Ah! I feel like I'm witnessing the birth of a nephew, eh Paul?! Leftys rule! Mike

Hi Uncle!lol
 
(Message edited by mele_aloha on September 16, 2007)
 
(Message edited by mele_aloha on September 16, 2007)

I'm just going to keep this question in my post here and ask it point blank. I think I have asked it before.
 
Do any of you who have Series basses miss not having the bass and treble controls on the bass like Mark had installed on his? I just want any opinions and respect all perspectives.
 
I just have this empty feeling in my heart that I am afraid I am going to want them after it is already to late which in fact it may be.
 
Please help, Paul

You already know my thoughts, Paul, so I won't repeat them.  But one thing I found out recently is apparently -for whatever reason- you can't get a single/master set on a stereo bass (like the Series and Anniversery models); you can either get a set for just one pickup, or two sets, one for each pickup; but apparently one set that works on both pickups doesn't work with stereo outputs.
 
So IF you decide you want 'em... you'll have to decide if you want two sets (one set for each pickup, or just one set (for just one pickup).
 
I feel obliged to share this with you as I previously suggested you could get just one master set for both pickups... and it has come to my attention (from Mica) that this is apparently NOT the case.  (I has asked about getting Anniversery electronics with a single master set of bass & treble controls, and she said it wouldn't work in stereo, that it would only work on one pickup).
 
I've found I use my bass boost on the neck pickup all the time, and occaissionally the neck treble control; I don't use either one much on the bridge control.  (Though I almost always use my unique custom mid-boost on the bridge pickup!)
 
The pictures don't show drilling yet... the question is whether they've drilled since then.
 
If you're thinking about it, you might want to contact them right away just to have them hold off in case you DO decide you want 'em... to leave your options open (assuming it's still an option at this point) in case waiting will make it impossible and/or more complicated/costly.
 
On last thing... no pressure, again you've heard my thoughts before.  But IF (and only if) you DO decide to get them AND you're concerned about too many knobs, my recommendation would be to consider a pair of knobs for the neck pickup, and the toggles for the bridge pickup.  This is just based on my experience with my bass, which indicates that the variable knobs (at least for my bass) are more useful for the neck pickup, while I think the toggles would be adaquate (at least for me) for the bridge pickup.
 
Good luck with whatever you decide.  If you want anymore feedback from me about this issue, let me know. Mark
 
(Message edited by the 8 string king on September 16, 2007)

Thanks very much for your time Mark.
 
I just contacted several Series II owners and asked their opinions by e-mail. But now that you clarified things that helps.  
 
As far as knobs or space, I moved my jacks to the rim of the bass so I have more room for knobs but it's good to know about the stereo thing and on that note this may be the final straw as far as my decision goes.
 
I do have kind of an empty feeling about not having them there but I must be strong and think that if they were really really necessary Alembic would have added them back on. I don't mean this contradicting you I just mean that I will probably be OK even if I miss them alittle as I don't want to put 4 more knobs on the bass and I don't want to try at this point to decide which pick-up I might want a set on. I just want to make sure that at this point I have made as many correct decisions as possible.
 
You are so helpful in being thorough with all of this that I really appreciate your time. You could have 70 lines in my opinion as that is what this area is for. Bettering our playing, building, designing and whatever else it can be used for. And believe me if not for this forum and your advice and comments my bass would never have been rounded off to the point that it is right now and I am so happy with the way things are coming out due all to this.
 
So with my newly spay kitten in my lap I type away, I want to thank you very much!
 
Paul da Plumma (pigeon for Paul the Plumber)

Hey there!  Only have a minute so forgive the brevity of this post.  
 
The only time I ever want more bass is when I'm trying to get a slightly beefier sound for slap funk. To get what I'm looking for I just turn to my GK and increase the bass by about 1 or 1.5. I can also alternatively get what I want almost exactly by using much more of my neck pickup than the bridge too (so I could do it without touching my amp).  Most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference but I like the more balanced-pickup tone because it adds crispness, so I generally just use the GK setting. There are no other styles I've found yet that require me to touch the GK.  
 
I don't think I would ever add the bass-boost pot to my bass because of the additional crowding.  If there were such a thing as a combo volume / bass boost pot that I could add to each pickup that would be the only thing I'd even consider - and I probably wouldn't even do that.  
 
Good luck and (from my recent experiences) NEVER underestimate the power of the sheer awesomeness of every aspect of your Alembic to completely blind you to its flaws. You will fall in love with your bass. :-)
 
Peace & Aloha!

Paul,
 
I don't have a Series bass, but my Rogue is Signature equipped + has a set of bass/treble boost switches.
 
I VERY rarely touch the bass/treble switches- I've found that I can dial in anything I want with the filters and by dialing in more or less neck pickup.  
 
The only time I ever use them is if we have one song that requires a really heavy dub-reggae tone- then I'll flick on the bass boost, but to be honest, the exact same sound can be accomplished using the filters and by dialing in more neck pickup.
 
Just my $.02
 
Toby

Another thing to possibly consider, Paul: I know you have an Excell -which doesn't have a filter...
 
Maybe you should either (A) find a store that has an Alembic with a filter or filters (ideally a Series -since that's what you're getting) or (B) ask one of the other members who lives in the islands if you can fly or boat over to them and try their bass(es)... then you'd be able to form your own opionion.
 
I don't live on the islands, but my understanding is it doesn't cost to much to go to one of the other islands.
 
