Alembicized Starfire

[RVBASS]

Here is a photo of the back of the bass showing the continuous wood back plate cut out of the body of the bass. A shelf was created for the plate to sit on, and it is held in place by five screws and threaded inserts, the wooden battery box inside the cavity was also hand carved and installed. The cavity and inside of the cover plate is covered with silver shielding paint.

 

[RVBASS]

Full back photo

 

[edwin]

Thought I’d post this front view here. I will post a photo of the electronics cavity showing how the back plate attaches next week.

How does it sound out in the real world? Do you have issues with noise at all? I notice that it's still got the open f-hole. My modified Starfire can be quite noisy, although SII pickups and electronics from '73 aren't really state of the art, when it comes to noise, these days, even though everything is closed up and shielded with copper.

 

[RVBASS]

How does it sound out in the real world? Do you have issues with noise at all? I notice that it's still got the open f-hole. My modified Starfire can be quite noisy, although SII pickups and electronics from '73 aren't really state of the art, when it comes to noise, these days, even though everything is closed up and shielded with copper.

I was worried about that too when I first saw it, but it is very quiet. I played it at an open jam last weekend at decent volume and had no noise issues at all.
….and as you know, Series pickups and electronics are a different animal all together

 

[edwin]

I was worried about that too when I first saw it, but it is very quiet. I played it at an open jam last weekend at decent volume and had no noise issues at all.
….and as you know, Series pickups and electronics are a different animal all together

Yeah, I know all about that! I keep thinking about sending my Starfire in for the magic tuneup, but I can't handle being apart from it for so long. I hope they are documenting the process so that after Ron is gone, God forbid, someone will have the skills to keep doing it.

I'm not going to post a picture of the wiring in my bass. I did it myself and it's too embarrassing.

 

[Mosthigh]

I got ex-Alembic employee Michael Dolan to make me a brass tailpiece/bridge/nut, customized to the specs I sent him, and had a local luthier install it on my 1967 Starfire I bass. Along with a new fret job, the bass really shines with better action and sustain - plus it looks really cool. Does Alembic still make the dove-style tailpiece for custom jobs, or does Dolan have the corner on that?

 

[RVBASS]

Mosthigh, nice job with your bass upgrades, I’ll bet it sounds great! The bird tailpiece like the one on your bass is still standard on several Alembic models.

 

[RVBASS]

I switched out the Alembic AXY pickups and installed Alembic Fat Boys. Fat Boy magnets are the same size as Series magnets (about twice as wide as AXY magnets) single coil stacked on top of a hum canceling coil. The wider aperture provides a fuller tone. I love them!

 

[mellowgerman]

I've been debating doing just that with my Spoiler. I mean, it really is great as is, but I can't help but wonder about the extra girth that the fatboys have on tap.

 

[RVBASS]

They are, to me, noticeably fuller and louder than the AXY pickups that were in there. Some people find they provide too much bass in the neck position, but I really like it, and they make the bridge beefier and louder too. But I usually play a 70s Series bass, so I might be more used to more (clear) bass in the neck. But, I like the Fatboys in general over the AXYs.

 

[RVBASS]

I’m trying AXY in the neck position and Fatboy in bridge position. A little more clarity this way, brings out the woody tone a bit more too. I like it so far.

 

[edwin]

I’m trying AXY in the neck position and Fatboy in bridge position. A little more clarity this way, brings out the woody tone a bit more too. I like it so far.

Any clips? I would love to see a close up of the battery box. Currently, I just wrap my batteries in foam and they are loose in the control cavity.

A couple of years ago, one of my caramel pickups stopped working and I thought they were all done, but I tried them out again and it turns out they are fine. Not sure what happened but I'm glad to have them back. They have trapezoidal magnets and a resistance of about 700 ohms each, so they have a very special sound.

 

[RVBASS]

Any clips? I would love to see a close up of the battery box. Currently, I just wrap my batteries in foam and they are loose in the control cavity.

A couple of years ago, one of my caramel pickups stopped working and I thought they were all done, but I tried them out again and it turns out they are fine. Not sure what happened but I'm glad to have them back. They have trapezoidal magnets and a resistance of about 700 ohms each, so they have a very special sound.

Attached are a couple close up photos of the battery box, they did a nice job creating it, looks pretty simple to carve out of a block of wood and you can then glue it in place.

Here is a link to the bass clips with AXY in the neck and Fatboy in the bridge. Other is pick, I'll Take You is finger style.

Box

app.box.com

I'd like to hear your trapezoidal pickups some time. I have three other Alembic basses (1973, 74, early 75) that have the old style pickups, but the magnets are rectangular. The pickups in those bases sound very different to me from the newer style Series pickups, and I love the old pickup sound (more open sounding)! I will have to measure the ohms to see what they are.

 

[edwin]

Thanks! I should try to build a couple of boxes like that. It's perfect. And yes, the old pickups are very open and deep sounding.

I wonder what that big cap is next to the box.

 

[RVBASS]

Thanks! I should try to build a couple of boxes like that. It's perfect. And yes, the old pickups are very open and deep sounding.

I wonder what that big cap is next to the box.

I’m not sure, but following the wire connections I’m guessing it has to do with the 1/4” jack mono/stereo switch. I’ll post on the other site and see if Mica replies.

 

[edwin]

Maybe it gets rid of the click if you switch it while it's plugged in.

 

[RVBASS]

Thanks! I should try to build a couple of boxes like that. It's perfect. And yes, the old pickups are very open and deep sounding.

I wonder what that big cap is next to the box.

According to Mica the large back capacitor is associated with the 5-pin connector wiring.

 

[F30]

Wow that is some serious mods applied.
Hope it sounds as cool as it looks.

 

[edwin]

According to Mica the large back capacitor is associated with the 5-pin connector wiring.

Interesting!