Pick up discussion

[Triassic_Ash]

Hello Everyone,

So a brief summary, I have a five string signature deluxe balanced k bass in production at Alembic currently. My goal is to get as close to a series sound as possible, which to my ears is a full spectrum Hi-Fi sound (Jimmy Johnson's tone is my best reference to you guys 🤷). And just to show that I'm not completely outta touch with reality, I'm well aware that without a series instrument that tone is never going to be completely reproduced. Not to mention I know that I'm no Jimmy Johnson, so maybe this is all a fools errand. However, I'd really appreciate those with experiences input as this is my first Alembic. I've opted for upgrading to the three position Q switches, but I'm curious if the standard axy or a Fatboy in the bridge position will get me closer to that clean huge full spectrum Hi-Fi sound I fantasize about?

Best,
-Ash

[jazzyvee]

Hi Ash, good news that you have a new alembic on the way. Maybe i have seen it on my visit to the factory in August this summer.
Anyway as for the pickups and Series sound, Ii think many people here will suggest getting an Alembic SF-2 Superfilter which is a bit like a series II in a box but with a wider frequency range that you can get from your bass.
I did try a Fatboy in the bridge position on my signature bass and didn't think it gave me a sound closer to my series bass. In fact in my experience it is less series like than the standard AXY pickups which i find have a sweeter and cleaner sound. The fact that series basses have true single coil pickups makes a huge difference in the sound.

I would suggest considering upgrading to the Anniversary electronics package which will give you the same way of shaping your tone as a series I bass with the option of going stereo if you desire. I did that upgrade on my signature bass and much prefer the additional tone options it gave me.


if you have the opportunity to try out a series bass you may find that what you have got is perfect.

[JimmyJ]

Hey Ash,

Thanks for the kind words once again.  We're all excited to hear you that you have a bass build happening right now!  (Good things take time, right?)

I'm no help with your specific question because I don't have experience with the various pickup and electronics packages available.  But folks like Jazzyvee certainly do so you should consider that reliable advice!

What I will say is - you're going to love that bass when you get it regardless of which package you choose.  Just the way it plays and the variety of sounds you'll be able to get out of it will be a treat.  And while I'm flattered that you like the noise I make I'll encourage you to explore and find your own sound.  This bass will give you many options and surprising ways to shape your tone so we look forward to hearing where it takes you.

Congrats, in advance.
Jimmy J

[StephenR]

The Signature Deluxe Balance K basses are really excellent, great choice for a five-string. Upgrading to a 3-position Q-switch was a good idea, it may just be me but I don't see much utility in a two-way Q-switch. The electronics that come in the model you ordered should sound very close to a Series bass. As jazzy pointed out the single-coil Series pickups have a different sound, to me they sound more open with a deeper low-end response but the AXY pickups are going to sound excellent. All the Alembic pickups and electronics sound amazing, it becomes a matter of taste and budget.

I am not familiar enough with the Anniversary electronics package vs the Signature Deluxe package to comment on it but if you are going to pay for an upgrade for your bass I would consider getting the ebony neck laminate (if you can swing the price) before a different electronics package. IMO it is going to make a bigger difference in the overall sound and response of the bass.

Excited to see your bass when it is done or if you start a build thread that would be cool, too.

[Triassic_Ash]

Hey Ash,

Thanks for the kind words once again.  We're all excited to hear you that you have a bass build happening right now!  (Good things take time, right?)

I'm no help with your specific question because I don't have experience with the various pickup and electronics packages available.  But folks like Jazzyvee certainly do so you should consider that reliable advice!

What I will say is - you're going to love that bass when you get it regardless of which package you choose.  Just the way it plays and the variety of sounds you'll be able to get out of it will be a treat.  And while I'm flattered that you like the noise I make I'll encourage you to explore and find your own sound.  This bass will give you many options and surprising ways to shape your tone so we look forward to hearing where it takes you.

Congrats, in advance.
Jimmy J

Hi Jimmy,

Thank you for responding! And yes, I'm very excited about my bass! Just feeling a bit of customization anxiety with all of the options available and the... Permanence of some of those decisions 😵‍💫

And yes, as much as I'd love to satisfy my own inner fanboy and sound like a carbon copy of you that's just not in the cards, or make for very interesting musical development on my end. For better or worse, I'm only ever good at being me *sigh*

But, I think your general sound is incredibly open and rich, which doesn't sound like a bad foundation to have when developing my own sound.

Thanks as always for dropping in and for your feedback.

P.S. I'll be at your show at the Baked Potato in November

[Triassic_Ash]

Also, Jazzy and Stephen thank you so much for your input as well!
I am curious about the anniversary package, but I'm about at my budget with the electronics package I currently have, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to get a quote.

I just feel bad for Will Gunn I feel I've asked him everything under the sun about these basses, and would hate to send him on another fetch quest just to tell him that the anniversary electronics package is out of my budget

[jazzyvee]

I think you will find Will a great resource about all things  alembic. I have had numerous email and fb conversations with him and he will surely help your decision making. If you are looking for that Jimmy Johnson sound, well you may be surprised that he has often stated on the forum that he has the controls on his series basses fully open and rarely changes them. (Jimmy hopefully will correct or clarify me if i am wrong). I don't know his sound well enough but i have been using that method when practicing to help me play cleaner as opening all the controls on such responsive basses is unforgiving of any inconsistencies in technique.

