Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: flpete1uw on October 06, 2015, 05:40:44 AM

Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: flpete1uw on October 06, 2015, 05:40:44 AM
Not to beat this to death, but I'm bumping this thread.  
  If this is  something in the works I would be defiantly interested in installing a 3 way Q
to my Distillate. If not I'll drop it, I can make it work with the SF-2. For now I find the Q gain a bit to much at 6db. A 3db / 6db / 0 would go a long way.  
 
Thank you,
Pete    
 
 
http://alembic.com/cgi-bin/alembic-club/discus.cgi?pg=prev&topic=393&page=197056 (http://alembic.com/cgi-bin/alembic-club/discus.cgi?pg=prev&topic=393&page=197056)
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: lbpesq on October 06, 2015, 08:41:16 AM
I beleive the 3-ways are 0-6-9.
 
Bill, tgo
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: keith_h on October 06, 2015, 10:00:04 AM
I think Adriaan has 0-3-6 on one of his basses. All it takes is some slightly different component values attached to the switch.  
 
Keith
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: adriaan on October 06, 2015, 10:38:40 AM
Bill is right about the standard 3-way, and Keith is right about about the switch on my Spoiler.
 
The standard 2-way is 0-8, and I fully agree that's a bit strong. The 3 and 6 positions really do make a difference from the 8, as well as between themselves.
 
Now on my 88 Spoiler it was a fairly simple mod, but like Mica mentioned on that earlier thread it's probably not as simple on a Distillate.
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: mica on October 06, 2015, 11:16:09 AM
Pete, you'll need to provide an image of your electronics. There are several different versions of the Distillate. What we can do is provide a prewired switch for your version.
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: flpete1uw on October 06, 2015, 12:23:39 PM
Thanks Mica!!!  
 Here's the shot of the cavity.
If helpful the electronics were at the Mother Ship for minor work on 5/8/12 # 37793
SN# 85D3532  
I would prefer the 0/3/6db if this pans out.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/219039.jpg)
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: keith_h on October 06, 2015, 12:46:22 PM
I see I'm not the only one who dates his batteries.
 
Keith
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: flpete1uw on October 06, 2015, 01:06:27 PM
Yep, and this one was low.  
I guess the cavity check is for a good reason.
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: edwardofhuncote on October 06, 2015, 01:28:22 PM
Pete, I was just telling Mica the other day how much I like the 3-position Q-switch upgrade they wired up for my Persuader.
 
Keith, I'm pretty sure this place is where I got the idea for dating my battery. =)
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: lbpesq on October 06, 2015, 04:17:30 PM
Dating the battery?  Great idea!  I'll be doing that from now on.  Thanks.
 
Bill, tgo
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: sonicus on October 06, 2015, 04:41:39 PM
Soon there will be a rechargeable battery with a speech chip !  It will sound out with a little voice  OH, NO, the end is near   when it is time for a boost. , It will say Thanks when charged ! The alerts will be programed for when you plug in the instrument and the circuit detects a load .  
 
    LOL ... ... ... ... !
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: hammer on October 06, 2015, 04:43:32 PM
You guys must open your electronic cavities a lot more often than I do for your dating the batteries to help. Mine tend to get opened when I start getting distortion or there is no sound.
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: growlypants on October 07, 2015, 09:14:18 AM
I just keep a piece of paper in the case, writing on it the date of battery changes.  That way, I don't have to open up the back to see!
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: sonicus on October 07, 2015, 10:06:48 AM
Each hour that the battery is supplying power to the circuit will be relevant to predict a lack of power incident. Therefore it would be useful to  enter exact hours of use in a log. You could even do a study that way with different battery brands and types .  !
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: jacko on October 08, 2015, 06:31:17 AM
Or.... you could just play the instrument till it needs a new battery ; then change the battery :-)
 
Graeme
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: keith_h on October 08, 2015, 07:19:54 AM
I don't date batteries for determining when they might die but to ensure they don't get to the age where leakage becomes an issue. Even if I have one in place that still has plenty of juice left I will replace it if it has been in service over a year. More than once I've had a battery start to leak yet still have enough power left to run whatever it was in.  
 
Keith
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: sonicus on October 08, 2015, 07:38:22 AM
Keith , I agree . I check for that as well .  
 
 Wolf
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: slawie on October 08, 2015, 02:51:32 PM
Let me get this clear. I have an Essence with Rogue/Europa electronics. There is a 2 position switch for Q. what is required to verify that the 2 to 3 position switch upgrade is possible for me?
Slawie
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: flpete1uw on October 08, 2015, 03:50:55 PM
Hoping on it Slawie
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: adriaan on October 08, 2015, 11:41:19 PM
The upgrade is always an option, as long as you have a set with a filter.
 
The amount of work and skill-set required to DIY the installation will depend on the exact configuration. For some configurations, there is a simple replacement kit available (hazarding a guess that this  is for Essence and Signature sets). From what I remember, Rogue/Europa, Distillate and Spoiler are not quite as simple.
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: jazzyvee on October 09, 2015, 04:31:50 AM
I can confirm that it's an easy job for signature basses as I've done that upgrade on both of my sig basses and can recommend it at least on a signature bass.
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: flpete1uw on October 16, 2015, 03:34:02 PM
Hi Mica,
 I just came back from NY, if you need better shots for electronics identification I'd be more than happy to put my Distillate on a photo shoot.  
 My E-Mail address in on my profile page if it's more convenient.
Peace,
Pete
Pete
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: mica on October 16, 2015, 09:27:04 PM
Not a question of convenience, just some of dad's time. He's just finished an emergency project for a customer, and there are 2 Series II basses on his bench. I've slipped the Q switch project on his schedule after that, but we'll just have to wait until then.
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: flpete1uw on October 17, 2015, 03:34:19 AM
Understood Mica,
  I suggested the E-Mail route based on the individuality of the electronics in the Basses.
I thank you and your Dad's time and effort in this.
Pete
Title: Upgrading 2-way Q-switch to 3-way
Post by: ed_zeppelin on October 17, 2015, 10:46:29 AM
An idea worth considering is Fishman's universal rechargeable battery pack http://www.fishman.com/products/view/universal-rechargeable-battery-pack (http://www.fishman.com/products/view/universal-rechargeable-battery-pack)
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/220883.jpg)
 
 
250 hours per charge, takes three hours to top off the tank, has an LED warning and even though it's on the back of your guitar where nobody can see it, you can plug in the mini-USB and gloat at your hipness.  
 
DIMENSIONS:
1.5? H x 1.74 W x .43? D (38.1mm) x (44.3mm) x (10.9mm)
 
I've already ordered the one for my '71 Strat (with EMG DG20 David Gilmour pups). An elegant solution, I must say.
 
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/onboard-preamps-eq/fishman-9-volt-rechargeable-battery-pack-for-strat?rNtt=Fishman%20battery&index=2 (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/onboard-preamps-eq/fishman-9-volt-rechargeable-battery-pack-for-strat?rNtt=Fishman%20battery&index=2)
 
Too bad I wore out two carbide router bits installing a battery box in that 40 lb. swamp ash body. Now I can use it as a stash place for the cable or something.
 
Maybe Alembic can do something with the technology (i.e.; put the mini-USB port in the front with the knobs and switches, so people will tremble with envy at your incredible coolness).