Author Topic: Need help with wiring (Read 216 times)

rooster009 · « **on:** October 05, 2008, 03:31:57 PM »

First I'd like to say hello to everyone as I am a new member.
I just purchased what is believed to be a Fernandes PB alembic bass. It looks like a Fender neckthrough P-bass but has the Alembic style electronics. The previous owner messed the wiring up (for reasons unknown) and I need help figuring out how to fix it back to original. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you
Rooster

lbpesq · « **Reply #1 on:** October 05, 2008, 07:18:11 PM »

Rooster:

Welcome to the club. Without a picture, I can't be sure, but from your description it sounds like you have a Masterhand. I have the guitar version, which can be seen here. There are some Japanese sites with info on these instruments. I believe if you search this site you should find some links. Mine also came with lunched electronics. The word is that, while the wood work on the Fernandes instruments was quite good, the electronics paled in camparison to Alembic. I replaced the electronics in mine with Alembic humcancelling pick ups, low pass filter, and Q switch. I love it. Good luck with yours.

Bill, the guitar one

funkyjazzjunky · « **Reply #2 on:** October 06, 2008, 06:58:29 AM »

Welcome to the club

rooster009 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 06, 2008, 07:23:36 AM »

Thank you for your help Bill. Beautiful guitar by the way. I don't think mine is a Masterhand but it may be as my knowledge of fernandes guitars and basses is pretty thin. I bought this bass in a guitar/pawnshop for a hundred dollars not knowing actually what it was until I did a little research. The only thing that makes me think it is in fact a fernandes is the picture second from the bottom at this link. http://www8.plala.or.jp/alembic/copy_gallery.html

Here are some pics of my bass. I think they are very close to the same.

(Message edited by Rooster009 on October 06, 2008)

rooster009 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 06, 2008, 07:33:23 AM »

Thank you Funkyjazzjunky

terryc · « **Reply #5 on:** October 06, 2008, 08:50:58 AM »

rooster009-Welcome to our great forum.
The pu's look like Kent Armstrong Alembic Style, I know as I have two lurking around somewhere in my garage. Most modern Alembic pu's are either embossed or have gold lettering.
The electronics are definitely not Alembic as again there are no solderless connectors or marks on the pre amp card.(Seems to be a lot of transistors present- those black semi sircular components - never seen that on any Activator package!!)
Looking at that mess it would be difficult in where to start but if you are confident in sorting it out then unsoldering every wire from every component with a marking diagram to identify where each wire goes would be a start.

rooster009 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 06, 2008, 09:29:10 AM »

Thank you Terryc. I really don't know If this is a actual Fernandes or not, but it is pretty close to one. Thanks for the heads up on the pickups. I wonder did he also make a preamp to go with the pickups? If so That would help narrow done the electronics part. I'm hoping someone with a Fernandes copy of an Alembic will be able to help me out by shooting some pics of their control cavity. Maybe the preamp is the same. If not then I don't know where else to turn at the moment. I will however search for Kent Armstrong stuff as well. The wiring is quite a mess. some of the wires on the preamp aren't even hooked up. At the moment only the back pickup is hooked up to the preamp with just one volume no tone. It would probably be easier to just buy Alembic pickups and electronics to put in it, if i can find them for a reasonable price. I will keep searching for now though as I have many other basses to play while I fix this one. Thanks again for the advice. I am confident I can sort it out once I get a little more background on the instrument.

keith_h · « **Reply #7 on:** October 06, 2008, 10:41:20 AM »

My guess is the electronics/pickups are the original Fernandes Series 1 copies. The pots would be for setting the output and hum canceling. I suspect the disconnected brown wire is from a pickup and you might also have a disconnected hum canceling pickup.

I can't say how to hook it all back up but I wouldn't be surprised that the wires were disconnected because of bad pickups or circuits.

Keith

lbpesq · « **Reply #8 on:** October 06, 2008, 11:52:16 AM »

Rooster:

What you have there is a Fernandes PB. You can see one here. Scroll down near the bottom.

Bill, tgo

rooster009 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 07, 2008, 06:14:08 AM »

Thanks everyone. I have decided that I will start by buying a new preamp, then maybe some pickups as well. Does Alembic make a onboard preamp? Everything Alembic I have found is outboard and priced beyond what I would spend on this guitar. Also what kind of tone can I expect from Alembic pickups ( HIFI or Vintage )?

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #10 on:** October 07, 2008, 08:05:02 AM »

Usually Alembic harnesses are more expensive than ordinary PUs and Preamps. I think it will be more affordable asking for the wiring diagram in Fernandes's Site.

I don't think you could call vintage sounding anything from Alembic, to me they're the ultimate definition of modern and hifi...

adriaan · « **Reply #11 on:** October 07, 2008, 08:07:31 AM »

Hifi, as in true to the source. Not cold or characterless.

terryc · « **Reply #12 on:** October 07, 2008, 02:29:18 PM »

To add my bit..whether it be the activators or an Alembic bass,the sound is unique and to everyone in the club it is the best sound.
The good points are clarity, an almost infinite number of tonal options, no loss of signal with long cables, no loss of tone when the volume is turned down..and much more.
The bad points...the pu's will emphasise any sloppy playing technique so they educate you to play better as well.
Oh yes..they are expensive

To add, that website ibpesq linked..are they direct copies of Alembics..surely they are infringing copyright there even though there is no logo on the headstock!

rooster009 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 08, 2008, 10:50:31 AM »

Terryc would you be interested in getting rid of those Kent Armstrong pickups you referred to. I did some checking and the reason the front pickup was unhooked is because it is dead. So I'm in need of a new pickup. Also I took your advice and unhooked everything and labeled it.
I will start trying to rewire it next week when I'm off work. thanks again

rooster009 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 08, 2008, 11:06:00 AM »

I mentioned earlier that I have decided to buy a new preamp. Well as of right know I have decided to try and use the stock preamp. If I can't get it to work then I have decided to go with the Audere 3zm preamp. The reason I chose the Audere instead of a Alembic preamp is much in part due to cost. I understand about the Alembic quality but lets face it, this bass is no Alembic and to sink that kind of money into it is pointless. So I think I'll save a little money here and buy a real Alembic in the future, maybe a Rogue.