Author Topic: "Alembicizing" a Jazz Bass (Read 527 times)

bassfree · « **on:** November 06, 2003, 12:52:44 PM »

Hello. I recently bought a Jazz bass and I'll probably want to have it's stock electronics replaced at some point with Alembic Jazz pickups and preamp. Is this something I can have done locally (Atlanta) or will the instrument need to be shipped to Alembic? Thanks. Also any suggestions on type of pickups to maintain the Jazz bass tone but with Alembic punch and clarity (minus typical single coil hum). Thanks.

Matt

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** November 07, 2003, 04:51:39 AM »

Matt; have you read this page yet? It seems to indicate that you can do the installation yourself.
http://www.alembic.com/prod/pickups.html

stoney · « **Reply #2 on:** November 07, 2003, 09:36:22 AM »

Hi Matt. I Alembicized a Spector bass. It had a p/j set up. I purchased the Alemic Activator
for that configuration. The activators really work well, yes the electronics are much more simplified than, say, Signature Electronics, but they really do the trick and they are very quiet.

mica · « **Reply #3 on:** November 11, 2003, 12:34:12 PM »

All you need to do is shield the electronics cavity and the underside of the pickguard if it isn't done already. The rest is like Legos - just plug them together fr great fun!

Tone wise, the Alembics will reveal the exact sound the bass makes. If yu like the acoustic tone of the bass, the Alembics will make that sound louder, and with extreme clarity.

palembic · « **Reply #4 on:** November 12, 2003, 03:48:50 PM »

Stupid question (I'm a technical moron) but how do you shield the cavity??? A paint?? Aluminumpaper?? What if I have (or would have) a JB without a pickguard where the electronics are put on but the cavity is rear-routed so the lectronics are in fact in the wood??

PTBO (dreaming ...oh ...I'm good in THAT!)

mica · « **Reply #5 on:** November 12, 2003, 07:24:51 PM »

We use conductive silver paint. You can use a variety of foils and paints that are conductive. If you can't find material locally, try www.stewmac.com

For your dream JB you'd need to shield the cavity and the inside surface of the backplate if it made from conductive material (like brass). Don't forget the lip of the cavity where the backplate rests - the shield must be complete.

Dream away!

valvil · « **Reply #6 on:** November 12, 2003, 07:31:19 PM »

Brother Paul,

The best way to shield a cavity is to use silver paint ( which is what you guys all have in your Alembic basses). Just buy the paint, a brush, take out the electronics and go to work...silver paint it not cheap, however.
You can shield the cavity in many other ways...I have a bass that has a sheet of copper lining it, and that works ok too...
I'm sure other members or Mica can provide more info on this.

Valentino

valvil · « **Reply #7 on:** November 12, 2003, 07:35:21 PM »

Well, Mica was faster on the draw...

bigredbass · « **Reply #8 on:** December 05, 2003, 07:41:21 AM »

V V :

I uhderstand the shielding process.

But I'm confused about the silver paint. I know off-the-shelf silver paint at Home Depot has metal ground into it, but I thought the Silver paint that ALEMBIC uses was some particular (ferrous?) paint for this apllication. Can I really use the same silver from the BBQ pit in my axes?

I've often wondered if you could use the same sheet material that they line home theater cabinets (magnetically shielded) with so as not to interfere with your monitor would work.

J o e y

mica · « **Reply #9 on:** December 05, 2003, 11:01:14 AM »

The paint we use is not just silver colored, it's finely ground (colloidal) pure silver with enough binder to hold a layer and solvent to spread it around. I'm skeptical if the Home Depot stuff will work in this application.

The shielding has to be conductive. Electronics hobby outlets sell good quality silver conductive paint in small 1/2 oz. bottles. We used to sell it, but the hazardous materials shipping regulations are a killer.

David Houck · « **Reply #10 on:** December 05, 2003, 12:43:03 PM »

Joey;

Here is the shielding paint at Stewmac:
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Supplies:_Shielding/Conductive_Shielding_Paint.html

More economically, here is their shielding tape:
http://www.stewmac.com/cgi-bin/hazel.cgi/hzpi/u/HzSt0117161617131713130U0n0m150m141411110m15/hazel.cgi?action=SERVE&sku=0028&ITEM=catalog/sku.html

And some instructions here:
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Supplies:_Shielding/1/Self-adhesive_Shielding_Kit/Instructions/I-3789.html#details

I imagine that if you run a Google search you should be able to find other sources for shielding paint recommended by players doing the same type project.

bigredbass · « **Reply #11 on:** December 05, 2003, 10:48:38 PM »

Mica

Next time I do this, I'll get the REAL thing. I'd feel like a DOLT if the BBQ pit paint allowed me to pick up the Grand Ole Opry every time I plugged in!

DH

Thanks for the GREAT links ( and the time you took to line 'em up for me ) to StewMac. Where would ANY of us be without StewMac?

J o e y

palembic · « **Reply #12 on:** December 06, 2003, 02:25:23 AM »

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately I'll have to look somewhere else for this. Put ...no panic ...the specs are enough to give it a try.
Thanks again.

Paul the badly dreaming one