Can Someone Explain how to use the Pre-Amp Phase Switch

[timmoore77]

I am a proud new owner of a 2014 814CE with an ES2 pickup system. I was hoping someone can explain the switches(looks like there are 2?) on the pre-amp and how/why to use them. There doesn't seem to be any good documentation anywhere. I am also new to the forum and excited to be part of the family.

[Edward]

Welcome to the board, Tim ...good to have you here! 

I do not own an ES2, so perhaps an owner will chime in with specifics.  But if it is, indeed a "phase" switch (which is common on acoustic guitar preamps), then what that means is it puts your guitar's signal 180degrees (in other words "opposite") of what the guitar top is doing.  Think of "in phase" as when your guit's top "moves out" to produce a sound, so does a the PA's speaker, i.e. normal; but "out of phase" is the speaker doing opposite of what your guitar is doing.  This helps cancel feedback under loud (or otherwise poor) stage conditions.  There is no difference in tone either way; putting your signal out of phase is one other helpful tool in combatting feedback.  Hope that helps you

Edward

[DennisG]

Just out of curiosity, Edward, if the phase switch has no effect on tone, why isn't the circuit wired to be out of phase permanently?  I mean, why ever have it IN phase if it provides no benefit?

[Tarekith]

It's almost better to think of it as Phase 1 and Phase 2, versus in and out of phase which tends to imply one is better than the other.  Sometimes an in phase signal works better, othertimes an out of phase signal works better.  It really depends on what you're plugging into and the venue itself.

[Edward]

Hi Dennis,

I don't know the actual reason, but I can can speculate
"In" or "out" of phase "works" based on what is happening around you in a live situation, and it is rarely ever a problem when playing solo (at least I've not seen/heard of it ever being an issue, unless you're doing a one-man show in a mega arena then maaaaybe ).  Which means factory-default out-of-phase can present the very same feedback condition if another/other band members (probably acoustic guit since it'd have to be in the same freq spectrum) are reacting with your guitar.  Tarekith is right considering the phase options as "1 or 2" since "in or out" is only better given the circumstances in which the guitar is being played; and more-often-than-not, that really means high stage volume replete with floor monitors and a bunch o' bandmates.  BTW, this challenge when playing live is one of the reasons more and more venues (even smaller ones) are going with in-ear monitors.  Eliminating floor wedges and reducing stage volume goes a looooong way in limiting feedback and phasing issues.

Edward