| Author | Message | ||
| vbob
New Username: vbob Post Number: 3 Registered: 12-2010 |
was recently purchased used in Brainerd, MN Fretless with markers thanks much!    | ||
| vbob
New Username: vbob Post Number: 5 Registered: 12-2010 |
Mica, I am interested in installing OEM electronics. Please advise. Thanks again - this place is very cool! | ||
| ajdover
Senior Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 917 Registered: 11-2003 |
A picture of the control cavity would help us figure out what kind of guts you have in it ... this being said .... It looks like you have a volume, pan, the stacked knobs, and what appears to be treble/bass boost/cut switches, and the Q-Switch. Now, if you have other electronics in it, you probably don't have the filter, and the other switches may do something else. If you have a Bart NTMB-918 pre, it would be volume, pan, and stacked bass/treble boost/cut controls. As to what the switches would do in that sitation, I just can't comment. Nice bass, BTW. Alan | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9977 Registered: 5-2002 |
Great top! | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 822 Registered: 5-2002 |
Beautiful bass! Well worth restoring to original electronics, although Barts can sound good. Either way, you've got some great music making at your fingertips right now! Keep us posted! Edwin | ||
| vbob
New Username: vbob Post Number: 7 Registered: 12-2010 |
Okay - I opened it up - how sweet that the screws are NOT wood screws! Here are a couple of the cavity; I can certainly take better shots as these were done quickly, or email larger ones if need be. While I do need to replace the battery and restring it, the bass sounded very nice through my Boogie. I'm not quite sure what I am dealing with regarding the pots. P/U selector (pan) volume some kind of preamp-boost/cut (dual). The two-way toggles were not very definitive and the three way didn't seem to do anything. While the Barts are okay, I'm really leaning toward replacing them with the originals; any idea what my cost would be, and, if there is somewhere in Minneapolis/St. Paul to have it done, or do I need to send it to CA? I am very curious to hear what others have to say about the difference between the two. Thanks again everyone - all your input is much appreciated! Paul  and another:  | ||
| ajdover
Senior Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 920 Registered: 11-2003 |
Paul, It looks to me like the guts are Alembic. I could be wrong, but that's what it looks like to me. The pots look like the sealed Alembic pots, and the circuit board looks like Alembic too. Anyone else see anything I don't? Mica? If you have the original electronics and you want to restore it to stock, you'd need OEM pickups and have to have it rewired to original specs. I'd contact Mica at Alembic and ask her about it. Maybe she can cut you a deal/figure out something? Worth a shot. The good news is that the original electronics are still intact. Best of luck, Alan | ||
| ajdover
Senior Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 921 Registered: 11-2003 |
Paul, On second thought, those may indeed not be Alembic electronics. Looking at your pictures, I see the battery clip is well away from the slot routed into the body for it. Mica is your best resource on this, so I'd wait for her to weigh in before deciding on restoring it to stock. Looking at the quote generator on the site, the closest electronics appear to be Europa/Rogue electronics. Those are $600 per the generator. You might be able to find some used, but they don't appear on the used market too often. Worth a shot though. Alan | ||
| crobbins
Senior Member Username: crobbins Post Number: 763 Registered: 6-2004 |
Nice looking bass. Is the top Coco Bolo, or Ebony? | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 1264 Registered: 11-2004 |
Alan, I agree with your second post on the electronics... I see alot of solder and can't find any of the 'clipped' connectors that Alembic uses. Additionally, the stacked pot is obviously an aftermarket addition. Either way- BEAUTIFUL Elan (which happens to be my favorite body shape)- Paul, I'd suggest you have a look at the FAQ section of the forum. There is a ton of good background information in there and make sure you read Joey's post on setting up the action the way you like it. Welcome to the Alembic family! | ||
| vbob
Junior Username: vbob Post Number: 11 Registered: 12-2010 |
I'll take a look at the FAQ as I lowered the action a tad last night a little more to liking. Regarding the top wood, I really don't know as I bought it used from a mom and pop store that didn't have any info on the bass. I am hoping Mica will be able to tell me more about it. It is an absolute beauty though, thanks! | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 1265 Registered: 11-2004 |
