Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Dreaming... for now => Topic started by: garth4664 on June 12, 2011, 09:39:37 AM

Title: Light"ish" 6 String Series 1 with low frequency cut on treble pickup
Post by: garth4664 on June 12, 2011, 09:39:37 AM

This is my second dreaming of for now thread after buying a really beautiful custom series 2 (76AC070) instead of building the last one (Dreamcatcher).  
 
A strange thing has happened since then.  I have two alembic dream basses, 32 scale 4 string cocobolo S1 and 76AC070 but I always end up playing my custom Warwick 6 instead of either of them.  The reasons are: The 6 string has more range, it is lighter (slightly), the neck on the Warwick is impossibly stable and there is no need to do the whole power supply thing.
 
I think that I need a 6 in my band so I'm starting to dream of an Alembic 6 Series 1.
 
Some things I would like are:
-33 scale
-very stiff neck
-Lightish weight 4 to 4.5kg
-Very hard, thin outer laminate on body(to resist dings)
-Series 1 electronics with an extra special low frequency cut switch on the treble pickup so I can run that pickup through a distortion pedal into a guitar amp without damaging it.
 
Basically I play a lot of gigs here in Beijing where the backline is provided by the venue.  I have no guitarist anymore in my band (it's great) so I often double up through effects and multiple amps.
 
Type in Beijing Love's Tourettes into youtube for a few clips (try Yu Gong Yi Shan I love Nelly)
 
Has anyone else tried such a mod to the electronics?  
 
Advice on wood/construction would be appreciated for a clear tone and light weight?
 
Also, which body shape is the lightest?

Title: Light"ish" 6 String Series 1 with low frequency cut on treble pickup
Post by: hieronymous on June 15, 2011, 02:36:01 PM

I always thought it would be need to have a high-pass filter on the bridge pickup instead of low-pass.
 
Sounds like a neat instrument!

Title: Light"ish" 6 String Series 1 with low frequency cut on treble pickup
Post by: jazzyvee on June 15, 2011, 05:05:37 PM

I had a mod done to my Europa bass and it has a high pass filter with gain gain on each pickup and a low pass filter with CVQ on  each pickup with pan and master volume. It sounds amazing although I find it hard to think of a scenario when I'd need that much top end on a bass line as I don't tend to do much soloing or chord work on bass.
 
Jazzyvee

Title: Light"ish" 6 String Series 1 with low frequency cut on treble pickup
Post by: mica on June 18, 2011, 09:08:41 AM

Would you say you are looking for a tone closer to your Series I or closer to your Series II? That will help in coming up with the right wood recipe, of course considering what trade-offs might need to be balanced with the weight.  
 
Stiffer necks tend to be more dense, and that means the weight will be concentrated there. If you can stand a narrower fingerboard width, that can go a long way in reducing the weight.

Title: Light"ish" 6 String Series 1 with low frequency cut on treble pickup
Post by: garth4664 on June 18, 2011, 05:35:55 PM

Hi Mica, thanks for the post.  Looking for a tone closer to my series 1, it's clearer.  this has the classic maple and purple-heart neck recipe. The series 2 neck is purple-heart and walnut I think.
 
 
 
To be honest I wouldn't mind either sound - I have yet to find a series 1 or 2 that I didn't like the sound of.