| Author | Message | ||
| gregslegs
New Username: gregslegs Post Number: 1 Registered: 7-2004 |
I just purchased an SC Standard from a dealer in Wheaton, Maryland. I was actually in the store to buy an amp and cabinet, and had no intention of purchasing a bass. That was before I saw this unbelievably beautiful work of art. I really did get tunnel vision and saw the light. (all that was missing was JB singing Gospel in the background). I nearly bought it without even plugging it in. It sounds un-bee-leavably fantastic unamplified. I am truly floored. Anyhow, I noticed I could get a little more info on it if I gave the serial #. I believe it is #97SC10591. Could you perhaps provide a link where I can read about the electronics in more detail, essentially what the knobs/switches do? Thanks - Greg | ||
| the_mule
Intermediate Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 178 Registered: 1-2004 |
Congratulations, and welcome to this ever expanding club of Alembic enthousiasts! Feel free (or obliged actually, just wait for the Paul brigade) to post some PICTURES of your new love. You already know your bass is born in 1997 (duh!), but if there's 'SC' in the serial#, shouldn't it be a Stanley Clarke Deluxe instead of a Standard? Has she got Purpleheart neck laminates? Wilfred | ||
| gregslegs
New Username: gregslegs Post Number: 2 Registered: 7-2004 |
Absolutely right mule! I have SC on the brain. The serial # is 97SJ10591 and it has (what appears to me to be) walnut neck laminates. Thanks for pointing that out. I suffer from half-heimerz at times. | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 497 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hello Greg, congratulations on your new bass. 1997 4 string short scale Signature standard Quilted Maple top mahogany body purpleheart accent maple neck with walnut pinstripes(not laminates) ebony fretboard plastic oval inlays gold Alembic gotoh tuners brass hardware completed 02/27/97 That's the lot. Valentino | ||
| gregslegs
New Username: gregslegs Post Number: 3 Registered: 7-2004 |
Thanks for the info Valentino. That was very helpful. What's the difference between a laminate and a pinstripe? About 1/2 inch? I did not realize that the bass was manufactured years ago, b/c it looks so pristine. Is there a way to tell who was the original dealer and when they received it. Just out of cursiosity really. | ||
| bsee
Intermediate Member Username: bsee Post Number: 159 Registered: 3-2004 |
Sounds like you probably have the standard "Signature" electronics package. If so, you should have the following controls: one volume knob one pan knob to blend between the pickups two low-pass filter knobs (one for each pickup) two Q-switches, one for each low-pass filter. The low-pass filter knobs set the frequency above which there is a sloping cutoff. The Q-switches apply a boost in the range around that elbow frequency when they are on. | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 498 Registered: 7-2002 |
I posted too soon...forgot to answer the electronics question... What you have is master volume, pan (upper row, neck to bridge direction) plus 2 low-pass filters (one for each pickup) and 2 'q' switches, one for each filter. The frequency range of the filters is 350 to 6000hz. If you roll the filter all the way forward everything gets through, if you roll it all the way back, then the frequencies over 350hz are cut off; obviously you have all sorts of different settings available in between these extremes. The 'q' switch is on when flipped down, and gives you roughly an 8db boost at the cutoff frequency you select on the corresponding filter. Hopefully this is not too confusing. Valentino | ||
| stoney
Advanced Member Username: stoney Post Number: 297 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey Greg, welcome to the club. Good to see another local Alembican in the ranks. I'm really surprised that Chuck's didn't seem to have the paperwork for that bass. They're usually pretty good about it. Good to have you here and enjoy your bass. Stoney | ||
| susan
Moderator Username: susan Post Number: 55 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hi Greg Welcome to the club- Washington Music is the original dealer. They are our oldest dealer and they stock a lot of product. A few years ago they discovered a stash of about 25 new Alembic basses in one of their many storage areas. As you know they are tight on space and have a lot of products to sell. They only keep a few on display and as they sell they bring a few more up from storage. They simply forgot where they put them. I know you wonder "How could that happen?!" They are big and busy, but that's why you're serial number is from '97 and probably why the paperwork was misplaced. But hey, that's why # 97SJ10591 was just waiting for you to come and get him. Enjoy -susan | ||
| gregslegs
New Username: gregslegs Post Number: 4 Registered: 7-2004 |
Thanks Susan. Believe me, I have no complaints. It could be from 1897 for all I care. It really looks like it was made yesterday. Washington Music treated me well. They are busy! But tiny! I don't know how those guys work there, day after day. That probably explains the mental instabilities :-) And thanks Valentino for the electronics info. What does 'q' actually designate? | ||
| the_mule
Intermediate Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 180 Registered: 1-2004 |
I always understood the 'Q' stands for quality, which makes every Alembic a Q-bass as far as I'm concerned...(!) Wilfred | ||
| the_mule
Intermediate Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 181 Registered: 1-2004 |
Oooops! And they're Q-guitars too! Wilfred | ||
| bsee
Intermediate Member Username: bsee Post Number: 161 Registered: 3-2004 |
Q actually does stand for Quality when discussing filters. It doesn't seem to be really accurately applied here, though. The Q of a filter increases as the width of frequencies it applies to decreases. In a parametric EQ, you would have three controls. One that controls the target frequency of the filter, one that controls the amount of cut/gain to be applied, and one that controls the Q, or width of the frequency range that is impacted. Here's where it starts not to make too much sense for me. Consider the rest of this post to be speculation rather than fact. As I understand it, the frequency response through an Alembic filter should look like a flat line that ends at the top of a slide. The point where the flat line and the slide meet is adjustable by turning the filter control to any frequency between 350 Hz and 6000 Hz, as per Val's earlier post. When you turn the Q switch on, you get about a relatively narrow 8 db bump centered on the frequency where the slide begins. There is also a three-way Q switch on some instruments that gives you a choice between two bump sizes when it is on, and the CVQ (Continuously Variable Q) found on the Series II that lets you adjust your bump size anywhere from 0 to 15 db. All this makes the Alembic filter seem to be a strange beast, like two filters in one. It seems that there is a low-pass filter that reduces gain above the selected frequency. It also seems that there is a narrow band-pass filter that is activated with a boost when the Q switch is enabled. With the Q switch off, the band-pass filter is effectively off as well. Both filters share the same control for selecting their frequency. I have no idea how it is implemented electronically, but this seems the best way to describe it based upon my understanding of what it does. Does this make any sense? | ||
| bob
Advanced Member Username: bob Post Number: 274 Registered: 11-2002 |
Bob, I've also felt that the term Q is used differently by Alembic than what I am used to - here it seems to be the second of the three controls you describe for a parametric EQ, but I think standard usage is the third. Your description of the effect of the filter (the slide, bump, etc.) is one of the most clear and intuitive I've seen here so far, but I'm now realizing that your username should not be taken to suggest that you have a degree in electrical engineering :-) (I see now that it's actually based on your name) Anyway, I don't really understand electronics very well myself, but there is an interesting discussion somewhere around here including some nifty diagrams and stuff. It really doesn't involve two filters. -Bob | ||
| hankster
Junior Username: hankster Post Number: 12 Registered: 6-2004 |
I'd like to echo Bob's sentiment. I just got my first Alembic last Friday and spent the weekend gigging and getting used to the instrument (a 97 Stanley Clarke signature standard). I wish I had had Bob's and Valvil's explanations for the electronics in hand. As it was, I got a great sound through a bit of trial and error. Now that I can see what it does, it makes a lot of sense. Rick B. |
