Author Topic: Installing Elan pups and electronics in custom bass (Read 233 times)

jbybj · « **on:** July 02, 2010, 09:52:54 AM »

Hello,

I just made a purchase of some Elan pups that I want to use in a custom fretless I'm refinishing.

If I install both pups, I will only have enough room to place them very close together, maybe less than an inch apart. My first inclination is that this might not only look crowded, but that there may not be sufficient differentiation between the pup positions to make it worthwhile.

I would consider installing only one, as long as I can make use of the electronics properly. I don't have the electronics in hand yet, but where does the pre reside, with the blend pot or the volume? If it's on the blend pot, can I lose the volume, and just pan between the pup and nothing?

Any insight, suggestions, or pictures would be welcomed.

Thanks, James

funkyjazzjunky · « **Reply #1 on:** July 02, 2010, 12:28:09 PM »

Can you show us a mock-up or sketch? I cannot visualize why they would be so close together. Will the bass have an extended range fretboard? Is it a very short scale?

jbybj · « **Reply #2 on:** July 02, 2010, 01:00:10 PM »

It's a Wishbass, has a 3 octave fingerboard.

adriaan · « **Reply #3 on:** July 02, 2010, 01:53:17 PM »

Oh dear ;-)

mica · « **Reply #4 on:** July 02, 2010, 01:57:35 PM »

Except for the bass and treble switches, Elan electronics are very nearly like Europa.

If you don't have the Elan electronics, note that you don't have to use only Elan electronics. The pickups in the Elan are the same as every other Alembic bass except the Series I/II models, so you could install one pickup, one volume, and one filter if the space was really tight.

jbybj · « **Reply #5 on:** July 02, 2010, 03:20:00 PM »

Thanks Mica,

The pickups are supposed to be complete, with all the electronics, pots, filter, and cue switch. The picture you linked to has the preamp on a separate circuit board. For some reason I thought the circuit board was attached to one of the pots. It should be simple then to install only one activator. I'm a twitter with anticipation.

Hello Adrian,

Yes, I know, what am I thinking, putting the finest electronics in a Wishbass. This one is a beauty though. The black limba is gorgeous, and the Lobe body is very comfortable. I'll have my luthier level the fingerboard and apply epoxy. This one is a lifer, especially after I fit it with some MXY magic :-) Fortunately I got a pretty decent price on the activators, and one of them, while fully functional, has a repaired crack in the casing. That will make it a little easier to pare it down to one.

Hopefully, in about 4-5 weeks, I can post some sound clips!

JBY

adriaan · « **Reply #6 on:** July 02, 2010, 03:28:03 PM »

Hello James - variety is the spice of life, go for it.

jbybj · « **Reply #7 on:** July 02, 2010, 03:28:29 PM »

Well, I just checked the pix again, and there is a pot attached to the board, I just wonder which pot it is................

oggydoggy · « **Reply #8 on:** July 06, 2010, 04:08:32 PM »

Hey James,
The Pot hard to the board is the Filter, The Pot closest to the input jack is the Vol..and the furthest away is the Pan.
Peace

jbybj · « **Reply #9 on:** July 07, 2010, 08:43:02 AM »

Thanks Ed,

Not wanting to modify any of the wiring or pots, I suppose I could just tape up the pan and tuck it away in the cavity, if I choose to go with one pup.

JBY