Author Topic: PF6 circuit revisions (Read 283 times)

hifibassman · « **on:** June 13, 2003, 02:18:06 PM »

Is there a difference in sound between all of the revisions made over the years on a series bass? I was considering buying an old series 1 that seemed to be closer to what i can afford, and just sending it to Alembic for an upgrade. Do I need to do this or is the original electronics as good as the new in terms of sound quality?

mica · « **Reply #1 on:** June 16, 2003, 03:16:07 PM »

The sound is the same, the older ones may be more vulnerable to stray fields as many sounrces of these fields weren't even invented when the instrument was made.

The upgrades do nothing to the tone of the electronics. When you get an upgrade it erases directional noise and high frequency noise. The bass is actually quieter than when originally made.

If you live in an area without radio transmitters and low population density you might not need the upgrade until you play in a city. It's extremely location dependent.

It also seems that about 20% of the older instruments have a tolerable level of noise and many players choose to live with it.

mica · « **Reply #2 on:** June 16, 2003, 03:20:03 PM »

Also, make sure you perform a hum balance procedure if you pick up a used bass. These controls are frequently misused and many instruments can be improved significantly by adjusting the trimpot properly.

hifibassman · « **Reply #3 on:** June 18, 2003, 08:59:13 AM »

Thanks Mica! Now i feel much better that i can actually afford a series bass if i purchase an older one- maybe no older than 1977 or so. I'll be using it for mostly recording projects and possibly small venues with a guitar playing friend of mine. When i get an old one- i would like to make sure that it does have the middle hum canceller instead of the battery plate. I kind of like the way the older series basses look-they're true classics. Very majestic and authoritative.