Q-switch

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Author Message jschom New Username: jschom Post Number: 6 Registered: 1-2008 Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 7:46 pm:    I'm looking at buying an Orion with what appears to be Essence electronics. I have an Epic with filter and Q-switch and love the tone I get with that combination. Does anyone know how difficult or costly it would be to add a Q-switch to the volume, pan, filter combination that is on the Orion I am considering to purchase? Thanks!...Joel davehouck Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7116 Registered: 5-2002 Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 8:52 pm:    It is a relatively easy, and relatively inexpensive, upgrade. Alembic has a kit that you can order, and it comes with instructions. keith_h Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 1133 Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Saturday, October 04, 2008 - 4:50 am:    I added the Q-switch to my Essence equipped Orion after I bought it. There is not much to doing it. You do have to drill a hole for the switch. I also had to remove some additional wood from the back side so the switch mounting threads would come out the front. If you do not feel comfortable doing this it is something any competent luthier can handle. Keith jschom New Username: jschom Post Number: 7 Registered: 1-2008 Posted on Saturday, October 04, 2008 - 6:41 am:    Thanks for the info guys. Dave, do you have a link for the upgrade? davehouck Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7117 Registered: 5-2002 Posted on Saturday, October 04, 2008 - 6:25 pm:    Joel; it's not shown in the online store. You should call the shop to order the upgrade. jschom New Username: jschom Post Number: 8 Registered: 1-2008 Posted on Sunday, October 05, 2008 - 1:53 pm:    Thanks Dave! texangerbil Junior Username: texangerbil Post Number: 42 Registered: 11-2007 Posted on Tuesday, October 07, 2008 - 3:51 am:    How much is "inexpensive?", just out of interest, as I may be considering a similar upgrade. davehouck Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7124 Registered: 5-2002 Posted on Tuesday, October 07, 2008 - 5:25 pm:    Nigel; I don't know what the current price is for the upgrade kit. You can get a very very rough idea by looking at the increase in price for the AE-2 electronics over the AE-1 on the price list page. But don't assume that the difference is close to the actual cost; I'm just guessing. jschom New Username: jschom Post Number: 9 Registered: 1-2008 Posted on Thursday, October 09, 2008 - 3:25 pm:    Nigel, I just got an email from Alembic stating the following: The kit is $65. It's a switch that's prewired with a radial capacitor (nicely skrink tubed, of course) and some copper shielding tape. Instructions are included for you to remove a box cap from the filter board, and for drilling/shielding the hole to mount the switch. Sounds like a good deal to me!