Looks like a cocobolo top to me with a maple body and maple neck with the thin little walnut laminates. Looks like it was originally an Elan plus (based on those switches). | ||
| vbob
Junior Username: vbob Post Number: 13 Registered: 12-2010 |
in comparing to other basses on the forums, it looks cocobolo to me too... reading the comments is like peeling an onion - but with no tears, except maybe of joy. | ||
| mike1762
Senior Member Username: mike1762 Post Number: 716 Registered: 1-2008 |
Looks like cocobolo to me too (kind-of red). It will be interesting to see if this was originally a fretless. I don't think Alembic normally puts position markers on the FB of fretless instruments (I might be wrong about that). | ||
| skyboltone
Junior Username: skyboltone Post Number: 25 Registered: 11-2010 |
Great looking bass Dan. I'll bow to the opinions that it's coco bolo but it does have some "claro" look to it in the grain pattern. Mine is Zebra with maple everything. Looks like yours has a little deeper cut at the rear bass bout for your arm to hang over. Sorta like a Victor Wooten setup. I kinda doubt the "Mountain" brand switches are Alembic. But what do I know? Mine has the Q switch with a plastic bat handle in keeping with the top hat knob style. Dan | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 825 Registered: 5-2002 |
So, what strings do you have on it? I bet it will sing with a set of Sunbeams on it! Edwin Disclaimer: I am an endorser of DR, but I still pay. I just think they sound fabulous on a fretless! | ||
| vbob
Junior Username: vbob Post Number: 14 Registered: 12-2010 |
Edwin, I just put some D'Addario Chromes on it 50-105. That's what I use one my custom Fender style fretless. But I am always looking for something better in the string department. I really prefer the 50/70/90/105 so if I can score those in DR sunbeams I would give em a try. I recently picked up a set of 55-110s for my fretted bass, but am little hesitant to put them on - that's a lot of tension! I'll post some pics of my other basses, rig and pedals (including my recently purchased Roland AP-7 Jet Phaser!!) in the next few days. Would have to get the DR's online as there is only one music store worth a hill of beans within an hour of where I live... Paul | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 826 Registered: 5-2002 |
Interesting! You go for a much heavier gauge than I do. I prefer 40-100s, especially for fretless. It does require a lighter touch, but I find that the string vibrates with a truer pitch and tone. However, there is something to be said for the higher tension. Sometimes I do use a 45-100, just to give the G and D a little more weight on the fretless. I used to play lots of gigs in Minnesota, back when I was playing with Great American Taxi. In fact, I have some crazy stories to tell about getting caught in the vortex of a Pacific storm that met a Gulf hurricane in La Crescent while we were supposed to be playing in a tent on top of a ridge for a wedding. It turned into a Coen Bros. scenario. Too much typing to tell right now. There was also the time that Brian Setzer showed up to our gig in Minneapolis a little worse for wear and sat in for a few tunes. I've got to do a mix of that show from the multitrack. Very entertaining (we did a Bo Diddley medley that included Who Do You Love?, which Brian enthusiastically answered every time the question was posed with an emphatic "Me!"). Great guy with a heart of gold! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 7555 Registered: 6-2000 |
Here's the details from the file: HDLB4 Elan bass with Distillate electronics top: Coco Bolo accent: Walnut pinstripe body: Maple neck: 3-piece Maple scale: 34" long fingerboard: Ebony inlays: Pearloid (plastic) ovals pickups: Alembic AXY controls: "Distillate" volume, filter, Q switch, bass cut/flat/boost, treble cut/flat/boost, pickup selector switch, mono output hardware: goldplated originally made for: Guitar Center, San Diego, CA birthday: December 17, 1991 The original owner was from California, and the bass was a special order for them. At the time the bass was made, we were experimenting a little with serial number codes. This was ordered as an Elan with Distillate electronics, so it received an "HD" serial number code. We didn't encode like this for long. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 7556 Registered: 6-2000 |
Oh, and the electronics and pickups in the bass are definitely not original. I'd suggest replacing with Elan Plus if you want Alembic guts. Email me for details about these parts. | ||
| vbob
Junior Username: vbob Post Number: 20 Registered: 12-2010 |
Thanks so much Mica!! I emailed you with a few questions. |
