Yeah, my girlfriend got a new cellphone recently, and I asked her the brand, but went and forgot it...
 
But... if/when I'm playing my custom Europa, I'll consistently get a sound right before her cell phone gets a call.
 
The first time it happened, there was a slight anomolous sound for a second, somewhat static-y, similar to the sound that comes on TV before a routine emergency broadcast.  When it happened, I was like what the...? , and then her cell phone rang.  After the second or third time, it became clear that my bass was detecting the call before it rang her phone, and there have been several times since then that it's happened while playing, and I've said your cell phone is about to ring -and it's rung seconds later!!!
 
Yeah, it seems a little freaky!!! But it does it every time.  Now, I've got a pretty elaborate custome electronics package, so maybe this is unique to my bass... or maybe not!  I'd like to know.
 
So... does anyone else have experience with their bass (Alembic or otherwise) predicting or detecting cell phone calls?
 
It's obvious that -somehow- the electronics are able to detect the energy being sent to the phone.  I find it actually a little disturbing, as that same energy must be permeating our bodies.

Yep ...oveheerhoo!
Bonnie is extremely sesnitivge to cell-phones ringing and predicts mine ringing too!
And it can get a hell-uf-a-noice when you wear the cellphone at your belt the height of the PU's behind Bonnie's body!
I am sure the explanation will be simple -I am no technician- but my cellphone is faaaaar away when I am playing on stage.
 
Paul TBO

My Skylark experiences interference just prior to and while my cell phone is ringing. If I keep the phone several feet away from my guitar - no problem.
 
Peace
Tom

My Epics have been doing this for at least a year now. Whenever bandmates are in proximity (within 10-15 feet) I get a precursor of their call with what I now call  the cell-phone shuffle.
Imagine a bad soft-shoe routine to the sound of nit-nit-nanit-nit na-nit-nit nit. Somebody should write a tune from it (besides Victor's What would I do without my cellphone from Soul Circus.)
 
 
Mike

Ah, the mysterious electromagnetic ether . . . I used to live right below a cell phone tower and could listen to all kinds of cell phone conversations on channels 69 and 70 on TV, and did I hear some interesting conversations!!
 
The BigRedBass is not predicting incoming calls, though.
 
J o e y

We get that on our car radio, and with my Active Fender Bass. Kinda cool at first, but annoying after a while : )

Interesting... so I'm NOT the only one.  It sounds like -so far at least- that this is limited to ALEMBIC instruments.
 
Maybe Alembic should branch off and make tricorders!!!

Yep, keep the cell away when you're playing. That goes for your I-pod or MP3 player too.
 
Valentino

My Series II picks up the cell phone shuffle too. It picks up all kinds of stuff.  I guess an upgrade is in order.
 
BUT, my oldest Alembic from 1972 is dead quiet.  Go figure.

I think it has something to do with homeland security tapping in.  That's why you hear the noise before it rings; they need to get connected before you answer, otherwise you would know your call's been tapped.  So if you hear the noise, you're probably on the list.
 
/TIC

Alembic is coming out with a new option:  
 
Now available for Series 1 and 2 instruments - Caller I.D.!     LOL
 
Bill, tgo

They knew you were going to say that Dave!

My buddy's guitars or amp do it, too, so it's not just Alembic.  He plays mostly vintage U.S. guitars and amps.  
 
Mark, I hear you on the tricorders. I'm sure an Alembic phaser is already a buildable device, and maybe someday we can have dilithium-powered electronics.  They could call the rackmountable version the DS-9...

I also get this. We make sure all band phones are switched off during gigs. The biggest problem I get with this is with my alarm clock/ radio which regularly goes off in the middle of the night, usually there isn't even a text - must be some sort of suppier signal. I only have a mobile for out of hours callout so I can't switch it off sadly.
 
Graeme

Jacko,
a quick fix = don't take your clock/radio to shows. Then you won't hear it when.....
 
Oh, Oh never mind
Mike
 
(Message edited by dadabass2001 on May 02, 2006)