Author Topic: Alembic Distillate Bass - Eletronics (Read 157 times)

playbootsy · « **on:** January 30, 2006, 10:04:28 AM »

Hi Dave and club members,
I?m from Brazil and have a Alembic Distillate 81?. Serial number is 81D1904.
This are working good, but have some noises in the Q switch and the low-pass filter, whem booth are working together.
I would like to know if it?s normal.

Dave, could you post the Distillate Eletronics in FAQ, i will apreciatte so much.

Ricardo

P.S: forgive my english.

adriaan · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2006, 11:31:37 AM »

Hi Ricardo,

There are two kinds of noise you can get -

With all volume/tone/filter pots on an Alembic, they are self-cleaning. This means you can clean them by turning them fully open, then completely shut, about 20 times in succession. You should hear the noises disappear.

If the noise is more like a radio signal coming through, then you should check the electronics cavity if it contains a bead - check the Must Read/FAQ section on that.

Distillates have an earlier version of the Europa/Rogue package- IIRC they have a pickup switch instead of a blend pot.

Enjoy!

spliffy · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2006, 12:09:02 PM »

Hi Recardo, I have a distillate and I did encounter some serious radio signals coming in when playing at my favourite club. Mica sent me a ferrite bead to try but it did not work so I sent in the electronics for an update. Took a while (and I am sorry Mica for my inpatience), but the bass sounds great and I have not had any issues since. HOWEVER.... it sounds like your issue is different. Could you give us more details as to what is happening?
Thanks
Al

playbootsy · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2006, 04:03:47 PM »

Al, my Distillate just make a noise(sharp)whem the filter fully open and the q-switch is on. Not like a radio signal.

Adriann, i will try tomorrow whem i?m in home, and let you if it works in my Distillate.
The bass in your profile are great, congrat?s.

Thank?s

playbootsy · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2006, 08:15:28 AM »

Please, I want to know if the rotary switch(pickup selector)in Distillate have the same position of Spoiler.

From the most counter-clockwise position, the settings are:
1. standby
2. neck pickup only
3. both pickups
4. bridge pickup only

Thank?s

adriaan · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2006, 08:31:49 AM »

I had the rotary switch on my Spoiler replaced with a panpot, so I have to go by memory here - but that sounds like the four standard positions.

However, the neck and bridge pickups are probably plugged onto the circuit board with a click-on connector, so it is easy to change around the positions 2 and 4. And even if they are soldered, that would be an easy modification.

If you're not sure which pickup you're hearing, well the neck pickup sounds much deeper, and the bridge pickup sounds much sharper. The difference is not very subtle.

And thanks for the compliment!

(Message edited by adriaan on January 31, 2006)

playbootsy · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2006, 04:28:04 PM »

Adriann, thank?s for the information.

Today I led mine Bass for an electricist to check all of the circuits.

He resolved my problems and informed that did an isolation eletroestatic in the bass (armor-plating) and landed the bridge.

The noises disappeared.

My Distillate look?s like a new guy...silent..and fury...sound Ok??

Best Regards

adriaan · « **Reply #7 on:** February 01, 2006, 02:22:18 AM »

Well, if it solved the problem then he did a proper job.

However ... Alembic doesn't ground the electronics to the bridge. If I remember correctly, the shielding paint in the control cavity is conductive, so as long as at least one metallic part of the circuit is in tight contact with the shielding paint, and the shielded cover plate is also you attached firmly, you get the same effect as when grounding to the bridge.

There are some signals that will still leak into the system, because of cell phones etc. Most Alembics come with a ferrite bead attached to the pickup leads, which suppresses that type of signals.

David Houck · « **Reply #8 on:** February 01, 2006, 09:40:32 AM »

Hi Ricardo; glad you got the problem fixed! Based on the above posts, I agree with Adriaan's assessment. The electonics are grounded to the shielding when the pots are tightened up against the top of the body. So I'm guessing the problem was that one of the controls was a little loose. You can remove the knobs with a hex head wrench and then tightened the nut around the shaft that secures the control to the body. Your technician probably tightened it up, but you may want to check and make sure all the controls are securely tightened.

David Houck · « **Reply #9 on:** February 01, 2006, 09:59:14 AM »

I've added a Distillate subtopic to the FAQ section.

playbootsy · « **Reply #10 on:** February 01, 2006, 12:04:14 PM »

I want to thank you guys for the support and advices.
I?ve checked all controls and they were fixed properly.
I believe that this may have happened because the bass has 25 years old.
The shield ink is consumed and here in the Brazil I still did not find such ink.
Anyway, that?s the reason I bought 3 Alembics...the factory support and the gently members of the club are AMAZING!!!!!!
Thank?s for posting Distillate Eletronics in FAQ section.

jlpicard · « **Reply #11 on:** February 05, 2006, 12:49:29 AM »

I had a Distillate with the exact same problem. I then discoverd the filter pot was loose, tightened it up and every thing was cured!