Pierre-Yves' African Blackwood Custom Series II

[pierreyves]

I have a question, if Mica may answer thanks.
I have the following problem (which does not exist on the koa bass):
when the pickup selector is in position both pickups, when I turn the bridge pickup volume to 50%, the neck pickup volume staying on zero and when I gradually rises this one to 50%, I have a kind of free zone volume where the neck pickup sound does not appear. After the volume has exceeded the position of 50% or midday or 12, the neck pickup sound finally appears.
If I reverse the situation, the problem remains the same but with the bridge pickup.
 
On my koa bass, when I rise the volume of any pickup, the sound goes up regularly and normally.
Whats happend? Any explanation ?
 
Apart from this problem, the sound is monstrous ....

[jazzyvee]

Pierreyves I think that problem means you need to send it to me as a christmas present. :-)
 
I hope this gets explained and fixed quickly It is shame that such a beautiful bass is having problems.
 
Pierreyves I pensent que des moyens de probl?me que vous devez me l'envoyer comme cadeau de No?l  hahaha :-)
 
J'esp?re que ceci obtient expliqu? et fixe rapidement lui est la honte qu'une si belle basse a des probl?mes.
 
Jazzyvee

[wayne]

Every Alembic I've owned, and every one I've played, behaved in the same manner you describe.  The volume pots act in a more logarithmic or exponential manner rather than a linear manner.  Kinda in the same way Decibels are measured - a doubling of perceived volume with each increase of 6-10 (or so) Decibels.
 
I've always accepted it as part and parcel of the electronics design.  Nothing else in the Alembic electronics chain acts the same way as all the others, so why should the volume pots?
 
But then again, I run everything wide open and control my volume with my hands on the strings.
 
Best of luck with a beautiful bass.
 
C-Ya............wayne

[pierreyves]

What I dont understand is that the volume is linear on the Koa bass and not on the blackwood bass in which the volume appears exponential. I can accept everything if I understand. This makes it much more complex settings.

[mario_farufyno]

In fact, if sound grows exponentialy we have to use logaritmic pots to change on same fashion. If Pierre-Yves is experimenting sudden change while increase volume this suggests that the Pots are linear, so it takes a long turn to start rising up the volume and suddenly jumps up near the end of its course. But this is really unexpected on any musical Instrument, are you sure about that?  
 
(it would be a very childish mistake)

[mario_farufyno]

to feel a volume pot as linear, as sound behave exponentialy we have to use a logaritmic (log) pot, but if it seems to change exponentialy, it means the pots are linear (lin). But this is hard to believe, can you check pots to see if they are log or lin?
 
ps.: My Rogue's volume pot behave as expected, never felt it increase as non gradual

[pierreyves]

how may I verify, what difference between log or lin pot ? Is it possible I have lin on the koa and log on the blackwood ? What has Stanley (for Mica)?

[pierreyves]

Hi Mica, as said by mail, I want a master volume but, when I use my koa bass I often move a little this knob unfortunatly... and the volume become greater of course !!
Have you solution to have a best position for this option ?

[pierreyves]

Ok Mica, I changed MS PC for Imac and now I lost my photoshop !! Anyway, Mac is soooo best... I can wait to have the best picture editor.
Here is a picture for the position knobs/switch I want. If you have best proposition, I will agree.
 

[pierreyves]

precision: put the stereo 5 pin and jack outputs at the same position as standard series I. Maybe just a little higher to let some place for the bridge pickup q-switch. But not like my koa bass ) Thank's

[pierreyves]

Mica please forget the first idea, I was thinking this night because not to much sleep.
This is the best idea for me:
 

 
Please, position the pointer knob of the pickup selector as Stanley's bass, thank's
 
(Message edited by pierreyves on August 20, 2010)

[pierreyves]

All? ? Somebody here ?

[mica]

I want to work on this layout a little bit, the bass pickup Q switch is awfully close to the filter, and the master volume looks a little stuck on so I need to relate it to something.  
 
You want and LED on/off switch, but no stereo/mono switch for the 1/4 jack? If that's so, do you want the 1/4 jack wired in stereo or in mono?

[pierreyves]

?? exist on serie I mono/stereo switch ? Or only on the red tiger I took for example ? No Mica, no switch mono/stereo, only mono jack output if both pickups are connected on, thank's. I want to be able to play with both pickup's sound with jack.
 
Work on this like you want if you respecxt the general idea. Yesterday night, I was playing with the Koa bass, 2 times I was hurting the master vol pot and change unfortunatly the volume... for less !

[mica]

OK, so here's some ideas.

 This one is very much like yours above, but with some more aligning and a touch more room for the master volume plus a little more room from the Q switches to their neighboring knobs. The switches themselves are slightly closer together this way.    Another idea:

 Leaves more room for the Q switches. Maybe this is more confusing with the bass pickup Q switch located where the treble pickup Q switch usually is, but everything has a little more room around it. You'll know which will work out best for you.   And happy birthday!