98MK11736

[olieoliver]

OK, I?ve restrung it with the Elixirs adjusted the nut and bridge accordingly and the Elixirs? still didn?t impress me. In fact I pulled them off and put the old Alembics back on. I?ll pick up some new Alembics tomorrow. I?ll try the DR?s that someone suggested too.
Anyway I do notice that I get a high end buzz when I flip the Q switch down and adjust the knob above it clockwise, (sounds just like the old Fenders when you got too close to a Neon sign). This does give me a crisp sound that I like. It does go away when I move away from the amp. I had this problem with one of my Thumb basses and it turned out to be the bridge PU was bad. And I still don?t have it sounding the way I want but I?m getting there. I?ll try it tomorrow at church on my big rig. (A SWR 750X head, a 2x10 cab and 1x15 cab both SWR). Any ideas guys? ( It does have the ferret tube, I believe that?s what you call it)
The feel of the bass is great. Fits me like a glove. The custom dimensions of the neck remind me of my old Jazz that I started on?mumble mummemm years ago.

[David Houck]

1) Here is the FAQ on the ferrite bead (recently edited).  Check to see if the pickup leads are looped back through the bead.  If you have enough slack, loop them through again.
 
2) Make sure all the knobs and switches are tightly secured to the body.  The controls are grounded to the shielding paint when the nuts securing them to the body are tightened.  If one of the nuts because loose, you can get some noise.

[olieoliver]

Well I just tightened all the switches and knobs, a couple were loose, and I still have the noise. It's only in the high freq. though. If I trun the the knob above the Q switch counter clockwise the noise goes away, but then my sound is toooooo boomy and muffled sounding. I've played with the eq some and can get the buzz/hum mostly out especially if move away from the amp. It may be from me trying to counter the old dead strings with boosting the high 'z. I just can't believe its a bad PU because the bass has very little if any wear from playing. Neck is like new, frets have no wear. Looks like its been hiding in the closet for its 8 years. I'll know more tomorrow when I play it through my other rig and put some new Alembic or DR's on it.
 
I check out your bands web site Dave, I like the sound your have on Lenny. What setup did you use on the recording?

[David Houck]

Olie; I doubt it's the pickup, but if you want to investigate further, you can pull the pickups out and switch them around.  If the noise moves with the pickup, it's the pickup; if the noise stays with the same filter, then it wasn't the pickup.
 
Another thing to try is a different 1/4 cable.
 
On the Lenny recording, that's the Maple S1 tuned down a half step (I don't think I had the Walnut bass when we made the recording).  I don't remember the tone settings on the bass.  The preamp is an F-1X; the reverb a TC Electronic M-One; and then an SF-2 and an Ashly SC-50 compressor/limiter.  A Bag End D10X-D and an Acme Low B-2 were both run full range; the Acme was on the floor (carpet), the Bag End on top.  A single mic was place a few feet away; I don't remember what kind of mic it was.  The SF-2 was setup in the mono parallel mode with one side being low-pass and the other high-pass.  The cut-off frequencies were probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 and 600Hz respectively; and there was probably little if any Q.  The F-1X was probably 5-5-5 or very close to it, with no deep or bright boost.  On the bass, I usually have the neck filter closed with the Q off, and the bridge filter open with the Q on high; but on that song I doubt that was the setting, but maybe something close to it.

[olieoliver]

I played it today at church through my other rig and it sounded great. Still didn't get the other strings on it yet am about to do that. I still don't a full understanding of the controls yet.
I believe (please let me know if I am right about these)the switch closest to the PU's is for bass (low z) (cut, flat and boost), the middle switch is for high z(cut, flat, boost. The front knob/pot is volume, the middle is pan, the rear switch and knob I don't have a full grasp of yet. I read they are,Q switch and filter but  
I'm sorry guys, give me the pointy cap and sit me on the stool!

