Author Topic: Electronic wiring for serie 1 (Read 839 times)

nathanpatoubass · « **Reply #15 on:** April 02, 2009, 12:42:24 PM »

Mica,
I just realized that you were asking me my postal address and not my email address. Therefore, find below my postal address:

Thanks in advance for your proposal to send me the schematic of the electronic. Regards. Franck

(Message edited by mica on April 02, 2009)

mica · « **Reply #16 on:** April 02, 2009, 12:53:06 PM »

Hi Franck,

I got your address - but deleted it from your post for privacy. The schematic will leave in tomorrow's mail.

nathanpatoubass · « **Reply #17 on:** April 03, 2009, 06:23:55 AM »

Thank you so much Mica. I apreciate your support.
Have a nice week end.
Regards
Franck

terryc · « **Reply #18 on:** April 06, 2009, 06:56:17 AM »

Franck..how about selling some of your other basses to fund the cost of sending it to the USA..terrible suggestion but it is an option

nathanpatoubass · « **Reply #19 on:** April 06, 2009, 08:23:05 AM »

Hi Terry
That could be an option if I do not succeed in solving the issue by myself or with my luthier. The most difficult will be to decide which one to sell (pedulla, Tune, Fenderx2, lakland, alembic 20th anniversary (oh no not this one), or Status).
Rgds.Franck

terryc · « **Reply #20 on:** April 06, 2009, 09:48:55 AM »

Don't even think about the 20th Anniversary getting sold!
The others..well it is difficult although you could decide on which to sell by assessing how much you play them against the others.

nathanpatoubass · « **Reply #21 on:** April 15, 2009, 12:03:04 AM »

Mica,
I've received the schematic today. Once again thank you. I'll share this document with my luthier and hopefully he'll be able to fix the problem. I'll let you informed. Thanks you !
Franck

georgie_boy · « **Reply #22 on:** April 15, 2009, 02:33:14 AM »

I also received the schematic here in Scotland.

Thanks Mica, and all the team!

nathanpatoubass · « **Reply #23 on:** April 26, 2009, 08:06:37 AM »

Hello Mica,
After spending some times on trying to cable properly the jack to the xlr,using the schematic you sent me, I finally came to the conclusion that the pin #8 of the jack is not working. The violet signal should go to the #8 but as the pin #8 is not working , I have put the violet signal on pin#4 of the jack (together with the orange signal). The bass is working now but the volume of each pick up are working together only (not separately). Therefore I'm not far from solving definitively my issue : I need to change the jack by a new one. Can I order 1 stereo jack to your company? Thanks in advance for your reply.
Franck

JimmyJ · « **Reply #24 on:** April 26, 2009, 08:09:23 PM »

I'll make an attempt here too... Sorry, my two years of French study is all forgotten, c'est dommage!

Franck,

The first thing you must do is try to restore all the connections to match the original schematic which Mica has sent you. It is hard to see in your photos but it is possible somebody has changed things causing your bass to act strangely!

About your last comment... Pin #8 of the 1/4-inch jack makes contact with the ring of a stereo plug. Series I were originally wired so that one pickup connected to the tip and the other connected to the ring. Like this:

If you want to use a standard (mono) guitar cable then the two outputs from the Alembic preamp card (one for each pickup) must somehow meet at the tip. But you SHOULD NOT simply connect the orange and violet wires together or you will get the strange double controls that you describe. You must use two 20k resistors to sum the signal to mono. They should be joined together at pin 4 of the 1/4-inch jack (that's the tip) while the other end of one resistor contacts the orange wire and the other end of the other resistor contacts the violet wire.

Bonne chance!!!
Jimmy J

JimmyJ · « **Reply #25 on:** April 26, 2009, 08:31:07 PM »

OK, a bit more... Originally in Series I the orange signal wire went directly to pin 4 of the 1/4-inch jack and then continued from there (with a short orange wire) to pin 2 of the XLR. The violet signal wire went directly to pin 8 of the 1/4-inch jack and then continued on to pin 3 of the XLR. Now days, these output wires go directly to the XLR first and the 20k resistors collect the two signals from there (XLR pins 2 & 3) and sum them when they meet at pin 4 of the 1/4-inch jack.

There, clear as mud!
Jimmy J

By the way, that's a lovely looking bass!

nathanpatoubass · « **Reply #26 on:** April 27, 2009, 03:56:48 AM »

Hi Jimmy !
First of all your french is not as bad as what you think. You only need to practice a little.

Thanks for your help. That's clear for me as I spent some times trying to understand the schematic. I'm 100% sure that the previous owner has changed things in the cabling.
What was strange is that there were a direct cable from pick up control#1 to pin#2 of the xlr and pick up control#2 to pin# 3 of the xlr. I had removed these links and have made the correct cabling respecting Mica's schematic.
However even if I use a stereo guitar cable, respecting the schematic given i.e. orange signal on pin4 of the 1/4inch jack and then continued on pin 2 of xlr, and violet signal on pin 8 of the 1/4inch jack and then continued on pin 3 of the xlr, it's not working. I understand from your message that I need to use 20k resistors in order to convert signal to mono. I'm really not a technician though I like spending times on this bass. (I don't even know how to get a 20k resistors....(please don't laught at me)

That's why I think that the easiest thing to do is to replaced the 1/4 jack by a new one. But if I'm wrong, your thoughts will be welcome.
thanks for all this clarification. Regards
Franck

JimmyJ · « **Reply #27 on:** April 27, 2009, 10:41:35 AM »

Franck,

Your English gets better with each post!

Your bass is definitely worth the time and effort to restore it's electronics to their original condition. I suggest you get help from somebody like an amp repair person who can read the schematic and trace the wiring. Your luthier may be able to do it but the circuit is obviously much more complicated than a normal passive electric guitar. Any amp repair person would also probably have 20k resistors in stock - or at least be able to get you some. (These are very inexpensive components).

The 1/4-inch jack Alembic uses is a fairly specific part because it also switches the power source from the external supply to the internal batteries. It is not something you can find easily at your local electronics shop. If you feel you need to replace this part then perhaps you should order the following from Mica at Alembic:
1- 1/4-inch jack
1- 5-pin XLR jack
2- 20k resistors

These parts should not cost you too much and may help you make a clean repair of your instrument.

Keep going, you will enjoy the outcome!
Jimmy J

nathanpatoubass · « **Reply #28 on:** April 27, 2009, 12:01:26 PM »

Thanks Jimmy for your support. I really apreciate.
I'll try to follow your suggestions. Regards. Franck

David Houck · « **Reply #29 on:** April 27, 2009, 07:16:50 PM »

Just in case it might be of some help:

Wiring a 1/4 stereo cable

Wiring a 1/4 stereo to 1/4 mono cable