| Author | Message | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 419 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hello Mica and/or Val I just found this beauty at a luthiers shop in North Aurora, IL. #78 - 995 is a heavily customized 4 string bass, with 6 3-way switches in a straight line under the bridge and bridge pickup (seem to be Rogue tone switches for each pickup plus 2 whose function I couldn't identify) plus a 7th 2-way switch that apparerntly turns off the bridge pickup(?), a 4 position pickup selector, 6 top hat knobs and 2 cvq pointer knobs aligned as if they were volume/?/filter/cvq for each pickup, the 5pin XLR and a strangely mounted 1/4" jack on the side above the standard point. Strangest of all, the pickups appear to be Alembics except they have 4 apparent pole pieces showing through clean (factory?) holes in the top of each pickup and there is no sign of the dummy coil at all. There are two electronics cavities plus the battery compartment. The upper electronics cavity has all it's components in separate little ~1" square black epoxy modules (no visible circuit boards) wired together with push on connectors. This same compartment is where the 1/4" jack comes in from the side of the body. Schaller tuners, non adjustable nut, 2 purpleheart laminates in the neck, and a top and matching back with a greenish looking wood. The power supply isn't a DS-5R, but it is a rack mount. It has a little engraved label on the front that says "made for Mike Reed by Alembic". Standard 5 pin and bass/treble jacks on the front plus a three way(?) power switch and an amber led marked 'Remote". The back panel has 12 1/4" jacks (6 pairs labeled "to" and "from") for bass normal / always / remote and treble normal / always / remote. I'm wondering about the top and back woods and the custom electronics. The luthier, Rick Cremer plans to refret the instrument and clean up the neck before trying to sell it. Thanks, Mike | ||
| son_of_magni
Intermediate Member Username: son_of_magni Post Number: 191 Registered: 1-2004 |
No picture? Arrrrrgh. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 941 Registered: 3-2004 |
Sounds very interesting! It is possible that the switch that turns off a pickup is a stereo/mono switch. If you were testing with a 1/4" cable when you observed this, that may be the case. | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 420 Registered: 6-2002 |
I wish I had a camera. I was testing through the power supply front outputs into two separate amps. Even using the "both" position on the pu selector the 2-way switch just seemed to shut off the bridge pickup. Internally the switch had a capacitor and a diode on it, according to Jay (the shop assistant) Mike | ||
| kungfusheriff
Advanced Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 345 Registered: 8-2003 |
{checks his calendar} Dude, you've gotta get us photos. | ||
| joram
Junior Username: joram Post Number: 25 Registered: 5-2004 |
That sounds familiar... Maybe this one? http://www3.alembic.com/img/hist_1978_linesofswitches.jpg | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 421 Registered: 6-2002 |
Joram, you nailed it! If that isn't the same bass, then it's a virual twin electronically. The top and back in burl myrtle are much closer to greenish-yellow or olive in cast, but the pickups, switches, knobs, even the 1/4" jack are as pictured. The bass appeared as if it hadn't benn cleaned in years, tailpiece and bridge all corroded, neck all funky (dare I say crusty), even the strings on this old girl are caked. Rick Cremer said the frets were filed poorly by someone who was guessing, and he's planning to refret it. The bridge is cranked so high, you can't play hardly above the 10th fret. There's some significant dings in the finish on the lower body and wood is cracking in a spot on the upper body. It was in a Reunion gig bag. Mike (Message edited by dadabass2001 on July 31, 2005) | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2116 Registered: 5-2002 |
Wow!! My guess is that the dummy pickup is hidden. And I further guess that the electronics are two superfilters. Was it noisy? Does it sound like it needs the electronics upgrade? And ... did they suggest how much they would ask for it ?? <g> !! | ||
| kungfusheriff
Advanced Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 346 Registered: 8-2003 |
"Its more in need of a bath than anything else. And a fretjob. Otherwise I think its original to the build sheet. We'll be finding out. Regards, Rick Cremer" ...is what I got back. I already asked that last question, Dave. ;) | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 422 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi Dave, I got the neck pickup runing and sounding pretty sweet. The bridge pickup was into a smaller amp and showed some hiss (and sounded like the Phil "interference with camera" scene from The Grateful Dead Movie - very bright). I've never worked with a superfilter, and couldn't get any obvious reaction when I twiddled the two middle top hat knobs. I also didn't get any obvious result from three of the 3-way switches. Rick also mentioned that the battery compartment seemed to be set up for 2 batteries similar to but a little shorter than a standard 9-volt (2 - 7.? volt)? Rick said he is checking the internet, pricewise, to see where other series instruments are selling. Mike | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2120 Registered: 5-2002 |
Thanks Mike! Looking forward to the report from Val or Mica. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2604 Registered: 6-2000 |
