Constance And The Filter Preamp.
Designed For Real Musical Contexts.
A great bass sound is not created in isolation. It exists alongside guitars, drums, vocals and keyboards.
The combination of FRFR pickups, pickup voicings and filters with resonance controls allows players to adapt the instrument to different musical situations and find the optimal place within the mix. Sometimes that means more articulation. Sometimes it means more warmth. Sometimes it means getting out of the way. The choice belongs to the player.
Built Around The Instruments Voice.
The Constance Bass was designed around a simple idea:
The natural acoustic character of the instrument should remain the foundation of its sound.
The Nova FRFR pickups are intentionally designed to capture that character with exceptional accuracy and consistency. From there, the Filter Preamp allows the player to shape and refine what is already present. Together, pickups and electronics form a system to offer exceptional flexibility while preserving the identity of the instrument itself.
Why This System Exists.
Instead of forcing a predefined character onto the bass, it allows the player to shape their own place within the mix. By adjusting the pickup configurations, the filters, the resonance boosts, the high frequency boost and the blend, players can emphasize different frequencies, highlight the natural character of the instrument or create a voice that fits their musical context.
Whether supporting a dense progressive mix, sitting perfectly inside a fusion ensemble or delivering familiar vintage-inspired tones, the system is designed to help musicians find their own sound rather than a predetermined one.
Why Filters?
A traditional bass EQ often encourages boosting frequencies until the sound becomes larger in isolation. Filters work differently. By gradually removing frequencies above a chosen point, the ear naturally focuses on what remains. Combined with the resonance boost, this allows specific frequency regions to become more prominent and easier to perceive within a mix.
Whether you’re searching for your personal sound or trying to find the perfect place within a band mix, the controls become less about EQ and more about musical identity.
The result is a sound that can be shaped with intention.
Control Layout And Functions.
Constance bass models come with custom Nova – Omnia FRFR (Full Range Flat Response) pickups to capture the instrument’s detail and character accurately. The Filter Preamp features an individually adjustable variable low-pass filter with an optional resonance boost for each pickup. Combined with the switchable high-frequency enhancement and the flexible Pickup wiring options, this system provides precise and musical control over your instrument’s frequency response – from warm, vintage-inspired tones to articulate, modern clarity.
Vol.
- Volume Knob.
Pickup Blend.
- Pickup blend knob with center dented, balances between the two pickups.
- To the neck: neck pickup only / To the bridge: bridge pickup only / Center: both pickups equally.
High Frequency Boost. (Push-Push Function)
- Engages a high-frequency boost (high-pass filter above 4 kHz).
- Ideal for adding presence and sparkle when filters are closed.
Filter Bridge / Neck.
- The filter knob (per pickup) adjusts the cutoff frequency of the low-pass filter.
- Range: approximately 250 Hz – 4 kHz.
- Turning left closes the filter for a darker tone; turning right opens it for a brighter, more open sound.
Resonance Boost. (Push-Push Function )
- Engaging the push-push switch adds a resonance peak of about +8dB at the cutoff frequency.
- Produces a focused and punchy tone with enhanced definition.
Toggle Switches.
- Each pickup can be selected between:
Up : Parallel – Transparent and balanced tone with slightly lower output.
Middle : Splitcoil – Clear and open single-coil character.
Down : Series – Transparent and balanced tone with higher output.
Additional Sound Options.
Internal Trimpots allow fine-tuning for perfect balance and tonal control.
Select which pickup the hf-signal is taken from. (default: 100% neck pickup)
Adjust relative pickup volume.
Adjust high-frequency boost volume. (default: 50%)
Frequency Response Of The Filter:
Useful Tips.
With the hf-boost disabled and the filters fully open (resonance boosted) the bass sound is close to that of a passive instrument.
Experiment with filter and resonance per pickup individually to discover your own sound palette.
Combine pickup wiring modes for more expressive tonal variations.
Engage resonance-boost for added punch and definition without external EQs.