Your custom is surely quite important to you, and you want to make sure you'll be completely satisfied; it might be worth the $ to you to (if necessary) go to another club member and play their bass for a few minutes, and twiddle with the filters to see what YOU think (assuming someone'll let'cha).
 
What better way to answer the question then to play one yourself and see what you think.
 
I personally find the filter & Q setup much more versatile than the standard EQ controls... but they're NOT the same; and I want both.  But that's me.
 
It seems like the best way for you to know how happy/unhappy you'd be with/without them would be to play a bass with the filters -again, preferably a Series, since that's what you're getting.
 
Good luck with it, Paul

Well,
 
That is great feedback from everybody. Thank you all.
 
Ya Mark, that is the total problem is that I am not able to try a Series and that is why I am putting the question out. But you are right. some of our members have contacted me before over on the other islands and I'm sure they would let me try theirs it's just that I am running out of time now because my bass is close to finish.
 
But the opinions above are enough again to relieve me that I will be OK- I think. It sounds like the filters really add that boost. It's just that I can't quite grasp the concept of the filters as I'm sure they are fine but just in my head I can't grasp turning them down/eliminating sound/tone. It's hard for me to understand that.
 
With tone knobs you retain the frequencies and just add or subtract the intensity where with the filters you are actually eliminating anything above a certain level.
 
Oh well, I trust that it will be OK otherwise everybody wouldn't be telling me I'm going to fall in Love with it, etc.
 
Ahhhh, I think I just got it! Because you leave filters more open and adjust with the volume knob. Now I think I am getting it. I'm sure it's going to take some time to get used to!
 
 
 
Thanks again, P

The filters roll off above the cutoff point at something like 12dB/octave, IIRC, so they don't eliminate everything above the cutoff point. It's a progressive removal.  
 
It's hard to explain, but easy to hear-I imagine it'll make more sense when you get the bass in your hands. It's like a much more precise passive tone control, with the added advantage of the Q-switch.

I actually had similar concerns with my series II that I have on order, and I must admit seeing the information posted in your thread here has helped ease my mind quite a bit also. So thanks to you Paul for asking the question before I did, and thanks also to all that answered

Well, that's great deburgh. Thanks 82daion, that is probably the best description to help me understand. I know there must be a reason that they don't put the tone controls on standard but yet as I say that I don't take away from Mark's want to have one, I just think I will be fine without it and bottom line is if I really need them I can send it back and have them installed.
 
Much appreciated 82, Thank you very much for your time, Paul

Paul, the biggest difference between the filters and EQ controls (bass & treble) is that EQ controls work VERTICALLY (up & down) while the filters work HORIZONTALLY.
 
The bass & treble controls RAISE or LOWER their specific frequencies... and they do it without affecting other frequencies.
 
The low pass filter moves SIDEWAYS... with the Q control off/at 0 dbs... it is entirely passive... as you roll the filter, you cut more and more frequencies... first the upper highs, then the middle highs, then the lower highs, then the upper mids, then the middle mids, etc...
 
The Q puts a boost on the frequency selected by the filter.
 
You have to hear it to appreciate it.  It affects the sound in a more fundamental way than EQ controls; with the filter and Q, you bass can sound like a dozen different instruments.  With EQ controls, it'll always sound like the same instrument... just with more or less bass and/or treble.
 
The down side with the filters is this: if you want to, let's say, boost the bass... the ONLY way you can do it is to roll the filter down to the lowest frequencies and boost the Q... which means you're CUTTING the frequencies above the frequency you're boosting.
 
I personally don't like this.  I want to be able to boost my bass WITHOUT affecting the other frequencies if I so desire... and you simply can't do that without EQ controls.  This is why I insist on having them on my bass.
 
On the other hand, the filter & Q setup IS more versatile... and any decent amp has EQ controls on it; so, worst case scenario, you just have to reach over and tweak the EQ controls on your amp.  Not the end of the world.
 
For me, I want additional EQ controls onboard... on the bass itself.  But not everyone is me... which is good, because I'd get sick and tired of addressing everyone as you handsome clone!!!  Plus, it would be really disturbing dealing with my girlfriend...

You're gonna love your Series II, Paul, with or without boost/cuts!  Make sure you tell the boss you need the day off when it arrives.  It's that different.

Hey Foth,
 
You guys have me so excited that I am shaking in my boots with anticipation. The good news is I am the boss, well at least my wife is-so I will be sitting here for a while with that thing on my lap, believe me!  
 
As you all know I am addicted to this forum and discussion as it is one way of holding on to the future when the baby arrives.
 
What's so funny is that I spend more time in here than on my bass right now as I just sit and dream about the new sound coming.
 
I purchased a sf-2 to improve on my Excel's sound to try and get it closer to the real thing. And believe me, I haven't heard to many basses that sound as good as my Excel.  
 
Mark is in my opinion doing a really great thing by adding a Fatboy to his new bass as my Fatboy on my excel makes a better sound than my Epic has with two pickups. The Fatboy is incredible! The only thing is I would have added it to the neck position not the bridge position because I believe the AXY's/MXY's have plenty of high capacity but I like the improvement of the Fatboy for it's remarkable low low bottom capability. So I think it would serve better in the neck position. But we all have our own reasons and knowing Mark he will be coming back here to set me straight on his reason and I will be learning something tonite. It's kind of nice as I always get to learn something from Mark. He has been very very helpful in my bass design and order.
 
Thanks, Paul