| Author | Message | ||
| paolopop
New Username: paolopop Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2007 |
I bought a wonderful Series II guitar (SN 79 1492) and I can stop to watch it: a stunning masterpiece. In the bridge position the guitar sounds fantastic, unfortunately I have found that the neck pickup make a lot of noise (a 50Hz hum) and I am unable to cancel it blending the signal with the central pickup. The bridge pickup is really quiet. I measured the picups but the neck one seems to be interrupted. Incredible to say, if I plug it alone in the preamp, it works, even if it is weak. I tried to swap the pickups (actually I tested every possible combinations) but the problem seems to be in the PU, not in the preamp. What can I do? Is there any way to fix this problem (could it be a fault in the shieded wire?) Have I to send the pickups and the preamp to Alembic? I live in Italy and I would prefer to avoid to ship the entire guitar. Are those old pickups still available? Thank you Paolo | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 820 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hello Paolo Are you using the 1/4" jack or the 5 pin DIN plug to the power supply? Early series instruments were equipped with stereo 1/4" jacks and you would only here one channel unless you used a stereo cord. Others will help as they see this post. Mike | ||
| paolopop
New Username: paolopop Post Number: 2 Registered: 11-2007 |
I use the DIN plug OR a stereo jack, the results are the same. As I wrote, if I swap the pickups the problem is in the bridge channel, I am pretty sure that there is something wrong with one of the pickups. I wrote to the Alembic support some days ago, but I have still no reply. Thank you  | ||
| paolopop
New Username: paolopop Post Number: 3 Registered: 11-2007 |
A picture of the preamp: | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1693 Registered: 6-2002 |
If the problem moves with the pickup (and does not occur with the other pickup hooked up to the same preamp) then it's obviously a problem with the pickup itself. Try calling Alembic after 6 PM your time - that is about 9 AM in California. | ||
| paolopop
New Username: paolopop Post Number: 4 Registered: 11-2007 |
Thank you for your reply. The problem is in the pickup for sure. What is incomprehensible to me is that the pickup winding itself is interrupted according to the ohm-meter, but it still sounds! Anyway I will sent the pickups and the preamp at the Alembic if they will authorize me! | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1695 Registered: 6-2002 |
You probably only need to order a new pickup - but let's wait for a response from Alembic. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 2724 Registered: 7-2004 |
Paolo: I'd wait until at least 11:00 A.M. PST before calling Alembic. They don't open until 10:00 and I'd give them a little window to get the new day started. Sounds like a bad pickup (I'm assuming when you change the neck to bridge, you're actually unplugging the connector and then plugging it into the other preamp/filter, not just physically moving the pickup, right?). The pickup can easily be swapped out for a new one. They are the same as they were back when your guitar was born. Bill, the guitar one | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 1227 Registered: 10-2003 |
Sounds similar to what happened to one of my pickups not that long ago. The shield separated and it also became microphonic. You'll need to order a new pickup from them if that's the case.. John | ||
| paolopop
New Username: paolopop Post Number: 5 Registered: 11-2007 |
Thank you for your kind replies!! This is a really helpful community. Actually I tried to order a new pickup (or better, a new set?) days ago. Anyone knows why Alembic does not reply to my email? I tried many times with the support form in this web site too, but... I would prefer to avoid to call by phone because... ehm... I am have no problems to read and write in English, but I am not very able to SPEAK English! A further question: anyone could give me an advice about the preamp? It seems to work fine, but are the new ones better in terms of sound? Thank you Paolo | ||
| hieronymous
Advanced Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 235 Registered: 1-2005 |
Paolo - today (Nov. 22) is Thanksgiving here in the USA - one of the biggest holidays of the year! I am 99.99% sure that Alembic will be closed from Nov. 22-25, so don't expect a response until next week at the earliest! | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 909 Registered: 2-2005 |
The delay might also have something to do with this. Alembic is a small shop so when one of them is out of the office requests can be delayed. Keith | ||
| paolopop
New Username: paolopop Post Number: 6 Registered: 11-2007 |
