| Author | Message | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1060 Registered: 1-2005 |
I like the Alembic Activators in my Telembic Bass so much, when I got a new Fender Japan Precision Bass last year, in the back of my mind I had plans to do the same. Through the club I located a set, but they were P-J so I had to get it routed (by SF Guitarworks). Just got it back yesterday!  I've only tried it out through my Cafe Walter headphone amp - I was freaking out at first, I thought there was something wrong with the controls - couldn't get zero volume! Couldn't figure out which was volume and which was blend. Finally realized - this is an older set when they still did volume/volume/filter. Whew! I'm pretty psyched actually - I don't really like blend controls, I prefer the separate volumes for each pickup. Gonna have to get used to only one filter control though! Anyway, it sounds great now that I know what I'm doing. I'll try to do some recording at some point. And I plan on bringing it to the upcoming SF Bay Area Gathering! | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1810 Registered: 11-2004 |
hieronymous..beat you to it by about 17 years, P bass with Baddass II, P/J with twin vol, bass & treble controls(now discontinued electronics package)  | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1061 Registered: 1-2005 |
Nice! I went digging for Activator threads and you talking about what must have been this bass - nice to see a picture! I actually have a Badass II lying around, I'm kind of regretting not having it installed when they did the other work. But I like the way the standard bridge works too. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2403 Registered: 5-2009 |
Harry , Very nice ! If you decide to change the bridge perhaps you might consider A Schaller roller bridge http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Bass_bridges/Schaller_4-String_Roller_Bass_Bridge.html I have one on two instruments and it is my favorite non Alembic bridge. | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1062 Registered: 1-2005 |
Thanks Wolf! Here's another pic:  | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1811 Registered: 11-2004 |
hieronymous, the Baddass should screw into the original holes, just measure the saddle distance on the fender bridge and copy over to the Baddass(which I did) and the intonation should be fine. It is an easy installation. | ||
| hifiguy
Advanced Member Username: hifiguy Post Number: 335 Registered: 10-2006 |
Last year I redid a Fender of Japan Jazz as a "player's bass" with an Audere JZ3 pre, brass nut and put on a Hipshot bridge - it screws directly into the Fender mounting holes, is easy to adjust, locks down and is vastly more solid and sustain-y than the flimsy Fender bridge. It's a hell of a bass, though it ain't my Signature Standard.  | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1064 Registered: 1-2005 |
Sounds interesting - can we see some pics? It would be cool if there was an "Activator" section in the Showcase... I actually like the stock bridge - for the longest time I had Badasses on both my Fenders, but put on an old Fender Japan bridge from one of my earliest basses, and it worked great (this is on the Telembic). The main reason I would put a Badass on this one is a) to complete the "classic '70s" look and b) because I have one lying around. For a while there they went out of production - thought about selling it, but I think I'll hang onto it for now. Here's a full-body shot - I'm thinking (witch)hat knobs - what do y'all think?  | ||
| jbybj
Advanced Member Username: jbybj Post Number: 359 Registered: 6-2006 |
What a great looking "tuxedo" bass. I have developed an opinion, over the last 6 or 7 years, that if I had to identify one single aspect of Alembic instruments that really distinguishes them in my mind/ear/aesthetic, it's the electronics, (pickups and preamps/filters). There are at least a few luthiers I have encountered, who can do sublime things with wood. They usually end up putting in third party electronics, maybe very nice stuff, but nothing that stands out like the Alembic sound. Even a guy like Jens Ritter, who I believe makes his own pups and pre's, creates a nice clean, pungent sound, but it could just as easily be Nortstrand, Duncan, Delano, or Bartolini. That's why I'm a huge fan of putting Alembic activators in other instruments. So, I'm on vacation this week and I have the house to myself for a few days. This morning, I went to fetch my big rig that had been exiled from the home recently, set it up, and just before I came online to visit the club, a rang out my rig with this........... [IMG]http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll349/jbybj/bass%20collection/DSCF4984.jpg[/IMG] It is a 1987 Japanese Fender, that John Carruthers put EMG's in, 25 years ago. I got it as a Birthday gift from my wife last year. Now it sports an Alembic P/J set with VVF. It's a great setup indeed. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1841 Registered: 9-2002 |
That's simply the best combination for a Fender bass. That P-pickup fatness with as much articulation faded in from the J just gives you such a huge pallet to work from, and to do it with Activators is just the best. That P-Activator will pull satellites out of Low Earth Orbit, and as long as you DON'T put that J against the bridge (!), it's great, especially as it's stacked and quiet. And, oh yes, the Japanese Fenders are my-t-fine ! http://www.fenderjapan.co.jp/products.html J o e y | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1067 Registered: 1-2005 |
