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Zmode switch


Pickup Mixing

JZ preamps are available in three models:

  • Volume, Balance with a 3 band EQ
  • Volume, Balance with a 2 band EQ
  • Volume, Volume with a 2 band EQ

The 1st and 2nd options are traditional selections for an active preamp and work the same as far as pickup mixing but you may be wondering why we selected two independent volumes for the 3rd option.

There are 2 reasons:

  • A traditional passive Fender Jazz Bass has 2 volume controls so many professional players have developed a preference for this type control set-up.
  • Aggressive players often favor the bridge pickup. With this playing style, the volume and volume setup mixes better. We'll explain why further down.

Which ever set-up you prefer, all Audere preamps buffer the pickup signals before the volume and/or balance controls which results in less noise and in zero frequency shift.

Balance Setups

One of the nice aspects of a balance setup is you have one volume control to turn the signal level up or down. This is important when you want to adjust the volume level quickly but not effect the mixing ratio of the 2 pickups.

A balance control system works with especially good precision when you want a ratio close to 50/50, for example, it is very easy to dial in 45/55 with a lot of control. On the other hand when you want 4% and 96% then a very small change of the control's rotation will have a relatively large effect on the combined sound produced by the 2 pickups.

The Audere active balance controls are especially nice due to our signal buffering before the balance. Sometimes Volume and Volume setups are selected by players because they have noticed that passive balance controls before most preamps negatively effect the sound. This will not happen with Audere preamps.

Our balance controls have a slightly reduced volume in the center just like most balance systems.

Volume and Volume Setups

With the Volume and Volume setup you get to set the level of each pickup independently with a pair of logarithmic controls. This works very nicely when you want a small ratio of one of the pickups relative to the 2nd pickup: for example 5% Bridge and 100% Neck or 100% Bridge and 2% Neck. You get greater control of the mix during these conditions because of the logarithmic action of the controls. The 5% of the 2nd pickup now might represent 30% of it's movement range.
However when you add in the 2nd pickup, the volume level increases. This might or might not be a desirable effect.

Part details

Our volume control(s) are audio tapered pots, not linear. This is reflects the fact that human hearing is logarithmic and not linear. The audio taper gives you a larger usable range in the volume control.

Our balance control is a linear tapered pot with a center detent.