Fernandes FAB pickups to Alembic Preamp Card

[Picure]

I have a friend who has an Fernandes FAB170 where he took out the original pickups and preamp to install Bartolini pickups. It was many years ago so he misplaced the original pickups and preamp card. Luckly, someone is selling Fernandes FAB170 pickups online but no preamp. So my friend is considering buying an Alembic Series 1 preamp card to use with the Fernandes FAB pickups.

I would like to ask, is it possible to use Fernandes FAB pickups with an Alembic Series 1 preamp card?

[jazzyvee]

I would be surprised if alembic would sell anyone a Series I card to install in a bass made by a company that was making fake copies of Alembic instruments!

[xlrogue6]

They might sell those electronics, but let's just say that the price would be non-cost effective for installation in a Fernandes.

[lembic76450]

Didn't I read quite a while back that Ron tunes each Series card to the
bass it is being installed in? I am with Jazzy,  I don't think they sell outright
Series preamp cards.

[jwright9]

I believe they would sell a series preamp card to an owner of a Series bass that needed a replacement but I do not think they would sell one to someone wanting to use it in a Fernandes.

[jazzyvee]

Your friend may be fortunate and find a set of series electronics on line some where but In all my time on ebay i don't recall ever seeing a set of series electronics up for sale other than so called copies.. I do know of one musician with series electronics in a non alembic bass, Jan-Olof Strandberg. He has a non alembic bass that had series electronics installed but I have no idea  how he came upon the electronics.

If you want filter based tone controls I would suggest getting in touch with John East.
https://www.east-uk.com/index.php/bass.html

[jwright9]

Your friend may be fortunate and find a set of series electronics on line some where but In all my time on ebay i don't recall ever seeing a set of series electronics up for sale other than so called copies.. I do know of one musician with series electronics in a non alembic bass, Jan-Olof Strandberg. He has a non alembic bass that had series electronics installed but I have no idea  how he came upon the electronics.

If you want filter based tone controls I would suggest getting in touch with John East.
https://www.east-uk.com/index.php/bass.html

I can attest to the quality of John East electronics. I have had a few basses with East preamps and I loved them all.
I recently had a Carl Thompson with a John East preamps and a Kent Armstrong pickup and it was a tone monster!

[jazzyvee]

Yes they are good and I have a dual set of east low and  high pass filters in one my non alembic custom bass, but I found them lacking in low end punch which is one reason I don't use that bass for gigging. Occasional jam sessions or rehearsals yes.

[Picure]

Thanks for the info guys! I have sent my friend info about the Boogieman S1 pre card and there is one on ebay for sale.

[adriaan]

You might want to do a search from the start page of the club for that particular vendor.

[jwright9]

Yes they are good and I have a dual set of east low and  high pass filters in one my non alembic custom bass, but I found them lacking in low end punch which is one reason I don't use that bass for gigging. Occasional jam sessions or rehearsals yes.

Interesting, I felt that mine had great low end depth and character.

[jazzyvee]

I agree the low end is really rich and clear but I took my bass on a reggae gig and whilst the low end was great, rich and heavy and like you say lots of character it wasn't punchy where it mattered like my Alembic is.

[edwin]

You might want to do a search from the start page of the club for that particular vendor.

Not to get into it again, but I think the knock on him wasn't concerning the quality of the product, but his attitude and potential intellectual property issues. For a non-Alembic bass, this might be the best way to go, since that line has already been crossed.

[adriaan]

Agreed, Edwin. As the saying goes, forewarned is forearmed. 

[bigredbass]

The Chutzpa Award is in the Mail !