A Fernandes copy that is "better than a real Alembic!"

[texangerbil]

RIC are very agressive in their pursuit of ebayers using the R-word about copies. They regularly get listings pulled for such infringements

[white_cloud]

I would like to clarify:
 
Im a big admirer of Japanese built instruments, hell - I had a Tokai hard puncher precision copy that was better than ANY of the actual Fender precisions that I have owned, and that included a couple of vintage models!
 
Aria, Ibanez, Fernandes and Tokai etc have contributed a lot to modern instrument manufacture - especially when offering value for money.
 
I guess the point I was trying to make was that its all very well making sublime copies of factory produced Fenders & Rics etc but accurately mimicking something hand crafted like an Alembic, and making it of equal (or superior) quality, is an entirely different ball game.
 
In fairness to Fernandes, all things being equal, they actually did a remarkable job - to a point!
 
John.

[georgie_boy]

Have to agree John!!
I owned a long scale Fernandes with a superb walnut top back in 1986.
Great bass!!
Sorted out a J D Mark king no probs!!
NOT however the sound and sweetness of my 76 Sereies 1
 
Just my 0.02
 
G

[white_cloud]

Thanks George,
 
I have never played a Fernandes Alembic copy but the fact a seasoned pro like yourself preferred it to a (handmade) J D says a lot about the qualities they must have had!  
 
Having said that I always felt that J D Mark Kings were as much of a fashion statement as anything else during the eighties when Mark burst onto the scene! Everybody wanted one to slap the hell out of lol!! I adored the look of the damn things (probably as they looked like Alembics) but I never actually liked the feel or sound too much! I owned a Supernatural model and the neck was wildly unstable - have spoke to others though who loved them.
 
John.

[andrew_o]

i'm looking at this bass, (the one that is on ebay). what does the power supply do? also, whats the significance to the 5 pin connector? i'm a newb to alembics, the only thing i really know is stanley clarke plays 'em.

[ghostyhead]

bro if you want a nice alembic stanley clarke model WITH leds... go to our for sale section
its a good price... lovely bass, and its sold through the club. I bought a Mark King sig standard from someone here at the club and had it shipped to me in NewZealand. Great club to buy through...
just a thought.
Cheers
Ben

[andrew_o]

$5000 compared to maybe $500? i'm also planning on using the fernandes for my school bass (i play in the jazz band at my school). Still, can anyone answer what the significance of the 5 pin connector and power supply?

[elwoodblue]

I'm guessing it's an 18 volt system , so it could be a +9 volt pin,  a -9volt pin , a neutral(ground) pin , and a pin for each pickup hot signal if it's stereo.
 
someone here might know for sure

[82daion]

(double-post)
 
(Message edited by 82Daion on July 05, 2008)

[82daion]

Since the Series electronics in a real Alembic go through batteries like hotcakes (in most cases), the point is to provide a reliable source of power to the bass. The 5-pin cable is simply the chosen means to connect the power supply to the bass.
 
Elwood describes the wiring correctly, for the most part, although I think that it's wired 18V +/-.

[lbpesq]

Andrew:
 
The Fernandes system is similar to Alembic - after all, it is an Alembic copy.  Like an Alembic, the electronics have two single coil pickups with a dummy hum cancellor in the middle.  The system runs at 18 volts.  The 5-pin connector hooks up to a power supply that has both mono and stereo outs (one pickup for each channel).  When used without the power supply, the batteries don't last long at all - only a few hours.  Also, if this is wired like the old Alembic Series instruments, when using the 1/4 jack (battery power) instead of the 5 pin, you'll only get the output of one pickup.  If this is the case, it can easily be re-wired to provide a mono output (both pickups) from the 1/4 jack.  Running this without the power supply is a major disadvantage, IMHO.  I haven't seen a Fernandes Power supply since they came out in the late 70's (mine came without one also), but an Alembic DS-5 or DS-5R ($550) and 5 pin cable ($190) should work with it.  Be aware that while the woodwork on the Fernandes is similar to Alembic, the electronics were not nearly as successful a copy.
 
Bill, the guitar one

[andrew_o]

is it possible to have a 5 pin connector into a quarter inch jack, so i can just plug it right into an amp?

[lbpesq]

Andrew:
 
You can plug into the amp in two different ways.
 
1. With the 1/4 jack, or
 
2. With a 5-pin cable through the power supply.
 
It's one or the other, not both.  You either plug a regular 1/4 phone plug cable between the bass and amp or the 5-pin between bass and power supply unit, and then either one (mono) or two (stereo) 1/4 cables between the power supply unit and the amp.  The wiring at the 1/4 jack in the bass can be re-wired to allow both pickups when using the 1/4 cable, if you want.
 
Bill, tgo

[room037]

Hi All,
We often call Fernandes copy as Ferbic.  
 
Our Alembic Fun Club in Japan member checked original power suply PS-5 for Ferbic.(Not DS-5)
It supplys ?}9V!
I belived Ferbic is totally same construction, but it runs ?}9V.
 

 
In empirical knowledge, It runs with DS-5(?}18V) by both owners.
 
Eiji

[David Houck]

Thanks Eiji!