| Author | Message | ||
| Mike Addyman Sr. (dadabass2001)
New Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 1 Registered: 6-2002 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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.   I would like to keep stereo RTS output if possible  Here's an audio cassette next to the pickups, for size comparison.  | ||
| Mike Addyman Sr. (dadabass2001)
Junior Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 12 Registered: 6-2002 |
Here are a couple more pictures   | ||
| Mike Addyman Sr. (dadabass2001)
Junior Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 16 Registered: 6-2002 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
