Author Topic: EMG in Alembic? (Read 242 times)

87_persuader · « **on:** March 21, 2005, 02:45:44 PM »

I have a Persuader I bought used and it has an EMG P/J in it. I am wondering if it would sound much better with Alembic pickups or any other pickups?

Thanks

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** March 21, 2005, 07:24:25 PM »

Hi Jim, welcome to the group. I believe most of the folks in this forum would suggest that you put Alembic pickups back in it. Are the original Alembic electronics still in it; or were they removed as well?

kungfusheriff · « **Reply #2 on:** March 21, 2005, 09:29:11 PM »

I have it on good authority that Alembic and EMG electronics operate at different voltages (or something) and are fairly well incompatible, so I would be surprised if the guts were intact.
Jim--Alembic pickups sound roughly similar to EMGs, being based on ceramic magnets (correct me if I'm wrong on this, please), and have what's thought of as a hi-fi tone. The difference, and the beauty, is in the electronics Dave referred to--rather than a straight treble rolloff or bass and treble boost, Alembic tone controls emphasize a certain peak frequency in the tone spectrum depending on how the tone pot is set. The easiest way to explain it is as similar to rocking a wah pedal with a wide range through its' path of travel until a favored tone is found, and then leaving the pedal in that position. This allows a wide spectrum of midranges tones to choose from.
Make sense? I hope so...that's about as well as I can explain it!
Congratulations, and welcome.

essencetimestwo · « **Reply #3 on:** March 22, 2005, 03:31:11 AM »

Half of the reason to own an Alembic is for the electronics. I would definately suggest replacing them with the original package. It should be easy enough to tell if the electronics have been changed. Alembic electronis have a look all their own. Any chance we can see some pictures?

1stbass · « **Reply #4 on:** March 22, 2005, 03:48:48 AM »

I'am with these guys.
I think the electronics are the main reason one owens a Alembic. Nothing else sounds like them.
If you need to replace eveything it can get a little pricie, but it would be worth it. If you like the way the rest of the bass plays, feels, and looks, replacing the electronics will give a bass for life.
best of luck
Doug

87_persuader · « **Reply #5 on:** March 23, 2005, 03:37:24 AM »

Thanks for all the info!I love the way this bass plays..sooo sleek and smooth,and it's acoustic tone is almost like a piano (sustain).I have used EMG's in guitar and know what the pots,ect look like ,and these are an EMG P/J including electronics.
At $700 for Activators, I would not be able to afford them...maybe used?
Would Bartolini or Nordstrand sound bad in this bass?

serialnumber12 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 07, 2005, 03:50:59 AM »

alembic PJ system on ebay:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=22670&item=7313784842&rd=1

hifibassman · « **Reply #7 on:** April 07, 2005, 05:51:51 AM »

The Alembic pickups are single coil, with a hum canceller coil without a magnet directly underneath- as in stacked. Nobody else i believe has this configuration. If you can't do the Alembic's, then the Bart's would be a second best choice, since the guy who makes these used to work for Alembic, those sound pretty good imo. You may get the root tone of an Alembic, but it will not have any flexibility as far as changing the tone because Alembic electronics are based on a variation of a low pass filter.

adriaan · « **Reply #8 on:** April 07, 2005, 09:15:52 AM »

Only the Series electronics use the single coil pickups. The non-Series electronics have so-called humcancelling pickups (which are rather different from humbucking pickups).

Search for humcancelling and you should find some discussions - definitely something to be added to the FAQ section of the Club - Dave?

David Houck · « **Reply #9 on:** April 07, 2005, 07:37:29 PM »

I've made a note of it. I'm a bit under the gun with work at the moment, but I'll try to get to it soon. Feel free to remind me .

bigredbass · « **Reply #10 on:** April 07, 2005, 10:59:03 PM »

EMGs are just fine for most applications. I'm a real fan of their silence. Incorporating the preamp inside the shell allows you in most cases to forego extensive shielding. And they allow you to delete the typical ground to the bridge, a brilliant safety improvement if you sing over mics in places with less than code electricals.

'Most applications' would be however, upgrading the usual Fender, Ibanez, etc. Of course, a better upgrade still would be ALEMBIC's Activator replacement pickups. EMGs are 'voiced' to suit most people. Activators feature that incredibly honest sound we're all so used to, without the EMGs built-in tone.

It's like the difference between, say, an Shure 57 and an AKG 414. The 57 only has one sound: The 414 can sound like anything you want it to because the sound is so neutral at its source.

To me, an ALEMBIC with EMGs would be like a Ferrari with a small block Chevy under the hood.

J o e y

keith_h · « **Reply #11 on:** April 08, 2005, 04:18:39 AM »

Not that I'm advocating putting EMG in an Alembic instrument, from Ferrari Racing (history). :-)

Serial 0406MD
Type: 500MD SPYDER PF
No early history found but may have been the car driven by Cortese in the 1954 Mille Miglia (in which case, finished 14th). Re-bodied by Scaglietti. Or, P. Marzotto; 2nd OA, 1st i.cl. Car was in USA by 1965. Chevy engine fitted (340 bhp), crashed, burnt. Still in private collection in this condition.

Keith

adriaan · « **Reply #12 on:** April 08, 2005, 05:16:11 AM »

Ah, another message in our fine tradition of pointless knowledge! (No, not kidding.)

David Houck · « **Reply #13 on:** April 08, 2005, 06:27:24 AM »

I guess it proves the point; put an EMG in an Alembic and you'll crash and burn .

(Message edited by davehouck on April 08, 2005)

hifibassman · « **Reply #14 on:** April 08, 2005, 07:17:26 AM »

i think an Alembic bass would be more comparable to a Formula One race car, they're both bad ass.

All of the other fender clones are like, well, cookie cutter cars like toyota, honda, infinity/nissan's etc. all wanna be somethings.

(Message edited by hifibassman on April 08, 2005)