SN:C14512

[xtremebassist]

Hello,

Finally achieve the Alembic bass bucket list. I'm seeking more information regarding my custom 6 string C14512.

1. Why the middle pickup? How does it fit into the electronic scheme?
2. The paperwork references Fatboy and MXY pickups but the covers are the same. How does correlate to neck, middle and bridge pickups?
3. In stereo mode, how are the pickups split?
4. What's the order of the pickups on the pickup selector?
4. Do you know the string spacing at the bridge in mm? I believe it has equal string spacing.

I just got it and loving it! Actually liking the shorter neck with the custom 22 frets option. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[JimmyJ]

Hi x... and welcome to the club.

First of all, congrats on the new axe.  We're glad to hear you are loving it. 

We're gonna need a bit more info to help answer your questions. A photo or two would really help, if possible.  Here's the long story of how to post (only because I just typed this in another thread )

1. Attached photos need to be less than 1000KB (1MB) so you may need to prepare some reduced jpegs.
2. Start writing a reply and click the Preview button down below.
3. From the Preview page click on the words "Attachments and other options".
4. Click "Choose File" and navigate to the pic you want to attach.
5. To post more than one click "more attachments" and repeat step 4. (Up to 10, but each one smaller than 1MB)
6. Clicking "Preview" will only show your text - the attachments won't appear until you click "Post".

Can't wait to see what you've got there!

Thanks,
Jimmy J

[xtremebassist]

Thanks for the warm welcome and the great tips!

I got this bass off Reverb from Japan and it just arrived: https://reverb.com/item/85438452-alembic-wave-bass-6st-gsb019?show_sold=true

I think I figured out the Fatboy is the middle pickup and the MXYs are the neck and bridge pickups. The pickup selector is off, MXYs, All and Fatboy going clockwise. Curious if stereo is splitting the MYXs with Fatboy on both?

Sounds and plays great. Neck is perfect and it is adjusting nicely to temperature and humidity here. Great if there's some interesting history especially around the pickup design.

[JimmyJ]

OK, that is a wild one!  I've never seen an Alembic with a tilted pickup in that configuration.

It sounds like you're figuring it out so keep testing.  You can tap on each pickup with a paper clip or small screwdriver to help discover what is active with what setting - or how the stereo output is set up.  Traditional Alembic "stereo" means bridge pickup down one channel and neck pickup down the other.

My guess on the controls is: pickup selector, three individual volumes, one master volume, two Q-boost switches and two Q-frequency controls, plus an LED switch?

Enjoy that thing!
Jimmy J

[xtremebassist]

Yeah the tilted pickup is very different. Never been a fan of such especially with the original Warwick thumb basses because it felt uncomfortable resting your right hand on them. I somewhat get the sonic reasons but personally I would've tilted it the other way to get more bass on the higher strings. At first I was thinking they wanted a PBass sound but why not just get P pickups right?

I did get a clue reading the build sheet. Apparently it was strung E-A-D-G-C-F originally. It is now the standard B-E-A-D-G-C. So I'm guessing the original owner wanted the slant to get more highs on the solo strings? It does have that ping like a piccolo bass. A little challenging as a more tradition bass player where I like strong bass lines with more bass like solos. I notice when doing standard double stops around the 11th & 12th frets it sounds weaker IMO. Also the placement is where you get the typical PBass "clank".

The controls are pickup selector (off, Fatboy middle, All, MXYs in J), MXYs in J overall volume, Fatboy volume and MXYs J pickup pan pot.  Q-frequency & switch control combined for both MYXs, Q-frequency control & switch for Fatboy middle, LED dimmer and stereo switch. Hard to tell with the Fatboy in its tilted position but it almost sounds like the Q-frequency range might be tweaked. I'll dig up a stereo cable and see if I can figured out the stereo split. Great if it is the traditional with the option to rollout the Fatboy.

It definitely plays and sounds great but different as you would expect with the pickups and electronics. I need to pop off the covers and see what's going on with trim pots. Would like to see if I can balance its output with my other basses (Wal & pre-Gibson Tobiases). I got a SF-2 (use on the Tobiases) if I really need to swiss knife it.

I bet if I understand the original owner's concept, I'll have better luck with how to leverage the pickups and electronics. I'm definitely all about a low B so I will need to adjust. Great to know if the Fatboy Q filter range was tweak because of original tuning or its just the tilt I'm hearing.

Thanks,

Sid

[xtremebassist]

Fiddling around some more I hear the angled / tilt pickup makes a big difference. I get it the reason on a Strat because their single coil pickups, especially at the bridge / lead, are thin and brittle sounding. That is definitely not the case for Alembic pickups. The paper clip and overall output points to it being a Fatboy. Even with panning the MXYs, you can hear brightness on high strings even in first position. Being a Fatboy makes it dominant. The quilted maple top makes for a fast & bright attack. Points to the owner looking a very specific tone. Best guess is for chords?  Maybe with a high F string the reason would be clearer.

