Series II vs Darling Electronics

[neilvg]

Can anybody shed some light one what would be expected to sound different here?  I have the darling electronics with a master knob as well.  Obviously the adjustable filter/q on the Series would give way more tonal options, but sound quality wise, etc.. I know there's that dummy hum canceller in the middle... how does it compare?


Thanks!

[jazzyvee]

I may be speaking outside my portfolio here and if so will be rightly challenged and corrected. I have a range of alembics, filter and non filter based instruments including a series II and the sound quality is the same on all of them. The differences are because they have differences in pickups and electronics,  build materials, scale length, hardware such as tone blocks or not, and pickup locations etc, they have differences in how they sound and importantly how their sound can be shaped to your needs. But they all have that high end sound quality.

[ducatidoc]

I think different “feel” too.

[rv_bass]

Are you thinking a bass or a guitar?

The electronics for both Darling and Series guitars have individual volume and filter for each pickup, but no Q switches for the “standard” Darling guitar electronics that I could find in any descriptions I read (CVQ for the Series II), I guess you could request Q switches for a Darling guitar set up.  The pickups are different for Darling vs. Series as well (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=293.0).  So that along with the factors Jazzyvee mentioned will add to differences in tone.

I have a Series I guitar and set the tone to sound like a very clean single coil sound and it seems to have more presence and dimension to the sound than other single coil guitars I’ve heard, and much cleaner and clearer than the ES335 I used to have (dual coil humbucking pickups). That’s my impression.  I have not played a Darling guitar.

[rv_bass]

Here are a couple of comparisons from YouTube

[neilvg]

I own a Darling guitar  - http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=7126.0 .  I have a variety of other guitars I play - but recently picked this Alembic up again, new strings, a little TLC... and it's like discovering an old friend all over again.  However, I was left wondering, beyond greater sound sculpting options on series, if there was actually a tonal advantage / quality advantage to whats in the darling.  I have never played a Series guitar.

Neil

Are you thinking a bass or a guitar?

The electronics for both Darling and Series guitars have individual volume and filter for each pickup, but no Q switches for the “standard” Darling guitar electronics that I could find in any descriptions I read (CVQ for the Series II), I guess you could request Q switches for a Darling guitar set up.  The pickups are different for Darling vs. Series as well (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=293.0).  So that along with the factors Jazzyvee mentioned will add to differences in tone.

I have a Series I guitar and set the tone to sound like a very clean single coil sound and it seems to have more presence and dimension to the sound than other single coil guitars I’ve heard, and much cleaner and clearer than the ES335 I used to have (dual coil humbucking pickups). That’s my impression.  I have not played a Darling guitar.

[rv_bass]

Hi Neil,

Looks like you have a beautiful Darling, with RMC saddle pickups as well!  I have those in my Alembic bass, pretty neat!

I’d imagine you can get quite a pallet of sounds out of your Darling guitar.  I know there is a distinct difference between an Alembic bass with AXY/MXY pickups and a Series bass.  Whether it’s a tonal or quality advantage is hard to say, they both sound uniquely Alembic, so it depends on the tone you are trying to achieve.  You will probably have to play a Series guitar if possible to see what you think. Sorry if I’m not all that helpful with my ramblings.

Rob

[neilvg]

Thanks, yes it is a beautiful guitar, and the craftsmanship is the best I have ever seen / personally owned.  Also very special, as it took over 4 years for Alembic to make it for me, and it was a very custom job.  So you have the RMC Saddles too?  I have a question for you - you might be able to answer this: how did Alembic interface their electronics with the RMC pickups?  The reason I ask is because I only recently learned that RMC's own Poly-Drive processor also addresses string noise and does some other filtering.  However, Alembic installed the 13PIN 'midi' out connector so they obviously must have these electronics inside the instrument - but their own interface? 

My memory is a bit blurry, I might have known the answer to this 10 years ago, but now I'm trying to recall what was done

Hi Neil,

Looks like you have a beautiful Darling, with RMC saddle pickups as well!  I have those in my Alembic bass, pretty neat!

I’d imagine you can get quite a pallet of sounds out of your Darling guitar.  I know there is a distinct difference between an Alembic bass with AXY/MXY pickups and a Series bass.  Whether it’s a tonal or quality advantage is hard to say, they both sound uniquely Alembic, so it depends on the tone you are trying to achieve.  You will probably have to play a Series guitar if possible to see what you think. Sorry if I’m not all that helpful with my ramblings.

Rob

[rv_bass]

Yes, I agree, Alembics are the highest quality instruments available, I love them! 

I’m not sure how everything is wired, but this link describes the Polytone I Preamp used with the RMC pickups.  I searched and the RMC website is not active right now.


http://www.edroman.com/parts/rmc_midi.htm


Here is a photo of the Polytone I circuit and 13-pin connector that is installed in some way.

[neilvg]

Thanks for the link.  Yah I understand how it usually is wired - but I just don't know how Alembic wired it - and if they used the polytone preamp at all.

Yes, I agree, Alembics are the highest quality instruments available, I love them! 

I’m not sure how everything is wired, but this link describes the Polytone I Preamp used with the RMC pickups.  I searched and the RMC website is not active right now.


http://www.edroman.com/parts/rmc_midi.htm


Here is a photo of the Polytone I circuit and 13-pin connector that is installed in some way.

[neilvg]

Ahh so they likely used the poly-drive I internally mounted.

[rv_bass]

Yes, I removed the cover to the electronics cavity on my bass and I can see the Polydrive I and it’s wiring.  So take a look inside your guitar electronics cavity and you should see it there and you can follow the wiring to see how it was integrated with the Alembic electronics.

[neilvg]

   thanks man. 


So what do you use the RMC triggers for bass wise?  What system do you use for tracking/effects for midi?

[rv_bass]

I use a Roland GI 20 midi interface and a Yamaha Motif Rack XS, but I haven’t had time to learn the Yamaha Motif, so I really haven’t done much with it yet.