Hi all! It's been so many years since I last posted here. Hope everyone has been doing well!
So, for the comeback, here is my 1998 4 string Alembic Series I, with am amazing book-matched Burl Maple Top on an Europa body.

Neck is Maple, with Purpleheart laminates. The electronics are Series I, but with a Master Volume and a Pan control instead of the usual individual Pickup Volume knobs. Serial Number 98C11878

It's strung with Thomastik flats which I know are sometimes controversial here... but I love them!

I bought this bass from s_wood (the original owner) here on the forum back in 2014, and this bass has lived it's life here in Brazil since then.

Ooo-weee, what a bass.    No argument from here on the pan control or the TI's. 

I've got TI Jazz Flats on 3 of my Alembics.  No judgement here.

That's a beautiful top.

That is indeed a fine bass!

QuoteI've got TI Jazz Flats on 3 of my Alembics.  No judgement here

the fretlessesses get the TI jazz flats, the fretteds get the roto rounds in the house o'BeenDown.  it's codified here somewhere.  beautiful bass!

Beautiful bass! 😊

Amazing top!

What are your thoughts on pan/master volume vs volume for both pickups? Is there a difference in sound or is it just more practical?

Quote from: Barend on July 25, 2026, 11:01:45 PMAmazing top!

What are your thoughts on pan/master volume vs volume for both pickups? Is there a difference in sound or is it just more practical?

I actually really like this configuration. Makes it very easy for quick on-the-fly adjustments.
I'm a big fan of having a Master Volume knob, I always like to cut the volume when I'm not playing and a Master knob makes it much easier for my muscle memory.

This configuration doesn't allow a super fine adjustment as having the two volumes separate... but for me it's more than enough.

Quote from: gregduboc on July 27, 2026, 07:16:14 AM

Quote from: Barend on July 25, 2026, 11:01:45 PMAmazing top!

What are your thoughts on pan/master volume vs volume for both pickups? Is there a difference in sound or is it just more practical?

I actually really like this configuration. Makes it very easy for quick on-the-fly adjustments.
I'm a big fan of having a Master Volume knob, I always like to cut the volume when I'm not playing and a Master knob makes it much easier for my muscle memory.

This configuration doesn't allow a super fine adjustment as having the two volumes separate... but for me it's more than enough.

Thanks. I am unsure what you can do more with separate volumes for each pickup as opposed to a pan knob?

Quote from: Barend on July 30, 2026, 12:46:56 AMThanks. I am unsure what you can do more with separate volumes for each pickup as opposed to a pan knob?

With a pan control, you are mixing to add up to 100%. You can have 100% + 0%, 90% + 10%, 50% + 50%, etc. 

With 2 volumes, you can mix any amount. You can have 100% + 10%, 75% + 40%, 75% + 41%. I think you get the idea here. 

But then you want the master volume to preserve the mix you carefully dialed in. 

Quote from: mica on Yesterday at 11:48:16 AM

Quote from: Barend on July 30, 2026, 12:46:56 AMThanks. I am unsure what you can do more with separate volumes for each pickup as opposed to a pan knob?

With a pan control, you are mixing to add up to 100%. You can have 100% + 0%, 90% + 10%, 50% + 50%, etc.

With 2 volumes, you can mix any amount. You can have 100% + 10%, 75% + 40%, 75% + 41%. I think you get the idea here.

But then you want the master volume to preserve the mix you carefully dialed in.

So the summed pickup signal from the 2 volumes is potentially twice as hot as the blended pickup signal from the pan?

Quote from: mica on Yesterday at 11:48:16 AM

Quote from: Barend on July 30, 2026, 12:46:56 AMThanks. I am unsure what you can do more with separate volumes for each pickup as opposed to a pan knob?

With a pan control, you are mixing to add up to 100%. You can have 100% + 0%, 90% + 10%, 50% + 50%, etc.

With 2 volumes, you can mix any amount. You can have 100% + 10%, 75% + 40%, 75% + 41%. I think you get the idea here.

But then you want the master volume to preserve the mix you carefully dialed in.

Thanks Mica!
It's clear to me now in theory. But it is still unclear to me what exactly this does to the sound.

My understanding would be like this for the two volumes.
Think of each pickup having it's own channel in a 2 channel mixer.
You can set the tone of each channel using the filter, then with the volume you can decide how much of each tone is mixed together to set the overall tone at the output.

Quote from: jazzyvee on Today at 01:21:59 AMMy understanding would be like this for the two volumes.
Think of each pickup having it's own channel in a 2 channel mixer.
You can set the tone of each channel using the filter, then with the volume you can decide how much of each tone is mixed together to set the overall tone at the output.

Thanks. But still don't see how that differs from a pan knob. You can do the same thing with a pan knob. Most basses I have have a pan knob. Two of then having two separate volumes. My Alembic EvH and a jazz bass.

I can see the advantage of the two volumes over the pan knob though if you have a stereo output with a pick up selector, like the series 1. But if you just play mono I don't see any advantage or disadvantage. But just trying to understand.

How about this: In mono with a pan pot you can adjust your pickup balance on the fly without affecting the overall volume. As in, if you need a suddenly bright sound for a musical passage you can pan over to the bridge pickup and without losing output level. With individual controls, suddenly turning down the neck pickup would substantially reduce your volume.

You're right that in stereo it might not be as useful although I'm sure there are some creative spins on that too.

Jimmy J