Rick Turner,
If youre still out there, can you tell us the difference between Series 1 and Series 2 Electronics. I know you havent worked with Alembic for years, but some insight would be nice on this awesome but complicated electronics scheme. JPJ could rock on a First Act from WalMart if he had to, its the man, but the nice basses are the gravy, for sure!
Basically, the Series I and Series II electronics are similar, with the following differences. From the Alembic website:
"Series I controls are pickup selector switch, neck pickup volume, neck pickup filter, neck Q switch, bridge pickup volume, bridge pickup filter, and bridge Q switch.
The selector switch chooses between neck pickup, both pickups, bridge pickup, and standby.
Basically, the filter control is a low pass filter; as you roll it back it lowers the point at which it passes low frequency signals and blocks high frequency signals. To quote Mica, "the range is from 350Hz-6KHz. Wherever you set the filter, only frequencies below that cutoff point are passed." The Q switch is a 3 position switch and works in concert with the filter. It provides 0, 6db, and 9db of boost at the cut off frequency you've set with the filter. When the switch is off you get a flat response up to the filter setting. Again to quote Mica, "the Q affects mainly the attack portion of the note".
The 5-pin connector provides power to the bass and sends a stereo signal (separate signals for the neck and bridge pickups) to the amp.
Series II controls are master volume, pickup selector switch, neck pickup volume, neck pickup filter, neck CVQ control, bridge pickup volume, bridge pickup filter, and bridge CVQ control.
The master volume controls the output of the entire system.
The selector switch chooses between neck pickup, both pickups, bridge pickup, and standby.
Basically, the filter control is a low pass filter; as you roll it back it lowers the point at which it passes low frequency signals and blocks high frequency signals. To quote Mica, "the range is from 350Hz-6KHz. Wherever you set the filter, only frequencies below that cutoff point are passed." The CVQ control, Continuously Variable Q, works in concert with the filter. It provides from 0 to 15db of boost at the cut off frequency you've set with the filter. When the control is rotated completely counterclockwise you get a flat response up to the filter setting. As you rotate the control clockwise you increase the boost at the filter setting. Again to quote Mica, "the Q affects mainly the attack portion of the note".
The 5-pin connector provides power to the bass and sends a stereo signal (separate signals for the neck and bridge pickups) to the amp."
Essentially, the Series II has a master volume and CVQ knobs, where as the Series I has no master volume and three-way Q switches. Those are the main differences. On my Series II Entwistle Replica, I have two master volumes on the lower horn, a switch to choose between them and a pan pot (which works for me better as opposed to a pickup selector switch). Other controls are an LED on/off switch, CVQ for each pickup and volume/filter for each pickup. I have also seen Series I basses with a master volume as well, and lots of other modifications electronics wise when it comes to Alembics.
Oh and this is a great thread. I didn't know Jones used all those different basses. I thought he just used a Jazz bass then an Alembic.
