Author Topic: '93 Essence - Electronics Mod? 93K7617 (Read 628 times)

DanFrank · « **on:** May 28, 2015, 09:58:05 AM »

Hi Everyone! I found a 5-string Essence online last night and I'm holding it for 24-hours until I get some input from all the expertise here in the Alembic Club. Could some of the experienced people take a look at my photos posted at the link below and let me know what you think? Particularly, there was a modification in the cavity that I'm being told is supposed to be an Alembic mod, but the large pot looks odd to me in that cavity. There are a few dinks but nothing too severe. He said the action is so low it's buzzing and needs a good setup. Asking $2k, which I thought is a great price, but I can't justify it if it's not a true Alembic from the electronics mod point of view??Thanks so much to anyone who can give me a good opinion, especially about the mod in the cavity!

The link to my photos is at:

https://plus.google.com/photos/104908497723684926873/albums/6153966357031405073?authkey=CNHHgd_v2dH9Dg

tomhug · « **Reply #1 on:** May 28, 2015, 12:17:10 PM »

Nice Essence.

I cannot offer any insight about that mod, other than it doesn't look like stock Essence electronics. Actually strike that, it looks like the stock Essence electronics are there, plus an extra large potentiometer. Does the interior pot have an audible effect?

I'm kind of jealous - I've been in the market for a bass like that for some time - I keep missing them by minutes.

I think you could easily get that back to official specs with minimal additional investment.

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #2 on:** May 28, 2015, 12:57:01 PM »

Yeah, that's a nice-looking bass frankfive!

The extra pot is kind of a puzzle... did the seller know what the mod was for? Essence should be Vol./Pan/Filter, so I'm trying to imagine a practical Alembic mod other than a Q-switch... whatever it's for, someone sure didn't want to drill and mount it. (or maybe there would've been a clearance issue?) I agree with tomhug, it would probably be easy to revert it back to stock. Also, having that board loose in there is just asking for a short-out.

Flip (fc_spoiler) is pretty sharp on this kind of thread... you might send him a note if he doesn't pop in here sometime soon.

mica · « **Reply #3 on:** May 28, 2015, 01:23:04 PM »

This bass originally had Essence electronics, volume, pan, filter. What looks like is in there now is volume, bass, and treble mounted, with the pan board as a floater inside. Not very adjustable, but perfectly OK to do.

You can swap out the bass and treble module for the filter module, or you could mount the pan where the bass cut/boost is and drill a hole above the jack and undercut the cavity (of course reshielding) and mount the bass control there (I say the bass control because it's a single pot on a small board and is easier to sneak into tight spaces).

keith_h · « **Reply #4 on:** May 28, 2015, 01:58:28 PM »

Nice wood on the bass.

A change to V/P/T/B controls would be a downgrade in the electronics for that model bass. Do they still have the original parts? If they do I would swap back to a filter. If not to me the bass would be worth less by a couple of hundred as I would need to locate and purchase a new filter module.

Keith

DanFrank · « **Reply #5 on:** May 28, 2015, 02:49:53 PM »

Thank you Mica! That really helps me understand the mod and helps me make my decision. I would rather have the Vol/Pan/Filter, so I'm going to refer Tom to the owner tomorrow. I'll keep looking for a 5/6-string Essence, Spoiler, Distillate, or Persuader. What older models have been manufactured in 5/6-string most often? What is the most prevalent scale in older models? Thanks again!

FC Bass · « **Reply #6 on:** May 28, 2015, 02:53:58 PM »

Mica is way sharper :-)

I think I would add a filter and go for the EMW setup (which needs a special cable available from Alembic)
Not sure if it will fit in this cavity with this layout though...

Price is ok I think, pretty stunning Woods and looks like its in excellent condition :-)

slawie · « **Reply #7 on:** May 28, 2015, 04:33:46 PM »

I have had an Essence 5 for about a year now with the V/P/F
Electronics. It is now my main player.
I would swoop on that bass the woods look amazing.
$2k is a good price also IMHO.
It looks as if you could revert it back to original electronics with a minimum of fuss.
slawie

sonicus · « **Reply #8 on:** May 29, 2015, 06:45:43 AM »

Nice Bass !

DanFrank · « **Reply #9 on:** May 31, 2015, 08:40:06 AM »

Well, looks like Tom and I are not buying the Essence. My reason is that I want the stock electronics and his is for the weight being too much. So maybe there is someone out there in the club that would like to consider it?.it looks like a really nice bass?.so it can be viewed at the store's website here:

http://www.musicgoroundtroy.com/p/341217/used-alembic-essence-5-wcase

tomhug · « **Reply #10 on:** May 31, 2015, 01:05:49 PM »

Yup, Dan (frankfinveinc) was super nice to hook me up with Chris where the bass is located.

Unfortunately I discovered the one aspect of this bass that ultimately makes it not quite suitable for my purposes: it weighs 11 lbs!

Of course, 11 lbs is not completely terrible for a 5 string bass and even especially for an Alembic (which tend to run heavy). But I have a knee injury that really hurts the next day if I play long sets with basses much over 10 lbs.

I had just examined 2 all-maple Essence 5 strings that were both 10.5 lbs, so I assumed this one with mahogany would be lighter than the maple examples. But that's not the case.

Still it's a very nice bass at a very sweet price.

(Message edited by tomhug on May 31, 2015)

DanFrank · « **Reply #11 on:** May 31, 2015, 01:57:10 PM »

Mica or anyone knowledgeable:

What would be the approximate cost to restore the original electronics package?

Conversely, if I mounted the pan where the bass control is now and drilled a countersunk-shielded hole above the jack to mount the bass control as Mica mentioned, how would the tonal adjustment in that setup compare to the original volume, pan, & filter of an Essence? Would there be more range of tonal adjustment in the filter electronics or would the vol, pan, treble, and bass be comparable?

I'm just wondering if I should reconsider if I could work out a deal with the seller??THANKS SO MUCH!

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #12 on:** May 31, 2015, 05:16:28 PM »

I would suggest calling out there frankfive... there's probably several options.

If it were me, I'd look into possibly converting that setup to East-Meets-West, where you combine a Filter with the Volume-Pan-Bass-Treble you already have. Here's a thread I started a while back on just that.

http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/205552.html?1426109600

Good luck man... I know you've been looking high and low for a fiver. Hope it works out! =)

DanFrank · « **Reply #13 on:** May 31, 2015, 05:52:02 PM »

That sounds like a really cool idea! I'm just not sure about the extra cost?.does anyone have a thought about that?

It would take some specialized skills?.I have the electronic understanding but don't know if I feel comfortable drilling and countersinking, etc. Are there how to videos or instructions anywhere here or on Youtube?

keith_h · « **Reply #14 on:** May 31, 2015, 08:25:11 PM »

Adding the filter to make an EMW setup would be straight forward electrically. Based on Mica's update about making the pan pot useable I think adding a filter on top of the current controls would require more than drilling new holes and would require enlarging the control cavity by under cutting or enlarging it with a new cover plate.

Keith