@@adand824 I don't know how much you know about electronic filters, I have a background in electronics and have designed and built much audio gear over the last several decades, including effects pedals and tone controls. For band filters, as for settings 1 & 2, the frequency given is the band centre frequency. I see setting 1 as 2.5kHz, you have 2.1kHz - difficult to see on the graph, not going to argue. Setting 2, we agree. On the other hand, for high and low-pass filters, as in settings 3 & 4, the frequency (turnover frequency) is generally given as the 3dB point on maximum boost/cut. I'm going to use my numbering here as it is in line with the video and you have reversed from what Scott uses. For setting 3, the turnover frequency is between 1-2kHz. Given it's a log frequency scale, probably closer to 1.2kHz than the 1.5 I originally wrote. For setting 4 the 3dB point is around 400Hz. It seems that you are using the frequency at which the boost/cut is maximum. While that is appropriate for a band filter, it isn't the convention for high- and low-pass filters, I suspect this is why you think I am wrong. You could have been more polite about it and explained rather than just shouting NO.
Only 6 years late to the party!! Just tried your #1 setting on my J5, sounds great!! It was on setting #4 and had way more top end than I needed. Treble roll off is so much more useful now too. Thank you!!!
Awesome, thank you for that demo! I'm installing the EMG BQC system atm. There is a dizzying amount of control I will have. The wonderful thing is that I now realize that tone is an evolutionary thing, it's also very organic. The more options there are, then the room to grow as an artist. Cheers!
This is why the EMG BQC System is so appealing in its versatility, and the dynamic range that can be affected in very different ways, just like this. The EMG BQC System is just like this, however it also gives you a mid boost/cut, stacked pot which is sweepable, where you get to determine the center of the frequency range being affected by the control. I have one added to my EMG PJ-X set. Cool video.
I installed that same setup on my bass. I'm happy with it indeed, but if I could change one thing, it would be that the frequency sweep beer more of a switch rather than a roll. I would rather have it stop on 5 or 6 spots rather than sweep. Just so I would know exactly which frequency I was cutting and boosting. Some bass preamps have a 3 way switch for this exact thing for like 200,400 and 700hz.
The graphs are logarithmic so each vertical line represents an equal rise of frequency between each decade even though the gaps look like they're all over the place. If you look at the graph for Setting 2 say, there's a big gap from 1 kHz to the next line, but that next line is 2 kHz. The line after that is 3 kHz. Setting 2 boosts the most in the lines between 3 kHz and 4 kHz. The lines between 8 and 9 kHz get very close indeed. When you get to 10 kHz the process starts again, but the big gap is now 10 kHz to 11 kHz as we're in a new decade. You obviously have great instinctive knowledge of what these frequencies do to the sound of the bass. This video is a nice example of how minor adjustments to EQ characteristics can make such a difference. I've never bothered to check what the 3-band EQ does on my bass, and I suspect there'll be no way of tweaking it like on your EMGs.
I've just received my SWB1 active bass in mahogany and I absolutely love it! Sounds amazing and it's so easy to play. Cheers Scott, I think it's my dream bass. It's so good!
These really were secret settings. I've had my Chowny active SWB-1 for what, two years, and was completely unaware. But, I see you posted this a year and a half ago, so no fault to you, Scott, hahahaha. Sorry, I haven't been paying close attention, I guess. Don't know how this vid got by me. Thanks for sharing this. I'm going to play around with this for a while. I love the bass, btw. I have two and your SWB-1 is my go-to bass. Alex
Scott, I've since sold the other bass, a very nice Ibanez with four knobs and a switch. I preferred your SW1 to the complete exclusion of the Ibanez so finally accepted that I just wasn't going to play it and sold it. 🙂
Thatwas a great video. It confirms my choice of settings which is # 3. I wish you would have used a bass with a standard 60s or 70s J bass spacing simply because more of us have basses like that.
