Activators - what are they exactly?

[hieronymous]

So this comes up from time to time. Are all non-Series pickups considered Activators, or are Activators just pickups/electronics meant to be installed in non-Alembic basses?


Another way to ask - are Spoiler and Distillate electronics considered Activators? Are Signature and Anniversary also Activators? How about the non-filter electronics packages?

[rv_bass]

The description under this link suggests that all Alembic pickups and electronics are Activator pickups starting back in 1969 when they created the first version of them.

http://www.alembic.com/prod/pickups.html

Although the online price list only lists non-Series pickups and electronics under Activators, but maybe that just indicates that Series pickups and electronics are not sold separately (other than maybe as replacement parts).

[mica]

There's three families of electronics:

• Series I/II
• Distillate
• Activator

Series I/II is just that.

The Distillate family includes Spoiler and original Europa and Elan electronics.
Activator is anything made with the individual modules, so that covers Essence, Epic, Signature, 20th Anniversary and soon to be the Elan/Europa.

All Alembic electronics families are active.

Hope this helps!

[hieronymous]

Thank you Mica!

[garyhead]

I just learned something....thanks Mica.

[mb94952]

It's confusing to me, too.