Author Topic: Guitar electronics (Read 122 times)

fishhed · « **on:** December 18, 2007, 06:23:20 PM »

I am the proud owner of a set of Alembic guitar pickups (telecaster style)and am building the guitar around them. Do I need Alembic active pre-amp like with bass PUPs?
How do I find out what electronics I need to go with?
Thanks,

Fishhed

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** December 18, 2007, 08:16:28 PM »

Hi Michael, welcome to the board!

Alembic pickups are low impedence and do require a preamp. The Tele pickups usually come with a volume, filter, and 3-way switch in a package called the TC/AE-1. You could probably order the package without the pickups.

fishhed · « **Reply #2 on:** December 19, 2007, 02:10:48 PM »

Thanks Dave,

I should order this from Alembic. Any third party options folks know about?

I appreciate the help.

BTW I also have just acquired an Epic bass. MB

David Houck · « **Reply #3 on:** December 20, 2007, 05:42:05 AM »

Congrats on the Epic!

hendixclarke · « **Reply #4 on:** December 20, 2007, 03:20:51 PM »

Hi Michael, yeah welcome!

fishhed · « **Reply #5 on:** December 21, 2007, 12:46:58 AM »

Thanks for the welcome.

I am still learning how to get different sounds from her but the playing is effortless and the balance is great. Walnut on mahogany for a smooth sound, just restrung with Alembics and then local set up...
:-)

fishhed · « **Reply #6 on:** December 21, 2007, 12:51:56 AM »

Doh!

Looks like I have electronics with the PUPs on the tele, but not as fancy as with the bass. Guess I am all set - but could not find any spec for the model # TC/AE-1 you identified. Is the filter like the bass pre or a simpler tone control?

See attached for pix of whole kit.

Thanks for the welcome and help,

Fishhed

adriaan · « **Reply #7 on:** December 21, 2007, 01:51:06 AM »

The filter is a different control than the bass+treble controls that would be on a standard Epic.

The filter is a low-pass filter, which means it is somewhat similar to a passive tone control, in that it cuts the high frequencies. With a passive tone pot you control the drop-off rate from a fixed cut-off frequency, but with the Alembic filter you control the cut-off frequency where the drop-off rate is fixed. This also produces a small natural accent at the cut-off frequency. It allows you to tune the filter to voice your tone, rather than just muffle your tone.

On most Alembic filters without a Q switch the circuit boosts that natural accent at the cut-off frequency up to 8 dB, which you may or may not like - personally, I find 3 or 6 dB adds a nice ring, but 8 dB is too much (which probably means it's great if you're fighting to be heard against a guitarist with a very loud stack). Adding a Q switch is inexpensive, and would add a lot of flexibility.

Nice top on that Tele! I would suggest covering the inside of the cavity with shielding paint to make it dead silent.

fishhed · « **Reply #8 on:** December 21, 2007, 08:43:14 AM »

Thanks for the explanation of the Q switch. It sounds like that is a recommendation for the Epic (is there a link for the mod?) rather than for the guitar?

I think the Tele looks nice too - still figuring out how to finish it - maple neck & fretboard or try to add mids with rosewood (is Wenge to0 much for a traditional shape like a tele) fretboard.

It will need additional routing for the battery so I will have it lined then - thats why I am looking at any additions I may want to make to electronics before making the hole bigger.

Suggestions are welcome. Here is one more pic of the top as you mentioned it. I am really excited about having Alembic tones in both bass and guitar, and would like to max flexibility in tones I can get from each one.

Thanks to all for the interest.

Fishhed

adriaan · « **Reply #9 on:** December 21, 2007, 09:51:06 AM »

I'd recommend the Q switch for any instrument with the Alembic filter, but you're right: the comment about cutting through loud guitar stacks obviously relates to basses.

The standard version of the Epic comes with 'traditional' bass and treble boost/cut controls with fixed center frequencies, no filter - but many have swapped that out for a filter with a Q switch, or have added a filter which runs in series to the B&T controls.

jazzyvee · « **Reply #10 on:** December 21, 2007, 10:38:02 AM »

I have the equivalent alembic activators on my USA Fender Strat. Originally it came with the volume and filter, and I had alembic add a 3 position q-switch to it. The range of tones is incredible especially with the strats 3 pickup 5 position setup.

This year I changed the circuits between guitars and put the Filter and Q-switch into my Orion guitar and transferred the Orion's bass and treble circuits to the strat.

For the orion It's opened up the sound fantastically and it has more of an acoustic tone, more control of the warmer end of the sound spectrum too which works well for a good Jazz sound.

The filter changes the sound of the guitar more than the B & T since small changes in the filter provides audible differences in the tone guitar you really can fine tune the sound to where you need it.

On the Strat, bass and treble works much better than the standard Strat tone control and due to the pickup options on the strat, switching pickups still gives great sound possibilities that are wide enough to compensate for the lack of a filter.

If you can get a filter & Q-switch setup go for it but if not you won't be disappointed with two pickups and bass & treble pickups.

Jazzyvee