jbybj, are those the Activators in the picture? Did the logos rub off or did you remove them? I didn't think I would like them on my white bass (gold lettering vs. chrome hardware) but it looks much better than I expected. I see you're in SoCal - you should come up to the SF Bay Area on the 22nd for the Gathering! | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1068 Registered: 1-2005 |
J o e y - that is a great description of the P-J setup! I kind of can't believe that in my almost thirty years of bass playing this is my first bass with that combination! Some of my best early basses were Fender Japan - I was living in Tokyo at the time as a teenager, the yen rate was good, I had a part time job - you could get some nice stuff for not too much money. I'm going to try and get a shot of all my current ones one of these days! | ||
| jbybj
Advanced Member Username: jbybj Post Number: 361 Registered: 6-2006 |
"jbybj, are those the Activators in the picture?" No, those are the EMG's that were in it when it was given to me. I haven't photographed the bass since I put in the Alembic activators. Whenever I grab it I just wanna play it...... :-) A gathering sounds fun, but on the 22nd I will be at some hippy gathering in the desert, just me, 100 bands, and 90,000 friends. I tried to spark an L.A. gathering a couple of years ago, but it never happened. Tomorrow though, I am having a mini gathering. Rusty is in town and will be coming to visit my basses, I mean me. It's a rare Saturday in that my wife and daughter are out of town, so the house is MINE, ALL MINE! The timing is good too, because the Europa has been out of rotation for too long. Out of it's case and on to a stand. (Message edited by jbybj on April 06, 2012) | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1088 Registered: 1-2005 |
Got to play this bass a bit during the recent Alembic Northern California Gathering. It was an honor to get to watch and listen to some amazing players put this baby through its paces (Victor, Nate & Kimberly you know who you are!). It was nice to play it through a sweet rig too!  | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 506 Registered: 2-2011 |
James, I just came across this post tonight mentioning my visit, so I thought I would take the time to thank you again for your hospitality & allowing me to not only see your incredible collection of basses, but also play many of them! I will also mention that you made a sale for the Mothership, today I ordered a SF-2! On a side note, Shane found a condo in the Palms across from Sony, so y'all will be neighbors in a couple of weeks! Thanks for your help & suggestions with the apartment search! Alembic owners are the finest people on the planet! | ||
| jbybj
Advanced Member Username: jbybj Post Number: 363 Registered: 6-2006 |
Hey Rusty, speaking of your visit. That evening I went across the street to my friends house for dinner gathering. My buddy Bruce told me that his 18 year old son had commented on how I had been playing some awesome riffs earlier in the day. Really cool stuff he said........... Then I had to tell Bruce that it wasn't me, but my visiting Alembic cohort. His son hears me playing all the time. It was the first time he ever commented about "my" playing.. :-) | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 509 Registered: 2-2011 |
Hey James, that is too funny! Tell him I appreciate the compliments! :-) Harry, sorry about hijacking your thread! Your "AlFembic" is awesome! I'm thinking about getting some activators for my 62 reissue Jazz Bass. | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1089 Registered: 1-2005 |
No problem Rusty! I was wondering if you posted in the right thread... Anyway, it gives me the chance to post another picture, this time Nate playing the bass - look at him thwacking that thing!  By the way, I think it was Victor & Mica that came up with the "AlFemBic" name for this one - what an honor! | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 510 Registered: 2-2011 |
That's a cool name! I replied to James' posting here because he mentioned my visit to his house. Sorry for the sidetrack! :-) | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1092 Registered: 1-2005 |
At last - video of Nate thwacking this bass!!! (video is unlisted, only this link will take you there) | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1096 Registered: 1-2005 |
While I'm at it, the amp/speaker combo was Nate's GK MB800 through a AudioKinesis Thunderchild 112 - you can see it in the picture of me on the left - tiny package with amazing punch and sound! | ||
| slawie
Advanced Member Username: slawie Post Number: 379 Registered: 8-2002 |
OK I'm in. Here is my 77 Jazz AlFemBic slawie  | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1098 Registered: 1-2005 |
Nice! Do you still use it? I bet it sounds awesome! | ||
| slawie
Advanced Member Username: slawie Post Number: 380 Registered: 8-2002 |
I am currently playing in a 70's cover band. I use the Jazz bass as a backup only. I use my Alembic as the main bass everyone Loves the fretless' tone that I cannot match With the Jazz bass. slawie | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1102 Registered: 1-2005 |
Just a heads-up everyone, it looks like the white basses in this series (Classic) are no longer being made in Japan, they have switched over to Mexico. I had noticed on the Sweetwater website that the white one wasn't available, then they were again, but I noticed the serial number looked different. Sweetwater has a nice feature where they often have pictures of the actual instrument in stock, and saw that the serial number was no longer at the base of the neck where they usually are on MIJ stuff - instead, it's on the back of the headstock now. | ||
