Alembic bass pickup question???

[PaulonBEADG]

Does this reading look right for this pickup?

[edwinhurwitz]

Probably. Alembic pickups are lower impedance and designed to be used with preamps.

Edwin

[Jarno]

You have it set for kOhms, right?
If it's nearly 6kOhms, you might get away with not using a preamp (although as mentioned before, these were probably designed for use with a preamp).
But then again, it's easy enough to make or buy a preamp cheaply.

Best regards,

Jarno.

[PaulonBEADG]

I have the Alembic preamp that came with this pickup I was just checking the pickup to get a reading to post here for you guys to see.

I've been having some noise issues with this bass since I bought it used about a year ago. She sounds really good but she has this really bad hum. I brought it to a guitar repair guy and he told me that the pick up is no good.

He put in a cheaper pickup and she is a little quiter now but the sound is a little different now (not as hifi as it used to be.) I thought I would hook it up to a meter and post a picture of the reading to get your reactions. (I'm no electrician)

Thanks

[synaesthesia]

Well if you want to sell the defective Alembic set up, PM me. Have lots of Alembic junk here and can cannibalise to make something work.

[tbrannon]

Your control cavity isn't shielded is it? You might want to start there for the hum...

[PaulonBEADG]

Originally Posted by tbrannon

Your control cavity isn't shielded is it? You might want to start there for the hum...

It's a start, copper or that sheilding paint?
Do I attach the copper to the bridge lead?

Aside from the picture I posted of that reading I took of the pickup, is there any other way if checking if the pickup is still good?

It's a sealed pickup at the back so I can't open it.

Paul

[tbrannon]

Paul,

I'm not an electronics wizard either- but I do play an Alembic, so I thought I'd try to help. Those Activators have obviously been worked on quite a bit-

You might want to try the Alembic forum (troubleshooting section)- there are tons of people there who know those pickups intimately and if you posted the same pictures there you'd get some very knowledgeable people posting answers pretty quickly.

Sorry I can't be of more help-

[PaulonBEADG]

Originally Posted by tbrannon

Paul,

I'm not an electronics wizard either- but I do play an Alembic, so I thought I'd try to help. Those Activators have obviously been worked on quite a bit-

You might want to try the Alembic forum (troubleshooting section)- there are tons of people there who know those pickups intimately and if you posted the same pictures there you'd get some very knowledgeable people posting answers pretty quickly.

Sorry I can't be of more help-

That should help, thanks

Paul