Great suggestion! Unfortunately I don't own a Jazz bass currently so wasn't possible. It's a great idea though and maybe in the future I could do a mini series on how the BTC sounds in different "classic" basses... Thanks again, Scott.
well i tried all the setups. I slap a lot btw. I used the first ones for a couple weeks, and i was wondering if the EQ was cutting a bit of the brightness after a couple of months. I put it on the setup 2, and well i understand a little bit more what you meant by sparkly. But i guess having still the stock strings on it don't really help with brightness :')
Hey Scott, I've been researching getting the best bang for the buck for the possibility of purchasing a first time short scale bass sometime in the next couple months. I am taking very serious consideration with your Vintage Blue active bass. It would have to travel a long way as I'm in the US. These seem to be such nice well made, great sounding, playing, looking, bass guitars for the money:) Thanks for the informative video, it helps greatly in the decision process:). I'll just hope the S & H won't be a deal breaker.
Hi there - long time no speak! :-) I'm CERTAIN you'd not be dissapointed - I love my blue one too. I'm certain the S & H won't be too bad. Let me know how you get on down the line Lori...
Hello Scott:). Thanks for the reply back. Glad to see you're doing well and out of your love and passion for it, still finding the time to do so much for the bass community! I am very comfortable with the fact you've had your "hands in" on every aspect of the design and development of your basses. I know you wouldn't settle for less. I'll certainly keep you posted in the next few months, I'm thinking before September:). Take care, stay healthy!
Lori A Hi Lori - not sure if I replied to this message already, but either way thanks for the kind and encouraging words!! I'm really back on the UA-cam thing with lots more to come. :-)
Thanks man, this saved me a lot of trouble. Have you tried upgrading your electronics to 27 volts? I can tell you, the difference is felt rather than heard. Especially with a low b string
Scott, you must try & review the TC Electronic SpectraDrive. It will blow you away. Makes your sound perfect through any amp and a great little travel amp.
Hi Scott! Just received my Swb-1 Active, amazing instrument. Just wondering, in the active version (non pro) the pu's are passive and the preamp is the only "active" part of the bass?
I play metal and shred with a pick but finding my tone very abrasives and metallic sounding and it was pointed out I've got a passive tone control.. do you think I can get a warmer tone with this
Scott Whitley do you notice a major difference in tone or distortion solely based on the difference in voltage? These are great looking basses, by the way!
+bwanabass The Pro is considerably hotter on the output, but that's partly due to the EMG pickups. I would say in 9v config with the passive pickups, the controls seem to work slightly (very slightly) in a more subtle way.
to summarize
1: 1 On/2 On, centred on ~2.5k
2: 1 On/2 Off, centred on ~3.5k
3: 1 Off/2 Off, standard, turnover ~1.5k
4: 1 Off/2 On, standard, turnover ~400
NO
1 ON ON 2.1Khz
2 ON OFF 3.5 Khz
3 OFF ON 4.5 Khz
4 OFF OFF 7.0 Khz
@@adand824 I don't know how much you know about electronic filters, I have a background in electronics and have designed and built much audio gear over the last several decades, including effects pedals and tone controls.
For band filters, as for settings 1 & 2, the frequency given is the band centre frequency. I see setting 1 as 2.5kHz, you have 2.1kHz - difficult to see on the graph, not going to argue. Setting 2, we agree.
On the other hand, for high and low-pass filters, as in settings 3 & 4, the frequency (turnover frequency) is generally given as the 3dB point on maximum boost/cut. I'm going to use my numbering here as it is in line with the video and you have reversed from what Scott uses. For setting 3, the turnover frequency is between 1-2kHz. Given it's a log frequency scale, probably closer to 1.2kHz than the 1.5 I originally wrote. For setting 4 the 3dB point is around 400Hz.
It seems that you are using the frequency at which the boost/cut is maximum. While that is appropriate for a band filter, it isn't the convention for high- and low-pass filters, I suspect this is why you think I am wrong. You could have been more polite about it and explained rather than just shouting NO.
@@KeithCollyer Thanks for all that information, very helpful and technical!