| 0vid
Intermediate Member Username: 0vid Post Number: 160 Registered: 4-2003 |
This is my Lefty fretless warmoth with 2 P activators, two filters and two vol pots. | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1116 Registered: 1-2005 |
Wow - mono or stereo output? | ||
| 0vid
Intermediate Member Username: 0vid Post Number: 161 Registered: 4-2003 |
Mono summed. It started with Bartolinis, then EMGs and then I got the P Activators for it. The Barts sounded terrible, and the EMGs didn't work well either, I think I had the pickup routes an inch too far away from the bridge for those to work well - they sounded overly bassy. The Activators have the clarity to counter that and they work well. Here is my Fly bass based on the Parker guitar shape rather than the bass shape. Self made. 2 activator Js, one filter. Neutrik socket. (Yes you can do a mod to the circuit to use these). Not a Fender I know but it sounds better than two Fender Js I have (one with EMGs and one with Willi Stitch pickups). The mini switch controls the LEDs in the neck side dots. Stainless steel washer under the Neutrik was due to some wood damage from a gig. Very light and not proper J spacing but I like it.  | ||
| 0vid
Intermediate Member Username: 0vid Post Number: 162 Registered: 4-2003 |
Don't know what happened to the pic of my warmoth so here it is again  | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1149 Registered: 1-2005 |
Just spent a little bit of time with my Alfembic - I recently picked up a GK MB-112-II as a practice amp, and was using the headphone output. Sounded nice! One thing I noticed was that when I was pulling on the E string really hard with my finger, I was getting some distortion. I started to get bummed out, but then I started experimenting, and it definitely only happens with the volume knob on the bass maxed. Gotta remember, active electronics, I don't have to max out the volume, I can keep it closer to the middle. Want to compare the output to some of my other (passive) basses and figure out where to set it to match them. The other bass I've been playing a lot is my '71 Guild M-85 II fretless with the Guild humbuckers - those seem to have very high output, though again I haven't gone about figuring out where they stand in relation to some of my other basses. | ||
| cousinvinnie
Junior Username: cousinvinnie Post Number: 40 Registered: 4-2011 |
These are too cool ! They are making me consider Activators for some of my other basses. Interesting: a buddy of mine had a good friend who bought an Alembic I think in the late 70's/early 80's. He also had a Rickenbacker. So this guy's father got so angry that he spent so much on an Alembic that he pulled a Townshend on it and destroyed it ! The poor kid ended up gutting the bass and putting the parts into the remaining Rickenbacker. They were probably full sized soaps back then so routing had to be done. Turned out to be one of the most amazing sounding basses EVER. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1927 Registered: 9-2002 |
Gee, can I get J-Activators in white? I like this enough I'd be willing to play 4-string once in a while. I just LOVE Squiers. J o e y | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 1395 Registered: 5-2006 |
Here's my "Fembic", 1991 Fender Prodigy:  More recent picture:  Vol, pan, filter + Q switch setup. | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1179 Registered: 1-2005 |
My AlFemBic has a cousin:  This is one of the Donald "Duck" Dunn signatures made only in 1998 - a limited edition of 200 or so. This one is going to stay stock - it seems to have survived in extremely good shape this past 14-15 years, so I'm going to keep it that way - strung with GHS flats, it's the perfect complement to the AlFemBic! (for which I still haven't picked up witch hat knobs) | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1217 Registered: 1-2005 |
Finally pulled a recording of the AlFemBic! http://soundcloud.com/hieronymous-seven/aka-afb P-pickup only, with the filter set pretty low. No science involved, just ended up there - I knew it was going to be set to a lower frequency because of the song, but it was set on the fly. Hard to believe it's round wounds! But that is part of the magic of the Activators. Maybe not what immediately jumps to mind as the "typical" Alembic sound but definitely one side of what Alembic electronics can do. I also put it through the F-2B after the fact - live I was just playing through my trusty CAJ tube compressor, and at one point I turn on the MXR M288 Bass Octave Deluxe (also turned on some distortion but didn't like how it sounded direct so filtered it out). Compare to this version of the song recorded with the Duck Dunn bass pictured above and also put through the F-2B with similar settings. This rehearsal is only the fourth time we've played together and already the sound is evolving as we figure things out and get used to each other. | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1220 Registered: 1-2005 |
Quick (and crappy!) still from some video I shot of our last rehearsal when AKA AFB was recorded:  Considering picking up the Q switch for Activators - would really like the 0 dB boost option for the low end. Also still need to get some witchhat knobs so I can have a better visual of where my volumes and filter are set! | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1276 Registered: 1-2005 |
