Fatboy - Non Alembic Preamp

[KenD]

I am considering using the Fatboy as the sole pickup on a 5 string fretless with a non-Alembic preamp - specifically with a John East BTB 01.  I am interested in this particular pickup because I'm looking for a hum cancelling single coil and the "thicker" tonality that a wider aperture should produce.

Mica advises that this pickup can be built for me but has also cautioned about no support for non-Alembic preamps.

Comments, advice, cautions?  Thank you.

[jazzyvee]

I have in the past used a John East ACG preamp in my Europa with two alembic pickups and it worked fine.
The reason I took it out was that the that the noise level was not as quiet as the alembic circuits and I lost the punch in the bottom end and with the filters fully open the sound was a bit harsh to me.  The east electronics were the EQ01 system which has a wider filter range than the alembic ones with the low end going down to 80Hz. But the bass also lost it's punchy sound so I restored the alembic electronics back in the bass and resolved never to do that again. But you may like the sound.

[KenD]

Thanks for that feedback.  I am familiar with the ACG/East filter system which I have in an ACG bass.  The John East BTB 01 that I'm proposing to use in another bass is a simple two band cut/boost setup.  Boost only for the bass, cut-boost for the treble.  No mid control.  I'm trying to create a very simple, minimalist single pickup bass.

John Eas BTB 01

[fixed url]

[StephenR]

Ken you may want to also consider a simple Alembic circuit with just volume, bass and treble controls. The asymmetrical Alembic bass and treble controls are really nice, the circuit would be quiet and mate perfectly with the Fatboy, +6dB and -15dB, centered around 100Hz and 5KHz.

Good luck with your project!

[KenD]

Thanks Stephen.  I'm new to Alembic and thus not familiar with the various model references.  Which preamp are you referring to?

Bass Models    Controls                 
---------------------------------------------
P/AE-1         volume, filter            950
2P/PVF         volume, pan, filter      1200

JZ/PVF         volume, pan, filter      1200
PJ/PVF         volume, pan, filter      1200

AXY/PVF        volume, pan, filter      1250
AXY56/PVF      volume, pan, filter      1350

MXY/PVF        volume, pan, filter      1250
MXY56/PVF      volume, pan, filter      1350

for PVF-2 or AE-2 models (adds Q-switch), add $50
no charge for AE-3 (bass and treble instead of filter)

[StephenR]

All of the ones listed are Activator Electronics in various pickup and control configurations. If you are putting together a single pickup instrument and only want the bass and treble controls it looks like a modified version of the first choice in the list P/AE-1 would be what you need. At the bottom it reads that there is no charge for AE-3 (bass and treble) instead of filter. So I guess technically you are looking at a P/AE3 configuration. Since Mica has already indicated they would make you a Fatboy if you want one just specify that pickup type if you order.

There is quite a bit of information about all the Alembic instruments and products in the FAQs and Must Read section of these forums. Since you are new to all things Alembic it would be a great place to start to learn more.