Author Topic: Strat Pickup Set on eBay - electronics? (Read 276 times)

lbpesq · « **on:** January 04, 2015, 12:56:15 PM »

These are on eBay right now. Do the electronics look a little questionable to anyone else? Did Alembic use regular looking pots in their Strat sets in the 80's?

Bill, tgo

adriaan · « **Reply #1 on:** January 04, 2015, 01:09:50 PM »

I doubt they would be anything but low impedance, so obviously this set is missing a preamp.

StephenR · « **Reply #2 on:** January 04, 2015, 01:21:26 PM »

I have a set of activators in my 65 Strat. They were purchased on 3/15/85. I haven't looked under the pickguard in may many years but remember they used Bourns pots and am almost sure there is a gain control on the preamp. They came with only a volume and frequency knob so I am not sure what is up with the set on eBay but the pickups themselves look much newer.

Notice my classy installation job! I really should make a small plate to cover the battery compartment.

jazzyvee · « **Reply #3 on:** January 04, 2015, 01:50:13 PM »

Bill it may be that the seller just put the pickups on a standard pickguard with passive electronics so it looks like a plug and play solution and probably sell easier if you are not aware that these ideally need the alembic preamps.

I wonder if that setup would work with a blaster.
Stephen i have a strat with alembic innards and if you invert the standard strat jackplate you can fit the battery underneath it and its a neat job done.

StephenR · « **Reply #4 on:** January 04, 2015, 02:07:45 PM »

Hey Jazzy

Thanks for the suggestion. I seem to remember not inverting the jackplate since I didn't like the way it protruded from the body when inverted. There was already going to be a hole in the pickguard where the original second tone control went so it made a certain amount of sense to install the jack there. I had planned on making an oval ebony plate to put over the battery but never got around to it.

By the way, your Wailers Strat is just way cool...

keith_h · « **Reply #5 on:** January 04, 2015, 02:43:01 PM »

It looks to me like they just put a set of Alembic Activator pickups in place of the standard Strat pickups without the rest of the electronics. I base this on the pot layout and wiring that looks an awful lot like what I remember seeing on my stock Strat when I was thinking of going active many years ago.

Keith

sonicus · « **Reply #6 on:** January 04, 2015, 03:20:34 PM »

Bill ___ I saw this listing on eBay as well and scratched my head and then laughed ! Jazzy , I had thought of a Blaster @ the jack as well .
Maybe , but maybe not a good remedy !
On this one it is Caveat Emptor !

lbpesq · « **Reply #7 on:** January 04, 2015, 06:01:36 PM »

Stephen:

I've mounted Alembic strat pickups twice and am about to do set no. 3. I invert the jackplate, like Jazzyvee suggests, for the battery. I use the third hole in the pickguard to add a Q switch. It's fairly easy, relatively cheap ($50), and, IMHO, is a huge improvement. I usually play with no Q or in the middle position (6 db boost). I rarely use the full Q position, (9 db boost), which is the default setting without a Q switch.

Bill, tgo

elwoodblue · « **Reply #8 on:** January 04, 2015, 07:47:46 PM »

yeah , those are gonna sound thin as it stands...
tested and works perfect...don't think so

StephenR · « **Reply #9 on:** January 05, 2015, 09:08:34 AM »

Bill:

Hadn't thought about adding a Q switch to the activators. Sounds like it would be a useful mod. How much soldering is required to put the switch in?
Any idea if a CVQ can be added instead of the three-position switch?

lbpesq · « **Reply #10 on:** January 05, 2015, 03:34:00 PM »

Installing a Q switch is fairly easy if you have minimal soldering skills. of the installation instructions. I'm not sure about adding a CVQ, but I believe there is another currently active thread on this issue. I think it may be a bit more complicated, but you should contact Alembic for accurate info. And yes, the Q is a very useful mod. I'm about to add it to an Essence I recently restored.

Bill, tgo

StephenR · « **Reply #11 on:** January 05, 2015, 04:04:08 PM »

Diagram is very helpful, looks like it is pretty easy to do... thanks!