Author Topic: Series II 1979 guitar pickup (Read 600 times)

paolopop · « **on:** November 21, 2007, 08:58:58 AM »

I bought a wonderful Series II guitar (SN 79 1492) and I can stop to watch it: a stunning masterpiece.
In the bridge position the guitar sounds fantastic, unfortunately I have found that the neck pickup make a lot of noise (a 50Hz hum) and I am unable to cancel it blending the signal with the central pickup.
The bridge pickup is really quiet.
I measured the picups but the neck one seems to be interrupted. Incredible to say, if I plug it alone in the preamp, it works, even if it is weak.
I tried to swap the pickups (actually I tested every possible combinations) but the problem seems to be in the PU, not in the preamp.
What can I do?
Is there any way to fix this problem (could it be a fault in the shieded wire?)
Have I to send the pickups and the preamp to Alembic?
I live in Italy and I would prefer to avoid to ship the entire guitar.
Are those old pickups still available?
Thank you

Paolo

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 21, 2007, 04:50:03 PM »

Hello Paolo
Are you using the 1/4 jack or the 5 pin DIN plug to the power supply? Early series instruments were equipped with stereo 1/4 jacks and you would only here one channel unless you used a stereo cord.
Others will help as they see this post.
Mike

paolopop · « **Reply #2 on:** November 21, 2007, 10:15:12 PM »

I use the DIN plug OR a stereo jack, the results are the same. As I wrote, if I swap the pickups the problem is in the bridge channel, I am pretty sure that there is something wrong with one of the pickups.
I wrote to the Alembic support some days ago, but I have still no reply.
Thank you

paolopop · « **Reply #3 on:** November 21, 2007, 10:17:15 PM »

A picture of the preamp:

adriaan · « **Reply #4 on:** November 22, 2007, 01:34:18 AM »

If the problem moves with the pickup (and does not occur with the other pickup hooked up to the same preamp) then it's obviously a problem with the pickup itself.

Try calling Alembic after 6 PM your time - that is about 9 AM in California.

paolopop · « **Reply #5 on:** November 22, 2007, 05:58:20 AM »

Thank you for your reply. The problem is in the pickup for sure.
What is incomprehensible to me is that the pickup winding itself is interrupted according to the ohm-meter, but it still sounds!
Anyway I will sent the pickups and the preamp at the Alembic if they will authorize me!

adriaan · « **Reply #6 on:** November 22, 2007, 07:34:05 AM »

You probably only need to order a new pickup - but let's wait for a response from Alembic.

lbpesq · « **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2007, 10:22:09 AM »

Paolo:

I'd wait until at least 11:00 A.M. PST before calling Alembic. They don't open until 10:00 and I'd give them a little window to get the new day started. Sounds like a bad pickup (I'm assuming when you change the neck to bridge, you're actually unplugging the connector and then plugging it into the other preamp/filter, not just physically moving the pickup, right?). The pickup can easily be swapped out for a new one. They are the same as they were back when your guitar was born.

Bill, the guitar one

811952 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 22, 2007, 05:23:59 PM »

Sounds similar to what happened to one of my pickups not that long ago. The shield separated and it also became microphonic. You'll need to order a new pickup from them if that's the case..

John

paolopop · « **Reply #9 on:** November 22, 2007, 09:05:57 PM »

Thank you for your kind replies!!
This is a really helpful community.
Actually I tried to order a new pickup (or better, a new set?) days ago.
Anyone knows why Alembic does not reply to my email?
I tried many times with the support form in this web site too, but...
I would prefer to avoid to call by phone because... ehm... I am have no problems to read and write in English, but I am not very able to SPEAK English!

A further question: anyone could give me an advice about the preamp?
It seems to work fine, but are the new ones better in terms of sound?
Thank you

Paolo

hieronymous · « **Reply #10 on:** November 22, 2007, 09:08:57 PM »

Paolo - today (Nov. 22) is Thanksgiving here in the USA - one of the biggest holidays of the year! I am 99.99% sure that Alembic will be closed from Nov. 22-25, so don't expect a response until next week at the earliest!

keith_h · « **Reply #11 on:** November 23, 2007, 05:38:03 AM »

The delay might also have something to do with this. Alembic is a small shop so when one of them is out of the office requests can be delayed.

Keith

paolopop · « **Reply #12 on:** November 23, 2007, 06:47:12 AM »

This explains all!
I will wait for a post from Mica or a direct reply.
Thank you very much for your helpful post, Keith.

David Houck · « **Reply #13 on:** November 23, 2007, 05:00:13 PM »

Hi Paolo; welcome to the board!

About your question concerning the preamp. The main difference between your preamp and a new one would be RF noise. The new ones are designed to be quiet even amongst all of the RF stuff in the air that didn't exist back in the 70's. If you have noise (other than the bad pickup), then if you haven't already done so, you want to do the hum cancelling procedure. If you still have noise, then you can ship your guitar back to the shop to get the electronics upgrade. It is not inexpensive; but it's less than buying new electronics. Hopefully, getting the pickup replaced is all you need.

(Message edited by davehouck on November 23, 2007)

paolopop · « **Reply #14 on:** November 23, 2007, 07:34:33 PM »

Thankfully I have no problem with the high frequency noise.
Anyway the cost to ship the entire guitar (from and to Italy) would be prohibitive, for sure higher that to buy new electronics!
At this point I can assume that I need a new set of matched pickups (the plastic of the working one is in bad conditions).
I only have to know how to make my order!
Well, I will wait for the mail I sent to Alembic days ago.
Thank to all the kind people that are helping me.