Author Topic: Signature Electronic (Read 159 times)

ulf · « **on:** July 30, 2009, 04:00:47 AM »

Hi Alembics,
I know it is a silly question, but where can I find the description of the various functions of the knobs on the SJ Signature?
I don\t really know exactly the functions and I did not hear differences switching the Q-switch
Thanks

FC Bass · « **Reply #1 on:** July 30, 2009, 04:22:11 AM »

Use a pick, I'm shure you hear the differences between the Q-switch settings in the attack of the tone.
Also: When the Q is on, you hear a wah effect when you turn the filterknob

Click here for Signature controls setup

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #2 on:** July 30, 2009, 04:23:40 AM »

You may find some directions here:

http://club.alembic.com/Images/16271/16368.html?1107720661

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #3 on:** July 30, 2009, 04:44:35 AM »

Using the Q switch is kind of tricky and must be used along the Filter Pots.

They are just a boost at the cut-off frequency you adjust at the Filter, it changes the character of it. Since all PUs have a unique Cut-off frequency and some have more or less peak at this particular point (due to their materials and construction methode), this is an Alembic's ingenuous attempt to mimic all possible PU tones with their Eletronics.

Try using just the Bridge PU first, moving the Pan Pot to solo it. Then you should use the Q switch at its maximum boost to hear what it does more clearly. Now you must try the Filter control while you strike a String. If you make it properly you may hear some Wha effect.

You didn't need to always use the Q switch on, some times flat is enough, but this will shows you what they do with PU's spectrum response. Try possibilites at Bridge PU fisrt, then with the Neck's, before mixing them together.

I do my main Tone adjustments just blending PUs (but I have a Rogue, that is considerably more simple in its adjustments possibilities) and use the Q switch to put just some sparkles at some songs. Usually I use it as a way to make it sound more articulated, pushing somewhere at 800~1.5KHz (determined by how much space the other Instruments left me).

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #4 on:** July 30, 2009, 04:59:25 AM »

Is really difficult to hear what it does if you use the Filter all open because at 6KHz you affect the clicking part of your Tone mainly (the pick sound or fret noise part of it). But at intermediary settings you will notice the boost making its thing.

It enables you to change the PU's response from fat to nasal and from articulated to airy. This is how you can simulate any bass tone with your Alembic. You may need sometime to get used to, as Series and Signature are more complex in its tone possibilities.

Try to find one great tone first. Usually we choose one bass simply because it have one great tone that fits our playing style, but Alembics have all of then inside its guts.

ulf · « **Reply #5 on:** July 30, 2009, 06:42:06 AM »

Thanks so lot, friends...
very helpfull for me!

David Houck · « **Reply #6 on:** July 30, 2009, 07:56:43 AM »

I find it helpful to remember that how you have your amp's controls set up can significantly determine what changing the controls on your bass will do. As an example, if you roll off all the high end on your amp, then changes you make to the high end of the filter on the bass, or boosting a high filter setting with the Q switch, won't have much effect.

tbrannon · « **Reply #7 on:** July 30, 2009, 08:46:33 AM »

Good point Dave ^ which is why I really like just plugging into a DI... I'm easily confused and having the versatility of Alembic electronics + the tone shaping available on my amp can befuddle me at times.

I honestly don't know how you guys that play series instruments through a SF-2, F-IX or F-2B setup deal with all the options.

terryc · « **Reply #8 on:** July 30, 2009, 09:52:21 AM »

tbrannon..I agree, how much tone options do you need??
I usually have the EQ flat on the amp and use the filters.
I do use that behringer amp modeller pedal but for a boost only.
I think if you had a really high quality power amplifier, you know, custom built using the finest components, hand wired with the sockets mounted directly to the panel and wired to the board(not soldered to the board where the constant plugging in and out breaks the solder), with only a pre gain and post volume going into a Thiel & Small calculated cabinet with a high quality speaker(s), you could just use the tone system on the Alembic basses(especially the S2's) and that would give you the most natural bass sound.

