New member/owner

[Gladone]

I purchased a late '70's series 1 short scale bass. I've done a lot of reading on the forum (maybe too much!) and I would like some things clarified. I will organize my questions in a way that will make things easier to answer.

1) Utilizing 5 pin cable via DS-5:
    A) -connecting ds-5 outputs bass and treb. to 2 separate amplifiers = stereo?
    B) -connecting ds-5 bass(mono) to single amplifier = mono; bass pu only?

2) Utilizing 1/4" jack
 -I have read that pre-198? series 1&2 were "prewired" as stereo and that wiring diagrams/info. provided on this forum will allow me to confirm actual wiring situation. However, for this moment let's assume bass is wired for stereo.
    A) using standard instrument cable into single amp = mono; bass pu only?
    B) using stereo to mono cable into single amp = mono; both pu's working?
    C) using stereo cable to stereo amp = stereo?
I'm sorry if this stuff is a re-hash of common info, but there were too many pre-amp,outboard gear, and various electronics evolutions mentioned in posts that I just wasn't sure of the actual basic stuff. Thanks for the help. The bass is still in transit, so I am awaiting the joy of playing it.

[pauldo]

Welcome to the camp John!

I don’t have a Series Alembic so not familiar with that of which you quest...

Do not fret, plenty of good folks here that will be able to answer any of your questions.

[goran]

1. A is correct, , when connecting it to stereo, one pickup goes to one amp and other pickup to other amp.
When connecting it mono on DS-5 both pickup work it just a mono signal with both pickups.

2.Series I/II instruments were supplied with prewired stereo jacks until about 1988. This is only useful if your Series I/II 1/4 is prewired in stereo.

you can use stereo to mono cable check this thread:
http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=275.msg1098#msg1098

or you can solder you bass to be just a mono jack:
http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=270.0

here you have a bunch of stuff that you can read about series !/2 basses:
http://club.alembic.com/index.php?board=23.0

[rv_bass]

Hi Gladone, welcome, I’ll try to answer a couple of your questions:

1a.  Yes, but you can also connect DS5 treble and bass out to two separate channels on an amp with two chanels and have each amp chanel go out to separate speakers for stereo output. 

1b. DS5 mono (bass) out to single amp Chanel = mono, but bass and treble pickups are heard (combined bass and treble signals from the bass into a single mono output).

2a. Correct

2b. Correct

2c. Don’t know, never tried it.

Congrats on your new bass, post photos when you get it!


...oops, Goran is a faster typer

[Gladone]

Thank you for shedding light on the subject!
Will most definitely post pics when I can.

[Gladone]

I've read through the hum cancelling trim pot procedure. What about the gain? I would assume that the gain should be set at some point then the hum cancelling adjustment?

[goran]

I'm not sure I'm trying to have gain little louder then my other basses, but maybe someone can chip in better. Still waiting for you pic

[adriaan]

As far as I know you can adjust the humcancelling trimpots without needing to change the gain trimpots, and vice versa.

[jazzyvee]

I personally have never needed to change the trimpots for the internal pre-amps as a result of hum cancelling procedure. I try to set my trim pots so both pickups have equal volume and I can adjust which I want to have priority from the front pickup volumes at playtime.