Author Topic: Epic with a switch. (Read 304 times)

tubeviper · « **on:** June 07, 2008, 09:45:18 PM »

I just bought an epic with a switch. The installation looks neat and tidy including the wiring. Could it have been factory? What would the purpose of the switch be?

Thanks!

jbybj · « **Reply #1 on:** June 07, 2008, 11:19:59 PM »

Stock Epics come with a Bass and Treble cut/boost, with another pot where the switch is. The switch is most likely a Q switch which accompanies the Low Pass filter electronics that Alembic is famous for. It appears as if your Epic has the filter and Q switch as an option. Someone more familiar will probably post a link to the explanation of how your electronics work, it's somewhere on this forum. Welcome to the club, Have fun. JBY

keith_h · « **Reply #2 on:** June 08, 2008, 02:49:55 PM »

Looks like you have the Essence electronics with Q-switch. My Orion 5 string was also upgraded to this setup when it was built.
Look here for the Essence electronics description.

Keith

keurosix · « **Reply #3 on:** June 08, 2008, 07:09:54 PM »

Hello Dave,
Welcome to the club!
Your Epic most likely has the Alembic AE-2 electronics upgrade installed. This is an OEM plug-in low-pass filter and Q switch that replaces the basic bass boost & treble boost originally present on the guitar - unless it was originally ordered that way from the begining. In any event, if you can identify the filter knob and sweep it up and down with the Q switch in the boost position, you will get a very noticable wah-wah sound which is also very addicting. By fine tuning the filter position, you can dial in any tone you like and realize the true potential of the Alembic bass. I have provided a link to a post where the AE-2 is discussed in detail:

http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/45998.html

Good luck, and congrats on your Alembic purchase! However, you cannot get away with a sneaky little picture like that! We want to see the whole thing!
Kris

tubeviper · « **Reply #4 on:** June 08, 2008, 08:54:17 PM »

Thanks Keith and Kris! Does the following photo help positively identify things, i.e. Essence electronics? It looks factory to me.. But I have a request into the serial number forum where I have a full photo of the Epic...

Dave

keurosix · « **Reply #5 on:** June 09, 2008, 06:04:47 AM »

Dave,
Rest assured that you have Alembic electronics here. No this is not Essence electronics, because the Essence does not have the Q switch. In fact, what you have is better than the original electronic package in the Essence model. This is a custom circuit (AE-2), and judging by the very neat cable ties it looks factory installed. Wait to see if the factory confirms this with the SN request. Happy playing!
Kris

keith_h · « **Reply #6 on:** June 09, 2008, 06:32:08 AM »

I can't tell from the picture whether this is an original install or after the bass was built. It is a very clean installation. If the Q-switch hole is larger than the shaft this would say to me that the electronics were upgraded after the bass was built. If the shaft is the same size then I would say it was ordered that way. In any event your serial number request should resolve the question.

By the way the Q-switch is a feature for the Essence electronics (can order with or without).
Without seeing the actual filters I would guess that AE-2 filter and Essence filter are the same.

Keith

tubeviper · « **Reply #7 on:** June 10, 2008, 08:42:35 AM »

One more question, what kind of wood is that visible in the top photo? It was advertised as bocate but I think its bubinga, or even walnut...

Thanks!

lembic76450 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 10, 2008, 09:30:07 AM »

Dave,

Depending on how true the color is in the photo

it looks like it could be Walnut. A larger photo

would be better.

Kenn

tubeviper · « **Reply #9 on:** June 10, 2008, 12:12:02 PM »

tbrannon · « **Reply #10 on:** June 10, 2008, 12:27:32 PM »

Sure looks like walnut to me, but I'm proven wrong quite regularly so stay tuned for a few more opinions! =)

Toby

keith_h · « **Reply #11 on:** June 10, 2008, 03:03:30 PM »

Another vote for walnut. Real nice flame pattern.

Keith

dannobasso · « **Reply #12 on:** June 10, 2008, 03:13:07 PM »

I too say walnut.

ojo · « **Reply #13 on:** June 10, 2008, 03:54:48 PM »

Well, this post is informative on a couple of levels. My epic looks like his, and based on your comments, looks like my top may be walnut.

Second, I've been thinking about this mod for my epic, and I've found this discussion interesting. I'd be interested in more opinions/reviews from anyone who has done this mod or has this setup.

Thanks,

Joe

keurosix · « **Reply #14 on:** June 10, 2008, 05:43:42 PM »

Another vote for Walnut. I would be surprised if it's something else.
Joe, scroll up to my post #320 where I provided a link to a discussion of the AE-2 circuit. This was an easy mod truly plug-n-play. Alembic supplies the filter wired to the switch, and all the hardware (nuts, washers) needed. A simple instruction sheet and a mild warning that the switch may require a larger washer for the 1/4 pot hole (provided) or a slight thinning of the inside wall below the switch hole (if the switch does not extend out enough for the nut to hold). If you need to do the thinning, a piloted reamer would be the tool of choice and then you would need some conductive paint to replace the removed shield. All this would be done INSIDE the cavity and not affect the finish outside. There is a choice of a 2 position or 3 position switch with this mod, and of course the 3 position switch is definitely worth the extra few dollars! I did this mod to my Epic 5 string fretless without the need to thin the wood below the switch hole. The bass & treble controls come out via plug, and the filter & switch go in, in their place. The sound improvement was stellar, it's an original Alembic circuit, and instantly upgrades your guitar to Custom status! No better way to add the classic Alembic low-pass filter sound to your bass. You keep the bass & treble circuit (outside the guitar) for more value, and word has it that there is a Y cable connector modification that can add the filter & Q switch to the bass and treble controls for the custom East-meets West circuit. Of course this will require 2 new holes drilled through the body, and maybe some more area removed in the control cavity. Another thing to consider for upgrading later?
Enjoy
Kris