Author Topic: Favorite Alembic Bass Pickups Combinations (Read 122 times)

tmoney61092 · « **on:** September 25, 2009, 04:41:53 AM »

i just wanted to get some feeback from people to see what the everyone's favorite pickup combination is and why.

~Taylor Watterson

the_mule · « **Reply #1 on:** September 25, 2009, 05:38:36 AM »

Well that's easy, two single coils, one humcancelling device and some mean Series electronics behind it!

Wilfred

adriaan · « **Reply #2 on:** September 25, 2009, 05:50:41 AM »

Bass or guitar?

In general, the idea behind the pickups is that they will add less colouration than regular pickups. So there is probably less variation in the sound that the different pickups put out, compared to the many variations that are on offer from companies like DiMarzio or Seymour Duncan (to name but two).

That is not to say that there aren't any differences, e.g. nothing sounds like the single coils in the Series instruments.

AXYs and MXYs are identical except for the shell size. Probably most basses have a pair of these. They sound transparent - for lack of a better word: if the neck pickup sounds different from the bridge pickup it's because the string sounds different between the two spots. If you swap the pickups the instrument will sound the same, so the sound is not so much in the pickups.

Compared to AXYs/MXYs, FatBoys have a bit more oomph in the lower regions, and not as much sparkle.

Don't know about the Ps and Js, but they have much narrower magnets and coils, and I guess a P will sound different from a J. Also the J is relatively weak sounding (which is where the output level trimpots come in handy).

jazzyvee · « **Reply #3 on:** September 25, 2009, 06:21:40 AM »

All my alembics have two pickups. I have a strat with three activator pickups and one filter & q-switch combination the three pickups give me great variety without even changing the tone controls.

If I could have some customisation done, my ideal would be a series guitar with three single coil pickups and filter circuits on the neck and bridge only.

But instead of a standard 5 position toggle switch I would have a fancy switch/ pot that was basically a pan blender that had 3 fixed positions. neck, middle and bridge but was infinitely variable between those positions. That means i could mix the sound in between neck and middle & middle and bridge pickups rather than have a fixed pickup combination at traditional positions 2 and 4.

I've really grown up with one master volume control on my guitars and have not noticed any disadvantage. Even though my series I guitar has one volume per pickup, a master volume would enable me to adjust the overall volume of the guitar without changing the relative balance between pickps. Something I can't do at the moment.

Jazzyvee

tdukes · « **Reply #4 on:** September 25, 2009, 06:49:59 AM »

I use a volume pedal, but master volume would be nice. I think having a separate volume control for each pickup is one of the things I like about the Series I electronics over my Tribute's electronics. I use the neck pickup volume all the way up with the filter about half way and back off on the bridge volume to about half where I have the bright all the way on the the filter turned all the way up. I don't really know how to get the same effect on the Tribute.

I have been listening to Les Paul a lot since he passed away and have started using just the bridge pickup with the bright switch all the way up and the filter all the way up too. Really bright. Almost startling played by itself, but it blends with the band pretty well.

Series II electronics includes a master volume, doesn't it? I have never played one.

My Tribute has three pickups and I use the middle one a lot, but I don't remember thinking I wished the Series had a middle pickup when I was playing it.

Todd.

jazzyvee · « **Reply #5 on:** September 25, 2009, 10:12:56 AM »

Hi Todd, to be fair to myself, I have only played my series guitar at home and not at rehearsal or live... yet. I really want to get comfortable with my sound on my series I guitar before I head on stage with it.

I have probably said this before somewhere but I think one of the good/bad things about alembic guitars is that I don't have any tones of reference on record to help me find sounds to aim for unlike on bass.

So unlike on my bases, I haven't yet found a guitar sound that really is me yet. If you know any music played with series I guitars or orion guitars that are clean sounding or maybe a slight bluesy crunch, but not distorted rock, that i could check out that would be great.

