These (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Alembic-Pick-Guard-Assembly-Pickups-Pots-Knobs-Switch-Pickguard-Clean-/251780179749?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3a9f44a725) are on eBay right now. Do the electronics look a little questionable to anyone else? Did Alembic use regular looking pots in their Strat sets in the 80's?
Bill, tgo
I doubt they would be anything but low impedance, so obviously this set is missing a preamp.
I have a set of activators in my 65 Strat. They were purchased on 3/15/85. I haven't looked under the pickguard in may many years but remember they used Bourns pots and am almost sure there is a gain control on the preamp. They came with only a volume and frequency knob so I am not sure what is up with the set on eBay but the pickups themselves look much newer.
Notice my classy installation job! I really should make a small plate to cover the battery compartment.
(http://club.alembicguitars.net/Images/395/205299.jpg)
Bill it may be that the seller just put the pickups on a standard pickguard with passive electronics so it looks like a plug and play solution and probably sell easier if you are not aware that these ideally need the alembic preamps.
I wonder if that setup would work with a blaster.
Stephen i have a strat with alembic innards and if you invert the standard strat jackplate you can fit the battery underneath it and its a neat job done.
Hey Jazzy
Thanks for the suggestion. I seem to remember not inverting the jackplate since I didn't like the way it protruded from the body when inverted. There was already going to be a hole in the pickguard where the original second tone control went so it made a certain amount of sense to install the jack there. I had planned on making an oval ebony plate to put over the battery but never got around to it.
By the way, your Wailers Strat is just way cool...
It looks to me like they just put a set of Alembic Activator pickups in place of the standard Strat pickups without the rest of the electronics. I base this on the pot layout and wiring that looks an awful lot like what I remember seeing on my stock Strat when I was thinking of going active many years ago.
Keith
Bill ___ I saw this listing on eBay as well and scratched my head and then laughed ! Jazzy , I had thought of a Blaster @ the jack as well .
Maybe , but maybe not a good remedy !
On this one it is Caveat Emptor !
Stephen:
I've mounted Alembic strat pickups twice and am about to do set no. 3. I invert the jackplate, like Jazzyvee suggests, for the battery. I use the third hole in the pickguard to add a Q switch. It's fairly easy, relatively cheap ($50), and, IMHO, is a huge improvement. I usually play with no Q or in the middle position (6 db boost). I rarely use the full Q position, (9 db boost), which is the default setting without a Q switch.
Bill, tgo
yeah , those are gonna sound thin as it stands...
tested and works perfect...don't think so ;)
Bill:
Hadn't thought about adding a Q switch to the activators. Sounds like it would be a useful mod. How much soldering is required to put the switch in?
Any idea if a CVQ can be added instead of the three-position switch?
Installing a Q switch is fairly easy if you have minimal soldering skills. of the installation instructions. I'm not sure about adding a CVQ, but I believe there is another currently active thread on this issue. I think it may be a bit more complicated, but you should contact Alembic for accurate info. And yes, the Q is a very useful mod. I'm about to add it to an Essence I recently restored.
Bill, tgo
Diagram is very helpful, looks like it is pretty easy to do... thanks!