Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: dshade43 on March 01, 2010, 06:08:51 PM

Title: Shopping for Sig delux bass but not sure I understand electronics
Post by: dshade43 on March 01, 2010, 06:08:51 PM
I've seen a couple of Mark King Signature basses where the electronics are different.  I'm wondering how they stack up.
 
One has signature electronics:  Vol, pan, Q switch x2, Filter freq x2.  This looks like a similar configuration to a Series one.  Help me understand, that's a master volume control, the pan feature is a continuous blend control between the two pickups.  So, are the other two knobs Q filter controls like my Series I and the Q switch control for 0, +3, +6 on each filter frequency control?  I believe this is a 2000+ year model.  
 
On the other Mark king, it's got Vol, Pan, Filter and Q switch x4.  So that's actually only one Q filter knob and then 4 Q switches?  Not sure I understand how the 4 Q switches function.  Are they 3 position switches?  This bass is a late ninety's model.  
 
How do the AXY pickups measure up to the SC-1 pickups on my series I?
 
Final question.  If I have LED fret side markers, do these run off the 4, 9 volt batteries and how long will they last? 4-5 hours?  or much more?
 
Any assistance is appreciated.
Title: Shopping for Sig delux bass but not sure I understand electronics
Post by: keith_h on March 01, 2010, 06:26:39 PM
Here is a link (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=276) to the description of the Signature electronics.
 
The other electronics you describe sound like Europa electronics. These are decribed here (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=238). The fourth switch is most likely for the LEDs.  
 
The non-Series pickups and electronics still have the Alembic tone but do sound different than the Series electronics. To me the Series has a more open sound that you get with single coil pickups.  
While I prefer the Series sound I also like the non-Series stuff and have no problem using them.  
 
Yes the LEDs use four 9V batteries. I get much more than 4-5 hours out of them. I have not paid much thought to it but mine seem to last about 1 1/2 years. I do not use them all of the time but probably run them 1-3 hours per week.  
 
Keith
Title: Shopping for Sig delux bass but not sure I understand electronics
Post by: hieronymous on March 01, 2010, 11:17:56 PM
I have a Stanley Clarke Signature Standard - I had the electronics updated to Anniversary. I don't like pan controls (as in the signature electronics), I much prefer having separate volumes for both pickups and a selector switch. So each pickup has its own volume, (2-position) Q-switch, and filter control. Plus there's a little mono-stereo switch by the output jack.
 
I'm really impressed with the sound - been playing the bass a lot with flats and I really like the sound! Can't really speak to the comparison with Series I electronics...
Title: Shopping for Sig delux bass but not sure I understand electronics
Post by: jazzyvee on May 09, 2010, 11:26:32 AM
Is there any difference between the pickups used for an Anniversary bass, if bought direct from alembic rather than updating and existing bass,  and the pickups fitted to a signature bass.
 
Jazzyvee
Title: Shopping for Sig delux bass but not sure I understand electronics
Post by: David Houck on May 09, 2010, 12:04:14 PM
The pickups on an Anniversary bass are the same as on a Signature bass.
Title: Shopping for Sig delux bass but not sure I understand electronics
Post by: jazzyvee on May 09, 2010, 03:43:03 PM
Thanks Dave. I had a look in the FAQ but it didn't say anything about the pickups, just the electronics.
 
 
Jazzyvee
Title: Shopping for Sig delux bass but not sure I understand electronics
Post by: jazzyvee on May 09, 2010, 03:57:17 PM
Thanks Dave. I had a look in the FAQ but it didn't say anything about the pickups, just the electronics.
 
 
Jazzyvee
Title: Shopping for Sig delux bass but not sure I understand electronics
Post by: keith_h on May 10, 2010, 05:28:50 AM
JV,
I believe the pickup type depends upon the bass model. For the Brown Basses, which also use Anniversary electronics, the pickups are Fat Boys.
 
Keith