Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: carsbybigd on August 13, 2014, 04:15:11 PM

Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: carsbybigd on August 13, 2014, 04:15:11 PM: I just purchased a Alembic P-bass set.As I was installing it,I noticed a purple wire had come loose from the black square assembly below the 1/4 jack.It looks like there are 2 possible places it went to.Need help figuring out where it goes.Also,where does the ground from the bridge connect to also ? Thanks for your help.
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: mica on August 13, 2014, 05:00:34 PM: No bridge ground - the system is grounded when the shielding of the cavity contacts the rivets that holds the pots together, it's automatic.

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/196698.jpg)
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: carsbybigd on August 13, 2014, 05:08:02 PM: Thanks Mica,John Prock said to give you a call but that solved it.
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: carsbybigd on August 18, 2014, 03:32:52 PM: I got it installed,everything works ,but I have a bad hum when I go past halfway on the tone/treble.The bass part of the tone sounds great[DEEP and FULL] but the hum is awful.Any ideas ?
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: mica on August 18, 2014, 04:18:57 PM: Is the pickup plugged in correctly? There is a friction lock that should engage a little retainer on the board.

Also, did you shield the cavity and the underside of the pickguard? Can you post a picture of the installation? Do you have 2 or 3 controls?

Also, is the sounds you're hearing a low-frequency hum (like 60Hz)or is the noise higher frequency?
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: carsbybigd on August 18, 2014, 05:07:23 PM: I'll check tomorrow and take some pictures.2 controls 1 volume and 1 tone/pan[sweep?] and the jack.
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: carsbybigd on August 22, 2014, 11:01:45 PM: Ok ,shielded the cavity[see pics],put it all back together and nothing. Noticed another wire had come off,the red from the battery to the 1/4 jack.Checked out the schematic you provided and noticed that the 2 black wires were not soldered together.Moved them over [together] and soldered the red where it shows in your photo.Nothing. no sound no nothing.The friction lock[with 3 wires red,yellow and black] is kinda loose,but does make a connection.The hum I was hearing was kinda high[ I only noticed it when turning the tone from deep bass to treble...on the treble side]. Here's the pics
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: carsbybigd on August 22, 2014, 11:13:33 PM: (http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/197176.jpg)
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: carsbybigd on August 22, 2014, 11:18:29 PM: (http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/197179.jpg)
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: carsbybigd on August 22, 2014, 11:20:24 PM: (http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/197182.jpg)
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: carsbybigd on August 22, 2014, 11:24:45 PM: (http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/197185.jpg)
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: carsbybigd on August 22, 2014, 11:29:51 PM: (http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/197188.jpg)
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: carsbybigd on August 22, 2014, 11:35:01 PM: In the photo I posted at 11:18 the wires are [from the far right] purple[violet] from volume,red from battery,red and white from volume,black and another that is kinda black/purple.The black/purple is from the volume and the other is from the battery.
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: mica on August 25, 2014, 12:10:40 PM: Make sure that the solder sides of the boards cannot contact the shielded walls of the cavity or it can short out and have no sound. If they are clear, then you might want to unmount the pickups from the shielded area (just lift them out) and see if you can get any signal that way.

Are you saying that the output jack was wired completely differently on the original install? The system you have is over 20 years old, so it may be worth sending in here for testing. There is no charge to test the pickups and electronics (just pay return freight) so at least we can narrow down possibilities.
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: carsbybigd on August 25, 2014, 02:56:24 PM: I'll try that 1st otherwise I'll be sending them in.Thanks
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: carsbybigd on August 25, 2014, 05:18:13 PM: Is the 45 degree angled corner where the 2 black wires go ?
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: carsbybigd on August 25, 2014, 06:34:51 PM: Ok I got it to work ,no hum either.....but,it will only play if the cord is pulled back out about 1/2".Feels like it's just before it engages to lock it in.Here are some pics # 1 is the actual jack and #2 is a piece of paper showing what is what and where it is right now[the copper reflection makes the edge of the plug look ragged it isnt.] So Im guessing I almost have it wired up correctly as I got sound and no hum ! Yea !
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/197300.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/197301.jpg)
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: mica on August 25, 2014, 08:20:59 PM: Now that I'm looking at it more closely, I don't think you have the correct jack - it looks very similar, but if the 45 degree corner is the lower left corner like in my picture at the top of the thread, the tip should be on the right edge - in yours, it's at the top edge.

You are going to need a new jack. Email me (click on my profile on the left) and we will work out the details.
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: mica on August 25, 2014, 08:25:09 PM: Yours appears to be a 113E, which is a break circuit connector, so instead of turning it on, it turned the circuit off. We've never ordered that jack before.

Mystery solved!
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: carsbybigd on August 31, 2014, 10:57:41 AM: AHHHHHHH ,nothing like the sweet sounds of an Alembic coming out of my P-Bass.....with NO HUM !!! THANK YOU MICA and Alembic.
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: David Houck on August 31, 2014, 11:26:36 AM
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on August 31, 2014, 03:43:55 PM: I will bet neither Fender's nor Gibson's family assisted a client so well!

VMG
Title: P-bass jack connector
Post by: carsbybigd on October 30, 2014, 03:23:02 PM: You can say that again Funky. Great experience,and it's just a pickup . When I get my next bass,I will again own an Alembic.