Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: jon_ridel on July 31, 2016, 05:19:39 AM
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I own SC 5616 since new in 89, just was curious about what it would take to upgrade to Anniversary electronics, need to be shipped to the UK though........
She's a great bass and would love to treat her to an upgrade
Can any of you guys help ?
Thanks
Jon
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Anniversary Electronics aren't really an upgrade from Signature. It is more of a lateral shift from a pan control to two volumes although Anniversary does have the option to run mono or stereo.
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Hi Keith
From memory though when I tried a friends Anniversary, there were three positions rather than two on the q switches and it had a little more versatility
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You can change the Q switches on your bass to the 3 position versions: http://alembic.stores.yahoo.net/qforac.html
If you decide to go for the Anniversary package, you can use the Filter units that are in your bass now.
Iirc you'll only need a two volume and new output harness, if I would do such an upgrade I would also add a Master volume.
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Thanks for that heads up so I can just change my q switches ?
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Can I ask if changing to the 3 position switches is an easy modification?
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It's easier when the filter already has a switch, just remove the two wires from the filter board and replace with the new one.
Does require some soldering skills...
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FC , many thanks for your help
Had a look in the cavit of my bass and can see what needs to be done
Ordered two switches (3 way) and looking forward to getting this done
Many thanks again for your help !
Jon
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Flip has answered most of your questions. Unless things have change the standard Q-switch on the Anniversary electronics is two positions (at least it is on my bass and others I have played). The only package I am aware of where three positions is standard are the Series 1 electronics. The nice thing about Alembic is you have options as to the characteristics of things like Q control or pan vs volume.
I really like the three positions on my Series 1 and find myself using the middle position (6db?) more than the others. If I were looking to upgrade the Anniversary electronics in my Brown Bass it would be to go to a three position Q-switch.
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Hi Keith
I have a Series 1 as well from 76, I love the three position switches on that and would be truly delighted if I get closer to that with my SC Deluxe
Will let you know how it goes !
Jon
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I have the q-switch mod on my two signature basses and in a good way it seems to have made the bass sound different with both switches in the off position. The bass seems to sound a little brighter even with the filters closed. Fortunately for me that has not been a problem as it helps with the note separation when playing reggae without losing the heavy bass sound.
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Just what I am hoping for !
Can't wait to do the mod and check it out !
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It's easier when the filter already has a switch, just remove the two wires from the filter board and replace with the new one.
Does require some soldering skills...
Hey FC Bass, so if Keith_H and I want to change the 2 Q switches (2 position) in our SC Browns, we just need to swap the current 2 position Q switches with 3 position switches and desolder - solder 2 wires for each switch to their respective filter boards ??
In which case Keith_H this is an easy mod for you and I, and we gain more and loose nothing (my understanding).
I agree with FC Bass re master vol if you went with Anniversary electronics, I like the individual PU vol controls but a master would be a nice addition.
So I tested the "stereo" option the other day, it's not really stereo, what it is is one PU routed to each channel So using stereo (T/R/S) jack, Tip = Bass/neck PU, Ring = Bridge PU. So I made a lead stereo jack to 2 mono jacks, plugged into 2 preamps > desk > stereo amp > 2 cabs (I also used desk to studio monitors). Sounds very nice and opens up a raft of panning and patch possibilities (this is a place you could loose yourself for a while LoL). Probably more useful recording than live unless you want very different sounds on each PU ? Then also depends on your preamps (I used 2 ADA MB1 preamps), I was running a SS patch on the Bass PU and a tube patch on the Bridge PU. Now this is where a master vol would be a very useful addition (I was wishing I had one, well I kind of did using the MIDI CC pedal master volume control on the MB1s)
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Richard - Yes the upgrade to 3 positions switches is very straight forward. I don't have any plans on updating my Brown Bass. Since I got the Series 1 it has moved to backup and open mic duty although I do occasionally toy with the idea of converting it to a tenor bass.
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The Anniversary electronics and the Series I/II are more correctly described as two-channel, since each pickup has a completely separate signal path to the output jack (and separate outputs). Any two-channel arrangement is generally referred to as stereo, since you use stereo cabling, etc.
There's lots of different ways to get two-channels going. People have had us make pickups where half the strings go to one channel and the half go to the other (sometimes with complex switching systems). Sometimes people take a mono signal and split it in to two identical channels.
You are right Richard, many people find the two-channels easier to harness in a studio situation. For live, I know many players that use effects on one pickup only with their two-channel systems. So many routes to go!
