses and what it's done for your sound.
 
#115
Well I actually installed the ACG Eq01 in my spector not the EQ02. Same principle but with dual low pass filters (one for each pick up). It has made all the difference in how my bass sounds. When you think about standard boost/cut systems, the pickups are what they are and you boost/cut bass, treble or mid if you have it. Not so with the low pass filter. In my opinion you change what that pickup sounds like as you go through the freq range of the filter. Its really amazing. One piece of advice. I watched videos of bass players who have installed these pre amps. While showing how they work, they crank on the knobs 1/2 and 3/4 turns at a time. When you do that you are passing over all kinds of sounds. Its not like the boost/cut in that you don't have to turn the knobs from one extreme to the other to change the sound. little adjustments make a big difference. Also take ALOT of time getting use to it. I've read where some bass players said they couldn't find a good sound. They might have been cranking on the knobs. My problem at first was I found too many great sounds. Now after playing a lot I know where they are and can get to the easily. Just takes some time to get use to it. A big piece of the puzzle on what's makes alembics and wals sound like they do are the filters in the pre amps.

My hats off to Alan at ACG. Its an awesome preamp. I would recommend them to anyone.
 
#117
I bought the EQ2 that were for sale. I have a headless carbon fiber neck under work that will be paired with alder body, ETS hardware and 10 coil pickup. I couldn't wait for the bass to finish so I wired the pre after my current bass. It sure has very broad sound palette. I agree with little adjustments, not turning the knobs from one end to another. I found a lot of nice sounds that I'm perfectly satisfied.
 
#119
I installed a different P pickup last night and fixed the phase issue, and this bass sounds pretty great now.

I originally started with a Dimarzio Model P but found it to be pretty abrasive/harsh sounding, so I swapped it out for a new Dimarzio Area P instead and wow what a difference! Much sweeter highs, beefy bottom, and it jives a lot better with the Fender bridge pickup.

The preamp seems very versatile, but I imagine it will be a while until I find my favorite tones. So far I've just been playing through DI/headphones, but I hope to find some time to plug it into my rig this weekend.
 
#120
Played around a little more last night through DI and Headphones, and I think I really like this preamp! I was able to dial in a bunch of different tones ranging from vintage woof (Hendrix) to more modern aggressive punk rock tone, and all without any extra outboard tone shaping.

I will say though, I think the passive tone knob is a must-have, at least for me. One tone I liked is to take the LPF way down into the bass region and then boost the cutoff frequency to get a nice fat low end, and then bring the highs back in with the HPF boost. The HPF can be really sensitive though, and being a shelving boost this method can get quite clacky in a hurry, in which case the passive tone knob is the only way to tame the extreme highs.
 

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