This explains all! I will wait for a post from Mica or a direct reply. Thank you very much for your helpful post, Keith. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 5710 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hi Paolo; welcome to the board! About your question concerning the preamp. The main difference between your preamp and a new one would be RF noise. The new ones are designed to be quiet even amongst all of the RF stuff in the air that didn't exist back in the 70's. If you have noise (other than the bad pickup), then if you haven't already done so, you want to do the hum cancelling procedure. If you still have noise, then you can ship your guitar back to the shop to get the electronics upgrade. It is not inexpensive; but it's less than buying new electronics. Hopefully, getting the pickup replaced is all you need. (Message edited by davehouck on November 23, 2007) | ||
| paolopop
New Username: paolopop Post Number: 7 Registered: 11-2007 |
Thankfully I have no problem with the high frequency noise. Anyway the cost to ship the entire guitar (from and to Italy) would be prohibitive, for sure higher that to buy new electronics! At this point I can assume that I need a new set of matched pickups (the plastic of the working one is in bad conditions). I only have to know how to make my order! Well, I will wait for the mail I sent to Alembic days ago. Thank to all the kind people that are helping me. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 4939 Registered: 6-2000 |
Hi Paolo, I've sent an answer to your email from November 20th with ordering details. | ||
| 1dallek1
Junior Username: 1dallek1 Post Number: 25 Registered: 12-2006 |
hi we're sort of related i have 79-1405. off the subject but when you wear the guitar with a strap standing up do you have to hold the neck up? mine does a dive if i don't support it, i moved the straplock to the tip of the horn and it helps a bit, also do you have the led's? dallek | ||
| paolopop
New Username: paolopop Post Number: 8 Registered: 11-2007 |
Hi my cousin! ;-) Actually the guitar is a little umbalenced. Just a little. Mine has the upper horn longer than the other (sorry, it is not visible in the picture) and the straplock was already on the tip of the horn. Maybe your guitar has a symmetrical design? I use a large rough leather strap and this seems to hepl. | ||
| paolopop
New Username: paolopop Post Number: 9 Registered: 11-2007 |
Hi my cousin! ;-) Actually the guitar is a little umbalenced. Just a little. Mine has the upper horn longer than the other (sorry, it is not visible in the picture) and the straplock was already on the tip of the horn. Maybe your guitar has a symmetrical design? I use a large rough leather strap and this seems to hepl. | ||
| 1dallek1
Junior Username: 1dallek1 Post Number: 27 Registered: 12-2006 |
hi this one has the brite switches, and the LED Markers on the side of the neck, i added an on off switch for the LED's, also this is no longer the stock stereo output. i installed an effects loop driven by a cae jangletone gain buffer like the Jerry Garcia Guitars. the 1/4" jack is the input-output for the efects loop and the 5 pin is the power and mono output , it goes to the power supply then out to the amp, , it sounds pretty good  | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1499 Registered: 10-2002 |
nice sticker! Graeme | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 1297 Registered: 12-2002 |
with those CVQ's on this one why the "bright" switches?....the single coils are 'naturally' clean & bright. | ||
| icecreamman
New Username: icecreamman Post Number: 2 Registered: 3-2008 |
Interesting. I just picked up a '79 Series I guitar and was just considering putting in an effects loop w/ a CAE CB2. How did the CAE mod affect the alembics pickup tone? Did you do any hum-cancelling mods? | ||
| edwin
Advanced Member Username: edwin Post Number: 296 Registered: 5-2002 |
Why would you need the CAE CB2? The pickups are already preamped. You just need to take the signal from the right part of the circuit. The only think I would add is a master volume. Edwin | ||
| freefuzz
New Username: freefuzz Post Number: 7 Registered: 2-2008 |
paolopop, i trust you've already checked the plug between pickup and preamp? most of the problems i've had with alembic instruments lie here. but i have been able to repair the pickup of an electrum by carefully dremeling (with dental equipment) the pickup (following the cable) until you reach the place the coil is soldered to said cable leading to the preamp connection. i imagine the problem lies here. the coil doesn't often break. a comparably inexpensive fix, you will see. | ||
| coffeegod
New Username: coffeegod Post Number: 10 Registered: 5-2004 |
I owned that very guitar in the early 90's. Loved it. It had the thickest frettboard of any Alembic I have owned. Sold it as I was getting tight for money and 4 ALembics was a bit much to sustain. | ||
| coffeegod
Junior Username: coffeegod Post Number: 11 Registered: 5-2004 |
It seems fitting that the "Colombus" Guitar...(1492) ends up in Italy. |
