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70s El Degas Alembic-copy bass: electronics help!

G-Rant

G-Rant

Oct 21, 2007
56
2
Ottawa
#1
Hi all. Many years since I've posted here, but I've got a question that I know someone will know the answer to.

I recently acquired a 70s era El Degas Alembic-copy with quite an array of switches! I got it as part of a gear swap/trade and don't know much about it (neither did the previous owner). I'm wondering if anyone here can point me in the right direction to find a user manual for this particular electronics package?

Thanks for taking a look.
 

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#2
El Degas model 686 bass.
The build and controls are very similar to the Kawai F2B, which has active pickups and passive controls.
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Dave had one in for a setup and cleaning, but I don't see any 9v battery clips, and the bass works without a battery, so I'm a bit confused.
EL Degas Bass Guitar - YouTube

@G-Rant Does yours have battery clips? If so, the 3rd toggle could be passive/active?

Edit: This member says they are DiMarzio pickups.
Diary of a mad bass collector NBD #52 El Degas Alembic Copy | TalkBass.com
 
Last edited:
#3
Thanks! I'll take a look at those links. Since posting I did come across Dave's video, and the "mad collector" thread -- all very helpful.

Additional research has also revealed that the pick-ups are "wired with series/parallel switches for each pickup, a phase switch, 2 volumes, 2 tones, and a 3-way pickup selector" -- just need to figure out which is which!

Still fiddling with everything, but am *loving* the tones. This thing can HONK -- been jamming out Ricky-era RUSH and early YES tunes for the past few hours. ;)
 
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#4
With the bass on a stand, and moving left to right, top to bottom, you would have:
3-way pickup selector
Neck pickup - volume, series/parallel switch, tone
Bridge pickup - volume, series/parallel switch, tone
Phase switch

Where did you find the info?
 
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#5
Chushin Gakki made El Dégas for the import firm Buegeleisen & Jacobson in NYC, from what I'm able to determine.

That 686 is similar in build to some other Chushin products, such as the Azumi and Stagg models below,
though, as you've found, the electrics are a little more involved.

azumi-stagg-chushin.jpg


ED: Wow, Dave was being snide there. It looks like quite a nice bass.
 
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#7
abarson said:
With the bass on a stand, and moving left to right, top to bottom, you would have:
3-way pickup selector
Neck pickup - volume, series/parallel switch, tone
Bridge pickup - volume, series/parallel switch, tone
Phase switch

Where did you find the info?
Click to expand...

Thanks! I came across it in an old "for sale" ad over on Reverb.com where the seller had listed all of the details.
 

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