Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: srfogel on January 13, 2019, 09:53:32 AM

Title: Series II pick-up weirdness
Post by: srfogel on January 13, 2019, 09:53:32 AM
 Hey folks I need some help.
New series 2 owner. Bought used recently from original owner.  No modifications.
Running from the 5pin output to the DS five rackmount, mono out on the front of the DS5 into my amp. 
One day I get sound only from the bridge pu.  Next day only the neck pu. Next day only the bridge again.  I think I may have gotten both one time, but can’t replicate.  One time got only faint signal from one pu.
Saw another post here in the club from Mica, about pots and switches that sit along time need to re-lube.  So I have been switching positions on pu selector. 

Also tried the mono out fro the back of the DS5.  Same symptom.

Put batteries in and connected from 1/4” to the amp.  Golden on all positions for both pu’s.

So I think the issue is not pickups or selector.  Must be either 5pin out on bass or in on DS5 or the 5pin cable. 

I don’t have an ohm meter or any other diagnostic equipment. (Have read other threads and saw something on testing)

So any ideas would be welcome. I’m a noob so I assume there maybe something simple about the series basses that I’m just screwing up in the signal chain. 
Title: Re: Series II pick-up weirdness
Post by: StephenR on January 13, 2019, 12:56:39 PM
If you send a stereo signal from the DS5-R do you get output from both pickups?

Along with "exercising" the PU selector switch make sure to rotate each of the pots 30-50 times and also do the Q-switches. If there is a problem with the five-pin cable and you are not handy with a soldering iron you will have to take the cable to a tech for testing and repair. If you are able to do any necessary soldering yourself someone here should be able to help you check the actual wiring, it may not require a meter to diagnose. Good luck and please post some pictures of your new bass!
Title: Re: Series II pick-up weirdness
Post by: edwin on January 13, 2019, 05:40:48 PM
Stupid question, but you did set the selector switch on the DS-5R to mono, right? If I recall, it's only mono if the switch is set to the mono position. The blue boxes have a switched jack that does it automatically, but the rack version needs to have it done manually.
Title: Re: Series II pick-up weirdness
Post by: jon_jackson on January 14, 2019, 06:20:22 AM
Several years ago I bought a Series II and DS-5R from a person who had not used it at all since built, approximately 10 years prior. I had a problem with the DS-5R only putting out one pickup in mono. Upon advice, I began exercising the mono/stereo switch on the DS-5R. It literally took over 1200 "switches" to get the unit back into normal operation. So, while 50-100 exercises will normally bring things back to life, if your DS-5R wasn't used by the previous owner for whatever reason, don't give up as it may just take a few hundred more...
Title: Re: Series II pick-up weirdness
Post by: srfogel on January 14, 2019, 07:27:24 AM
Quote from: edwin on January 13, 2019, 05:40:48 PM
Stupid question, but you did set the selector switch on the DS-5R to mono, right? If I recall, it's only mono if the switch is set to the mono position. The blue boxes have a switched jack that does it automatically, but the rack version needs to have it done manually.

Not a stupid question at all.  I do have the DS5 in mono position.  Thanks for taking the time to offer a reply.

Title: Re: Series II pick-up weirdness
Post by: srfogel on January 14, 2019, 07:32:00 AM
Quote from: StephenR on January 13, 2019, 12:56:39 PM
If you send a stereo signal from the DS5-R do you get output from both pickups?

StephenR.  I am going to try this.  If I read your comment correctly you are suggesting I set the DS5 in stereo mode the take the treble out to my amp and I should get signal from the bridge pickup, then take the bass out and I should get the neck pickup.  I have to do it one at a time since I don't have two amps.  Thanks for the suggestion.  I have not tried that.
Title: Re: Series II pick-up weirdness
Post by: srfogel on January 14, 2019, 07:35:01 AM
Quote from: StephenR on January 13, 2019, 12:56:39 PM
Good luck and please post some pictures of your new bass!

