Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: daghdha on March 03, 2015, 06:27:22 PM

Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: daghdha on March 03, 2015, 06:27:22 PM
Loved seeing this today on Instagram
[link] (http://instagram.com/p/zv4jQ1vPLf/)
 
A very nice Knod to those crazy cats from the 60's ;)
 
(Message edited by adriaan on March 04, 2015)
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: mtjam on March 03, 2015, 06:49:23 PM
Nice!
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: sonicus on March 03, 2015, 07:14:18 PM
Very KOOOL !
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: edwin on March 04, 2015, 03:39:36 PM
Wow, looks like we're all doing it, these days!
 
I'd love to see more pics of the rest of the bass.
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: hifiguy on March 04, 2015, 03:56:51 PM
What a cool bass.  Bet it could tell some stories!
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: hieronymous on March 04, 2015, 04:48:14 PM
That is awesome! Here's the pic:
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/207207.jpg)
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: mica on March 04, 2015, 05:29:09 PM
I took a few other pictures during Dave's visit. Here's a couple:  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/207213.jpg)
 HGR pickups in custom 5-ply pickup rings that are slightly inlaid in the top, 20th Anniversary electronics, new tailpiece, bridge, block, and nut. We were originally going to cover the thumbrest holes with the treble pickup, but it was pretty far from the bridge. So we moved it closer to the bridge and filled the little holes with Bloodwood dowels.  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/207214.jpg)
 Cut the backplate out and bound with Ebony. Also made a shelf for the plate and of course added threaded inserts.  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/207215.jpg)
 Inside it's all shielded with silver, and we built a nice little box for the battery.
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: mica on March 04, 2015, 05:31:33 PM
Oh yeah! One with dad, too!
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/207218.jpg)
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: sonicus on March 04, 2015, 05:42:17 PM
Beautiful work on the battery box.  It is nice to see high levels of such craftsmanship even in an area that  everyone does not see.
 
Wolf
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: daghdha on March 04, 2015, 06:10:27 PM
Just incredible!
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: moongerm on March 04, 2015, 07:00:11 PM
Very nice!
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: edwin on March 04, 2015, 07:12:42 PM
Beautiful job! Another Starfire achieves its potential!
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: bigredbass on March 04, 2015, 11:13:57 PM
H-G-R pickups ? ?
 
Joey
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: jazzyvee on March 05, 2015, 02:20:23 AM
The wording in the article is a bit misleading as it states the bass is modified with Series 1 electronics, which I'm almost certain I've read that alembic only install the series electronics in their own basses. However In mica's comments here she writes that it has 20th Anniversary electronics.
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: mica on March 05, 2015, 09:29:01 AM
The electronics are 20th Anniversary in this bass, but it's easy to get confused as the control layout is pretty much the same.  
 
We're happy to install Series I or II electronics in other maker's basses, but we have to do the installation. With the calibration process, we can't sell them for remote installation.  
 
HGR is the rounded corner, slightly longer humbucker-esque pickups like we put in the Darling, Skylark, and Kit guitars.
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: jazzyvee on March 05, 2015, 09:41:05 AM
Cool thanks for clarifying that Mica.
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: moonliner on March 08, 2015, 11:47:56 PM
Very cool!  
I love the way my bass sounds, but I'm tempted to try this pickup setup. (Nice job on the pickup rings)
If memory serves, I think there might be at least one more Starfire awaiting the magic treatment. :-)
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: edwin on March 09, 2015, 08:34:29 AM
Is there something about the trapezoidal pickups that isn't working for you?
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: mica on March 09, 2015, 12:47:12 PM
Inside the HGR pickups have the same magnet as the traps we made for you, Keith, so only change it you like the looks.  
 
The one slight improvement is that the HGR pickups have 4 mounting holes, so they can have the rigid no-spring mounting system.
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: moonliner on March 11, 2015, 12:07:08 AM
Thanks for the info Mica.  
Edwin, there's nothing about the pickups on my bass I don't like?. in fact there's nothing about my bass I don't love!  I entered into my bass build being open to trying different pickups, so if the magnet was bigger with the HGR's I might be open to trying them.
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: hieronymous on March 11, 2015, 10:42:25 AM
Moonliner's amazing bass and then this one - I started regretting selling my Starfire I... Then I realized that I could still have my M-85 II Alembicized - maybe someday!
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: moonliner on March 13, 2015, 02:46:41 AM
That's great you have an M85 II.  I would love one of those!
I believe there is some historic significance with Alembic and an M85. Do a google search of Phil Lesh and M85 and you'll see a very intriguing instrument!
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: hieronymous on March 13, 2015, 11:43:31 AM
Yeah, I love the bass. Mine is fretless too, so there's a connection to the Phil Lesh Guild bass (http://www.ricksuchow.com/press-group-167.html target=_blank), but a major difference is that mine is one of the later solid bodies, so I think there might not be much room in there to play around with for electronics. I'm planning on starting a new thread in the Dreaming section eventually.
 
(Message edited by hieronymous on March 13, 2015)
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: daghdha on March 16, 2015, 08:46:09 PM
Mica,  I've emailed you about this setup.
Title: Dave Schools goes old school cool
Post by: hieronymous on April 02, 2015, 12:35:54 PM
Wanted to link to the thread I started in the Dreaming section:  
 
http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/207542.html?1427784285 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=6438)
 
And it doesn't hurt to bump this one to the top! Dave Schools & Alembic have just fueled the fire of super-charging our Guilds, be they vintage or new!