Need Advice with putting Alembic pickups on a Kawai.

[Bassman8416]

Hi Alembic family. I am looking to modify the electronics on my Kawai bass. I love the feel of this bass. The tone is nice but I know it can be better. here is the low-down on the current set up:
 The pickups are a Kawai design humbucking type with built-in pre-amps, with a mounting system identical to that used by Alembic. A pair of 9 volt batteries power the pickups. The pre-amps control the tone character switches for each pickup. In the center position the bass is essentially flat. The other two switch positions provide combinations of cut and boost at various frequencies. The amount of cut and boost and the frequencies are set by the factory. The tone controls are passive.
   Anyone have recommendations or experience with this sort of thing? Here are some pics....thanks.
 

 

[David Houck]

I don't know anything about Kawai basses; but just looking at the pictures, it doesn't look like the standard Alembic shells would be a direct fit.  One option would be to have Alembic make you a custom set of pickups to fit.  Another option might be to make some rings to fit around the pickups.  And the screw holes probably don't match up, so you would need new inserts as well.
 
I have no idea how Alembic pickups would sound with the Kawai electronics.  It does look like the layout is such that you could replace the electronics with an Alembic Signature package or even Anniversary; but I don't know for certain.
 
Of course my recommendation, prejudiced as it is, is to just get an Alembic bass  
 
Just checked out your band's website; very cool!

[David Houck]

I hope you don't mind me posting this here, but this is very nice ... Scarlet Begonias > Fire on the Mountain

[Bassman8416]

Don't mind at all Dave, thank you very much for the advice and the post. The people here(like yourself) are amazing. I'm trying to sell the Modulus Q5 in the video clip and then put it towards an Alembic.