Distortion - No Problem

[rv_bass]

I’ve seen comments now and then about challenges using Alembic guitars and distortion, fuzz, and overdrive effects pedals (here and other forums).  I’ll just say that I just plugged my Skylark guitar into a couple of different distortion type pedals and was amazed at the monstrous tone it produced.  This guitar has absolutely no problem with distortion, fuzz, or overdrive types of effects.  Truly an amazing tone!

[lbpesq]

I have found that some pedals seem to play nice with Alembics, and some don’t.   Similarly, my Alembics never seemed to bond with my Mesa Boogie amps.  They always seem to like Fender-based amps the most.

Bill, tgo

[rv_bass]

I have tried my Alembic guitars through bass heads (GK, Quilter, Walter Woods), Carvin power amp with F-2B, Tone Tubby 12” speaker cabs, Accugroove 3-way speaker cabs, and Barefaced 12” and 10” speaker cabs.  The distortion type pedals I’ve tried are Sarno Earth Drive, Barefaced Machinist, Ross Distortion (bought it new in the 70s), and Golden Path overdrive. So far so good

[JimmyJ]

Any rumblings you've heard about these "challenges" most likely have to do with impedance.  Some guitar gear is (still) designed to expect the high-impedance load of a standard passive instrument but our active instruments have relatively low-impedance. I could see where overdrive-type devices might be particular picky...  But in my opinion the benefits of our low-impedance systems outweigh any drawbacks!   

Jimmy J

[rv_bass]

A couple of my amp heads have either -10db pad settings, passive vs. active switch settings, or second padded 1/4” jack inputs.  Should I be using these active/padded settings with Alembic basses and guitars?  To this point I have used the passive settings and inputs because I want to maintain the original signal from the Alembic instrument.

[lbpesq]

On amps with dual inputs, I just try each and use whichever sounds better to me.  I have used the “passive” input with an active Alembic because it just sounded better.  Generally though, and especially with pedals, I think brother JJ hit the nail on the head.  Especially the last part about it all being worth it for the Alembic sound.

Bill, tgo

[jazzyvee]

I for sure am one who has had problems with alembic guitars and distortion pedals. I have found success with tube based distortion from my Fender 'The Twin' Amp, and from Radial Tonebone 'Hot British' and 'Trimode' valve based pedals.
I tend to prefer the warmer filter settings on my guitars when using them. Of the two pedals the Trimode is my favourite.