Question 1

What is the difference between an onboard pre-amp and the T12?

Accepted Answer

There are many pre-amps available on the market. While they amplify the signal 15db to 20db they also add much more noise. This compromises the integrity of the pickups in both live situations and recording.

The T12 adds a 0.7-volt power rail to the pickups, giving the pickups extra 8db to 10db dynamic range which gives the pickups a large sound. Our specialized EQ controls the power rail. This dynamic range is what gives the sustain, sensitivity, extra hot drive, enhanced natural and artificial harmonics, while keeping a super clean signal all the way.

Frequency response graph, comparing output with and without the T12, demonstrates the reduction of amp subsonic noise by 12dB, while boosting the low and high frequencies around 10dB.

Question 2

Can’t the same result be achieved with something like an EQ, Gain it a little, EQ it a little?

Accepted Answer

If you have a Fractal AXE FXIII you may be able to pre-EQ, but this will not add the dynamic range that T12 provides, which makes all the difference to the tone.

Question 3

Essentially is this like a clean booster for the pickups?

Accepted Answer

Cleaning up the original signal is the first step to achieve a really good sound down the chain, from your guitar to your effects to your amp.

Question 4

Basically like an active pre-amp for passive pickups like almost every bass out there has?

Accepted Answer

Yes, bass guitars have a need for active pre-amps because of the frequencies they have to deal with. Gradually guitars have gone the same way, accommodating 7, 8 and 9 strings, which means we are heading into bass guitar territory now. Conventional pickups for these baritone guitars need assistance for these low frequencies, and our T12 phantom powering of the pickups provides that assistance.

Question 5

I’m curious, how does it react to a guitars volume control?

Accepted Answer

The volume control has an important function in relation to the T12, lowering the volume gradually. It also lowers the intensity of the powering of the pickup so as to make a softer sound, retaining all the clarity as well.

Question 6

Do you think there is a good technical reason to justify this vs a pedal?

Accepted Answer

If you consider “Fixing it at the source” with reduced noise vs “Fixing it downstream” while adding more noise with each pedal, this is a no brainer. The other point to consider is that a pedal will not activate the pickups either.

Question 7

Would it be a factor in the effectiveness of the T12 if the pickups used with it were of a hotter variety (say like 12-16k)?

Accepted Answer

The T12 has been successfully tested with very hot pickups of 38.2k up to 40k, making those pickups even hotter while still retaining their integrity.

Question 8

If I run my EMGs, do I need to use a second battery for the T12?

Accepted Answer

The T12 and EMG pickups can run from the one battery by cutting off the battery clip on the T12 and splicing the red wire to the red wire on the EMG battery clip.

Question 9

I have installed the T12, but when I play through the amp, it sounds like it is being choked or weak sounding. What’s going on?

Accepted Answer

The T12 has a specialized low pass filter which significantly reduces the sub-sonic noise from the amp, in which case the noise gate ends up choking the sound. Less noise gate means more action! With reduced noise gate, sustains will have a more natural decay rate without abruptly cutting out.

FAQ

FAQ