There's a battery compartment with four 9 volts and the electronic cavity has another 9 volt. 45 volt beast! Looking at the 1/4 jack and testing in mono, seems like stereo is split between Fatboy and the MXYs.

Hands down the most unique sounding Alembic I've ever played.

[edwardofhuncote]

That's a wild one, and Welcome Sid.


Not sure when the 'Wave' pattern first became available, but yours must be pretty close to the front of the line. I have C14588, (not a 'Wave' body, just another cool Custom) completed in May, 2017. Just a suggestion on the FatBoy; if it's too much of a good thing in the middle position there, try switching it with the bridge pickup. Nice bass!

[xtremebassist]

Thank you! Great suggestion with the bridge pickup and Fatboy! Now I'm able to get a better handle of the three pickups. The MXYs give you the expected great Alembic sound but once you go Fatboy ...  The Fatboy adds a growl to bark. It makes it a mean bass. Soloing the Fatboy for chords didn't seem to make a big difference. Two hand tapping it does because the angle gives the high strings a different tonal characteristic like they're on a different pickup. I rather go Chapman Stick for tapping but hate becoming instant bass idiot because of its upside down 5th tuning 

Fatboy on its own is real nice even with slapping. It's just once you get to around the 10 fret and higher on D-G-C, the highs get a little tight for me.  I don't use compression and I like a slightly open sound. I guess I should expect with a dramatic pickup that placing it in an angle would be dramatic. Getting closer on taming it. Love how unique it sounds and how it sits in the mix. Power trio bass for sure.

Thanks for all the help suggestions, knowledge and help!

Regards,

Sid

[adriaan]

Fatboys are a force to be reckoned with, but they make up for it by being a bit shy on brightness. If you check the underside of the pickups (just take out the two screws that stick out, that clamp down the shell on the two screws in the opposite corners) there should be a sticker with 56R for the regular version and 56W for the wide aperture aka Fatboy.

Btw, the four 9V batteries are for powering the LEDs. The preamps run off the single 9V battery.

[xtremebassist]

Thank you for the information and advice! Being a newbie owner, Alembic electronics are a bit challenging. I never played a Fatboy and this has a different slant literally. I was able to find this thread:

http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/26345.html?1142976952

I'm hearing what Bob stated as you start going up the neck. At least someone else is "over sensitive" and I'm not hearing things. I'll stereo it out and see if I can better tame it. I'm guessing the design was for a specific sound and I haven't figure it out yet.

[xtremebassist]

Adjusting and too chicken to pull apart because it has new strings and is setup really nice. I tried the magnetic film trick but I'm not seeing the Fatboy listed on the build sheet. Not sure if the Fatboy was replaced. Curious if there is a Fatboy, which of the three pickups would it be? I guess I'll have to wait to the builders chime in or beat down these strings so I have enough reason to pull the pickups out.

Definitely having a lighter touch helps. Still hearing the slight frequency cancellation as I go up higher on the neck. Going to start playing with the MXY pan to see if I can tame this three pickup beast. I appreciate all suggestions and feedback.

[rv_bass]

Very cool bass 😁

Based on your photo there is no Fatboy, all three pickups look to be the same (MXY).  If there was a Fatboy it would likely be in a AXY casing with a wider magnet.

[xtremebassist]

Thank you!

I originally thought the same that they must all be MXYs. The routes are all the same size and don't appear there was ever a bigger pickup in them. Definitely the one pickup output is the same as the other two. It might be the slant that gives it a unique sound. The build sheet states Fatboy. I'm pretty sure what the build sheet calls the Fatboy is the middle pickup. Maybe Fatboy on the build sheet is a mistake? I'm also thinking Fatboy should be in an AXY casing and if was replaced, there would be a noticeable gap around the replacement MXY. Everything else listed on the build sheet is spot on.

Thanks for the feedback. The build sheet, sound of the third pickup, the slant of the third pickup, pickup casing size plus being a newbie owner keeps me guessing.

[adriaan]

For reference, here's a picture with the stickers on the bottom of a regular aperture (RA) MXY vs. a wide aperture one (WA), so you can be sure which type is in the middle position.

[rv_bass]

Adriaan,
Are you saying a Fatboy magnet may be in a MXY casing?  I think I recall Mica saying the tried that briefly but the casing was a bit thin for that magnet so they discontinued doing that.  Will be interesting to see what the labels say on the pickups for this bass.