Author Topic: Fendalembic Precise Jazz (Read 179 times)

mr_tuvok · « **on:** October 08, 2007, 01:13:40 PM »

Hello. I recently purchased a used set of [I assume/guess]PE-1 Activators with a filter on Ebay. They did not come with any instructions or paperwork. I am attempting to install them in a Precision bass body. Problems are: I have no idea which side is the volume control & which is the filter. Other problem is that will these controls & battery fit in a standard Fender Precision rout without cutting? Your help would be greatly appreciated & thank you.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t68/stratcat2005/PIC00018.jpg

(Message edited by mr_tuvok on October 08, 2007)

grateful · « **Reply #1 on:** October 09, 2007, 02:03:19 AM »

Hi Barry and welcome to the club.

The filter is the potentiometer with the most electronic bits attached, the volume is pretty much just a potentiometer. I think you will need to do some routing to fit the battery inside.

Hope that helps.

Mark

mr_tuvok · « **Reply #2 on:** October 09, 2007, 04:49:07 AM »

I see and thank you for your help. Also thanks for the welcome to the club, but I think that this is as close as I'm going to get to owning an Alembic. I was also a serious bidder on the Triple Omega Bec Var. I loved it & even saved the pictures, but I just could not justify the expense. The auction did not meet reserve & I contacted the seller to see if he would relist it. He told me he sold it privately & it was gone. I am still heartbroken.

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #3 on:** October 09, 2007, 06:13:03 AM »

Hi Barry,

Welcome to the club. If you get a chance you should post pictures of your project. By the way, you shouldn't give up on the idea of owning an Alembic (if you would want to anyway). You would be surprised at some of the deals that occasionally arise on some of the less expensive models (which are also really impressive works of art in their own right.

terryc · « **Reply #4 on:** October 09, 2007, 08:05:08 AM »

I fitted P/J activators 10 years ago to a Squier Precision, I had to route the cavity to accomodate the 2x vol, bass & treble controls.
It's doesn't have to be exact as the scratch plate will hide the cavity, just mark the edge of the plate on the body so you don't over cut it.

mr_tuvok · « **Reply #5 on:** October 12, 2007, 11:16:13 PM »

I cut into my precision body today & made enough room for the controls, wires & battery. Then I gently stuffed everything under the pickguard. It all fit nicely. However, there's a problem. The controls work but there is no sound from the pickup.
I can hear the hiss go up & down when I turn the volume through my test amp, but no sound from the pickup. The only thing I can think of is the splice to rejoin the pickup to the controls. There might be a short in there, but it's 2:15 AM & I'm too tired to mess with it today. I hope the pickup is not dead, but I'll try some other time.

terryc · « **Reply #6 on:** October 15, 2007, 04:01:59 AM »

Are the connectors in good shape, to test the system , take the pickguard off with all the pre amps attached and pic up wires, lay to one side and plug a cord in the input and to your amp, turn vol up on pickguard and tap the p/u with a screwdriver or other ferrous object, you should here the 'tap'
Make sure the battery connector hasn't shifted when installing into the body.
If the molex connectors are not connecting they can be cut off and soldered to the pins as I did on my old Squier Precision, ascertain the 'hot connection' and the ground or no sound.
DFung can chime in on this please??

mr_tuvok · « **Reply #7 on:** October 18, 2007, 05:15:15 PM »

I solved the problem & finished the bass. After letting it sit for a day & working with the clarity of daylight, I found a DEAD SHORT across the circuit. I strung it up with Roto RS66S, intonated it, plugged it in & gave it a test run. I intend to take it out with me tomorrow & give it a test run at the studio. Initial reactions: A little LIGHT in the BASS department! I expected a Hi-Fi type of sound from an active preamp but I expect a Precision type pickup to THUMP. I have a Mexi P-bass that I put in a Raven Labs preamp and a Bart 8CBP pickup with 1/2 rounds. When I need to do some Motown, this bass thumps all over the place. I also have a Mexi JB that I put a J-Retro and 2 Fralins in. Just the sound you would expect from a JB like Joe Osborne to all kinds of extremes. It gets compliments about the sound all the time. The problem is--I don't know what this instrument's forte is for the types of music that I do. Originals, Progressive Rock [I have Rickenbackers for that] some jazz fusion, Motown, fingerstyle or pick, this is where I'm at. I'm also a rock guitar player which is a conversation for another group. Bottom line is, for a specific application, I know what to dig out of my toolbox. I'm not sure if I am disappointed with the Alembic bass sound or not. Maybe it's just not in the cards for me.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t68/stratcat2005/PIC00019.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t68/stratcat2005/PIC00022.jpg

terryc · « **Reply #8 on:** October 19, 2007, 08:30:22 AM »

The Alembic Activators I have in my old Squier have bass & treble controls, when I installed them it became hi fi but it is a totally different beast tonally compared to my Mark King Signature which has filters and Q switches.
I used the Squier for many years before I got the MK, there is no Fender thump with either basses. The Squier has full bodied bass and high treble and all the tones in between, the filters are a total different kettle of fish..subtley is the key with the filters and patience in getting to know how they work. Less is more

mr_tuvok · « **Reply #9 on:** October 21, 2007, 09:37:51 AM »

I took this bass out to the studio Friday & used it at rehearsal They had the same Ampeg SVT 3 head that I have at home, but at more volume. The sound was clean, clear & very hi-fi. One thing that struck me was that I heard some sounds that I recognized. One was something I heard Rudy Sarzo play in a concert I saw. Now I realize that he put Alembic activators in his Aria basses. At the other extreme another sound I heard was the same as the band Starcastle had on the Fountains Of Light album. When I saw them in 1977 the bass player had an Alembic & my bass nailed it. Nothing else I have makes that sound. Unfortunately, he passed away recently, so they had to get somebody else to play like that for their 2007 reunion album. Bottom line, the bass works & sounds good, but the sound still takes some getting used to. It's good for some things, but not for all. I wonder, can a Q switch be attached to this filter? If so, how much does it cost & what difference does it make to the sound? Thanks to all for your help. This was not an instant gratification deal.

David Houck · « **Reply #10 on:** October 21, 2007, 08:51:02 PM »

I believe you can order a Q switch for that setup. The Q switch gives an 8db boost at the cut-off frequency of the filter. I can't recall what the price is; but it's pretty reasonable. On an Essence without the Q switch, the Q is always on; so adding the Q switch allows you to turn it off. However, I have no idea if that's the case with Activator packages.