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lothartu
New
Username: lothartu

Post Number: 1
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Saturday, August 09, 2003 - 9:31 pm:   Edit Post

I have a Series I that came with the old DS5 box. The mono/stereo mini-flip switch broke a LONG time ago and Alembic was kind enough to send me a handwritten schematic so that I could get things rewired properly.

The broken switch is long gone and I have a new DPST switch that will work fine but there are two 1/4 watt 20k resistors listed as needing to be wired onto the switch.

Radio shack has 1/4 watt 10k resistors and 1/4 watt 22k resistors only, no 20k's.

Question: Should I wire two 10k's in series to create a 20k or should I just use the 22k resistors?

I have a basic understanding of electronics but this is an ALEMBIC and I don't want to stupidly screw something up.

ty in advance :-)
hifibassman
Junior
Username: hifibassman

Post Number: 28
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 12:36 pm:   Edit Post

I don't have any alembic schematics, but I have built some complex bass preamps before so...
I would say go with the two 10k's in series to be on the safe side, but we are not talking about high voltage or current here.. the resistors probably serve as some type of signal balancer by the fact that it requires two of the same, so I would say 22k at 1/4 watt level will not make much difference as far as line level circuits go. But if it was a part of the filter circuit i would say definitely go with the 20k as they said (very critical values). Those radio shack resistors have a 5 or 10% tolerance anyway so they can be off the mark by as much as 10% even though it says 10k or 20k. Hope this helps- but if Mica or anyone else with better knowledge about this chimes in by all means take their recommendations :-)

(Message edited by hifibassman on August 11, 2003)
kipknee
Junior
Username: kipknee

Post Number: 39
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 1:29 pm:   Edit Post

Depending on where you live, you might have better luck trying a different electronics shop. I have always found Radio Shack to be very limited in their stock of "real" electronics. Crack open the yellow pages and make a few calls. I'll bet you can find exactly the resistor you need.
kayo
Junior
Username: kayo

Post Number: 13
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 8:53 am:   Edit Post

I am not a tech ~ but I will say this ~

Why would you want to put a radio shack "anything" on an Alembic? Wouldn't you want to use top-of-the-line grade AAA military spec components on your ax? Isn't using radio shack pieces like throwing a Hyundai engine in a Ferrari?
elzie
Intermediate Member
Username: elzie

Post Number: 169
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 9:49 am:   Edit Post

Hyundai is the leader in the ship building industry, isn't it???

Look, resistors from Radio Shack are made in the same factories as the resistors for Newark Electronics and such. The difference is, the tolerance rating. Radio Shack may be less likely to STOCK a 5% tolerance, but they could still order it.

Now, to the original question and tolerance. If you use a 22K R witha 10% tolerance, that can be anywhere from 20K to 24K. If you use two 10k R's with 10% tolerance, that can be anywhere from 18K to 22K.

In comparison, the original 20K resistor, if it had a tolerance of 10%, could be anywhere from 18K to 22K.

If you still have the original resistor, look at it to determine the tolerance. Look at the resistor and place the end where the color bands to the left. The fourth band from the left is the tolerance indicator:

A gold band will indicate +/- 5%
Silver is +/- 10%
An absence of either one will indicate +/- 20%

After you determine the tolerance, you can base your decision on how "strict or close" the tolerance was intended, or how important it is to be as close to 20K as required.


Paul
edwin
Junior
Username: edwin

Post Number: 29
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 9:17 pm:   Edit Post

the 22ks will be fine. I have built a couple of these power supplies and this part of the circuit is not that critical. It just mixes the two signals for the output. That being said, I agree with Kayo and I used 1% metal film resistors (1/2 watt) but that's just me.


Edwin
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 544
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 2:05 am:   Edit Post

Brother Paul the good one
how did you beame the Brother Paul the technical one??
I don't understand a word!

Paul the bad one
elzie
Intermediate Member
Username: elzie

Post Number: 170
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 4:57 am:   Edit Post

Sorry Paul!

