Series II Pick-up select switch

[mele_aloha]

Would somebody give me some input on the pick-up select switch that comes stock on the Series II. I think that I would rather have a variable control that I could dial rather than a three position switch. Could somebody give me some input on their experience with that?
 
Thanks, Paul

[the_8_string_king]

Series II instruments come standard with 8 controls: each pickup has 3 controls (an individual volume, low-pass filter, and continueously variable Q -CVQ- controls); and then there is a master volume, and a 4 position pickup selector (neck/both/bridge/standby).

[mele_aloha]

Hey Mark, you read my mind. I almost asked if you were out there to help me. I know that they come standard with this 4 position switch but I would rather have a dial where I could blend the two pickups right where I want them. Do you know if they can put me a dial like that?
 
Thanks, Paul

[mele_aloha]

By the way, I thought it was a three position, but thanks.

[tbrannon]

Paul,
I'm guessing that all my raving about the pan control via our emails has brought up a few questions...  I know that there were a few threads in the past year that discussed this- I'll do a search and see what I can find for you.  There are  certainly two camps on this- some guys love the pan, others prefer the seperate volumes.  
 
Here is one
 
another one
 
 
 
(Message edited by tbrannon on April 17, 2007)
 
(Message edited by tbrannon on April 18, 2007)

[the_8_string_king]

I'm interpreting your question to mean you're expressing a concern about your ability to mix the sound from your pickups.
 
If so, you need have no concern, as the Series II setup give you COMPLETE control and mixing capacity.  The pickup selector allows you to quickly and easily decide whether you're using only one or the other pickup -or both.  When you're using both, you can dial in any combination of mix that you want with the individual volumes... and you also have a master volume that allows you to increase/decrease the overall volume.
 
Conventional wisdom/consensus seems to be that this is the ultimate arrangement... although not everyone is convinced.  A topic that has been debated at length on more than one occaission is the benefits... pros/cons of the 2 (and 3) volume setup vs. a single volume and pan/blend control.
 
One such thread can be found in the FAQ and Must Reads section at the very top of the main Alembic Club page.  (Above the Alembic Basses and Guitars section you're now in.)
 
Go there, open Must reads, and scroll to the bottom and open Volume/Volume vs. Volume/Pan.
 
But I've seen at least one lengthier thread elsewhere, where some of the resident techno-geeks (no insult intended, guys) -notably the clearly knowledgeable David Fung- have shared their thoughts on the subject.
 
I've seen at least two Alembic Series instruments for which the owners elected -for whatever reason(s)- to eliminate the pickup selector and go for a more simple setup.
 
I know I've seen at least one Series II bass, and one Series I bass that eliminated the pickup selector.
 
Somewhere on this site is a picture of a Series I bass that has just 4 knobs (individual filters, a master volume, and a balance control) and 2 3-position Q switches.  And there is another Series II bass that has just 6 controls: a master volume, balance, individual filters and CVQs for each pickup.  I recall the owner stating he preferred the simplicity of that setup.
 
I'll take a quick look, and add links if I can find either or both of these examples.
 
Of course, only you could say if you would prefer this setup over the standard arrangement.  But I've never seen a Series II owner convey any dissatisfaction over their control over their instrument.  The standard Series II setup is generally regarded as the ultimate -so I'm sure you have nothing to worry about.
 
Of course, Mica and/or Susan could answer any further questions in this area, and probably give you info about the two instruments I mentioned -in the event you want info on them.
 
Mark

[mele_aloha]

Wow tb, great, you are fast. I have to run out the door for a hour then I'll be back and read those.  
Thanks,, P

[the_8_string_king]

Hey Paul, I found the two instruments I was referring to.
 
The first one is in the Custom Archives... it's Autumn's Delight.  Here's a link: http://www.alembic.com/info/fc_rod.html
 
You can see this is a Series I bass -with a master volume and a balance control substituted instead of the standard individual volume arrangement.  Presumably the owner preferred this arrangement.
 
The second example is in Showcase.  I couldn't quite figure out how to do a link to it... but if you just go to Showcase, and go to Custom Basses, and then open up -currently at the bottom of the list- Series II in Quilted Coco Bolo... you can SEE this example for yourself.
 
As you can see, the owner of this most awesome Series II bass decided to eliminate the pickup selector and individual volumes in favor of the more simple arrangement of one single (master) volume and a balance/pan control.
 
If I understand you correctly, this seems to be what you're expressing an interest in.  If so, you can use this as a frame of reference.
 
Hope this is helpful to you, and again, I apologize again for inducing you to worry before with my unfounded concerns regarding the additional mass of Ebony neck laminates.
 
