Author Topic: Alembic PU Help! (Read 160 times)

drjenney · « **on:** April 23, 2007, 08:36:24 AM »

I have mixed up some extra Alembic pickups I have on hand and need help sorting them out. Supposedly, I have two Fatboys and three Series, but they all look identical. Can anyone help me sort them out?

Here's the specs for each:
#1 4.31 ohms, labeled T, w/an MXN-9 connector
#2 4.40 ohms, labeled B, w/an MXN-20 connector

#3 4.34 ohms, labeled T, w/an MXN-22 connector
#4 4.34 ohms, lableled B, w/an MXN-10 connector

#5 4.32 ohms, labeled T, [and series 1], w/an MXN-12 connector

If I can ever figure out which is which, the Series PUs will be for sale--and yes, I have the original preamp and various switches.

Thanks for your help on this!

Dr. J

drjenney · « **Reply #1 on:** May 01, 2007, 03:33:09 PM »

Thanks to those who responded to me off list: davidhouck, aadrian and Mica. Bless you all.

I tried each of your various suggestions:

a) use iron filings and a piece of paper to try to see the magnetic lines of flux, see if there is a difference [had no filings, used steel BBs instead; no luck]

b) see if there is a difference in output from the MXYs [Yes! O, yes!] and between the FatBoys and the Series pickups [Sorry, none in volume and very little in sound].

c) see which PU produces more noise, especially if a cell phone is dialed nearby. [Hmmm... they all did, no discernible difference there, but perhaps my amp wasn't hi-fi enough to reproduce it. Wow! These PUS are all REALLY sensitive!!!].

Finally, I got to wondering if there was a difference in weight, as the Series PUs are single coil and the FatBoys are dual coil. Turns out I was correct. The FatBoys are just a bit heavier [Sorry, I can't give you exact figures. I used a balance scale with one pickup on each side. Nevertheless, there was a clear difference. YES!].

Anyhow, thanks for all your input and, for those who have been wondering, that's how to tell the difference between FatBoys and Series PUs (assuming you have one of each to check].

The best method, of course, is not to mix them up in the first place.

This thread probably ought to go in another forum for future reference, but I don't know how to do it. Perhaps one of the moderators could help out here?

Thanks again, everyone! Case closed.

Dr. J

georgie_boy · « **Reply #2 on:** May 01, 2007, 05:46:07 PM »

I am glad that you posted this !
I have 2 brand new unused Alembic p/ups at home.
They are labelled on the underside; manufactured by Alembic Inc. & a little orange & white sticker on each one with;
5 S-1 on one of them, and S-1 on the other.
If you find out which is which, then please let me know. I would also like to know which p/up goes in which position, as I got them as a matched pair.

G

drjenney · « **Reply #3 on:** May 01, 2007, 06:40:24 PM »

Sure sounds like you've got a set of series PUs there!

If they are both 5 long, then you have a set for a 5/6 string. When I got mine, they were labeled with a T or a B on the connector at the end. My series PUs turned out to be #3, #4, and #5 above.I honestly don't know whether the Series neck PU is different from the bridge PU. Anyone else know?

You also didn't say whether you also had the separate hum canceler and the Series preamp (PF-6x). What are you planning to do with them once you sort them out? [If that's not asking too much...?]

Dr. J

mica · « **Reply #4 on:** May 01, 2007, 07:13:16 PM »

S-1 should indicate single coil for Series I/II.

There's no difference between neck and bridge pickups except the cable length.

fthec · « **Reply #5 on:** May 04, 2007, 04:54:49 PM »

hi dr.j
i?m looking for a series II pu, becaus it semms to be that my series II has one bad (wrong polarity) replacement pu. how much would it cost and would it fit into a series II ?82?
hilmar