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #9 on:** July 30, 2009, 02:08:01 PM »

My home sound system have an auxiliary 1/4 input that I use with my Bass sometime. As I'm used to hear CDs on it and had spent sometime previously adjusting its Eq to get a fairly good reponse, I got pretty good reference of how my Bass can really sound.

This way I've found a main tone I prefer more just using its Filter, Switches and PU balance as a way to define a reference tone. Then I try to get that same Tone when I first plug it in an Amp without touching the Bass. So I kind of flatten the Amp twisting its Eq to match that Tone I expect hear from the Bass.

Although Cabinets and Amps always sound slightly different from a home system (specially at high end), this procedure enables me to be pretty sure about what Tone I'm sending to PA and how far can I push Alembic's eletronics without making it sounds harsh or too loud. So I never go further the previous settings I know that works, even if it looks to sound good at Stage. The idea here is to have one secure reference (the Bass itself) and stick to it to fine tune your Amp's tone despite room characteristics or gear's weaknesses.

Sound Tech is much happier now...

(Message edited by Mario Farufyno on July 30, 2009)

David Houck · « **Reply #10 on:** July 30, 2009, 03:33:01 PM »

Toby; I have to admit that sometimes when I notice that something's not quite right, I'll sit and stare at my rig for a while until it comes to me what it is that I need to adjust.

Terry; personally, and I know it's probably not true for most bass players, and it may even be sacrilege here on the Alembic forum, but for me the most natural bass sound is not what I am after coming out of the speakers. Rather, I try to get the sound that best expresses what I'm trying to say. My rig is now extremely complex as to the number of variables that go in to making up the signal that reaches the speakers, and part of that is indeed for tonal options that I do use to express myself. However, the other part of the complexity is in finding a curve that best fits the instrument and the S2 electronics. The overall curve of the rig, and the options for adjusting the shape of the curve, are now very supportive of adjustments I make to the S2 controls in making the bass express what I'm feeling at the moment. Of course the stuff I'm working on at the moment isn't the type of stuff that most bass players are working on. So my situation is a bit out of the ordinary.

But the whole exercise has taught me that how your rig is set up has a lot to do with what happens when you turn the filter or change the Q on your bass.

ulf · « **Reply #11 on:** July 31, 2009, 01:13:28 AM »

Dave, Toby,
I've always set the attitude at my Aguilar on flat, (and the Aguilar is one of the Amps like Glockenklang, which will give original sound from connected instruments) that is without sound variation .... just to get the amazing original Alembic sound..and I always try to get the Stanley Sound.
I hope I find the time to upload my short video of vacation at the Canarian Islands with a own piece of music playing with Alembic.

ulf · « **Reply #12 on:** July 31, 2009, 01:18:51 AM »

Dave, Toby,
I've always set the attitude at my Aguilar on flat, (and the Aguilar is one of the Amps like Glockenklang, which will give original sound from connected instruments) that is without sound variation .... just to get the amazing original Alembic sound..and I always try to get the Stanley Sound.
I hope I find the time to upload my short video of vacation at the Canarian Islands with a own piece of music playing with Alembic.

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #13 on:** July 31, 2009, 06:40:25 AM »

Sorry, double post...

(Message edited by Mario Farufyno on July 31, 2009)

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #14 on:** July 31, 2009, 06:41:43 AM »

The question is that the very room can shifts the gear's spectral response. So there is no such thing as natural sound or flat response, you always must adjust your amp's Eq to fit the Cabinets AND Room's characteristics.

You can't expect a 10 speaker to react as a 15, as you can't imagine diferent rooms sounding exactly the same as well . There are boomy rooms, there are dead rooms and there are sparkling reverberant rooms. So we always have to use the Amp's settings to balance that.

Trust the Bass, not the Gear. It is not gear's fault or lack of fidellity, just something that happens when you have to interact to a closed ambient (since it changes how your gear will sound).

(Message edited by Mario Farufyno on July 31, 2009)

(Message edited by Mario Farufyno on July 31, 2009)