The Merits Of The Simple Alembic Circuits

[adriaan]

Pretty sure it would be a fairly simple conversion to your Anniversary package to have 3 position Q switches with 0, 3 and 6 dB settings. Had the same thing done to my Spoiler, and it took the Q boost, which at 8 dB sounded harsh to my ears, into useable territory (for me). With the filter wide open, the 3 dB boost indeed adds a wonderful sheen, and the 6 dB some shimmer. So indeed even 3 dB increases are already pretty subtle. The other modification was even more significant though - adding a pan pot. Master volume and a pickup switch is just plain crude, at least to me.
 
I will be acquainting myself with CVQs in the near future, but that deserves another thread.

[jazzyvee]

From personal experience the CVQ is a great asset and most of my use of it is very subtle, rarely open as far as 1/4 of it's range unless I'm want to use those wonderful hollow nasally tones you can get in the higher positions.
I'm sure I've seen documented on the forum somewhere that Ron will not approve alembic putting CVQ on any bass other than a series II. So you may be thwarted in getting alembic to do this for you.

[edwardofhuncote]

New Years resolution - sometime this year, I'm hoping to expand my experience with the Alembic electronics from the simple Volume/Pan/Filter/3-pos Q of my Persuader, to Signature electronics. I'm *still* amazed at the tonal possibilities available with the aforementioned, but if one filter is awesome, I can't help but believe two filters would be at least one and a half times better. =)

[wfmandmusic]

Trevor, hmmm, seems like you are missing a Distillate. I know where you can get one....

[sonofa_lembic]

With the $15K bass in the picture, it may be a few before I can swing the Distillate, but I never say never.  I am always working on acquiring my next Alembic.

[gearhed289]

I've got an '86, 34'' scale Distillate, and I really like the control layout. I DO want to change the pickup selector to a pan knob though. So many tonal options missing with just a switch... I like simple. I haven't found myself using the Q switch much. Bass switch is always in boost mode, and I've been experimenting with using the treble boost (usually set flat) instead of the Q switch. It sounds SO much like my Ric sometimes it's freaky!
 
On the flip side to simple - I recently acquired a SF-2 Superfilter. What a BEAST! Two channels of CVQ and then some. I'm honestly having a hard time seeing the need for 2 channels, but experimentation continues. =) I'm currently running my Ric 4003S with HB1 humbuckers through it to great effect.

[glocke]

I've owned a Series I and a Series II, and a SCSD all at the same time.
 
Currently, I only have the SCSD, sold the series basses over the past couple of years.  While the Series basses sound incredible, I've found that all of my tonal needs are met with the SCSD.  Add in a SF2 and the possibilities are endless.  
 
Even without the SF2 I feel that all my tonal needs are met with the SD electronics.

[sonofa_lembic]

The Superfilter is basically like having a Series II circuit on steroids.  I remember when Alembic was first prototyping the SF2.  I begged Susan and Ron to make them available to the public.  It took a few years, but they finally did it, and I was likely one of the first people to buy one.  It is a great tool for getting the most out of any bass, and it gives you total control of your tone so that you can dial in to any venue or recording situation.

[flpete1uw]

Agreed, the Superfilter breathed new life into my Distiilate and brought low end into my Short Scale lots of Maple Series 1.
  I'm a huge Fan of simple, especially when I know it's going to be a long night. My Distillate is still the Bass I go with just for that reason. Simple! One filter and quick tone switches makes for effortless tone changes. However when all the Stars are aligned and I've had enough time to practice and dial in the tones a Series is untouchable. With that said, a Series and a SF-2 is 4 filters. And when a 1/16 of a turn generates huge tonal differences it can get a bit distracting when performing.
However I'm working on it. ;-)

[rv_bass]

I agree with keith_h.  After about a month or so I found the tone I like, now I rarely tweak it and just use the Q-switch when needed.
Rob