Strat Pickup Set on eBay - electronics?

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Author Message lbpesq Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 5935 Registered: 7-2004 Posted on Sunday, January 04, 2015 - 12:56 pm:    These are on eBay right now. Do the electronics look a little questionable to anyone else? Did Alembic use regular looking pots in their Strat sets in the 80's? Bill, tgo adriaan Moderator Username: adriaan Post Number: 3187 Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Sunday, January 04, 2015 - 1:09 pm:    I doubt they would be anything but low impedance, so obviously this set is missing a preamp. stephenr Junior Username: stephenr Post Number: 31 Registered: 9-2014 Posted on Sunday, January 04, 2015 - 1:21 pm:    I have a set of activators in my 65 Strat. They were purchased on 3/15/85. I haven't looked under the pickguard in may many years but remember they used Bourns pots and am almost sure there is a gain control on the preamp. They came with only a volume and frequency knob so I am not sure what is up with the set on eBay but the pickups themselves look much newer. Notice my classy installation job! I really should make a small plate to cover the "battery compartment". jazzyvee Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 4372 Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Sunday, January 04, 2015 - 1:50 pm:    Bill it may be that the seller just put the pickups on a standard pickguard with passive electronics so it looks like a plug and play solution and probably sell easier if you are not aware that these ideally need the alembic preamps. I wonder if that setup would work with a blaster. Stephen i have a strat with alembic innards and if you invert the standard strat jackplate you can fit the battery underneath it and its a neat job done. stephenr Junior Username: stephenr Post Number: 32 Registered: 9-2014 Posted on Sunday, January 04, 2015 - 2:07 pm:    Hey Jazzy Thanks for the suggestion. I seem to remember not inverting the jackplate since I didn't like the way it protruded from the body when inverted. There was already going to be a hole in the pickguard where the original second tone control went so it made a certain amount of sense to install the jack there. I had planned on making an oval ebony plate to put over the battery but never got around to it. By the way, your "Wailers" Strat is just way cool... keith_h Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 2133 Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Sunday, January 04, 2015 - 2:43 pm:    It looks to me like they just put a set of Alembic Activator pickups in place of the standard Strat pickups without the rest of the electronics. I base this on the pot layout and wiring that looks an awful lot like what I remember seeing on my stock Strat when I was thinking of going active many years ago. Keith sonicus Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 3854 Registered: 5-2009 Posted on Sunday, January 04, 2015 - 3:20 pm:    Bill ___ I saw this listing on eBay as well and scratched my head and then laughed ! Jazzy , I had thought of a Blaster @ the jack as well . Maybe , but maybe not a good remedy ! On this one it is Caveat Emptor ! lbpesq Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 5936 Registered: 7-2004 Posted on Sunday, January 04, 2015 - 6:01 pm:    Stephen: I've mounted Alembic strat pickups twice and am about to do set no. 3. I invert the jackplate, like Jazzyvee suggests, for the battery. I use the third hole in the pickguard to add a Q switch. It's fairly easy, relatively cheap ($50), and, IMHO, is a huge improvement. I usually play with no Q or in the middle position (6 db boost). I rarely use the full Q position, (9 db boost), which is the default setting without a Q switch. Bill, tgo elwoodblue Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 1546 Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Sunday, January 04, 2015 - 7:47 pm:    yeah , those are gonna sound thin as it stands... "tested and works perfect"...don't think so ;) stephenr Junior Username: stephenr Post Number: 33 Registered: 9-2014 Posted on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 9:08 am:    Bill: Hadn't thought about adding a Q switch to the activators. Sounds like it would be a useful mod. How much soldering is required to put the switch in? Any idea if a CVQ can be added instead of the three-position switch? lbpesq Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 5937 Registered: 7-2004 Posted on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 3:34 pm:    Installing a Q switch is fairly easy if you have minimal soldering skills. Here's a pdf of the installation instructions. I'm not sure about adding a CVQ, but I believe there is another currently active thread on this issue. I think it may be a bit more complicated, but you should contact Alembic for accurate info. And yes, the Q is a very useful mod. I'm about to add it to an Essence I recently restored. Bill, tgo stephenr Junior Username: stephenr Post Number: 34 Registered: 9-2014 Posted on Monday, January 05, 2015 - 4:04 pm:    Diagram is very helpful, looks like it is pretty easy to do... thanks!