I used to own an1990 Alembic Distillete. It had the red on/off beacon light that would go on when cable is plugged in. I miss that. Can alembic mod my 82 Series 1 to have that light. I know it's expensive for shipping, since i live in Massachusetts, but well worth it.

You might check locally first, it might not be too hard for a tech to install.

Will the Light system come from Alembic?

Michael,

Doesn't your Series bass have LED position markers running up the side of the fingerboard?  They'd only light up when using the power supply, not on batteries.  But I would think that light show would certainly "scratch this itch".   

Jimmy J

No, my series 1 does not have the LEDs on the side. That's why i ordered from Fret FX, although i never received confirmation from them. Are they still in existence?

Are you sure you don't have LED side markers?  It would be unusual for a Series instrument to not have them.  Maybe they've been disconnected?  We might need to see a close up of the edge of your fingerboard - and/or - a picture of the inside of the electronics cavity where you should find one large resistor hanging off the 5-pin jack...

Jimmy J

My '76 Series guitar doesn't have LEDs, while my '77 12 String does.   FretFX has been slow the last couple of years, but they usually come through.

Bill, tgo

QuoteNo, my series 1 does not have the LEDs on the side. That's why i ordered from Fret FX, although i never received confirmation from them. Are they still in existence?

they are very very slow these days.  it took almost 6 months from order to delivery for the last set i got earlier this year.  they don't have a (published) phone number.  you probably won't get a reply to your emails unless you place an order.  i'm pretty sure it's a one man show and he's buried.

but...they're just about the only game in town in you want to retro-fit LEDs on a neck without major surgery.  i tried all the stick-ons and they all sucked imho.

Oh, I thought you were referring to the single red light on/off indicator near the controls on the front of the bass, not side marker LEDs. 

The OP wanted an LED light to tell him when the bass was plugged in.  He previously had a Distillate which had this feature.  Jimmy pointed out that side LEDs on a Series instrument will accomplish this purpose.

Bill, tgo

ok Jimmy, i'll take a picture of the electronics. If i do have leds and its disconnected, than that's GRRRREAT!!

Quote from: Mlazarus on July 15, 2022, 09:18:16 AM
ok Jimmy, i'll take a picture of the electronics. If i do have leds and its disconnected, than that's GRRRREAT!!

If there are LEDs along the neck they should be identifiable even if not illuminated. My 78 Series bass has no LEDs along the neck and if you have the sterling silver dots like I do they will be small and barely visible (you could try polishing them) but would not look like non-illuminated LEDs. A picture of the edge of the fingerboard would be helpful, too.

I'm not sure what was being used in 1982. As I recall earlier instruments with LED fret markers were drilled holes with the LEDs mounted inside them. Later ones and what is in use today have a sterling silver circle inlaid in the neck with the center of the circle having the LED.

A Series I doesn't have side LEDs as a standard item, but a Series II does.

The only bass that ever had the "beacon" (I'm calling it that from now on, thank you!) was the Distillate. And while it looked cool, it really just drained the battery a lot with the original opamps, which were low-noise bu high-drain. The newer opamps are both low-noise AND low-drain, so it would be better these days. 

I'm guessing that it wouldn't be difficult to have remotely installed, and you're not too far from one of the few repair people that I have personal experience with and can enthusiastically recommend in New York, Evan Gluck. The only issue is exactly how to mount the LED. The Distillate had a kind of conical escutcheon, and we don't think we have any more of these. So we need to see if we can find these again if you liked the original look.

Thank you Mica.

My beacon has a conical escutcheon....
I'm gonna use that, not sure when or where, but I'm gonna drop it on someone.


Paul