As you all know, when the batteries of the series 1 dies, it should not matter because all you need to use is the special stereo-to-mono cable.
Only the front pickup will work in that case. Correct? Well, it's not happening. I'm sure the battery died, but that is when the special cable
is used. What do you think is happening?

By "special cable" are you referring to the 5-pin cable that plugs into the power supply, or a standard cable with a stereo TRS 1/4" plug on one end, and two 1/4" mono plugs on the other?   Are you using the power supply?

Bill, tgo

Hi Michael... if the batteries are dead the only way to use the bass is with the DS-5 external power supply and five-pin cable... or, replace the batteries.

Deleted...Stephen beat me to it

This cable is a 1/4 stereo to 1/4 mono. The stereo end goes into the bass and the mono end into the amp I SWEAR I was able to play the bass with this cable and ONLY the rear pickup without batteries. Some of the non 5 pin Alembic models don't have to deal with this because they are common 1/4 jack mono basses.

lbpesq, i was not using the power supply. Typically, on Gigs mainly, but in my room I'm too lazy to connect it so i just use the battery mode. I have rechargeable 850Mah 9v. I swear the bass can play without batteries with the 1/4 mono to 1/4 stereo for the rear front pickup. My 80's Distillate didn't have this problem because if was 1/4 mono jack only.

A Series instrument needs power, either from batteries, or with the 5-pin cable and power supply.  No power, no sound.

Bill, tgo

Bill is correct, all Alembic instruments require power - either from batteries or the 5-pin.

 All series basses need power got ya. My 80s Distillate didn't need batteries. Thanks again.

For me, the batteries in a series bass are for backup purposes only. So far i haven't used them on a gig, and hardly at home but on a gig i generally have a spare jack lead just in case i need it. I do wonder if there is any difference in performance of the electronics and sound quality between D-S5 and batteries.

Quote from: Mlazarus on December 14, 2022, 10:54:39 PM
All series basses need power got ya. My 80s Distillate didn't need batteries. Thanks again.

Michael, if your Distillate didn't need batteries, the active Alembic electronics would have had to have been replaced with a non-Alembic passive system.

Bill, tgo

Active electronics = needs power source.

All we do is active, all Alembics require power sources.

Bill, I think you may have cracked the code there - if the original electronics were replaced they may have been passive and not required a battery.

I dont remember if the distillate had a battery plate on the back. It's been 25 now.

This is my (part of it) 80's Distillate. Did this have a battery plate on the back Mica? I don't remember. Nice flat sawn zebra wood BTY. Lol.

Distillates had one large plate with the electronics and the battery contained.