Lightwave Saber Bass Optical Pickup System controls

The dials and iceTone switch explained pseudo-simply.


There are five knobs and a switch on a standard Lightwave Saber Bass, such as this one.  Here's what the controls do.


Switch.   Switch controls warmness and coolness,  somewhat akin to what a neck/bridge pickup switch does.    When up (towards the neck/top) this gives a "warm" tone.    When down (towards the bridge/bottom) this gives a "cool" tone.  "switched-in EQ that applies an upward-tilted frequency response curve"


First/top knob.   Master volume.   Controls optics and iceTone volume both.   All the way clockwise (right) is the loudest and all the way counter-clockwise (left) is the quietest.

Second knob.   Bass volume (boost/cut).   In the center is 0 dB.  Roughly 300 Hz knee.   All the way right (clockwise) is four times more bass (+12 dB) and all the way left (counter-clockwise) is four times less bass (-12 dB)

Third knob.   Mids volume (boost/cut).   Same as the second knob, cw +12 dB ccw -12 dB.  Frequency depends upon fourth knob position (varying Q).

Fourth knob.    Controls the mids range of the third knob.    Left/ccw is 200 Hz and right/cw is 1 KHz.   Narrower in the lower frequencies and broader in the higher frequencies.

Fifth/bottom knob.  Controls  iceTone.   HFE blending. .   All the way left/ccw is off.  Going right/cw adds percussive and high end presence and crispness.  "blends in the high frequency enhancement built into each individual string saddle"