| Author | Message | ||
| dnburgess
Intermediate Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 134 Registered: 1-2003 |
The Australian Alembic launch was last night. Went off well - I'll log a full report as soon as I get the pictures. The major door prize (thanks to the folks at Santa Rosa) was a set of J style pickups. The winner is appropriately thrilled and has asked how to categorise the sound. Can anyone tell me/him what to expect? | ||
| reinier
New Username: reinier Post Number: 7 Registered: 1-2003 |
I've been using a standard J/J Activator set (including the original 2x volume & 1x low pass filter pots that come with it) for 10+ years now. Since the instrument they should go into may make a difference, here's what mine have been sittin' on since August '99: 2-pce swamp ash J-body; 3-pce hard rock maple J-neck with rosewood fretboard and graphite inlays; Schaller bridge and tuners; graphite nut; satin finish; medium light GHS Boomers. The sound? They're amazing! They make any J sound better, more "hifi" (no way keeping those harmonics hidden, not even with the filter "closed" all the way, so you'd better refresh your string-damping skills!!). Both volume pots offer output adjustment on the circuit board. This set is capable of pushing any (pre-)amp to its limits (I use a solid state class A pre, renowned for its huge headroom, yet it "soft-clips" wonderfully!). Turn the filter all the way "up", full neck PU and bridge rolled a little back, hit that open E and a certain guy named Miller comes to mind immediately, no matter how old your strings are! Or turn the brigde PU down a little more and tweak the filter down to the right hi-mid "peak" before rolling off. Sound familiar? That's Abe Laboriel's cutting P-sound, great for making those slides/vibrato's. Jaco? Stanley? Anthony Jackson in his Chaka days (add a little flanging..)? They're all living in your bass and all it takes to get them out is a 30-minute, solder free connecting job. It takes some time to get used to the sheer endless combinations the 3 controls offer (just listen to what shifting the filter pot by as little as 1mm does!!), but once you've heard your bass with Activators installed, there's no going back to the (passive) stuff installed on regular J's (unless you're a huge Duck Dunn-fan and proud of using the original 1964 factory-installed strings: then these PU's may not be your cup o' tea). Hope this helps. Otherwise, feel free to ask. | ||
| dnburgess
Intermediate Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 135 Registered: 1-2003 |
Reinier - thanks for that great testimonial - I've passed it on to the winner. | ||
| petebass
New Username: petebass Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2003 |
Hi guys, I'm the "lucky winner" Dave is referring to. Thanks for the great description, it was exactly what I was hoping to hear. I'm currently hunting for a bass which will become the new home of these pickups. I think initially I will put them in an inexpensive bass, maybe an Essex, as a temporary measure until I can afford to get a custom bass made. A very loud and very public thank you to Dave for holding the launch, and to Alembic for the great prize. Pete. | ||
| dnburgess
Intermediate Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 139 Registered: 1-2003 |
Pete Glad you made it to the club - we need more Aussies to offset the European influence. Its a very knowledgable user group - I have learnt a lot from the discussions here. | ||
| kr4bass
New Username: kr4bass Post Number: 3 Registered: 1-2003 |
Hey, how do you (anyone) think a set would sound/work in a fretless Warwick Corvette Standard 4 ??? I love the neck on the bass, plays like velvet, which is why I bought it but the pickups...... well, let's just say I am not pleased. I'm open for suggestions. Thanks. |
