| Author | Message | ||
| wookie
Advanced Member Username: wookie Post Number: 221 Registered: 8-2010 |
Okay everyone. I have an Elan with PJ pickups. Can I change them to soapbars or fatboys without putting something goofy around the pickups? | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 1691 Registered: 11-2004 |
Well, you're gonna have to take the router to the top in order to enlarge the openings for the pickups if you have a PJ setup currently and want to switch over to the traditional Alembic shell. That can be accomplished by someone who knows how to handle the router, but you're likely to end up needing to sand back the poly finish and then respray once you've enlarged the pickup openings. | ||
| wookie
Advanced Member Username: wookie Post Number: 222 Registered: 8-2010 |
Yea that's right, router for sure, doesn't bother me. I just wanted to know dimensions of either soapbars or (I'd prefer) the fatboys is larger than the pickups I have now. Can anyone comment on the sound? I had soapbars in my spoiler, they were decent but I want more variable tone. I'm hoping the fatboys sound something like a musicman type pickup..,,anyone? | ||
| wookie
Advanced Member Username: wookie Post Number: 223 Registered: 8-2010 |
Yea that's right, router for sure, doesn't bother me. I just wanted to know dimensions of either soapbars or (I'd prefer) the fatboys is larger than the pickups I have now. Can anyone comment on the sound? I had soapbars in my spoiler, they were decent but I want more variable tone. I'm hoping the fatboys sound something like a musicman type pickup..,,anyone? | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Advanced Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 381 Registered: 6-2014 |
Not sure what the footprint is on the P/J set is wookie, but here's a thread from the FAQ section that lists the sizes on other pickups. http://alembic.com/club/messages/16271/26319.html?1142479303 | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8537 Registered: 6-2000 |
No, the P set is wider than the AXY. You can make matching rings to cover up the P gap on the top and bottom and then one around the J just to look pretty. | ||
| wookie
Advanced Member Username: wookie Post Number: 224 Registered: 8-2010 |
Do you have a picture of these "rings" you speak of??? Can I stick a couple of fatboys in this beast??? And follow up; is there neck and bridge versions of them? | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8539 Registered: 6-2000 |
I will poke around for a picture with the rings around AXY pickups in a P retrofit. I know I have taken pictures of such a thing before. FatBoy and AXY are the same size, so there's no reason you can't do it. Neck and bridge are electrically the same, except we usually have a shorter wire on the bridge version so there isn't extra cable in the cavity. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 2382 Registered: 9-2002 |
MWT, IF he went to the 5/6 size shell FatBoys, would that cover the P/J routs? Joey | ||
| groovelines
Senior Member Username: groovelines Post Number: 791 Registered: 4-2003 |
Wookie - For what it's worth, here's a recent thread where some members discuss their experience with FatBoys. Pretty sure there is an older thread out there, too. Mike | ||
| tncaveman
Advanced Member Username: tncaveman Post Number: 293 Registered: 2-2011 |
Sell your Elan and get a bass that already has the fatboys. Knowing what we the pickups would cost plus the routing of an Alembic bass would seem too much. Or try a different amp. Stephen | ||
| wookie
Advanced Member Username: wookie Post Number: 225 Registered: 8-2010 |
Thanks to everyone! My bass is a 5 string that I'm speaking of. I don't know if that means anything : / Fingers crossed for a picture of these "rings" I just wish I could route it out and have it look like nothing ever happened. | ||
| wookie
Advanced Member Username: wookie Post Number: 226 Registered: 8-2010 |
@ Stephen This bass is sentimental to me. It took 5 years to find it, I save my allowance 20 years ago for this bass! This was my 2nd bass and my first expensive one, I played all of my shows when I was an aspiring rockstar (ha ha) with it, my singer broke the headstock off (I repaired it) I recorded my first CD with it and I had Jason Newsted sign it. It's pretty important to me. I think pickups are about $200 per. That's not too bad. I already have another 'bic with p/j so I'm hoping to make this Elan sound different than the other Alembics I have. | ||
| tncaveman
Advanced Member Username: tncaveman Post Number: 294 Registered: 2-2011 |
That's more reasonable than I thought. And you could sell the P- & J-style pickups. Is it a painted bass or natural? Stephen | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8540 Registered: 6-2000 |
I haven't found a ring-y picture yet specifically for the PJ to AXY deal, but there is this one of a Guild with rings:  I will keep looking for that photo. | ||
| wookie
Advanced Member Username: wookie Post Number: 228 Registered: 8-2010 |
Please keep looking! Those are massive! @stephen It's trans red. It's just been with me my whole musical life. I just want what's best for it, you know? |