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Hey Mica, as you say so many different possibilities. The lead I made also works as a mono lead so a bit of versatility there. I spliced a tail onto the 2 core cable to get the 2 channels, and if I just use the tip jack and switch to mono it works as normal (whatever normal is LoL). I might put a TRS jack on the amp end and make up a TRS socket to double TS so I don't have the extra TS tail hanging (it's about 5" long). Then easy to use either way. This is a feature I'll grow into over time I suspect as I continue to explore all the amazing sounds this bass makes (lets my fingers make). I haven't tried it direct yet as in either just into the desk or I'll probably run it through my Ivory 5001 tube (hybrid really) preamp into the desk and insert the Focusright (platinum Penta) stereo compressor.
As an aside, I got a longer 3.5" strap the other day, going lower has helped both with the neck balance (as does the wide (very supple, suede underside an NO padding (tried one with foam padding inside, it went back) strap). My right hand is also more comfortable, slapping is easier and it's a more natural position for me (after 40+ years on guitar).
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Ordered my 3 way switches
Can any of you please tell me how to install them ?
The instructions I have seen from different posts don't seem to relate to Signature electronics and I want to make sure that I don't need any additional components
Can any of you guys please help me ?
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You're going to see it's quite easy - the two wires from the 2-position switches will get desoldered, and you'll solder the two wires from the new 3-position switches in their place. The needed components are already on the switch assembly.
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Switches arrived, installed them and I am SO happy with the result !
My old 89 girl now sings even sweeter !
Thanks to all you guys and to Mica for the advice
I am really pleased that I did this !
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Great, congrats! :-)
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I have just re-read this thread about anniversary electronics, and having been using my series basses more than signature basses in recent years I find that I prefer the two filters and the additive nature of two volumes rather than a single volume and a pan. That said on both my signature basses I already installed the parts from mica to give me 3 position Q switches on both filters, so I'd like to consider the upgrade to anniversary electronics and I know FC_Bass quite rightly thinks the master volume would be a great addition to that setup so I will give that some thought especially as that would be a great mod to my series basses as well if I'm brave enough to drill the bodies...!!!!
Anyway I wonder if anyone on the forum is UK Based and has an anniversary 4 or 5 string bass and would be happy to allow me to try out their bass? In a reciprocal arrangement I would be bring along one of my series basses for you to try out if you haven't already got one or tried one out.
I hardly ever use any of my basses in stereo so if having a stereo output can be done without a switch that would be cool but having the capability to use a Series 5 pin setup would be my ideal preference to power the bass and get the outputs via the DS-5. Then keeping the jack as a mono output. Is that asking too much? Is there even space in the standard signature cavity for that?
I guess another option is to sell then and get a series bass instead.... hmmmm let me check my lottery ticket.
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This is about what I've asked Mica for my next custom(s) :-)
Either Series II, or prepared for Series: Anniversary with Master volume, mono 1/4 and (stereo + power) 5 pin xlr outputs.
For fretless the same but the individual volumes replaced with pan and a Bass boost/cut control for the bridge pickup only. (setup allows identical knob layout) :-)
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I have an email from mica about upgrading to Anniversary electronics but I have a couple of questions to help my thinking before I decide which option to go for.
1) On Anniversary electronics with the pickup selector switch in standby, does the battery still drain if the 1/4" hjack is connected to the bass?
2) If I did without the pickup selector switch and used a mono jack in the bass, then switched the stereo/mono switch to stereo, would I get just get the neck pickup output?
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1) Yes. If the battery disconnects, you'll have a rather unpleasant POP like unplugging the cable with your amp volume up
2) Yes if you use a mono cable. You'll get both pickups with a stereo cable.
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Late update but, i have recently upgraded my signature basses to anniversary electronics. No chance to gig or rehearse with them yet but at least now all my main gigging basses have the same basic control layout of two filters two q switches and two volumes.
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I took the upgraded europa out on a gig last weekend. Eveything worked out just fine.
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At last i have got round to getting the pickup selector and mono/stereo switches installed on this and my sc deluxe and all being well i will pick them up tomorrow.
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That sounds exciting, Jazzy. I'm anxious to hear what your impressions are with the new controls... certainly they give you some options not available before.
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Hey Greg, a short update. I picked up the basses a few weeks ago and all is fine. I just need to change the pointy pickup selector switch to a round one. Ideally i'd prefer the round switch with the dot but that has been showing out of stock in the on-line store for a while now. Maybe i will pop an email over to Mica and see how easy they are to get ordered.