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Alembic Club » Dreaming... for now » Archive through October 06, 2007 » Archive 2003 » Archive through June 16, 2003 » Activators for Guild Starfire bass? « Previous Next »

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Mike Addyman Sr. (dadabass2001)
New
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 1
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 11:45 am:   Edit Post

Does Alembic still make activators that will fit my 1973 Guild Starfire bass? It kind of looks like a Gibson humbucker shape might work.
Thanks,
Mike
Mica Wickersham (mica)
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 27
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, June 12, 2002 - 1:58 pm:   Edit Post

Can you post a pitcure of the front your bass? If you can get a shot of the electronics cavity it would be a bonus! I need to see how much room we have to work with to see if a standard set will fit.

For humbucker shaped pickups the stadard control layouts are:

3 controls: volume, pan, filter
4 controls: volume, pan, bass, treble

Either system is $400 retail.
Mike Addyman Sr. (dadabass2001)
New
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 2
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, June 12, 2002 - 5:10 pm:   Edit Post

The Guild Starfire bass is a thin hollow body, kind of like a Gibson ES-335. Phil Lesh is pictured playing a stock one on page 17 of the "So Many Roads" companion editorial booklet, and he is shown playing a heavily modified (by Alembic) Starfire in the photo spreads accompanying the "Europe 72" album and CD and the "Ladies & Gentlemen - The Grateful Dead: Fillmore East April 71" CD.

Mine has a 3 position toggle switch for pickup selection and a master volume knob, both located on the lower cutaway. Additionally there are individual volume and tone knobs for each pickup and one "bass-cut" switch, roughly under the bridge and bridge pickup. Therefore I have a total of 5 knobs and 2 switches on my Guild. The pickups are each 1 7/8" by 3" and are held in place with black plastic collars which are 2 5/16" by 3 15/16".

I oredered this Guild stereo wired from the factory in 1973. It has a TRS 1/4" jack mounted on the lower side of the body. I almost never used the stereo feature (who had 2 amps in the 70s? - not me:-) So stereo is not a priority at this point. I had it converted to lined fretless when I bought my Epic in '99. The pickups and pots have gotten very bad (intermittant and scratchy).

I am planning to use a local luthier and assume the Guild will need some body mods to accomodate the electronics (wouldn't want them just flopping around inside the hollow body:-)
Mike Addyman Sr. (dadabass2001)
Junior
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 11
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, October 15, 2002 - 5:53 am:   Edit Post

Here's some shots of my Guild Starfire (thanks for use of your camera, Gary) A few more will follow in a day or two.
Factory stero from 1973
Guild SF controls

I would like to keep stereo RTS output if possible
Headstock

Here's an audio cassette next to the pickups, for size comparison.
relative sizes
Mike Addyman Sr. (dadabass2001)
Junior
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 12
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, October 16, 2002 - 4:57 am:   Edit Post

Here are a couple more pictures

electronics closeup

improvised measuring stick
Mike Addyman Sr. (dadabass2001)
Junior
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 16
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 3:47 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Mica et al,
A question regarding activator dimensions and naming: The HB is a Gibson humbucker shape, The RK is a pair of Rickenbacker shapes, What is the SB shape and what are the dimensions of these styles?

Thanks,
Mike

P.S. A belated Happy New Year to all at Alembic
Mica Wickersham (mica)
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 563
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 4:01 pm:   Edit Post

The SB is the name for the assembly of HB pickups that fits a Steinberger bass (with the extra long wiring harness) the pickups are the same as the HB.

Confusin', huh?
Edwin Hurwitz (edwin)
Junior
Username: edwin

Post Number: 15
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 8:52 pm:   Edit Post

Mica, or anyone else who can answer this, what would it cost to get an Alembic bridge setup (with sustain block) for my Starfire?

Thanks,
Edwin

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