Trying to get a value for insurance purposes.  S/N78-1177 LSB Schedua laminate Mahogany Body Maple and Purple Heart Neck, Ebony fingerboard Zebrawood veneers CLear finish Schaller tuners MOther of Pearl Inlays PF-6 Electronics.  Would like to update electronics

Hm, sounds a lot like mine!  
 
See http://club.alembicguitars.net/Images/411/4748.html?1210707724 for pics.
 
I have mine insured for the current new price of a Series I.

Thanks much for the response.  It looks exactly like yours.  So insure in $13k range?  
Do you have any idea how I can use both pickups without using the special cord and power supply?  I've tried a stereo cord but that is not working.

What kind of stereo cable are you using?  TRS plug into two mono plugs, or TRS plug into one mono plug, or TRS into TRS?

TRS to TRS

Jack:
 
First of all, welcome to the club!  What are you plugging the cable into (on the opposite end as your bass)?
 
Bill, the guitar one

Bill,
    Thanks, I'm glad to be a part of this group as I've had my Alembic since 1983 and over the years tried many different cords and configurations, but pretty much gave up on getiing them both to work without the DS5.  I typically run into a Demeter Preamp mainly for stage but also recording.  
    Both pickups work fine through the DS5 into the same configuration but only on pickup functions without the DS5.  DO I need a different cable?

Jack:
 
Is your Demeter a stereo preamp with a stereo tip, ring, sleeve, jack?  If not, I believe that may be your problem.  The DS5 converts your stereo into a mono signal.  When using batteries, if you are plugging a stereo plug into a mono jack, the preamp is only seeing one side of the stereo signal.  You need to either rewire the guitar for mono, or split the stereo signal into two mono plugs and plug into two channels or inputs on the preamp (if it has two channels or inputs).
 
Bill, tgo

Jack; I don't know much about Demeter preamps, but the current two models do not appear to have a stereo 1/4 input, and do not appear to be stereo amps.  So I would think that a TRS to TRS cable would not work.
 
You may want to build, or have built, a TRS to mono cable as described here.
 
Oh, and as Bill said, welcome to the board!

Bill/Dave,
   You are correct, it is not a stereo preamp.  Thanks for the clarification.  I'm guessing this cord is not a stock item. Any idea where I could get one made?

There are a number of people that make good quality custom cables at reasonable prices.  One that I use is Bayou Cables.

I hate to be a pain, but I took a stereo splitter plug and ran (2) 1/4 to 2 different sources.  It is still only activating one pickup.  I'm not sure a Stereo to Mono cord will do the trick. Am I still missing the point?

Do you have a set of headphones with a 1/4 stereo plug?  If so, try the headphones and see if you can hear both pickups.
 
Also, if the jack hasn't been used much, it may need to be exercised.  Plug and unplug a 1/4 jack about 30 times in succession.  You may also want to try this method of jack cleaning.

I ordered a cable fom Bayou Cables in early April (the specs you provided).  I had to pay up front and so far have recieved nothing.  He told me he was just doing it part time.  Now I can't even get a response from my emails.  Thought you should know.

That's very unusual for Bayou Cables Jack. I've ordered many cables from him and it never took more than a week or so to get them. I have one like you've ordered, TRS to mono.  
You might try calling him, (225) 291-3757, I ordered my via telephone.  
 
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