For those that have EMG pickups (in my case 40DC soapbars), how does the ACG pre EQ-01 match up and sound?
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Calling all ACG filter preamp users!
- Thread starter Bright Midnight
- Start date
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
I had this setup a long time ago in my Modulus Q6, and it worked fine. Sounded very nice.
- Apr 18, 2008
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- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
Had to send my EQ-01 back to East this week - seems the mini-trim pots on the filter boards just disintegrated, made it so I couldn't adjust the pickup gains. Alan and John were great about it, it's 2 years old and East was still very reasonable about it but said it's the first he'd seen it; he asked if someone had over turned the trims past their stopping point. I've always been delicate which is why it surprised me so much to see them falling apart.
Anyways, anyone here run into major noise issues with their ACG? I realize a lot of it has to do with shielding and such, but just wondering with the Treble/HPF knob introduces more hiss than a normal preamp.
Anyways, anyone here run into major noise issues with their ACG? I realize a lot of it has to do with shielding and such, but just wondering with the Treble/HPF knob introduces more hiss than a normal preamp.
I don't have 40DC soapbars, and mine is an EQ-02, not an EQ-01, but it is also a Modulus Quantum-6, and in case this helps...the ACG/East premp is a stellar match for the EMGs in that bass. As I'm sure I've mentioned elsewhere on TB, even when the filters are wide open (so ostensibly out of the circuit sonically) the bass sounds better than it ever did with either the stock Modulus electronics or an aftermarket EMG preamp/EQ.
Never noticed any abnormal noise, even when the hipass filter is cranked. fwiw I did a full-on copper foil shielding job at the same time that I had the ACG installed, so I suspect that helps re: noise. But the circuit doesn't seem to add any hiss either.
I ran into what sounded like 60-cycle hum with both my ACGs, but was never sure whether that was a shielding issue or the wiring in my house.
- Dec 21, 2007
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I put an EQ01 into my Zon fretless this weekend. What a wonderful pre.
I did a quick recording of a tune I've been working on.
"Bass" track is the neck pickup, filter slightly rolled back, no boost.
"Horn" track is the bridge pickup, filter slightly more rolled back, about 1/3 boost.
@Jared Lash or any other ACG users, suggestions on tone welcome!
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I did a quick recording of a tune I've been working on.
"Bass" track is the neck pickup, filter slightly rolled back, no boost.
"Horn" track is the bridge pickup, filter slightly more rolled back, about 1/3 boost.
@Jared Lash or any other ACG users, suggestions on tone welcome!
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Hard to give tone suggestions when it sounds so good.
The only thing I'll note is that one of my favorite parts of the ACG was having a blend of both pickups and having both LPFs working. Sometimes that would mean a huge bassy sound from the neck pickup (filter mostly closed) with the midrange coming from the bridge pickup with a little boost so it could poke through. The HPF was great for adding the highs with the tone knob there to mellow them out.
But for what you're doing here with two different bass tracks I think your tone sounds great.
Anyways, anyone here run into major noise issues with their ACG? I realize a lot of it has to do with shielding and such, but just wondering with the Treble/HPF knob introduces more hiss than a normal preamp.[/QUOTE]
It is important that the pre-amp is fully grounded and the best way to do this is with copper foil and mounting the pots through this then connecting the copper to the jack socket ground. It is equally important the bass is shielded and this includes the pickup cavities. I have seen on more than a few occasions that while the pickup cavities are shielded the shielding is not connected to the cavity ground. Any shielding in the pickup cavities has to be connected to ground as well.
The pre-amp is generally pretty quiet as it tends to work with what it is supplied with. If you want to test the pre-amp. Disconnect the pickups and put a wire link between the hot and cold for each pickup up input. This isolates the pre-amp. If there is no noise when the pre-amp is plugged in then the source is from something else.
It is important that the pre-amp is fully grounded and the best way to do this is with copper foil and mounting the pots through this then connecting the copper to the jack socket ground. It is equally important the bass is shielded and this includes the pickup cavities. I have seen on more than a few occasions that while the pickup cavities are shielded the shielding is not connected to the cavity ground. Any shielding in the pickup cavities has to be connected to ground as well.
The pre-amp is generally pretty quiet as it tends to work with what it is supplied with. If you want to test the pre-amp. Disconnect the pickups and put a wire link between the hot and cold for each pickup up input. This isolates the pre-amp. If there is no noise when the pre-amp is plugged in then the source is from something else.
I just realized you were quoting me - I sent my bass to my new local tech and he took care of it all - after getting the preamp back from John East and having the bass shielded better, I'm now supremely happy with everything.
I recently got my Fender Jazz Bass fitted with the EQ01 by Taipei's Alien Rabbit guitar shop. I am a happy camper.
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Is the EQ-01 and EQ-02 still the only filters commercially available? When I purchased my EQ-01 that and the EQ-02 could be brought from Best Bass Gear. What about the other filters, are they still only available if you buy a bass from ACG?
I got my EQ01 from ACG in March of this year so i guess they are still avaliable. However, the EQ03 (upgraded EQ01) are no longer avaliable for sale amd are only avaliable on their basses.