It's been a few months, but I finally got witch hat knobs and the 3-position Q-switch, and even had them installed!  There's a (kind-of) funny story about the knobs - took it to someone I know to do the work and the knobs were jammed on there so hard he couldn't get them off! The shaft pulled out of the pot! It was like they were glued in there or something. One of the pots was damaged but it was a relatively cheap repair - I think about $8 for the pot - it looks like this is a pretty old set, since Mica said they haven't used these pots for a while. Haven't had a chance to take it for a spin yet, but am looking forward to experimenting with the Q-switch - I want to see if I can get a sound close to my Duck Dunn strung with flats (the AlFemBic has rounds), while also being able to get this kind of sound too (filter wide open): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4aA6kerOA8 | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 2091 Registered: 11-2004 |
hieronymous...when I installed my PJ set back in the 90's, the pot shafts were bigger then the P control knob I fitted which necessitated me drilling the knobs to a larger diameter so the set screw could pinch on shaft. Now I don't want to dis any guitar techs but were the original knobs forced onto the shafts of the Activator set up? | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1278 Registered: 1-2005 |
Yep! The culprits didn't even have set-screws! I don't know what the guy was thinking. Oh well, it's fixed now! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 7992 Registered: 6-2000 |
The knobs were actually GLUED on, Harry. Your tech was stunned as was I. I think the previous "repair person" had some push-on knobs and decided to enlist adhesive when he discovered the pots were smooth and not knurled. | ||
| briant
Senior Member Username: briant Post Number: 647 Registered: 12-2004 |
I've been on the fence about sticking Alembic electronics in a Fender Jazz. What is the tonal experience one achieves from this exercise? Is it more like a Fender on steroids or does it lean much more towards an "Alembic tone"? | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 2093 Registered: 11-2004 |
hieronymous--the bloody idiot!!!! Jeeze, these people get paid good money and he screws up a really simple fix. No wonder I don't trust anyone with my guitars and do all the maintenance myself and have done for years | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1279 Registered: 1-2005 |
Brian - I'm pretty amazed with the Activators - I feel like you can get a Fender sound, but also so much more! I'm going to repost the links to show the possible sounds: P-J with filter way down low: https://soundcloud.com/hieronymous-seven/aka-afb P-J with filter almost all the way open: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4aA6kerOA8 Precision with filter all the way open and flats (different bass): https://soundcloud.com/hieronymous-seven/8b4x4 The first one is the most amazing to me - just pure fatness, sounds like flats to me but it's rounds. But in the second example you can get the nice Alembic high-end. Terry - in the guy's defense, he was trying to help, but he kind of caused more harm than good. Actually, the good thing is, the new pot feels better - it isn't as loose as the old one! | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1282 Registered: 1-2005 |
Here's another recent recording - again, with a darker sound, Q set to 0, filter set somewhere in the middle, not sure if it was just the P pickup or P & J set about even: https://soundcloud.com/stanleylighthead/sol-jamming | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 1460 Registered: 5-2006 |
I used mine yesterday at an "Allstars" gig (members from different bands, performing some populair rock and metal songs) First time onstage with the Fembic in +/- 7 years, sounded awesome! :-) Rig was an Ampeg SVT 3 pro (amp I used for years before the full Mesa rig) and an Ampeg 1540 cab (4x10 + 1x15) Used it on "Smells like teen spirit (Nirvana) and Paranoid (Black Sabbath) I only brought it for the Nirvana song, but broke a string on my '83 Spoiler during Ace of spades (Motorhead) The Fembic proved to be a worthy backup :-) Also did backup/lead vocals only on two ('tallica) songs, first time ever without guitar/bass onstage for me... :-) I think there will be some vids shortly, will post here if topic is still active. | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 1468 Registered: 5-2006 |
Onstage with "Ozzy"   | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1297 Registered: 1-2005 |
Awesome! Glad the Fembic made an appearance. Ozzy looks spot on in that first pic! | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1300 Registered: 1-2005 |
Here's a shot of the AlFemBic in action - I'm playing double stops on "Ease Back" by the Meters:  | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1310 Registered: 1-2005 |
The AlFemBic has been my main bass recently - I like this pic because it has my mindfulness beads (nenju) and also you can see the Alembic logo on the strap!  | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1311 Registered: 1-2005 |
Here's another shot:  This picture was taken during my solo bass segment, "hieronymous meets rev harry" - I can tell because it's the only time during the show that I used a pick. Here's some so-so audio of the performance: https://soundcloud.com/hieronymous-seven/hieronymous-meets-rev-harry Activators sound good through distortion! | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1325 Registered: 1-2005 |
Posted some more audio from the same show as the above two shots: https://soundcloud.com/stanleylighthead/cinnamon-slice And here's video of the same slice: https://soundcloud.com/stanleylighthead/cinnamon-slice On this tune I had the P & J pickups balanced for the most part, with the filter frequency set pretty high, Q switch most likely on +6. |