And once again, your neck looks really awesome!!!  Take care, Paul.
 
Sincerely, Mark the 8-String King
 
PS, if memory serves, I think you're getting LEDs on the front and rear -with dimmer switches...? So that would be an extra control or two... but if it happens to be the case that you prefer the simplified arrangement of a single master volume and a blend control, then the additional dimmer switches would just put you back to the standard 8 controls (assuming you get dimmers for BOTH front laser AND side LEDs) of the Series II.
 
And you could still have space for bass and/or treble knobs and/or toggles -if you so desired.  I think -as I recall- you'd decided AGAINST having the EQ controls on top of the Series II controls (and that's fine with me, of course, get what's good for YOU).  But I will just add, something that didn't occur to me before -when I previously offered you advice/input on/in this area- is that you might consider (IF you were interested) getting a PAIR of bass control KNOBS and a PAIR of treble control TOGGLES... (to minimize space).
 
Blah, blah, blah, hope this has been helpful, and not irritating... (or at least, MORE helpful than irritating -if both...!)
 
Take care, Paul.

[terryc]

I own a Mk bass which only has the pan, works fine for me, the more elaborate set up on the series II I would love to try, I run the pa on stage so to me that series II setup is like a mixing desk on your bass, each pu has it's own channel so you definitley don't get that muddiness with a passive set up.
The great thing about the series II set up(I guess since I have never tried one) is that you could set one pu for the usual bass work, and the other for solos or other chunkier sound and choose between them at the flick of a switch..great idea..
Pity the MK cannot be upgraded or can it???

[adriaan]

By the way, some older packages (like the Distillate and Spoiler) have only the four-way switch and a master volume. Some guys have no problem with that limitation, but I had mine replaced with a pan control - it gives you lots of useful in-between positions.
 
IMO, a pan control is easier to handle than two volumes, but there is some debate whether you can get specific sounds with two volumes that you cannot reproduce with a pan control. I wouldn't be surprised if that works the other way around too.

[s_wood]

Paul:  
 
All of my custom Series basses have a pan control and master volume instead of a pickup selector and individual pickup volumes.  Here's an example: http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/25330.html?1171334713
The used Series basses I've picked up along the way all have the standard pickup selector plus 2 volumes arrangement.  Of course, I love them all and they all sound great, so you really can't make a bad choice in this regard.  Personally, I think Adriaan has it just right - the pan plus master volume arrangement is easier to handle, and it makes it especially easy to change the volume on the fly without changing the tone.  Similarly, the pan control allows for varying the tone quickly, whereas I find the 2 volume/pickup selector setup to require 2 or 3 hand movements to accomplish the same thing.
 
It's all personal preference, bro. That's what Alembic is all about.

[the_8_string_king]

Thanks for posting that link, Steve, I'd seen that gorgeous maple Series Europa of yours before, but didn't remember where it was.  Quite a beauty.
 
Hey Paul, another thing that you could consider -to my knowledge, no one has ever done this before- would be to get them to ADD a pan/balance control to the standard Series II setup... and a 2-position toggle to CHOOSE whether you have a volume/balance OR master/individual volume(s) setup.
 
Of course, it's more likely you'd just prefer one or the other... but it's another option you could consider/ask about -if so inclined.
 
If I had the money for my ultimate Series bass, I'd ask about this... might be cool to have the option of doing it either way.
 
In general, I also prefer the simplicity of a single volume and a balance control.  I've asked Mica for a quote for the prep for Series I option for my Custom-in-progress -and depending on price, I might switch to Signature electronics and get the prep for Series I.  If/when I were to (then) go ahead and get the Series I upgrade, I'd likely go for the simplified master volume/balance setup -like Steve.

[dtrice]

I'm planning on a future Series Bass, but am inexperienced with them.  So, pardon what may a silly question, but what is prep for Series I you mentioned mean? I'm trying to learn as much about Alembic products, but it is hard without any dealers within a few hundred miles. There are at least two forum members in my area, but I haven't been able to actually test drive a Series.  Didn't mean to change the subject.

[crgaston]

Daniel, the prep for series option means they build the body big enough, pre-rout the insides,  and (I think) go ahead and rout the humcanceller and install a dummy.  That way you can upgrade the electronics at a later date when you have a few more thousand bucks.

[mele_aloha]

Hi Mark and everybody, thanks for responding so much!. Unfortunately I am stuck at work here as our helper called in sick so I haven't been able to read everything and spend time with you.  
 
Mark, I was able to read some of yours last night and very helpful but I will read more in a little while and get back with you all.
 
Thanks friends, Aloha, i ahui ho!!! Paully