Author Topic: One Fatboy or two with your Spoiler? (Read 699 times)

Bassman8416 · « **on:** February 13, 2015, 03:29:36 PM »

I recently replaced the stock bridge pickup on my Spoiler with a fatboy and love the results. I have read on the forum that many find using two fatboys as being to bassy having too much bottom. I primarily use this bass for Grateful Dead music. Any opinions?

(Message edited by bassman8416 on February 13, 2015)

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2015, 05:06:03 PM »

I have FB's in the bridge position all my Alembics except my Stanley Clarke Sig Deluxe (it's stock) and I like them.

For the way I play, the stock Alembic bass / neck PU is perfect. I have no trouble getting enough bottom out of any of my basses when using or emphasizing that position in the blend.

However, the SCSD always seemed a bit thin in the treble / bridge position, so I decided that any future Alembic that I acquired would have an FB in that position.

For me, any more girth in the bass / neck position would be overwhelming.

One thing you could try, if you haven't already, is to use flat wound strings - like D'addario Chromes. When used in conjunction with the standard Alembic bass / neck PU, they add a little more girth to the lows without sounding tubby or boomy. IMO, Chromes are a nice compromise because they sound a little more lively than some of the other flats.

bigredbass · « **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2015, 10:14:13 PM »

My five-string Spoiler of course had AXY's as the OEM fitment.

They were just fine, but over time I had a feeling maybe they were just a bit too honest in their presentation, for lack of a better way to put it. It didn't keep me up nights, but I felt as though I'd like a bit more meat on the bones, sonically. So I switched them both out for FatBoys (thanks to Bob Novy and Mica ! ! ).

It's not a night and day difference. I always explain the difference in tone this way:

If you've spent time in studios or a good home set-up, the AXY's presentation is like very good studio monitors: Very present, but an almost flat response across their soundfield.

In contrast, the FatBoys seem more like very, very good home stereo speakers. A lot of the presence of the monitors, but with a few humps and dips in their response. Think SM57 instead of 441 Sennheisers. They remind me somewhat of MusicMan pickups.

It's all so very subjective, but the idea that any Alembic circuit is too bassy just doesn't register with me.

It can easily be a function of the 24 fret neck (pushing the pickups under harmonic nodes not usually used in 20 or 21 fret bolt-neck instruments) and the neck pickup being right at the end of the pickup because of that fingerboard length: It's just going to sound pretty thick at that spot. You just don't have as much real estate available for pickup placement alongside a 20 fret neck. And of course since Alembic butts the bridge pickup often right next to the bridge, it sounds brighter than most, as few builders push it that far back, and of course, it relatively makes the neck pickup sound just that much fatter in comparison.

Between the AXY's and FatBoys, it's not a huge difference, but I can hear it and prefer it.

Joey

jazzyvee · « **Reply #3 on:** February 14, 2015, 02:44:49 AM »

I have a fatboy in my bridge position on my scsd bass and it sounds more edgy tonally than the standard pickups. I do prefer the standard pickup whic is cleaner and has a sweeter tone. However i do love the hollow nasally tone i get with the fatboy which is similar to what i hear stanley using in his solos.

I also have an axy neck pickup with the magnet offset closer to the end of the neck in its case which gives a warmer bottom end.
Im trying to get a band together to do some RTF tracks so will see what pickups suit that music best.

adriaan · « **Reply #4 on:** February 14, 2015, 11:32:35 AM »

A lot will depend on how bright sounding the instrument is. A fatboy near the bridge on a koa topped Spoiler, to my ears, added plenty of burp that the AXY just doesn't have, but at the cost of most of the limited brightness that you get with koa.

Putting it in the neck position kind of overpowered an AXY near the bridge, even after fiddling with the trimpots. So I'm guessing if you put one near the neck, you should pair it with another one in the bridge.

jazzyvee · « **Reply #5 on:** March 18, 2015, 03:54:35 PM »

I have just taken the fatboy out of the bridge position on my bass and put back the standard AXY pickup. I definitely prefer the sweeter crisper, cleaner tone. I still have the offset AXY in the neck position and will keep that in there for now.

samsamaha · « **Reply #6 on:** May 16, 2015, 12:31:33 PM »

Im trying to decide if Fatboy at the bridge on my new Signature MK4 will give me more low end punch without mudding or removing clarity.. What Im finding is unless I put my filters at (around 70%), the tone is too bright on the lower strings (E and A).. I like the sound of the higher strings with filter fully open, but then I lose a bit of the low end tone.. Is the Fatboy an option to look at? Is it just plug-n-play? and about what does a single pickup run?

hammer · « **Reply #7 on:** May 16, 2015, 02:39:02 PM »

You'd have to ask Mica about the price. On the custom Signature I have that's exactly what I did during the build and I love the fuller sound that I get with it compared to a Signature Standard I have which does not have the Fatboy. Easy install from what I've heard.

samsamaha · « **Reply #8 on:** May 16, 2015, 05:04:30 PM »

I put in an inquiry thru Mike at Bass Central, and he forwarded it to Mica.. we'll see if I can afford this modification/upgrade.

I'm not unhappy with the sound, but I just feel a bit more low end would benefit.

bigredbass · « **Reply #9 on:** May 16, 2015, 10:33:11 PM »

Install / re-install is stoooopid easy.

Track down the lead from the pickup in question, and unplug it (carefully!) from the circuit board.
Remove both pickup screws, lift the pickup free, and ease the attached lead and plug through the rout from the control cavity to the pickup recess and free of the body.

Then, as they maddeningly say in auto repair manuals, 'Reassembly is the reverse of disassembly'.

Done.

Joey

jazzyvee · « **Reply #10 on:** May 17, 2015, 11:33:27 PM »

The only tricky bit I found was removing the plastic clip from the end of the cable which you need to do in order to get a loop of cable round the ferrite bead. I actually broke the cable core off the lug and had to fit a new one.

samsamaha · « **Reply #11 on:** May 18, 2015, 04:52:12 PM »

Well just placed an order for one to instal, at the bridge. I'll report later my findings.

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #12 on:** May 18, 2015, 05:32:32 PM »

Sam, here's a thread from the FAQ section that will help visualize this procedure.

http://club.alembic.com/Images/16271/41300.html?1182378055

I can't remember who gave me the tip... (maybe Flip or Mica?) but use the back edge of an x-acto knife to uncouple the connector from the leads.

I'll be curious to hear your thoughts on the result of the switch, as I'm contemplating between AXY's or FatBoys or a combination of the two on an upcoming build.

samsamaha · « **Reply #13 on:** May 19, 2015, 01:47:25 PM »

Thanks Edwardo .. I'll report back with a review once I get the chance to try it out.

samsamaha · « **Reply #14 on:** May 21, 2015, 05:20:08 PM »

came in today, (thanks Mary for fast shipping)...

Install was easy... sound is great! A bit more depth, I lost no highs... and I feel the sound is closer to that Series bass sound, especially when I run the Fatboy (at the bridge) on full open filter and the AXY at the fretboard with 33% closed, and both Q switches to off... I get a great slap tone!

Very happy with this change.