Author Topic: Electronic wiring for serie 1 (Read 804 times)

nathanpatoubass · « **on:** March 31, 2009, 05:14:06 AM »

Hi,
I'm owning an alembic serie 1 from 1978. Though the electronic of this bass play perfectly when connected to the jack input of the bass, I have an issue when I'm using the 5 pin cable: there's a sound coming out from the bass but no more control of the electronics : no filters controls, no volume control for each pick up, and no selection of pick up. Clearly they might be an issue with the internal wiring to the jack + from the jack to the 5 pins input.
If someone could send me the picture of the electronic cavity for a serie 1 or a diagram schema this will help my luthier to make the necessary changes.
nota: sorry if my english is not so good, I'm a lonely french guy living in Paris area.
Thanks in advance for your help
Regards
Franck

terryc · « **Reply #1 on:** March 31, 2009, 08:08:30 AM »

Franck..when you say a sound, you mean when you play a note or some other sound??
It either could be the cable or the power supply, one set of pins supply the current whilst the other two are the signal out, the 12 o'clock one is the ground.
I am not sure on the 78 Series 1 but am I right that it works perfectly with the battery power??

David Houck · « **Reply #2 on:** March 31, 2009, 08:56:07 AM »

Read through this thread to see if it might be helpful.

nathanpatoubass · « **Reply #3 on:** March 31, 2009, 02:24:44 PM »

Hi Terryc,
When I said a sound, I was meaning that when I play a note, the bass is playing correctly i.e. I have the same sound coming out from the bass with the power supply than with the battery power. BUT I have no control at all from the 2 switches, nor from the 2 x 2 buttons and nor from the pickup selector. I look like that the controls buttom have no actions on the sound. I had the power supply test and the 5 pins cable tested by my luthier and it's working perfectly. Therefore, I suppose that the problem is coming from the electronic in the cavity. Certainly the wiring in the cavity is not totally correct. Thanks for your help

Hi Davehouck, I have read quickly the thread you send me but apparently Mike spent a lot of time wiring the cables. I'll have a look more carefully to this thread and hopefully I'll be able to solve this issue.I will let you informed. Thanks you both for your support
Regards
Franck

lembic76450 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 31, 2009, 03:10:50 PM »

Franck,
I once had a problem like this and it turned out to be a bad ground. Mine was an issue with the cable, but, maybe yours has to do with the 5 pin cannon plug.
Good luck.

mica · « **Reply #5 on:** March 31, 2009, 07:04:38 PM »

Since it sounds like the 1/4 jack is functioning fine, check the wiring on both jacks. There's some picture references here.

I can mail you the schematic if you email me your postal mailing address.

nathanpatoubass · « **Reply #6 on:** April 01, 2009, 03:30:09 AM »

Thank you all for your support. You are right I suppose that the problem might come from the the 5pins connection inside the cavity . By the way, when I bought this bass from the precedent owner, the pick up selector was not an original one.(I've it replace since by a new one I purchased to Alembic).
Mica, I apreciate if you could send me the shematic or any picture of a standard serie 1 cavity. This will help my luthier to make the needed corrections. My email address is : franck.slama@dhl.com
I can send if needed a picture of the cavity of my bass.(the size of the images is exceeding ghe maximum allowable upload size therefore I was not able to attached a picture to my message)
Thanks once again for your support.
Franck

georgie_boy · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2009, 05:06:16 AM »

Mica
If you read this..........could I have a diagram as well??
Just for future use.
My profile will show that this is a genuine request, and not from an interloper
AE 76 069

G

David Houck · « **Reply #8 on:** April 01, 2009, 06:26:16 AM »

Franck; if you email your pictures to me, I'll resize and post them here for you.

nathanpatoubass · « **Reply #9 on:** April 01, 2009, 09:41:01 AM »

Thank you Dave, I'll send you an email with some pictures of my bass and the cavity electonics
Thanks. Franck

David Houck · « **Reply #10 on:** April 01, 2009, 10:55:54 AM »

Here are the pics Franck sent of his control cavity.

David Houck · « **Reply #11 on:** April 01, 2009, 11:07:15 AM »

Here are some cropped and adjusted closeups of the jacks.

David Houck · « **Reply #12 on:** April 01, 2009, 11:08:37 AM »

And here's a very nice shot of the bass!!

terryc · « **Reply #13 on:** April 02, 2009, 08:22:49 AM »

Nice bass..worth all the effort to get it working again
Personally I would send it to Alembic to get a full service on the electronics, especially if I was keeping it forever(which I would)
Your luthier may be very good at his craft but I would only trust my MK with Alembic and no one else. Anyway that is my opinion.

nathanpatoubass · « **Reply #14 on:** April 02, 2009, 12:39:02 PM »

Hi Terryc
You are certainly right. The only issue is that I'm living in France and the shipping cost to Alembic USA from France + Insurance + electronic repair + shipping cost back to France might be expensive. My wife is already fed up with me and my 8 basses...But you are right this one is my prefered one and I hope I'll never have to sell it for financial reason. I don't know why but it's just sentimental. (perhaps it's due to the fact that this bass is 31 years old...) Regards. Franck