Author Topic: Another Activated Fender! (Read 3853 times)

cousinvinnie · « **Reply #30 on:** September 11, 2012, 02:02:40 PM »

These are too cool ! They are making me consider Activators for some of my other basses.

Interesting: a buddy of mine had a good friend who bought an Alembic I think in the late 70's/early 80's. He also had a Rickenbacker. So this guy's father got so angry that he spent so much on an Alembic that he pulled a Townshend on it and destroyed it ! The poor kid ended up gutting the bass and putting the parts into the remaining Rickenbacker. They were probably full sized soaps back then so routing had to be done.

Turned out to be one of the most amazing sounding basses EVER.

bigredbass · « **Reply #31 on:** September 12, 2012, 10:56:43 PM »

Gee, can I get J-Activators in white?

I like this enough I'd be willing to play 4-string once in a while. I just LOVE Squiers.

J o e y

FC Bass · « **Reply #32 on:** September 13, 2012, 05:05:54 PM »

Here's my "Fembic", 1991 Fender Prodigy:

More recent picture:

Vol, pan, filter + Q switch setup.

hieronymous · « **Reply #33 on:** December 08, 2012, 07:10:10 PM »

My AlFemBic has a cousin:

This is one of the Donald Duck Dunn signatures made only in 1998 - a limited edition of 200 or so. This one is going to stay stock - it seems to have survived in extremely good shape this past 14-15 years, so I'm going to keep it that way - strung with GHS flats, it's the perfect complement to the AlFemBic! (for which I still haven't picked up witch hat knobs)

hieronymous · « **Reply #34 on:** February 09, 2013, 10:04:51 PM »

Finally pulled a recording of the AlFemBic!

http://soundcloud.com/hieronymous-seven/aka-afb

P-pickup only, with the filter set pretty low. No science involved, just ended up there - I knew it was going to be set to a lower frequency because of the song, but it was set on the fly. Hard to believe it's round wounds! But that is part of the magic of the Activators. Maybe not what immediately jumps to mind as the typical Alembic sound but definitely one side of what Alembic electronics can do. I also put it through the F-2B after the fact - live I was just playing through my trusty CAJ tube compressor, and at one point I turn on the MXR M288 Bass Octave Deluxe (also turned on some distortion but didn't like how it sounded direct so filtered it out).

Compare to this version of the song recorded with the Duck Dunn bass pictured above and also put through the F-2B with similar settings. This rehearsal is only the fourth time we've played together and already the sound is evolving as we figure things out and get used to each other.

hieronymous · « **Reply #35 on:** February 12, 2013, 09:13:25 PM »

Quick (and crappy!) still from some video I shot of our last rehearsal when AKA AFB was recorded:

Considering picking up the Q switch for Activators - would really like the 0 dB boost option for the low end. Also still need to get some witchhat knobs so I can have a better visual of where my volumes and filter are set!

hieronymous · « **Reply #36 on:** May 21, 2013, 08:03:47 PM »

It's been a few months, but I finally got witch hat knobs and the 3-position Q-switch, and even had them installed!

There's a (kind-of) funny story about the knobs - took it to someone I know to do the work and the knobs were jammed on there so hard he couldn't get them off! The shaft pulled out of the pot! It was like they were glued in there or something. One of the pots was damaged but it was a relatively cheap repair - I think about $8 for the pot - it looks like this is a pretty old set, since Mica said they haven't used these pots for a while.

Haven't had a chance to take it for a spin yet, but am looking forward to experimenting with the Q-switch - I want to see if I can get a sound close to my Duck Dunn strung with flats (the AlFemBic has rounds), while also being able to get this kind of sound too (filter wide open):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4aA6kerOA8

terryc · « **Reply #37 on:** May 22, 2013, 03:52:25 AM »

hieronymous...when I installed my PJ set back in the 90's, the pot shafts were bigger then the P control knob I fitted which necessitated me drilling the knobs to a larger diameter so the set screw could pinch on shaft. Now I don't want to dis any guitar techs but were the original knobs forced onto the shafts of the Activator set up?

hieronymous · « **Reply #38 on:** May 22, 2013, 08:28:45 AM »

Yep! The culprits didn't even have set-screws! I don't know what the guy was thinking. Oh well, it's fixed now!

mica · « **Reply #39 on:** May 22, 2013, 12:27:26 PM »

The knobs were actually GLUED on, Harry. Your tech was stunned as was I. I think the previous repair person had some push-on knobs and decided to enlist adhesive when he discovered the pots were smooth and not knurled.

briant · « **Reply #40 on:** May 23, 2013, 10:57:56 AM »

I've been on the fence about sticking Alembic electronics in a Fender Jazz.

What is the tonal experience one achieves from this exercise? Is it more like a Fender on steroids or does it lean much more towards an Alembic tone?

terryc · « **Reply #41 on:** May 23, 2013, 02:41:38 PM »

hieronymous--the bloody idiot!!!! Jeeze, these people get paid good money and he screws up a really simple fix. No wonder I don't trust anyone with my guitars and do all the maintenance myself and have done for years

hieronymous · « **Reply #42 on:** May 23, 2013, 02:57:03 PM »

Brian - I'm pretty amazed with the Activators - I feel like you can get a Fender sound, but also so much more! I'm going to repost the links to show the possible sounds:

P-J with filter way down low:
https://soundcloud.com/hieronymous-seven/aka-afb

P-J with filter almost all the way open:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4aA6kerOA8

Precision with filter all the way open and flats (different bass):
https://soundcloud.com/hieronymous-seven/8b4x4

The first one is the most amazing to me - just pure fatness, sounds like flats to me but it's rounds. But in the second example you can get the nice Alembic high-end.

Terry - in the guy's defense, he was trying to help, but he kind of caused more harm than good. Actually, the good thing is, the new pot feels better - it isn't as loose as the old one!

hieronymous · « **Reply #43 on:** June 07, 2013, 11:10:18 AM »

Here's another recent recording - again, with a darker sound, Q set to 0, filter set somewhere in the middle, not sure if it was just the P pickup or P & J set about even:

https://soundcloud.com/stanleylighthead/sol-jamming

FC Bass · « **Reply #44 on:** July 14, 2013, 06:45:09 AM »

I used mine yesterday at an Allstars gig (members from different bands, performing some populair rock and metal songs)
First time onstage with the Fembic in +/- 7 years, sounded awesome! :-)
Rig was an Ampeg SVT 3 pro (amp I used for years before the full Mesa rig) and an Ampeg 1540 cab (4x10 + 1x15)

Used it on Smells like teen spirit (Nirvana) and Paranoid (Black Sabbath)
I only brought it for the Nirvana song, but broke a string on my '83 Spoiler during Ace of spades (Motorhead) The Fembic proved to be a worthy backup :-)
Also did backup/lead vocals only on two ('tallica) songs, first time ever without guitar/bass onstage for me... :-)

I think there will be some vids shortly, will post here if topic is still active.