Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: mike1762 on March 11, 2011, 02:59:53 PM

Title: Pan control
Post by: mike1762 on March 11, 2011, 02:59:53 PM

I was working on my basses today (evening-up the output level on all the basses I would ever use live) and I noticed a couple of things:
 
1) I had to set the trim ALL the way down on my Alembics in order to match my other (also active electronics) basses.
 
2) I was isolating each PUP and noticed that the bridge PUP on my SC (Signature electronics) was never disengaged (using the trusty tap on the PUP with a screwdriver test) even with the Pan 100% toward the neck.  The neck PUP did go silent with the Pan 100% toward the bridge.  The more I listened to the tonal differences as I pan from the neck to the bridge, I'm thinking that the bride PUP is not being attenuated.  Any suggestions on how to verify that observation and how to fix it???

Title: Pan control
Post by: lbpesq on March 11, 2011, 04:01:27 PM

As far as how to test it, you might try holding a vibrating tuning fork over the bridge pickup while rotating the pan control to see if the volume of the tuning fork changes.
 
Bill, tgo

Title: Pan control
Post by: mike1762 on March 12, 2011, 02:45:43 AM

Thanks Bill... I hadn't thought of that.  I'll get a tuning fork while I'm out today, but I'm pretty sure the bridge PUP is staying full on regardless of the pan setting.  This is the same bass that was having all the squealing problems.

Title: Pan control
Post by: dfung60 on March 12, 2011, 03:08:06 PM

Another quick test would be to unplug the neck pickup connector (assuming you've got one) and see whether the bridge pickup level changes when you turn the pan.  
 
David Fung

Title: Pan control
Post by: mike1762 on March 12, 2011, 04:58:12 PM

Well HELL!!!  Now it's not doing it!!!

Title: Pan control
Post by: dadabass2001 on March 13, 2011, 07:32:19 AM

All the expert diagnostic advice scared it into behaving.
 
MIke

Title: Pan control
Post by: lbpesq on March 13, 2011, 12:12:34 PM

Ahh, the threat of a good tuning fork can work wonders! lol  (Though I have to admit David's suggestion makes eminent sense - as always).  
 
Bill, tgo

Title: Pan control
Post by: mike1762 on March 13, 2011, 05:03:10 PM

I'm thinking of sending the guts in for a lube and oil change.  I keep having weird, but intermittent, electronic issues with this bass.  I LOVE the way it plays, so I've got to get the electronics in order.