All I can tell you about 995 is that it was finished between 02-14-78 and 02-27-78. The "file" in 1978 consisted of a 3x5 card with some basic details. The original 3x5 card is in the files, but it is all the fields are blank except the serial number, and no other interaction with this instrument since it was built was recorded. It's the only one I've seen like that. But, I can tell you that the three position switches are not Rogue/Europa switches - we weren't making those back then. I'm guessing the bass has Superfilters, and that the three position switches are low-pass/band-pass/high-pass modes for the filter frequency control. If the filter gain controls are not turned up, these switches won't have any impact on the sound. The mercury batteries back in 1978 were smaller than modern alkaline batteries. The cavity will have to be enlarged if you ever want to use batteries. Dad and I will be keeping this thread in mind when were work on his old files for electronics. The name rang a bell with him, so we can only hope that he's got more details in his records. Will keep you posted, but another update probably won't come this week. Would love to see some more pictures, of the guts too! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2121 Registered: 5-2002 |
Thanks Mica!! Another mystery bass! And I second the motion for pictures of guts! | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 423 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hey all, Thanks indeed, Mica. I just got home and had an email from Rick Cremer confirming the identity of the bass. He said it matches in every detail to the picture in the history section. He even mentioned the mercury batteries. Now I gotta find that link to the superfilter pdf to check out the controls. ;) Mike | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2124 Registered: 5-2002 |
Mike; my guess would be that the two knobs you were turning that didn't seem to do anything were what would be called the Damping Ratio on the SF-2 or the CVQ on the Series II. If you strike a note and turn the CVQ you might not notice the change. But if you play a line, then turn the knob, then play the line again, you should notice the difference. | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 424 Registered: 6-2002 |
Thanks Dave, but looking at the picture from Joram's link above, I assumed the two pointer knobs at the closer end of the lines of knobs were cvq. The two "top hats" next seemed to be filter freq controls, the two after that were undefined, and the last two (closest to the pickup selector) are volumes. I going to try to go back to Cremer's this weekend and see if I can figure out some more switch functionality, if Rick doesn't bar the door when he sees me coming.  Mike | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2125 Registered: 5-2002 |
Mike; good point. Another thought I had was that, in addition to the two switches that Mica talked about, some of the switches may be routing switches similar to routing options on an SF-2. | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 529 Registered: 6-2002 |
About those batteries.........I personally would not go routing out the battery cavity. Those batteries are still available in the medical field. They are 8.6 volt batteries that are used in telemetry equipment. My 1972 Alembic has the same small battery opening. I have been tempted to enlarge that opening many times, but have not. I only use the power supply with this bass. I have rarely found the need to use the batteries anyway. Michael | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 430 Registered: 6-2002 |
Okay friends, Special thanks to my singer/guitarist Steve for taking these pics. Here's #995 at Rick Cremer's         photos for technophiles and historians in next post  Mike | ||
| keith_h
Intermediate Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 146 Registered: 2-2005 |
You were right about the crusty neck, but from the pictures the burl myrtle looks nice. Over all I'd say a little cleaning up and it should look pretty good. Have you figured out the switches yet? Keith | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 431 Registered: 6-2002 |
Here's 995s internals...  This is the upper compartment  You can see the 2 internal adjusters  Here's the inside of the 1/4" jack    And the power supply:     Defense rests.... Mike | ||
| kungfusheriff
Advanced Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 348 Registered: 8-2003 |
...and the local chapter of Bassaholics Anonymous swings into action. Damn, that's a cool bass...do you have designs on her, Mike? If not, what's Cremer asking? Did he mention a price? And is that foam residue all over the electronics in the upper cavity? Many thanks. | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 433 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi everybody.. my name's Mike ( sniff sniff, cough) and I'm a bass player... Nope, Rick hasn't set a price yet. As he put it, we're hoping to find out what all the controls aree supposed to do, so we can find out if it's a Frankenstein or a Picasso. That is foam residue you see in the upper cavity shots. It appears the foam was never removed in 37 years (being used to hold the little black boxes in place). my next intended purchase (not planned, just intended) is a 5er, but since my only neck through is my 81' Distillate, I'm willing to talk to Rick about this pearl. (heck, I've never even played series electronics except one noddle session with Kevs original Balance K). Mike | ||
| kungfusheriff
Advanced Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 349 Registered: 8-2003 |
Fire away, boss--you found her, though to be persnickety those aren't Series electronics. I don't know what it is, but it looks like years of fun. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2169 Registered: 5-2002 |
And the mystery becomes more intriguing! | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 434 Registered: 6-2002 |
Given the labelling on the power supply, with three sets of send and returns for each pickup, it looks like a massive effects setup is expected. I assume the "always" sets would be something always in place (a gate/compressor comes to mind) and "normal" seems pretty self evident, but why are the third sets called "remote"? It's blurry in the pics, but there is one amber "remote" led on the front panel. That suggests switching to "remote" mode is affected for both pickups (maybe a two postion switch). Mike | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 535 Registered: 6-2002 |
