| Author | Message | ||
| albrecht
Junior Username: albrecht Post Number: 45 Registered: 8-2005 |
hi there alembic world! iīd appreciate some input on upgrading elan electronics to europe electronics...is it worth it? "quick change switches(...????)are just what? thanx from sweden.. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3652 Registered: 5-2002 |
One switch is for bass and the other for treble. Each switch has three positions; 6db boost, flat, and 6db cut. (Message edited by davehouck on April 19, 2006) | ||
| dean_m
Senior Member Username: dean_m Post Number: 409 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey Kristjan, I did the upgrade on my 5 string Elan about a year and a half ago. I should have done it a long time ago. I highly recommend it!!!! I am now able to get even more bottom end out of my Elan than I could ever need. Hope this helps!!! Peace, Dino | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3659 Registered: 5-2002 |
Dino; what was involved in doing the upgrade? | ||
| dean_m
Senior Member Username: dean_m Post Number: 410 Registered: 7-2002 |
I sent my baby back to Alembic and they did it for me there. I forget what it cost but I recall the actual shipping and insurance was more than the actual upgrade if I remember correctly. Val was great about it too. He called me to let me know my baby got there safely and also to let me know when it was shipping back. Nothing but the best as we would expect from Alembic. | ||
| albrecht
Junior Username: albrecht Post Number: 46 Registered: 8-2005 |
hi & mille gracie for advice. upgrading sounds as a good idea. but as I live in sweden = europe (:-)!)I guess shipping to ALEMBIC would be stiff ($5-600). thatīs why I wonder if you can order an upgrade kit+instructions? I have an exellent tech in Uppsala, my home town. a true genious that could install it for me... | ||
| the_8_string_king
Intermediate Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 143 Registered: 9-2005 |
It would tremendously improve and enhance your versatility. If you send it back for the Europa switches, you should also consider a mid-range switch (I have 2 on my custom, and they're EXTREMELY useful) and also upgrading the Q switch to a 3-position switch -something like 0/6/9 dbs of Q or perhaps 0/4/8. You could also get them to retrofit a brass sustain block -which would also make a BIG difference. But this assumes you send it back, which seems expensive. I can assure you, however, it would be worth it | ||
| pace
Advanced Member Username: pace Post Number: 226 Registered: 4-2004 |
The Europa upgrade is highly recommended.... having bass & treble cut/boost switches is great for changes on the fly... I dont know what components get swapped or added for an upgrade to the vol / filter / pan controls, but I'm all ears!!!! What year did any changes take effect?!?!? | ||
| olieoliver
Advanced Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 249 Registered: 2-2006 |
I believe I'm goona be the odd man out here, but here I go anyway. While I don't know about the ELan electronics I do have a MK 5 with the Sig, elect. and I also have a MK 5 with the Europa elect. I prefer the sig. elects. I like the sound I get from them better. This of course is another one of those personal taste issues. | ||
| the_8_string_king
Intermediate Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 145 Registered: 9-2005 |
They're both versatile; and each is more versatile than the other in specific ways -which are obvious (Signature controls have INDIVIDUAL filters AND Qs for each pickup -individual/separate tone control- and Europa electronics have the benefit the bass and treble switches -which multiply your tone variations by 9.) But it would be a simpler and cheaper upgrade to add the 2 switches than to switch to Signature -I'm pretty sure. I'll tell ya from experience, the ULTIMATE is having BOTH a filter with a variable Q AND bass & treble & mid-range controls for EACH pickup -with the option to "assign" EITHER pickups tone controls as MASTER tone controls for BOTH pickups... this gives the best of both worlds! Working from the premise that you must choose between EITHER the Signature controls OR the Europa controls... well, you can't go wrong with either choice; and each has it's pro and it's con... it's really Yin & Yang. Really. Just remember, you can step outside the box. You can step outside the lines. You don't HAVE to choose between the two... you CAN, in fact, choose to have BOTH. If and when you do, I'll just tell you, it works!!! I think the best bet might be if they can just send the switches with instructions, and have your genius tech guy work some magic. But if you DO send it back to them for the upgrade, I STRONGLY recommend also BOTH upgrading the Q switch to 3 positions AND also adding a MID-RANGE boost/cut switch. Having bass, mid, treble, and variable Q control features allows awesome control over your sound. And educate yourself about the brass sustain block. If you don't know about it, ask around. My Elan doesn't have one -I don't think it was standard on them. If you play an Alembic that (all things being equal) DOES have the sustain block, you'll notice the difference. If you do send it back, it would be an opportunity to address that, and increase your sustain. Best wishes | ||
| albrecht
Junior Username: albrecht Post Number: 47 Registered: 8-2005 |
hi everybody and thanx for valuable input - it certainly seems a good idea to upgrade! now i just have to find out how to contact ALEMBIC to see if they can/will/want ship the stuff, because shipping the bass from sweden is TOO expensive...also have to check for the sustain block - donīt have a clue of how it looks/works... | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 403 Registered: 2-2005 |
Kristjan. This is the URL to the Alembic contact page. Wherever you see a word followed by at alembic.com change the at to an @ to obtain the email address. http://www.alembic.com/family/contact.html Keith | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 857 Registered: 6-2002 |
On a lot of Alembics, the bridge is standing on top of a block made out of brass, instead of the regular brass inserts you see on most 'simpler' Alembics. This sustain block is recessed into the top of the body. It is not a simple operation to add one to an instrument that doesn't have one. It may also require some degree of refinishing, which might add to the cost. You can unclick the pickup connectors from the circuit board (there are no solder joints here!) remove the knobs from the pots, and unmount the pots and jack - now you can send the whole electronics package to Alembic, without having to send the whole instrument. When having the electronics returned by airmail, you run the risk of getting taxed for import duties (here in Holland it is 25% of the value stated on the package, and customs didn't accept that they were repaired goods being returned). I have been told you have a good chance of escaping this by not using air mail. The official work-around is of course to declare the goods when you're exporting them, in sufficient detail so you can refer to those details if they try to tax you for the import duties. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3679 Registered: 5-2002 |
Adriaan; when I had a sustain block added to my Essence, a refinish was not required. But I don't know if that is true in all cases. |
