Author Topic: Alembic Bass Pickups (Read 128 times)

geddyfan · « **on:** December 02, 2005, 12:42:11 PM »

I am building a bass looking for the Alembic sound but I can't affored electronics right now.Does anyone know if Alembic pickups will work with other electronics?Bartolini in particular.This is not the system I will finish with but just checking other electronic options.Any help woul be appriciated.Thanks.Brian

lbpesq · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2005, 06:25:52 AM »

Brian:

Welcome to the club! I'm sure you will get a few more responses to your question, but here's my 2 cents:

I have a Fernandes (guitar, not a bass) that, when I recieved it, had three Alembic strat type pickups and a Bartolini pre-amp. While it wasn't as flexible as my Electrum with lo-pass filter and Q switch, it did work with the Bart pre-amp. I 'm having the Bart pulled out and replaced with Alembic electronics, along with replacing the pickups with more appropriate Alembics. You might keep an eye on eBay for electronics. Alembic systems do show up there every once in a while, often for significantly less than new prices.

Bill, the guitar one

811952 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2005, 02:04:27 PM »

And, to add to what Bill TGO has posted, Mica mentioned in another thread that Alembic does sell cosmetic seconds at reduced cost.

John

geddyfan · « **Reply #3 on:** December 05, 2005, 11:59:14 AM »

The Pickups aren't the snag the electronics are.They don't have the pickups in stock I'm looking for in a blem right know anyway.The pickups are fairly reasonably priced for what they are.

0vid · « **Reply #4 on:** December 05, 2005, 03:28:25 PM »

I have used alembic activator J's with a preamp that is not disimilar to the stratoblaster, which is a simple transistor preamp
I now use a single alembic j in bass I built with a single IC preamp (NE5532) which I built. works fine.

geddyfan · « **Reply #5 on:** December 13, 2005, 01:55:44 PM »

Well I think I'm just going to bite the bullett and buy the whole thing provididng I can get one thing answered.Do these PUPS have an internal pre amp or do they take an external power supply?

mica · « **Reply #6 on:** December 13, 2005, 02:22:17 PM »

The preamp is built in with either the filter module or the bass/trable module, depending on the model you get. We don't cast it in the pickup shell so it can be repaired in the future.

There is only an external power supply needed for Series I and Series II systems.

(Message edited by mica on December 13, 2005)

cosmic · « **Reply #7 on:** December 13, 2005, 02:55:23 PM »

On the subject of pickups and electronics -- where do Alembics ground the electronics to? Do you ground it to the bridge or is there another option?

Also -- can you buy the filter and Q switch and use it with non-Alembic pickups/electronics?

geddyfan · « **Reply #8 on:** December 13, 2005, 03:01:24 PM »

I'm wanting AXY56 PUPS is the pre in the bass treble module.

mica · « **Reply #9 on:** December 13, 2005, 05:33:09 PM »

The grounding happens when the rivets that hold the pots together contact the shielding in the electronics cavity. There is no need to connect to the bridge.

mica · « **Reply #10 on:** December 13, 2005, 05:34:35 PM »

Yes, the preamp is combined with the bass/treble module. It's easy to recognize-it's the one with the trim pot for gain adjustment.