It's my job, that is until last Friday......
Does it show that I like this kind of stuff? :-)


Paul, the one with too much time on my hands
davehouck
Intermediate Member
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 116
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 7:09 am:   Edit Post

So what happened last Friday?
elzie
Intermediate Member
Username: elzie

Post Number: 171
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 8:15 am:   Edit Post

I was fired, after 8 years on the job. And they did it by Fedex to boot! No phone call, no meeting, not even a severance.

Well, at least it's a new beginning somewhere better (I hope).
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 546
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 8:19 am:   Edit Post

See my brother a new horizon of possibilities is opening for thee!
Keep-up!

Paul the bad one

PS: how was the shower?
davehouck
Intermediate Member
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 117
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 9:00 am:   Edit Post

"A new beginning"; I like that response. Paul's "A new horizon" is good too. I hope this sudden change in employment status does not present short term problems in the food and shelter area.
elzie
Intermediate Member
Username: elzie

Post Number: 172
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 9:08 am:   Edit Post

I don't think so Dave, but apparently, I've been wrong before. Besides, my wife starts a new job next week.

The company I worked for is quite screwed up. If I told you some of the stories, you just wouldn't believe me. In my years, I have never worked in such a place and they really did me a favor.

I even started writing a book about it at Christmas time. Now I have the time to continue. Who knows, maybe it may get finished, or even be good!


Thanks for the support:-)

Paul, the shower was good, but I was naked when you called and we don't need any pictures drawn here!


Paul, the lazy one

(Message edited by elzie on August 14, 2003)
lothartu
New
Username: lothartu

Post Number: 2
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 9:12 am:   Edit Post

Thank you all, I appreciate it.

I was able to dig up a couple of 5% 20k resistors and they appear to work ok.

Another question though...

With the two new resistors wired; the solo neck volume is equal to the solo bridge volume (good) but I get a slight volume boost when they are both active.

Does anyone elses Series I do this? It's been so long since my DS5 worked that I can't remeber if this is "correct" or not. If not then it's probably due to me using 5% instead of 1% resistors.

Side Note: Can anyone point me to an "idiots guide" for wiring up a DPDT switch? I just hardwired the DS5 for mono mode but it would be nice to have the switch back so that I can toggle to dual output stereo. (Actually I'ld just kill to have one of the DS5-R rackmounts to tell you the truth.)

ty in advance
jet_powers
Junior
Username: jet_powers

Post Number: 49
Registered: 2-2003
Posted on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 2:40 pm:   Edit Post

Paul-

That sucks that you lost your job. Probably just as well from what you say. New opportunities and horizons for sure. I know all about it, I too lost mine. Only it was in March and there is just so little work here in Massachusetts right now and I have yet to land another job. I went to an interview recently and was told I was one of five people they chose to bring in from over 500 resumes received for the position. I don't know how much pride I can take in the knowledge that I was one of four people they chose to reject in person....

Enjoy a little time off and I hope your field is less crowded than mine. Good Luck.

John Paul
elzie
Intermediate Member
Username: elzie

Post Number: 180
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 6:18 pm:   Edit Post

Wow! That is an eye opener.....

Did you find a job yet? If you haven't, let me know and maybe we can hook up. I also have some good contacts in different fields if they can help you.


Paul, the one with too much time on his hands.
jet_powers
Junior
Username: jet_powers

Post Number: 50
Registered: 2-2003
Posted on Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 5:39 am:   Edit Post

Paul, the one with too much time on his hands,

Nothing yet. I have a few irons in the fire but no one has taken one out and branded me yet.

I'm not too proud to take any help I can get on this front. Anything/one you can hook me up with would be most appreciated.

John Paul, the one running out of time.
edwin
Junior
Username: edwin

Post Number: 30
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 7:07 pm:   Edit Post

Lothartu,
It is charactaristic of the Alembic circuit to get a slight volume boost when both pickups are active. consequently, I usually leave my Series I with both on and control the balance with the volume controls instead of the switch. The value of the resistors has nothing to do with this phenomenon. It has to do with how the active circuit mixes the pickups.
HTH
Edwin

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