No need to have to explain yourself to randoms on the internet :D.
Only 6 years late to the party!! Just tried your #1 setting on my J5, sounds great!! It was on setting #4 and had way more top end than I needed. Treble roll off is so much more useful now too. Thank you!!!
Awesome, thank you for that demo! I'm installing the EMG BQC system atm. There is a dizzying amount of control I will have. The wonderful thing is that I now realize that tone is an evolutionary thing, it's also very organic. The more options there are, then the room to grow as an artist. Cheers!
This is why the EMG BQC System is so appealing in its versatility, and the dynamic range that can be affected in very different ways, just like this.
The EMG BQC System is just like this, however it also gives you a mid boost/cut, stacked pot which is sweepable, where you get to determine the center of the frequency range being affected by the control. I have one added to my EMG PJ-X set. Cool video.
I installed that same setup on my bass. I'm happy with it indeed, but if I could change one thing, it would be that the frequency sweep beer more of a switch rather than a roll. I would rather have it stop on 5 or 6 spots rather than sweep. Just so I would know exactly which frequency I was cutting and boosting. Some bass preamps have a 3 way switch for this exact thing for like 200,400 and 700hz.
The graphs are logarithmic so each vertical line represents an equal rise of frequency between each decade even though the gaps look like they're all over the place. If you look at the graph for Setting 2 say, there's a big gap from 1 kHz to the next line, but that next line is 2 kHz. The line after that is 3 kHz. Setting 2 boosts the most in the lines between 3 kHz and 4 kHz. The lines between 8 and 9 kHz get very close indeed. When you get to 10 kHz the process starts again, but the big gap is now 10 kHz to 11 kHz as we're in a new decade.
You obviously have great instinctive knowledge of what these frequencies do to the sound of the bass. This video is a nice example of how minor adjustments to EQ characteristics can make such a difference. I've never bothered to check what the 3-band EQ does on my bass, and I suspect there'll be no way of tweaking it like on your EMGs.
Thanks for this - I could have done with you around when making the video lol. :-)
Setting #1 was my favorite
Setting three is just how my 2000 Stingray H sounded, lovely slap tone.
Nice 1 and thanks, Richard!
This video was the one! I ordered this bass today and can't wait to get it
Wow - three years ago already!
I've just received my SWB1 active bass in mahogany and I absolutely love it! Sounds amazing and it's so easy to play. Cheers Scott, I think it's my dream bass. It's so good!
That is awesome....SO pleased you love it!! The feedback is very much appreciated!! 🙂
These really were secret settings. I've had my Chowny active SWB-1 for what, two years, and was completely unaware. But, I see you posted this a year and a half ago, so no fault to you, Scott, hahahaha. Sorry, I haven't been paying close attention, I guess. Don't know how this vid got by me. Thanks for sharing this. I'm going to play around with this for a while.
I love the bass, btw. I have two and your SWB-1 is my go-to bass. Alex
Wow, so pleased I've unlocked the secret settings for you! Really flattered and humbled by your appreciation of the SWB-1 bass!! 🙂
Scott, I've since sold the other bass, a very nice Ibanez with four knobs and a switch. I preferred your SW1 to the complete exclusion of the Ibanez so finally accepted that I just wasn't going to play it and sold it. 🙂
Who knew ??? I have trouble deciding how long I need the strap to be. I will be playing with this for hours !!
Haha - my apologies, Paul! :-D
Setting four lovely slap tone too😍
👌
Thatwas a great video. It confirms my choice of settings which is # 3. I wish you would have used a bass with a standard 60s or 70s J bass spacing simply because more of us have basses like that.
Great suggestion! Unfortunately I don't own a Jazz bass currently so wasn't possible. It's a great idea though and maybe in the future I could do a mini series on how the BTC sounds in different "classic" basses...
Thanks again,
Scott.
