Author Topic: Electronic upgrade (Read 202 times)

teo · « **on:** February 13, 2012, 03:20:33 AM »

hi, i sent an email to alembic but i get no answer so i ask here.
I need to upgrade my serie 2, i'm from france, i would be happy to know how much it's cost and how is it possible to do it from another country (shipping and custom thing).
maybe someone can tell his experience about this, it's would be great.
thank you

teo · « **Reply #1 on:** February 14, 2012, 07:38:37 AM »

please i need some info, i want to send my bass to you as fast as possible

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 14, 2012, 08:25:09 AM »

What are you wanting to upgrade it to? The series 2 electronics are the top of the line unless you're wanting to add bass and treble controls as well.

~Taylor

pierreyves · « **Reply #3 on:** February 14, 2012, 08:52:28 AM »

Hello Francis, je t'ai envoy? un mail.

David Houck · « **Reply #4 on:** February 14, 2012, 09:50:32 AM »

Teo; it is my understanding that Mica and most of the folks at the shop have been hit by a bad cold. I will try to get word to her about your email.

teo · « **Reply #5 on:** February 14, 2012, 12:51:01 PM »

it 's an old serie bass i get some trouble with high frequencies noise.

811952 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 14, 2012, 12:52:34 PM »

Possibly *THE* upgrade to address noise/interference issues? It's entirely possible that Mica's email filters got your message. It is often easiest to simply call Alembic.

John

mica · « **Reply #7 on:** February 14, 2012, 05:42:43 PM »

We will need to have the bass here to perform the electronic upgrade. Before you ship it, you need to arrange through a freight forwarder for a formal temporary export. On this end, they will handle it as a temporary import. This is extremely important because you will have to pay duty/tax/vat or whatever your country's customs office charges for importing new goods when it is returned to you.

Once you have all the documentation completed, you can pack it well and send it to our offices. Please send an email to the address in my profile to let me know it is coming. You should insure it for what you feel the value is up to the retail replacement cost in case it is damaged or stolen in transit.

The electronics upgrade now starts with new pickups. These are identical to the original pickups, but they are precisely matched to eachother. Then it goes into the large coil that my dad calls the meanest place in the world for guitars and he makes it quiet in there. Then it's ready to play anywhere else, including I daresay Toronto, which seems to be the meanest city in the world to single coil pickups.

There is no change in tone, and there is no added functionality. You just get your original sound, without high frequency or directional noise and with 40dB minimum noise reduction. It is quieter now in 2012 that if we could go back in time and hear it when it was new. It's that big of a difference.

All this takes time and money. Generally, I like to know a month or two before you send the bass in to us. Then it may take a month or two to complete, depending on how difficult it is. It's possible it might be done sooner, but it's important to allow a realistic amount of time so that we can get the job done right. The price is 2-tiered: $750 if it's somewhat simple, $1500 maximum if it's hard. You pay $750 deposit when we get started and there's only a balance due if the job was difficult.

If we notice that there is any other work needed to be done on your bass, we'll report it to you and you can decide if you want it done or not.

teo · « **Reply #8 on:** February 15, 2012, 02:09:00 AM »

thank you very much so i'm going to ship my bass soon i guess.

811952 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 15, 2012, 05:31:44 PM »

the meanest place in the world for guitars -

http://scarysharkface.smugmug.com/photos/i-xJMCHzn/0/L/i-xJMCHzn-L.jpg

John

(Message edited by 811952 on February 15, 2012)

David Houck · « **Reply #10 on:** February 15, 2012, 05:33:37 PM »

Nice picture John!

terryc · « **Reply #11 on:** February 16, 2012, 05:16:04 AM »

I always wondered what the coil looked like, I think I requested a pic ages ago on the forum but now I know.
I imagined it to be like a huge toroidal transformer coil, it's much smaller than I thought. Great pic with The Wizard pondering over the bass in the coil

811952 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 16, 2012, 05:41:52 AM »

Thanks. I am privileged to have gained brief access to the inner sanctum.

John

sonicus · « **Reply #13 on:** February 16, 2012, 07:33:15 AM »

That IS a cool pic indeed! Is the Bass that is being tested in a FLUX LOOP or variation of such ? I wonder how high a measurement and exposure Mr. Wickersham use's to test? I do say this is ultimately FASCINATING to me . !!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_flux

Small flux loops are used for Magnetic recorder testing and have been a common topic on the Ampex List that I participate in.
I love this kind of stuff_____ http://www.manquen.net/audio/docs/Magnetic%20Recorder%20Testing%20with%20a%20Flux%20Loop%20w%20pictures.htm

hb3 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 16, 2012, 10:03:24 AM »

I [heart] brilliant hippies.