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Show me your Alembics

#501
Roy Vogt said:
The problem is a high pitched whistle when the Q switch is all the way up and the frequency sweep is at the high end of the frequency.
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Isn't that simply a characteristic of any analog resonant low-pass filter? You turn the Q up high enough, they go into self-oscillation.

When I programmed synthesizers, that wasn't a "problem", it was a feature!
 
#502
Roscoe East said:
Isn't that simply a characteristic of any analog resonant low-pass filter? You turn the Q up high enough, they go into self-oscillation.

When I programmed synthesizers, that wasn't a "problem", it was a feature!
Click to expand...

It is where the parameters of the design provide that amount of resonance. The Alembic filters don't do this as designed, so it indicates a fault.

I used to have a bass with Craig Anderton's Super Tone Control built in and that would resonate like crazy, all the way down to 20 Hz!
 
#503
Ok...in.

Three of a Perfect Pair, with apologies to King Crimson.
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#506
Roy:
I talked to Ron Wickersham at Alembic today about your problem. He is the guy who designed the electronics on your bass. He agrees with Edwin: based upon your description, it sounds like some component values have drifted over the years such that there is resonance out of design spec introduced into the circuit when you select the parameters you've described.

Here's the good news. Ron says the problem can be corrected by simply adding a resistor of a certain value k to the circuit, and that there's no need to return the bass to Alembic unless you want to. He suggests that you take the bass to a competent tech and have him or her call Alembic and ask for Ron. He will talk the tech through the process. Shouldn't be a big deal either financially or time-wise (once the tech and Ron speak).

Hope that helps.
 
#508
A quick update from a few pages ago... I just installed a set of TI Jazz Round Nickels on my Dragon Wing bass and Was liking the low tension and tonal range of these strings. A few days later just for the heck of it I installed a 5 string set of light gage La Bella White Tapewound strings on my Essence and all I can say on that one is WOW. The tapes may be my new favorite string. They surprisingly retain a lot of the top end of a standard round wound and have an amazing low end. They are ultra slick, super fast, low tension and very balanced across the set. Overall I'd say they are a perfect match for the Alembic hifi capabilities. If the TI's ever wear out on my Dragon Wing I'll be replacing them with white tapes.
 
#513
tbrannon said:
...There has been another Alembic up on eBay recently with Bart's installed.... The Alembic sound and Alembic lo-impedance pickups are the reason most people pay top dollar for Alembic basses.
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Here's a quilted maple topped Persuader 5-string I'm in the process of restoring... I believe this may be the bass mentioned by tbrannon in post #4 of this thread way back in 2006.

Funny how things come around... I came into this bass in what's turned out to be bad circumstances. Long story short, I paid about fair market price for a late-80's Persuader, and got the bass only to discover her guts had been stripped long ago and replaced with some Bartolini actives. A few phone calls and several weeks of research later, the bad is slowly getting better... the correct replacement activators are on their way here from Alembic, (Thanks again Mica!) as well as a set of gold Gotohs from Stewart-MacDonald. (one of these has taken a pretty good shock sometime making it catchy... luckily no serious damage to the headstock or neck) Aside from those negatives, Alembic's instruments are truly a perfect mating of art and technology. Owning one has been a lifelong dream... this one is mine for life. (though I hope one day to order a fretless sister for it...!) :D
 

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#514
Restoration complete...

New activators from Alembic are wired Volume/Pan/Filter/Q-switch (3-position)
 

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#516
Damn, there are some gorgeous instruments in this thread! Figured it was time to update my list.

I started with this one:
13828_wallpaper3.jpg


That lead to this one!
14151_wallpaper3.jpg


A guitar then got added to the family,
IMG_2307.JPG


Which then lead to this one, my favorite of the lot.. Medium scale custom Series II in Quilted Cocobolo, same custom electronics as "Leap of Faith". It still needs to go back to the mothership one day to have the proper pickups installed (they're covered with the bookmatched top wood) but I've been enjoying the hell out of it in the meantime. Absolutely the ultimate bass for me!
IMG_2306.JPG
 
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