Brilliant review! Immidietly want this! 😎
Cheers Will, much appreciated! 🙂
sounds really nice scott thats the sound i am after punchy but the treble cuts through the bass sounds awesome
Cheers, Christopher! :-)
well i tried all the setups. I slap a lot btw.
I used the first ones for a couple weeks, and i was wondering if the EQ was cutting a bit of the brightness after a couple of months.
I put it on the setup 2, and well i understand a little bit more what you meant by sparkly.
But i guess having still the stock strings on it don't really help with brightness :')
thanks for going thru this! saved me a ton of time!!
Thanks man great info and nice tone
Cheers Josh....glad you found it helpful!
I'd lost this, finally found it again, useful for Spector Q4 Pro owners 😎
Sort acts on more the attack of the tone, on my poor ears😉. Great video😎
Thanks again, Richard,
Scott.
Setting 1 sounds a bit like the presence knob on the sansamp bass driver
Hey Scott, I've been researching getting the best bang for the buck for the possibility of purchasing a first time short scale bass sometime in the next couple months. I am taking very serious consideration with your Vintage Blue active bass.
It would have to travel a long way as I'm in the US. These seem to be such nice well made, great sounding, playing, looking, bass guitars for the money:)
Thanks for the informative video, it helps greatly in the decision process:). I'll just hope the S & H won't be a deal breaker.
Hi there - long time no speak! :-)
I'm CERTAIN you'd not be dissapointed - I love my blue one too. I'm certain the S & H won't be too bad. Let me know how you get on down the line Lori...
Hello Scott:). Thanks for the reply back. Glad to see you're doing well and out of your love and passion for it, still finding the time to do so much for the bass community!
I am very comfortable with the fact you've had your "hands in" on every aspect of the design and development of your basses. I know you wouldn't settle for less.
I'll certainly keep you posted in the next few months, I'm thinking before September:). Take care, stay healthy!
Lori A Hi Lori - not sure if I replied to this message already, but either way thanks for the kind and encouraging words!! I'm really back on the UA-cam thing with lots more to come. :-)
Thanks man, this saved me a lot of trouble. Have you tried upgrading your electronics to 27 volts? I can tell you, the difference is felt rather than heard. Especially with a low b string
Wow, I've never actually done that.....18 volts is as far as I've gone! I must try that some time & thanks for the tip!
hi,... can I add the mid Pot to BTC?
Scott, you must try & review the TC Electronic SpectraDrive. It will blow you away. Makes your sound perfect through any amp and a great little travel amp.
Will see if I can get my hands on one!
Can this be done on the active/passive 2020 SWB?
It can, yes. The dip switches are on the BTC Control circuit board.
This is fantastic!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers Basil....much appreciated!
@@ScottWhitley My pleasure, Mr. Whitley!
Hi Scott! Just received my Swb-1 Active, amazing instrument. Just wondering, in the active version (non pro) the pu's are passive and the preamp is the only "active" part of the bass?
That's correct, Sacco. :)
I play metal and shred with a pick but finding my tone very abrasives and metallic sounding and it was pointed out I've got a passive tone control.. do you think I can get a warmer tone with this
try flat wound strings
Like ElCharvo said, flats could work. Although for metal I'd actually embrace that metallic vibe personally!
Hi Scott, and thanks for the video. Does the active version of the bass run at 9v or 18v with that BTC preamp?
+bwanabass The pro has 2 battery boxes and runs at 18v, the standard runs at 9v. :-)
Scott Whitley do you notice a major difference in tone or distortion solely based on the difference in voltage? These are great looking basses, by the way!
+bwanabass The Pro is considerably hotter on the output, but that's partly due to the EMG pickups. I would say in 9v config with the passive pickups, the controls seem to work slightly (very slightly) in a more subtle way.
It's a shame all those dip switches aren't on the front of the bass.
Agree, that would be great but Chowny uses the standard EMG preamp and that is how they come 🙂
1 ON ON 2.1Khz
2 ON OFF 3.5 Khz
3 OFF ON 4.5 Khz
4 OFF OFF 7.0 Khz