[Triassic_Ash]

So, I have photos of the top & back laminates for my bass that I have so far neglected to share, and since Stephen suggest I start a build thread I think that would be a great place to share them as well as any other updates. Does anyone know which section to start that thread in?

[jazzyvee]

I think you may need Mica or one of the moderators to start a thread here.
https://club.alembic.com/index.php?board=220.0

[bigredbass]

IF you were to ask me:

First off, if you've never played or spent time with any Alembic and your reference(s) are everything else, prepare yourself.

Regardless of AXY, MXY, or a full Series electronic package, I promise you you've never heard anything like what's coming.

I'd suggest AXY's with Signature Electronics if you still have time to make the choice of what you're having built in.  AXY's are the more neutral alongside FatBoys which are a bit more toned like other pickups.  Think the difference between excellent studio monitors and excellent home hi-fi speakers, that's the closest analogyI can make. 

The Sig Electronics would be master volume, balancer, then a tone control and Q-switch for each pickup.  This gives a LOT of variations, anywhere from a super bright 'clavinet on meth' to utter mumbling organ pedal tone, and everything in between.  Include the blue box preamps internally to set your master blend.

Regardless, the best I can tell you is that there's not a single player anywhere in this forum who upon recieving their first Alembic didn't find the flaws in their technique that they simply never heard on any other bass, or heard big differences in one brand of string to the next.  These things will make you a better player, and after close to 40 years playing bass, these were the ONLY axes that did this.  Don't be surprised if suddenly your amps may seem lacking, either.

Good Luck, and All the Best,

JW

[pauldo]

IF you were to ask me:

First off, if you've never played or spent time with any Alembic and your reference(s) are everything else, prepare yourself.

<snip>

Regardless, the best I can tell you is that there's not a single player anywhere in this forum who upon recieving their first Alembic didn't find the flaws in their technique that they simply never heard on any other bass, or heard big differences in one brand of string to the next.  These things will make you a better player, and after close to 40 years playing bass, these were the ONLY axes that did this.  Don't be surprised if suddenly your amps may seem lacking, either.

Good Luck, and All the Best,

JW

Joey touches on a couple key points.  Jimmy mentioned it also, “Just the way it plays and the variety of sounds you’ll be able to get out of it…”   


These instruments are built so well with such meticulous attention to detail that subtle adjustments can evoke huge changes.


Pickup and electronics information is well known by the Wizard and others. 


What makes these instruments so thrilling to play is when you first get one explore how shifting your plucking hand position can influence the Sound.  We’re talking from directly in front of the bridge all the way to the 12th fret, in 1/2” increments, use the same picking/ plucking attack and listen.   Now go back and do that again and change your attack (softer, more aggressive, etc.), be amazed at that tonal palette.  Now you add varying pressure on you fretting fingers coupled with switches and knobs (tiny rotation of a knob reveals a lot)… 😳 Endless sounds at your fingertips.


The point is, glad you are being thoughtful about your build, don’t fret about ‘making a poor decision’, with Alembic you can’t go wrong.


Paul

[hammer]

Several things to think about here most of which have already been stated by Jazzy and StephenR but just to emphasize the points that were made.


1) An ebony stringer in the neck is going to make a bigger difference than adding a fatboy (though I did both).
2) Though nothing compares to a Series bass, if you can find a used Superfilter (SF-1) at some point in the future you’re basically going to have almost everything you get in a Series bass tonally other than the stereo option.
3) Thumbs up on the three position rather than two position switches
4) The strings you select to play are going to make a bigger difference in the tone you get from your bass than from any other. I play a traditional style of bass (no slap & pop) and found round wounds just too trebly for my tastes so I use TI flats on almost all my Alembics. Others, however, love the brighter sounds of rounds

[Triassic_Ash]

Thank you all so much for the advice and assurances. I'm very excited for my instrument, and have no doubts that it will be best instrument that I've ever played my hands on.

[dannobasso]

As someone who has had way more than my share, you will be very pleased with your creation. From the least expensive to the most costly (I now have experienced them all) you will find that nothing quite sounds like an Alembic. There are other very fine and very expensive instruments, but they lack the pristine clarity that Ron Wickersham has enabled these creations to achieve. Congratulations on your journey and may you make great music in health and inspiration.

[hammer]

If one thinks about it, given the number of years that Alembic has been around and those who might wish to copy/duplicate the sound of their instruments have had an opportunity to do so, why doesnt anything else sound like an Alembic? Just about anyone can purchase the wood they use, other manufacturers make thru-neck basses that have multi-laminiate necks, though their carving is equisite, I don't think it makes any differnce in the sound on their instruments, and I believe that the bitd and pieces that make up the electronic components of Alembic basses and guitars are obtainable to others in the industry.  Is it just Ron and his wizardry, the company's refusal to take the easy way out and do things more quickly and cheaply so as to make a larger profit, the obsession (and I use the word in the most posiive manner here) with excellence and nothing but, the willingness to "stay small" but at the same time "stay true" to their orginal mission and vision? It's amazing to me that in the day of AI and ChatGPT and all the other technology we have available, nothing sounds like an Alembic even though each Alembic has its own personality. Maybe it is just magic.