[keith_h]

Olie,
The last control would be the filter. Here is the link to the Europa/Rogue controls FAQ.  
 
http://club.alembic.com/Images/16271/16370.html?1107721317
 
Keith

[olieoliver]

I assume that filter means instead of boosting highs or lows it filters out certain freqs. And the Q switch I noitce that if I flip it down I tend to get more high z's. This site has been very helpful. The more I read in here the more I understand. I appreciate everyones help and patience with me.

[olieoliver]

on another note I mentioned here about the Elixirs strings. I just realized they have what they call a Nano coating on them. Makes them feel great but they just don't have that brightness or growl. My ideal sound would be a cross between Chris Squire & John Patitucci...... I guess that would be a Squatitucci sound, or just a good fat bottom with a crisp clear high to give definition while maintaining a stong funky growl. Not too much to ask from a $25 dollar set of strings. Do I hear an Amen anyone.

[David Houck]

The filter control is a low pass filter; as you roll it back it lowers the point at which it passes low frequency signals and blocks high frequency signals. To quote Mica, the range is from 350Hz-6KHz. Wherever you set the filter, only frequencies below that cutoff point are passed. The Q switch works in concert with the filter and provides an 8db boost at the cut off frequency you've set with the filter. When the switch is off you get a flat response up to the filter setting. Again to quote Mica, the Q affects mainly the attack portion of the note.

[olieoliver]

I think I've got it!  
So if I were to set the filter contol full clockwise it will allow everything from 6KHz down pass through. And if I were to flip the Q switch down while the control as at this position it would boost the 6KHz 8db. This would explain the following, I was in facing my Eden combo about 2 feet away and was playing with the settings, I had turned the filter full clockwise and then flipped th Q switch down and lit up my speakers like blue LED's. Furtunately I did no damage to my amp.  
Thanks Dave your are the man!

[David Houck]

Yes, you've got it!
 
If I remember correctly, Eden speaker cabs have a light bulb that acts as a fuse protecting the horn tweeter.  If your speakers lit up, that was probably the light bulb that lit up; and I'm guessing you may need to replace it.  I believe it's a standard automobile bulb and that you should be able to find a replacement at an auto parts store.

[olieoliver]

You are right about the bulb/ fuse Dave. I already checked it, I must have flipped the Q switch back before it blew the bulb because the horn works fine.  
I have an idea about the high buzz/hum/ noise through the Eden combo that was not present with my SWR. I had forgotten the Eden has an attenuator on the rear that adjusts the tweeter. It can cut or boost the tweeter. I had it at 1/2 boost position. Tonight I am going to cut the tweeter completely, adjust the amp to get the best sound possible and then increase the tweeter just enough to give it a good crisp sound.  
I knew it just couldn?t be the Bass. The problem was with my lack of experience with Alembics. It?s like driving a horse drawn carriage all your life then jumping into a Ferrari; you?d better ask questions before you start the car.

[olieoliver]

You are right about the bulb/ fuse Dave. I already checked and flipped the Q switch back before it blew the bulb.  
I have an idea about the high buzz/hum/ noise through the Eden combo that was not present with my SWR. I had forgotten the Eden has an attenuator on the rear that adjusts the tweeter. It can cut or boost the tweeter. I had it at 1/2 boost position. Tonight I am going to cut the tweeter completely, adjust the amp to get the best sound possible and then increase the tweeter just enough to give it a good crisp sound.  
I knew it just couldn?t be the Bass. The problem was with my lack of experience with Alembics. It?s like driving a horse drawn carriage all your life then jumping into a Ferrari; you?d better ask questions before you start the car.

[olieoliver]

OK, now that I'm familiar with the controls I have the bass capital T.H.U.M.P.I.N' thumpin. I've the sound cleaned up real nice and clear.
I will say one thing though. You really have to clean up your playing. I mean everything comes out. My finger style and even pizzicato is fine on it but my slapping technique....I have to play a lot softer than on my other basses.

[olieoliver]

I finally got the new Alembic strings on it. What a difference they made. Great sustain, superb slap sound and every note rings true. I going to see if GC will let me trade the 3 sets of Elixir stings I have for something else. I am still going to try the DR and Rotosounds too.