Stolen DS-5

[iruddle]

Help..  the DS-5 (the original blue box) from my 1978 Series II disappeared from my baggage during a flight.  I desparately need to find a substitute way of connecting my bass - and i do need the 18v supply unfortunately.  Has anyone had to build or cobble together something to replace the DS-5?  thanks, Ian

[sonicus]

Hello and welcome.  
Buy a new one  from ALEMBIC to protect your vintage work of ART !!!   be safe( DO NOT COBBLE ___LOL!)
 
 
My first recommendation would be to contact Alembic and purchase a new DS5R  rack version. I believe that a new crop of little DS5's might be on the way .  
   
   If you want to build a power supply you will need some soldering and electronic repair bench skill's . You can build it from scratch or you can use an encapsulated type of regulated  power supply module such as I did when I replaced the one in my IN-2   .  
A safe range is +/- 15to20 VDC  Aprox.350 to 500mA ( but there have been variations) . A bipolar  voltage DC service source is required ; +/- DC voltage.    
This is the 5 PIN pinout
1) GROUND
2)Neck pickup
3)Bridge pickup
4)+ volts
5)-volts

[JimmyJ]

Sorry to hear about that Ian, what a drag.  Can you tell us the serial number of your '78?  (We all dig the details in here.)
 
You can also kludge together a pretty good +/- 18v supply out of a pile of 9v batteries.  In series, two 9v = 18v.  Continue the same series with two more 9v and the point at the center becomes 0 with +18 in one direction and -18 in the other.  Then if you want any life out of it you can do the same again with 4 more batteries and wire that set in parallel with the first (so the voltage doesn't change but the current available does).  If you wanted to go wireless with a Series instrument with the LEDs you could use this method.  The back of your strap would look like an ammo belt with batteries, transmitter, etc... which could get a bit heavy ... but it would work.
 
Good luck,
Jimmy J

[sonicus]

Jimmy , that's really a cool battery arrangement.  I enjoy your innovations ,including going directly to a power amp from a Series I/II Alembic instrument .

[cozmik_cowboy]

If you do want to build, Ian, you can find a schematic in this thread.
 
Peter

[FC Bass]

The back of your strap would look like an ammo belt with batteries, transmitter, etc... which could get a bit heavy ... but it would work
 
Like Jason Newsted (Metallica) in the early 90's:
 

[edwin]

I've built a few of them. The hardest part is punching all the holes in the box and getting everything laid out well.  As usual when working with AC, be very careful, touch the work only with insulated tools and/or one hand at a time.
 
That's a very odd thing to be taken from your luggage.

[terryc]

Do you think the airline authorities assumed it to be threatening?? What would anyone want a DS-5 for unless the thief owned a SI/II!

[sonicus]

A metal box with wires and parts ; transformer& full bridge rectifier and the  filter caps are cylindrical , perhaps to someone who does NOT know what they are looking at it could look like a threatening device. If this has been the case it is another SAD and ridiculous case of lack of training and flawed procedure .The owner should of at least have been questioned. I once had to dismantle my Trumpet in front of THE authorities to prove that it was not a threat! REALY,_____ this really happened to me, they even wiped down the individual parts for testing and used electronic sensory equipment looking for dangerous what ever.

[artswork99]

Wolf, they must had seen the movie Eagle Eye
 
Welcome to the forum Ian!  Sorry to hear about the mishap.  Hope the link to the diagram that Peter posted helped (for the cobbler).  We'd love to see your '78 bass, always good to see the beauties of the past.  The showcase Series II section is a great place to put some photos.  Play it Healthy! Art