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daveski
Junior
Username: daveski

Post Number: 14
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008 - 9:20 am:   Edit Post

Hi guys,had my MK sig a month now,fantastic bass but was wondering is it possible to adjust the pick up bias? other than using the exterior pan control.
lmiwa
Junior
Username: lmiwa

Post Number: 25
Registered: 2-2008
Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008 - 10:44 am:   Edit Post

Two blue trimpots in main control cavity - one for each pickup. Check out the FAQ section for lots of other useful info like this.
tbrannon
Senior Member
Username: tbrannon

Post Number: 831
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008 - 10:46 am:   Edit Post

You can adjust the pickup output using the trim pots in the control cavity.
http://alembic.com/club/messages/16271/24781.html?1139017200
daveski
Junior
Username: daveski

Post Number: 15
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Monday, July 21, 2008 - 11:20 am:   Edit Post

thanks guys
terryc
Senior Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 534
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - 7:48 am:   Edit Post

daveski..don't want to teach granny to suck eggs but when I balanced my MK Sig I wanted more meat on the bridge pick up, this is the way I did it.
Pan control to centre
Turn filters to mid point and no Q switches
Turn trim pots all the way down to no signal
Amp should be set neutral..no EQ, parametric,pre shape and if it has a switchable hi frequency horn then turn that off too.
Plug bass in, bring both trims to max and back each one off until desired signal strength is satisfied by your ears and your amp signal input(no clipping)
Hope this helps
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 1917
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2008 - 12:17 pm:   Edit Post

Terry,

Grannies and eggs aside, if you want neutral you have to set the filter to the highest frequency. Having the filter all the way open, with the Q switch in neutral, gives you the least amount of EQ.
terryc
Senior Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 542
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 2:48 am:   Edit Post

Adriaan. I will try that and see if I can hear the difference..thanks
I was thinking that if the filters were at mid point then all(or most) of the frequencies would be included but maybe not.
Do you agree with amp settings?? In retrospect maybe do the balance with headphones
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 1921
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 3:35 am:   Edit Post

Terry - the filter doesn't have a "mid point". A regular treble control allows you to boost or cut the signal around a fixed frequency, and indeed the mid point on a treble pot is often marked as 0.

The Alembic filter is known as a low-pass filter: the filter pot lets you to set the cut-off frequency, and all frequencies above that will drop off at a fixed rate. The highest setting is 6,500 Hz, which is the top of the relevant frequency range for electric guitars and basses and associated amplification.

The design of the low-pass filter creates a small "natural" boost at the cut-off frequency. The Q switch increases that natural boost, at whichever cut-off frequency the filter is set.

I'd agree with the amp settings. You don't need to turn up the volume too much to get the balance right. As to headphones, be careful with the types that offer "extended bass response" - probably less suitable for getting the balance right.

Finally, do not forget to play around with pickup heights, especially if you want a beefier response from the bridge pickup. After experimenting with a FatBoy recently, I found that raising the AXYs closer to the strings helped bring out more of the beast in my Spoiler.
terryc
Senior Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 545
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 3:31 pm:   Edit Post

I guess an oscilloscope would be far more accurate but an expensive addition to one's armoury.
I know Wizard Ron swears by them!!

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