And what is up with those pickups? Pole pieces? I thought that the traditional Alembic pickups are one large magnet. In one of the pictures, it looks like a hole and not a pole!?! | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 435 Registered: 6-2002 |
yeah, pole pieces - very weird! No sign of a dummy coil anywhere and no trim pots beyond the two pictured. While I was there Saturday, Rick confirmed they are humcancelling pickups. Mike | ||
| juelu
New Username: juelu Post Number: 1 Registered: 8-2005 |
This is Juel at Cremer Guitarworks. I just wanted to let you folks know that we can do detail photos of the electronics, pickups or whatever if it would be of help identifying / documenting the electronics and the instrument. We're fascinated by the combination of the unusual custom design & the lack of build information (not to mention the old photo of THIS instrument). Does anyone know where that photo came from? | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2224 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hi Juel! Welcome to our forum. And thanks for your interest in and concern for this Alembic and your offer of detailed photos. We're an easily entertained bunch and we get excited about Alembics of all types; and this one is especially intriguing since there's a mystery to be solved. It's been my impression that Mica and Ron are even busier than usual lately; but I would imagine that Mica would love to get some detailed pictures. | ||
| juelu
New Username: juelu Post Number: 2 Registered: 8-2005 |
Dave - thanks for the welcome. I guess I'm in the right place because I've been entertained by the forum! I'm primarily an acoustic 1800s turn of the century & earlier Martin guitars & banjo guy but being a retired Bell Labs engineer as well, this mystery has got me too. I did a bit of puzzling & photographing today and I've worked out most of the associations between the controls & modules and got about a dozen close up photos of the electronics & control cavity . One set in particular might jog Mica or Ron's memory. The two potted modules in the center of the upper electronics cavity don't connect at all to any of the other modules there. They are each connected to the control cavity by a seperate 13 wire ribbon cable that mainly interconnects with the 2nd, 3rd, 5th & 6th switches (no matter which end you start from ;^) and some control pots.   The switches mentioned above connect to what I thought was a small potted network module, but on closer inspection it appears to be 3 small potted 2 lead elements (capacitors probably) glued together and oonnecting to the ON-OFF-ON DP switches with resistors.  The two modules in the upper cavity (one Bridge PU associated & one Neck PU associated) seem to control the shaping under control of the CVQ pots and the pots that introduce resistance to modify the Q. But I'm rambling ..... The part that might jog memories is the label potted into one of the control modules (and partially visable on the other). The label reads: .033K400 The K is underlined and the marking is followed by a mark that looks like a capital P overlaid by a capital L.  Hope this is worthy entertainment / historical research. I have more photos & lots more info but I have a Festival I have to finish before Labor Day weekend ( www.FoxValleyFolk.com ) Juel | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 443 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi Juel, Yup, your pictures are much better than mine. I'll just stand by quietly and let the electronic grownups talk (but i'll be listening/absorbing like crazy!) Mike | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2232 Registered: 5-2002 |
Thanks Juel! I hope Mica and Ron get a chance to look at these soon. | ||
| juelu
New Username: juelu Post Number: 3 Registered: 8-2005 |
Anybody still following this thread? | ||
| dwmark
Junior Username: dwmark Post Number: 47 Registered: 1-2005 |
yes. nothing to add (other than ooohs and aaahs) but just as interested as most of the other members. | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 459 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi again Juel, yeah I haven't forgotten this puzzle, but I'm trying not to jiggle any Wickersham elbows. I tried a Google search for "Mike Reed", but came up empty. I lack the knowledge to even attempt "reverse engineering" those controls. I suppose if Rick were amenable, we could try a more complete trial of the system. maybe hook up two amps and start again to identify individual functions. Mike | ||
| juelu
New Username: juelu Post Number: 4 Registered: 8-2005 |
Is anyone still following this thread? I have more photos but I was waiting to see if there were any comments on the first set. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2351 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hi Juel; yes, we're still here! I think Mica, Val and the folks at the shop are even busier than usual recently. But, I'm sure they are as intrigued as the rest of us. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2352 Registered: 5-2002 |
Go ahead and post your pics. I think most of us are just scratching our heads. It will probably take the folks at Alembic to figure it out. | ||
| juelu
New Username: juelu Post Number: 5 Registered: 8-2005 |
OOPS - I got all the updates after I posted again! Refresh didn't give them to me. Sorry. Rick has some info on Mike Reed that he found - I'll get it & post it. I ran through both outputs and control switches and as I remember it appeared that the 2nd & 3rd and 5th & 6th ON-OFF-ON do what we sort of initially thought Mike. I have to go back to my notes (the Festival wiped out my available scratch memory ;^), but I think everything was working. I'll refresh my memory today & post what I found out so far. Juel |
