| Author | Message | ||
| ojborys
New Username: ojborys Post Number: 2 Registered: 11-2003 |
I own a 1983 Electrum and want to replace the neck pickup to get a fatter, deeper tone -- the current pickup isn't all that different in sound from the bridge pickup. Can I get an alternative alembic pickup? Which one/s would fit both the electrum setup and the sound I'm looking for? Joe | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 4296 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hi Joe, welcome back! Not all Electrums have the same size pickups or electronics setups, but I'm guessing your '83 has the wide casing pickups rather than the narrow casings. That said, I'm not sure but it looks like those are, if not actually AXY's, the same size as AXY's, which means that the Fatboy would be a direct replacement. The Fatboy has a wider aperture and therefore a fatter sound. However, I'm just guessing. I can't recall reading here before whether the Electrum pickups are AXY's or are the same size as AXY's, or how wide the aperture is. Nor do I recall anyone asking about dropping Fatboys into an Electrum. Alembic pickups are designed to produce a clear representation of string vibration evenly across the frequency range. They don't "color" the sound in the way other pickup designs may focus on certain frequency ranges. Because the physical vibration of the string varies across the length of the string, the tone reproduced by a pickup will vary depending on it's placement under the string; move it a quarter inch forward or back and the tone changes. Therefore a wider aperture will sound fatter bacause it sees a greater length and therefore tonal variety of the string. Because of the clear and even reproduction of string vibration provided by Alembic pickups, the player then has a broad canvass upon which to create using his or her amp and other tools. Thus in discussing ways in which to get a fatter tone, it might be helpful for us to know what kind of rig you are playing through; your amp, your effects, etc. Another thing you can do is change the heights of the pickups. Lowering pickup height will produce a cleaner sound; raising the height will produce a fatter sound. | ||
| ojborys
New Username: ojborys Post Number: 3 Registered: 11-2003 |
Thanks alot for the great reply, Dave. I do have the wide casing pickups -- here are photos of my guitar on this site's showcase: http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/3824.html?1047844515 I've tried fiddling with the height quite a bit but the sound remains quite solidly the same. Oddly enough, the difference in sound between the neck and bridge pickup is minute. I am plugged into a 1984 Roland JC120, so the sound is quite clean. The guitar sounds terrific for a rock-type sound, but is very narrow in the sound range -- what I would like most is to be able to get a fatter, jazzier sound. Installing a Fatboy sounds intriguing -- what would be the best way to check if that's possible? Joe | ||
| ojborys
New Username: ojborys Post Number: 4 Registered: 11-2003 |
I also use a multieffect box (Boss GT6) that really makes the sound flatter. What could be a solution to that? Getting single effect units? Any recommended processors that wouldn't kill the sound? | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 4298 Registered: 5-2002 |
I wrote a long response and then the board software ate it. So here's the short version. Do any club members own both an Electrum and a Spoiler (or other bass with AXY's); if so could you measure them and see if they are the same. Or if someone knows the answer, that would be even better. And I should leave it to the guitar players in the group to address the question of pedals. I did notice in reading the reviews of the JC120 at Harmony Central that it is a solid state amp; so maybe some kind of pedal would be helpful to warm up the sound as needed. | ||
| tom_z
Senior Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 438 Registered: 7-2004 |
Hi Joe and welcome. You might want to consider calling Alembic. Mica or Valentino will probably pop in and post on this thread, but you might more immediate feedback regarding your specific needs if you give them a call. BTW - nice guitar - good luck. Peace Tom | ||
| fc_spoiler
Advanced Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 263 Registered: 5-2006 |
The pickups on both my Spoilers measures are 45 x 105 MM That's something like 1,8 x 4,2 Inch. Haven't got an Electrum to compare but maybe it helps... Good luck! Flip | ||
| fc_spoiler
Advanced Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 264 Registered: 5-2006 |
Dave: Tip from Flip: when I write long messages I do it in Word or any other suitable program, then I use cut 'n paste to get it into the board. Sorry to hear your work is lost in cyberspace... Cheers, Flip (Message edited by fc_spoiler on August 20, 2006) | ||
| tom_z
Senior Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 439 Registered: 7-2004 |
Oops - this thread evolved since I started my post. Though the folks at Alembic may have suggestions for you regarding effects and amps, they will certainly have you covered in terms of your questions about their electronics. I don't own an Electrum, but Bill tgo will probably chime in with observations on his. I can say that my Skylark completely comes alive when playing through tube amp. Also, my Skylark can get nice warm jazzy tones, but not really like a big hollowbody guitar would. My guitar is at least a couple shades brighter. I am not very knowledgeable about the possible combinations of electronics, amplifiers, and pedals, and why they technically behave and sound the way they do. But, my experience with my Alembic has taught me that I will struggle with digital or solid state amps (though I can get great tone from either) and I can get great tone from tubes quite effortlessly (as well as a more varied palette of tonal colors). I guess my suggestion would be that you try your guitar through a variety of amplifiers, if you haven’t already, and if you’re still dissatisfied with the tone from the bridge pickup give Alembic a call. Peace Tom | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 4300 Registered: 5-2002 |
Flip; that's a good idea and I have done that in the past when I was writing a long post and did not want to chance losing it. In this case, there was nothing of value lost since I'm not a guitar player and really didn't have much useful to contribute. |
