I own SC 5616 since new in 89, just was curious about what it would take to upgrade to Anniversary electronics, need to be shipped to the UK though........
She's a great bass and would love to treat her to an upgrade


Can any of you guys help ?


Thanks


Jon

Anniversary Electronics aren't really an upgrade from Signature. It is more of a lateral shift from a pan control to two volumes although Anniversary does have the option to run mono or stereo. 

Hi Keith
From memory though when I tried a friends Anniversary, there were three positions rather than two on the q switches and it had a little more versatility

You can change the Q switches on your bass to the 3 position versions: http://alembic.stores.yahoo.net/qforac.html

If you decide to go for the Anniversary package, you can use the Filter units that are in your bass now.
Iirc you'll only need a two volume and new output harness, if I would do such an upgrade I would also add a Master volume.

Thanks for that heads up so I can just change my q switches ?

Can I ask if changing to the 3 position switches is an easy modification?

It's easier when the filter already has a switch, just remove the two wires from the filter board and replace with the new one.
Does require some soldering skills...

FC , many thanks for your help
Had a look in the cavit of my bass and can see what needs to be done
Ordered two switches (3 way) and looking forward to getting this done


Many thanks again for your help !


Jon

Flip has answered most of your questions. Unless things have change the standard Q-switch on the Anniversary electronics is two positions (at least it is on my bass and others I have played). The only package I am aware of where three positions is standard are the Series 1 electronics. The nice thing about Alembic is you have options as to the characteristics of things like Q control or pan vs volume.

I really like the three positions on my Series 1 and find myself using the middle position (6db?) more than the others. If I were looking to upgrade the Anniversary electronics in my Brown Bass it would be to go to a three position Q-switch.

Hi Keith
I have a Series 1 as well from 76, I love the three position switches on that and would be truly delighted if I get closer to that with my SC Deluxe
Will let you know how it goes !


Jon

I have the q-switch mod on my two signature basses and in a good way it seems to have made the bass sound different with both switches in the off position. The bass seems to sound a little brighter even with the filters closed. Fortunately for me that has not been a problem as it helps with the note separation when playing reggae without losing the heavy bass sound.

Just what I am hoping for !
Can't wait to do the mod and check it out !

Quote from: FC Bass on July 31, 2016, 12:14:14 PM
It's easier when the filter already has a switch, just remove the two wires from the filter board and replace with the new one.
Does require some soldering skills...

Hey FC Bass, so if Keith_H and I want to change the 2 Q switches (2 position) in our SC Browns, we just need to swap the current 2 position Q switches with 3 position switches and desolder - solder 2 wires for each switch to their respective filter boards ??

In which case Keith_H this is an easy mod for you and I, and we gain more and loose nothing (my understanding).

I agree with FC Bass re master vol if you went with Anniversary electronics, I like the individual PU vol controls but a master would be a nice addition.

So I tested the "stereo" option the other day, it's not really stereo, what it is is one PU routed to each channel So using stereo (T/R/S) jack, Tip = Bass/neck PU, Ring = Bridge PU. So I made a lead stereo jack to 2 mono jacks, plugged into 2 preamps > desk > stereo amp > 2 cabs (I also used desk to studio monitors). Sounds very nice and opens up a raft of panning and patch possibilities (this is a place you could loose yourself for a while LoL).  Probably more useful recording than live unless you want very different sounds on each PU ? Then also depends on your preamps (I used 2 ADA MB1 preamps), I was running a SS patch on the Bass PU and a tube patch on the Bridge PU.  Now this is where a master vol would be a very useful addition (I was wishing I had one, well I kind of did using the MIDI CC pedal master volume control on the MB1s)

Richard - Yes the upgrade to 3 positions switches is very straight forward. I don't have any plans on updating my Brown Bass. Since I got the Series 1 it has moved to backup and open mic duty although I do occasionally toy with the idea of converting it to a tenor bass. 

The Anniversary electronics and the Series I/II are more correctly described as two-channel, since each pickup has a completely separate signal path to the output jack (and separate outputs). Any two-channel arrangement is generally referred to as stereo, since you use stereo cabling, etc.

There's lots of different ways to get two-channels going. People have had us make pickups where half the strings go to one channel and the half go to the other (sometimes with complex switching systems). Sometimes people take a mono signal and split it in to two identical channels.

You are right Richard, many people find the two-channels easier to harness in a studio situation. For live, I know many players that use effects on one pickup only with their two-channel systems. So many routes to go!