Jazzyvee
ps: what is the volume pedal you use for guitar?

tdukes · « **Reply #6 on:** September 25, 2009, 03:21:59 PM »

I am using the volume pedal on a Line 6 PODxt Live right now. I do have the problem that I have to recalibrate the volume every two or three months. It drifts to where its not completely off when all the way down. I have thought about putting together a pedal board instead of using an integrated unit, but I haven't actually started looking for components. The integrated unit is very convenient.

I don't know of any music examples recorded with an Alembic Series I guitar. Its a shame really. If someone else has any suggestions, I would be interested as well.

Todd.

jazzyvee · « **Reply #7 on:** September 25, 2009, 04:20:25 PM »

Line 6 Podxt Live......What do you think about them? I bought one of those for convenience a few years back when I was touring a lot. I know some people love them but, I didn't take to it at all and because it wasn't faulty I couldn't get a refund on it.

I find it to be a big tone thieving Mother Sucker and makes my sound too thin. I rarely use it now unless someone wants me to do a gig and use lots of effects. But even then I use it with a boss line switcher so I can keep it out of the signal path until i need it.

I'm pretty much a straight into the amp kind of guy at heart but most gigs on guitar require some effects.

You know what I'll open a thread for anyone who knows some Alembic Guitar Only recordings that we can check out.

Here it is. http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/70815.html?1253920659
Jazzyvee

tdukes · « **Reply #8 on:** September 25, 2009, 05:06:46 PM »

It's convenient. Sound is ok for what I am doing live, but I don't think I would want to record with it (I don't really record anymore anyway). I don't really use a lot of effects, just the volume pedal, chorus, delay, and overdriven amp model occasionally. I have used the wah-filter on one song with disappointing results. I would probably be a lot happier with my sound if I put together a pedal board. I have just been too lazy to actually do it. I am starting to feel motivated. I may go look at some effects tomorrow!

Todd.

(Message edited by tdukes on September 25, 2009)

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #9 on:** September 26, 2009, 06:23:52 AM »

I have a 4 string Rogue and play fingerstyle most time, never pick and never tap (just some slaping, but a litlle). Alembic gives me all sounds that I need.

I never use the LP all way open when the Q is on because it sounds too harsh to my ears. Never use LP full closed with the Q engaged to avoid excessive boominess and usualy don't use bass and treble switches. Most tones I prefer coming from hands and balancing the PUs.

Sometimes a litlle Neck PU only, no Q and LP almost full closed for a really dark/mutted sound. Sometimes Neck PU only with Q engaged and LP half to almost full open to reach a P-Bass tone or along with hand muting and thumb picking to get that tic-tac sound.

Most time I use both PUs full open with LP half to full open, just turning on or off the Q switch to lighten or darken my tone. I slightly balance them towards Neck or Bridge if I need more chest or articulation, but my range goes just from 10? towards bridge to full neck PU (I don't like sounding too trebly if I'm not soloing).

I try to get the Amp flat and just equalize it to match the room.

(Message edited by mario farufyno on September 26, 2009)

bigredbass · « **Reply #10 on:** September 27, 2009, 09:09:21 PM »

I originally had AXY4's in the bigredbass. I became curious about the FatBoys, and was able to install them.

I'd describe them this way: AXY's sound like wonderfully flat studio monitors. The FatBoys sound like exceptional stereo speakers: Still very truthful, but with some good bumps in the frequency response relative to the AXY's. Can't go wrong either way, but the FatBoys make me think of what a Music Man bass humbucker would sound like if Ron got hold of one and improved it.

My other bass has a P/J Activator setup with Signature electronics. The P could recharge a Prius (Mica always said it's the loudest pickup they make) and sounds huge. The J sounds like an exceptional Jazz pickup, but somehow doesn't have the presence of that awesome P ( I get dizzy thinking about one retrofitted into a $200 Squier PBass, what a sneaky thing that would be! ), but I'm sure in a traditional double J setup , it would wonderful. Of course, it's humbucking as well.