1982 Distilate High End/Treble

[Harleybass]

First time post for me,so please go easy.I have an 82 Distillate,I love the way it plays,I've got the volume pots turned up and I would love to get more high end "snap".My gear is all Ampeg and I've played with every setting on it. .I love playing on the neck pickup and would like to be able slap it every once in a while and hear it.any thoughts.Thanks very much in advance

[gearhed289]

Are you using stainless steel roundwound strings? Those will be the brightest. I own an '86 Distillate and get more than enough high end through my Ampeg stuff. I literally never use the treble boost switch.

[pauldo]

+1 on the string question.  I use GHS Boomers on my Distillate (through various rigs - no Ampeg), there is no shortage of high ends.

When you say 'volume pots turned all the way up' are talking about the gain adjustments inside the battery compartment?  This also can play into the distance between strings and pickups. Both of which effects the sound....

So the real question may be. How long have you owned the bass and did it ever give you enough high/ treble sound?


Edit...
Try this- do a trill (hammer on/ pull off ) with your fretting hand and then turn the 'tone' knob from open to closed, back and forth... you should hear a wah-wah effect.  If you do not hear that then something is amiss with the circuitry.

[Harleybass]

Thanks guys,Round wound strings,yes to the Wah sound.the volume pots inside the back plate are turned up.the bass sounds great as all of my Alembics have in the past,I would like just a little bit more top end when i call for it.My gear is an Ampeg SVP Pre Amp.Peavey 3000 amp and I have a number of single Ampeg cabinets depending the room I'm playing.Mostly Jam Band type of music.Much respect

[pauldo]

Respect back at ya Harley.
Didn't know if you were new to these great instruments or not.
The only other thing that comes to mind is trying different combinations of the 'quick tone' control switches described in the following link:  http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=232.0


There are other members here that are far more electronic savvy then myself, I am sure they will be along shortly to offer other thoughts.

[gtrguy]

I have SWR cabs that have a on/off switch for the horn. The horn can add a lot of high end..

[mica]

From your description you are using the neck (bass) pickup. You might want to have the pickup selector in the position that both the bass and treble pickups are included in the sound.

I would also make sure the 2-position Q switch is in the on position (usually down when you are playing the bass), otherwise you won't have much attack for slapping. To include higher frequency sounds, make sure your filter frequency control is rotated more toward the clockwise (the upper limit is about 6kHz).

The gain pots on the inside won't have any impact of the tone - they are just gain for each pickup. If you need more output, there is an RF upgrade available for the Distillate electronics that also includes an increase in gain.

Stainless strings are a good suggestion as others have chimed in. Strings are a great way to experiment with the tone on an Alembic bass. Even if you have a favorite string on another Alembic bass, it doesn't mean it will be the best string for this Alembic bass.

[Harleybass]

Thank You .I may want to do the Rf Upgrade as well.Thanks Mica for chiming in

[Harleybass]

Good morning Mica,I have a old e mail from Mary about the RF upgrade costing $245.Is the price still the same?and what is the turn around?Thanks Very Much for everyone's kindness

[mica]

Yeah - still the same price. Usually only need the electronics here for a few days. Tony usually sets up at least once a week for this RF upgrade, sometimes twice.