I haven't taken pics yet but here is a link to pics on the Alembic site
http://www.alembic.com/info/fc_hotlava.html (http://www.alembic.com/info/fc_hotlava.html)

Title: Re: Series II pick-up weirdness
Post by: StephenR on January 14, 2019, 08:58:55 AM
Quote from: srfogel on January 14, 2019, 07:32:00 AM
Quote from: StephenR on January 13, 2019, 12:56:39 PM
If you send a stereo signal from the DS5-R do you get output from both pickups?

StephenR.  I am going to try this.  If I read your comment correctly you are suggesting I set the DS5 in stereo mode the take the treble out to my amp and I should get signal from the bridge pickup, then take the bass out and I should get the neck pickup.  I have to do it one at a time since I don't have two amps.  Thanks for the suggestion.  I have not tried that.

That is exactly what I had in mind. Don't forget to make sure you get a signal from whichever pickup you are testing when the pickup selector is in the middle position as well as the position for the individual pickup. If there is signal from both pickups through the five-pin then it isolates the issue to the DS5, it may just be the mono send that is wonky.

Thanks for the link to pictures of your bass, it looks stunning!
Title: Re: Series II pick-up weirdness
Post by: edwin on January 14, 2019, 05:27:19 PM
It also might be the cable, which is the weakest link. Open up the connectors to see if anything looks wrong. Maybe a loose ground wire that is contacting the signal wires? That would explain why you'd have first one pickup and then the other.
Title: Re: Series II pick-up weirdness
Post by: srfogel on January 15, 2019, 09:55:37 AM
Quote from: StephenR on January 14, 2019, 08:58:55 AM
Quote from: srfogel on January 14, 2019, 07:32:00 AM
Quote from: StephenR on January 13, 2019, 12:56:39 PM
If you send a stereo signal from the DS5-R do you get output from both pickups?

StephenR.  I am going to try this.  If I read your comment correctly you are suggesting I set the DS5 in stereo mode the take the treble out to my amp and I should get signal from the bridge pickup, then take the bass out and I should get the neck pickup.  I have to do it one at a time since I don't have two amps.  Thanks for the suggestion.  I have not tried that.

That is exactly what I had in mind. Don't forget to make sure you get a signal from whichever pickup you are testing when the pickup selector is in the middle position as well as the position for the individual pickup. If there is signal from both pickups through the five-pin then it isolates the issue to the DS5, it may just be the mono send that is wonky.

Thanks for the link to pictures of your bass, it looks stunning!
I tried testing in stereo and mono.  Same results with outputs on front and back of the DS5

Position of selector on BassPosition of S/M switch on DS5¼” output on DS5 to AmpResult
1MonoTrebleBridge PU out
2MonoTrebleBridge PU out
3MonoTrebleNo Signal
1StereoTrebleBridge PU out
2StereoTrebleBridge PU out
3StereoTrebleBridge PU out
1MonoBassBridge PU out
2MonoBassBridge PU out
3MonoBassNo Signal
1StereoBassNo Signal
2StereoBassNeck PU out
3StereoBassNeck PU out

So it seems like the DS5 is working correctly in Stereo mode and is wigged out in Mono.  I also occasionally notice some hum and/or cutout when I touch/move the S/M switch. 

Title: Re: Series II pick-up weirdness
Post by: srfogel on January 15, 2019, 09:56:37 AM
Quote from: edwin on January 14, 2019, 05:27:19 PM
It also might be the cable, which is the weakest link. Open up the connectors to see if anything looks wrong. Maybe a loose ground wire that is contacting the signal wires? That would explain why you'd have first one pickup and then the other.

Edwin.  I will take a look and report back.

thanks
Title: Solved: Series II pick-up weirdness
Post by: srfogel on January 15, 2019, 05:26:41 PM
About 500-600 toggles of the DS5 mono/stereo switch and I am now getting both pickups from the mono out as expected.  Now on to trim pot adjustment. 

Thanks to the veterans for the assist.

Love playing this bass.  (Still love my Spoiler too)
Title: Re: Series II pick-up weirdness
Post by: jon_jackson on January 16, 2019, 09:49:07 AM
Great! Glad it only took 600...