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jbybj
Advanced Member
Username: jbybj

Post Number: 298
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Friday, July 02, 2010 - 9:52 am:   Edit Post

Hello,

I just made a purchase of some Elan pups that I want to use in a custom fretless I'm refinishing.

If I install both pups, I will only have enough room to place them very close together, maybe less than an inch apart. My first inclination is that this might not only look crowded, but that there may not be sufficient differentiation between the pup positions to make it worthwhile.

I would consider installing only one, as long as I can make use of the electronics properly. I don't have the electronics in hand yet, but where does the pre reside, with the blend pot or the volume? If it's on the blend pot, can I lose the volume, and just pan between the pup and nothing?

Any insight, suggestions, or pictures would be welcomed.

Thanks, James
funkyjazzjunky
Senior Member
Username: funkyjazzjunky

Post Number: 587
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Friday, July 02, 2010 - 12:28 pm:   Edit Post

Can you show us a mock-up or sketch? I cannot visualize why they would be so close together. Will the bass have an extended range fretboard? Is it a very short scale?
jbybj
Advanced Member
Username: jbybj

Post Number: 299
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Friday, July 02, 2010 - 1:00 pm:   Edit Post

[IMG]http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll349/jbybj/Black%20Limba%20Lobe%201195/DSCF4463.jpg[/IMG]

It's a Wishbass, has a 3 octave fingerboard.
adriaan
Moderator
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 2525
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, July 02, 2010 - 1:53 pm:   Edit Post

Oh dear ;-)
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 6814
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, July 02, 2010 - 1:57 pm:   Edit Post

Except for the bass and treble switches, Elan electronics are very nearly like this Europa.

If you don't have the Elan electronics, note that you don't have to use only Elan electronics. The pickups in the Elan are the same as every other Alembic bass except the Series I/II models, so you could install one pickup, one volume, and one filter if the space was really tight.
jbybj
Advanced Member
Username: jbybj

Post Number: 300
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Friday, July 02, 2010 - 3:20 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks Mica,

The pickups are supposed to be complete, with all the electronics, pots, filter, and cue switch. The picture you linked to has the preamp on a separate circuit board. For some reason I thought the circuit board was attached to one of the pots. It should be simple then to install only one activator. I'm a twitter with anticipation.

Hello Adrian,

Yes, I know, what am I thinking, putting the finest electronics in a Wishbass. This one is a beauty though. The black limba is gorgeous, and the Lobe body is very comfortable. I'll have my luthier level the fingerboard and apply epoxy. This one is a lifer, especially after I fit it with some MXY magic :-) Fortunately I got a pretty decent price on the activators, and one of them, while fully functional, has a repaired crack in the casing. That will make it a little easier to pare it down to one.

Hopefully, in about 4-5 weeks, I can post some sound clips!

JBY
adriaan
Moderator
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 2526
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, July 02, 2010 - 3:28 pm:   Edit Post

Hello James - variety is the spice of life, go for it.
jbybj
Advanced Member
Username: jbybj

Post Number: 301
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Friday, July 02, 2010 - 3:28 pm:   Edit Post

Well, I just checked the pix again, and there is a pot attached to the board, I just wonder which pot it is................elan electronics
oggydoggy
Advanced Member
Username: oggydoggy

Post Number: 211
Registered: 3-2003
Posted on Tuesday, July 06, 2010 - 4:08 pm:   Edit Post

Hey James,
The Pot hard to the board is the Filter, The Pot closest to the input jack is the Vol..and the furthest away is the Pan.
Peace
jbybj
Advanced Member
Username: jbybj

Post Number: 303
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Wednesday, July 07, 2010 - 8:43 am:   Edit Post

Thanks Ed,

Not wanting to modify any of the wiring or pots, I suppose I could just tape up the pan and tuck it away in the cavity, if I choose to go with one pup.

JBY

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