Author Topic: Alembic Jazz Pickups (Read 280 times)

chris_meyer · « **on:** January 29, 2005, 07:54:32 PM »

Hi,
I'm thinking about the Alembic Jazz pickups and Activator system for my Modulus Genesis VJ. Could anyone try to describe how these pickups sound. Do they retain the jazz sound or are they more distinctly Alembic sounding? Also, is there enough room in a jazz style bass control cavity for the electronics?

Thanks,
Chris

serialnumber12 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2005, 06:45:51 AM »

yes to your questions,the pluses are that you will get a wider frequency responce (cleaner signal)& the filter will open up a whole new world of sounds! you cant lose with this set-up,i got mine!,go for it!

haddimudd · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2005, 03:24:12 AM »

So you are saying you actually CAN emulate the original Jazz Bass sound, and just much more? I heard statements that it will sound a lot better BUT NOT like the original Jazz Bass. Was that a false statement?

I was also curious if anybody can explain the difference in controls and tonal effect of the replacement PU/activator system compared to the possibilities and sounds of the Series II electronics. I guess, some controls are comparable and others are missing. Which ones?

How can I simulate the tonal possibilities of the Jazz PU/activator system using my Series II bass to get an idea what I could expect on my Jazz Bass?

I must admit I CAN make my Series II bass sound like a Fender Jazz Bass, no surprise there, but the Series II electronics gives you unseen control options anyways. I am curious at which point the JB activator PUs have their limitations in this comparison.

I wish there was a way to test or hear them before you decide to spend the money. I have never seen a store carrying them in stock, preinstalled on a regular bass for your convenience, but then again I have rarely seen that done for other PU-brands too. In any case it is much easier to test buy a $70 PU and dump it if you don't like it than a $700 setup.

Still, if they would give me the original JB sound as well as the typical Alembic sounds I'd be very tempted...

Hartmut

serialnumber12 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 31, 2005, 05:09:31 AM »

that's it they will give you that jazzbass sound but with the alembic (personality) clarity,plus also they come with a tone filter,:VOL-PAN-FILTER,you would retain the JB sound because of the positioning of the pick-ups.but w/the filter you can tweek those jazz bass sounds.

serialnumber12 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2005, 05:20:15 AM »

heres the link click on for a close-up:http://store.yahoo.com/alembic/jzbtacpic.html

haddimudd · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2005, 05:42:30 AM »

Now there is the other question about which setup option is better, as you can choose between the two: The one with VOL-PAN-FILTER or the one with VOL-PAN-BASS-TREBLE (as mentioned in the link you posted)? I guess the FILTER option is closer to what I know from my Series II, right?

serialnumber12 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2005, 06:15:20 AM »

yes i think they only come w/VOL-PAN-FILTER,(stock)however the bass & treble would require adding an adittional pot,which would be an added custom option,but as you can see they come only three VOL-PAN-FILTER>

serialnumber12 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2005, 06:17:59 AM »

(Message edited by serialnumber12 on January 31, 2005)

haddimudd · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2005, 06:36:27 AM »

Yes, according to the Alembic pricelist ( http://www.alembic.com/prod/prices.html#ACTIVATORS ) there are different options, including adding a Q-switch (+$50) or having TREBLE-BASS instead of the FILTER (no additional charge). I wonder if you would be more limited with either of the different versions?

serialnumber12 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2005, 07:03:52 AM »

treble & bass would be the most limited minus that filter & or not having the Q.but still i love it my bass sounds 100% better with them!I have the vol,pan ,filter, setup.

kmh364 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 02, 2005, 06:21:54 AM »

Sound is a very subjective thing. While not installed in a Fender Jazz Bass, I have the Alembic J-Activator set-up on my Orion IV 34 scale, along with the East Meets West (EMW) electronics package (blend, master vol., bass, treble, Q switch and filter). My objective was to create an extremely high-end Jazz Bass with Fender's trademark sound as well as many other tonal possibilities, but with upgraded playability and aesthetics. With the maple set-neck, ash body, maple top along with the EMW J package, I believe I achieved my objective and then some. This thing is less cumbersome than any J or P Bass, yet has That Fender sound with the midrange punch that is easily recognizable in spades. Then you play with the controls, and you get tones that no stock Fender could ever hope to achieve.

serialnumber12 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 02, 2005, 08:25:50 AM »

your rite & that's the goal of alembic, to create & achieve tones & versatility unmatched in todays musical instruments!

haddimudd · « **Reply #12 on:** February 02, 2005, 09:00:29 AM »

Kevin, that's interesting to know, so you got the full package. I was just going to ask if that combination could be available also.

Would you say you could have also done without either controls, bass/treble or filter/Q-switch, or do you feel that they are all compulsory to the way you shape your sounds?

I don't have bass/treble controls on my series II, only filter and CVQ. I'd be curious if the addition of bass/treble controls would allow even different sounds or if it would just be like entering the same room through a different door.

To get all these controls into a Fender Jazz bass I think using stacked/concentric knobs would be one way to go. Funny, concentric knobs seem to follow me through my life ...

kmh364 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 02, 2005, 11:00:48 AM »

Well, it's kind of a mixed bag. You have much more control at your fingertips with all the extra knobs, but that in turn makes it more complicated to dial in the exact tone you're looking for. While I appreciate all the tonal possibilities, all those controls can be daunting. The blend control in particular makes repeatability of dialing in a desired sound after switching around the controls difficult. You either have to set it and forget it or be prepared to constantly fiddle around on the fly while you're playing. I can only imagine what a Series instrument is like! Add a SF-2 Superfilter and you've really need to be an Electrical Engineer to set the thing (I am an EE, and I can't handle that many controls, LOL!). In summation, I guess everything in life is a compromise, so there you have it.

Timothy B. Schmitt of the Eagles has his basses (Carvin) set up with passive J's and a single volume pot. He claims that he wants all his tone shaping to be done outboard (at his amp). While I wouldn't want that myself, there is a certain wisdom in economy. To be fair, TBS doesn't have to change his tone very often, LOL!

This bass is by far the most complicated instrument I own. In fact, as I am primarily a Fender player (mostly guitar, but bass also), my other instruments have simple passive controls. They are also nowhere near as versatile as that Alembic is though. I went the other way with the Alembic only because I wanted a Swiss Army Knife of basses. I got that, but it takes a lot of fiddling to find your desired sound. Eschewing the Bass/Treble or Q/Filter controls would have simplified things, but they would have also seriously curtailed the tonal possibilities.

Personally, I set my Eden WT-550 head up with basically flat EQ. I do the tone shaping right from the bass depending on the song, style, room characteristics and mood/preference. Try that with a Fender J, LOL!

haddimudd · « **Reply #14 on:** February 02, 2005, 11:14:49 AM »

Sounds reasonable enough. I wonder if you could get a push/pull control knob to combine the filter control with the Q-Switch, so you wouldn't have to add an extra switch to the 3 Fender controls. Although I guess only Alembic-staff can really answer that question.