Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: nameless_v2 on January 19, 2014, 02:34:27 AM
-
Hello Alembics lovers
I'm a fresh owner of a beautifull Spoiler in excellent condition. Trying to learn more about this fantastic bass, I read somewhere(I don't remember where) that some official mods on the electronic exist.
Indeed, it seems that the 4 positions pick-up selector can be replaced by a real Pan (I mean continuous) like on some other Alembics. Is that true ? Is it usefull ? Is it recommended and does it need to return the instrument to factory for upgrade or buying sub-circuit and install it ourself is possible.
Just to be curious because this bass sounds so great like this that i'm not sure I would touch anything on it. ;-)
Keep on playing...
Thomas
-
The short answer is they can do anything.
I have a five-string Spoiler, and had considered the trade-out from the 4-way to a pan. I played with the pickup heights and preamp gains and eventually found a tone on the BOTH position on the 4-way that suited me.
Strangely enough, I ultimately decided against the pan as I really liked the STANDBY position on the 4-way. I've still had this floating around as a Definite Maybe, so one day, who knows?
Alembics generally run plug-in solderless electronics, so IF the 4-way and the Pan used the same plug-in, it might be pretty painless, though I doubt it's that simple. I do know the hole for the rotary switch is smaller than the hole for a pan pot, so some minor surgery would be required, at least.
J o e y
-
Definitely recommended. About ten years ago, my Spoiler guts were modded at the mothership with a pan control and a three-way Q switch. You just get so many tone options that way -withput them, the Spoiler is like a three trick poney.
You do need the proper tools to loosen the knobs, and unless you have the original tool set, it's hard to find those funny inch sizes in continental Europe.
-
Hi Adriaan and Joey,
Thanks a lot for your comments.This mod seems quite interesting as well. Adriaan, did you have to enlarge the bore for the pan switch as mentioned by Joey ? Something not so difficult to make but hurting my 'Old Lady'... Which i'm not intending to do at that time. Moreover, I guess that the full off pan position is the same than this usefull 'click off position' for the 4 positions bridge selector. Right ?
On the other hand, when you mention appropriate tool set... I guess that's just inch wrenches and keys instead of metrics (stuff that I have, spending some of my leisure times on Vintage British Cars).
Lastly, what?s this 3-way Q switch ? Just an intermediate position or one more boost on the low pass cut frequency ? In the same mood : is it just a plug and play upgrade ?
Really glad to be part of the 'Alembicers' since one month as the community is so nice as well as the instruments !
Kind regards,
Thomas
-
No way you can avoid the drill - to be honest, I chickened and asked a local luthier to do the dirty work.
The pan pot doesn't have a full off position - you go from all bridge pickup, adding more and more neck pickup, then a center click with both equal, and on to less and less bridge pickup until you get to all neck pickup. With the standard pickup selector switch, you have neck only, or both pickups, or bridge only, or no sound (which is not a true standby, because the battery will still drain).
The 3-way Q switch was indeed plug & play for me but I sent the whole lot (preamp, pots, switches and jack) over to Santa Rosa. The standard 2-way gives you 0 or 8 dB boost at the cut-off frequency (at 0 dB, there's still the natural bump of a LPF). I had mine wired for 0, 3 and 6 dB - I found the 8 dB a little harsh, and those 3 dB increments are just strong enough to make a difference.
If you spend more time here, you will find that vintage British cars and Alembics go together well - you'll fit right in.
(Message edited by adriaan on February 03, 2014)
-
I've pondered modifying my '83 spoiler's electronics. Wondering if anyone has a suggestion on my idea. First, I never found the 'both' pickup position useful. There seems to be too much cancellation. Secondly, I really like the blend knob on the J-basses I've played. Thirdly, I'm a Chris Squire fan and I really want to explore a stereo rig. IDEA: Double the circuit (there's another version of the chip that is used in my Spoiler that essentially is two of the same thing), have two volume pots one for each pickup, have two Qs one for each pickup, have two line outs each going to separate amps- my Trace Elliot 1210 Combo and another amp yet to be determined. Any problems foreseen or suggestions?
-
...I really like the blend knob on the J-basses I've played.
Every J-Bass I've ever encountered had either 2 volumes & 2 tones, stacked, or 2 volumes & 1 master tone.
Peter
-
It sounds like what you're wanting to do is very similar to the Anniversary electronics package (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=228).