Preamps and individual gain controls
Each pickup has a separate gain control on the inside of the electronics cavity. You can set the height of each pickup to the level where you prefer the tone the most, then when you are satisfied with the quality of the sound from each pickup then set the gain to the desired level. The factory setting aims to set the gains so that each individual pickup is at equal volume when heard separately.

Filters
Each pickup also has its very own tone control. The filter frequency control determines the cutoff frequency for each low-pass filter. Only frequencies lower than the one you’ve selected are passed. We’ve included a modest amount of the natural resonance (Q) found in the classic Alembic circuits to create a clean and natural sound. By isolating the signal from each pickup, tone changes can be made to one pickup without affecting the others.

Selector switches and brightness controls
Our design includes an individual selector switch for each pickup - this accesses every possible combination of the pickups. Each of these switches is three-position, allowing for [off/on/bright] and a grand total of 27 different pickup settings. In all cases, up is off, center is on and down is bright. In the photo, all pickups are in the "bright" position.

Summing amplifier and volume
These feed into a summing amplifier and therefore the signals add independently without any interaction like the summing bus in a recording console. After pickup selection, the signal goes through the volume control.*

Effects loop
The effects loop is an interesting feature that allows you to insert or delete an outboard effect (pedal or other similar unit) with a switch conveniently located on the guitar. A TRS stereo cable transports the signal both to and from the effector through a single cable. The signal from the volume control feeds the effects send on the tip of jack. The signal returns on the ring. The effects loop switch selects between the unmodified signal and the effected signal.

Output
A final unity gain buffer amplifier drives the guitar cable with a robust signal that ensures the full fidelity will reach the other end of the cable regardless of the length. The output jack also turns battery on and off. The 9V battery will need to be changed every three or four months under most circumstances. Always unplug your guitar when you’re not using it.

Jacks are spaced the appropriate distance so traditional large right angle plugs are accommodated.

*Optional setting of the internal patch allows volume control to be at the final output of the instrument. In this mode, the signal level going to the effector doesn't change when you adjust the volume, especially useful for envelope filters.