Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: schwagadelic on July 31, 2010, 02:59:01 PM

Title: Aquired used Alembic Spoiler...Have Questions
Post by: schwagadelic on July 31, 2010, 02:59:01 PM

Hello.  I have been a fan of Alembics for some time and resently got 2 of them.  I got a mid 90s Epic that is in great shape and this Spoiler that is very used.  That is no problem to me.  It sounds great, but I have some questions and hoping I can get a few answers here.
 
I am uploading a close up of the pick ups and nobs.  I am wondering if these pick ups are Alembic pick ups.  The bass is a 1983 and I am not sure if Alembic was putting their name on these pick ups around this time.  Bascially I am wanting to know if these are Alembic or not.  I also am curious about the knob functionality.  The POT on one of the knobs needs to be cleaned, but what does the 2 way switch do?  Is it an Active/Passive type deal?  The other knob...Is that just preset tones?  I did notice that if the knob is all the way to the right, the bass won't put out any sound.  Is this normal?  Sorry for the ignorance, but I am learning.  I would appreciate the help.  I really love these basses and just want to learn the ends and outs.
 
Here is the link to the picture.  I used image hosting because the file is too big and I don't feel like editing it.
 
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/9131/pic2alembic.png (http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/9131/pic2alembic.png)

Title: Aquired used Alembic Spoiler...Have Questions
Post by: lembic76450 on July 31, 2010, 03:20:53 PM

Dominic,
Yep, those are the real deal. The knobs are Alembic hat knobs and the pick-ups are from the era that did not have Alembic embossed in them.  The control layout is in the FAQ and Must Read section.

Title: Aquired used Alembic Spoiler...Have Questions
Post by: schwagadelic on July 31, 2010, 03:49:10 PM

Thanks for follow up.  As I am reading this forum I am finding more and more answers.  Any idea on the wood?  Mahogany maybe?  Koa?

Title: Aquired used Alembic Spoiler...Have Questions
Post by: dadabass2001 on July 31, 2010, 04:00:56 PM

Hello Dominic,  
Welcome to the forum. If you start a thread  with your serial number from the Spoiler as the title, Mica will look it up when she has the chance. It may take some time as Alembic is a small family-run business.
I hope you enjoy your spoiler for years to come.
Mike

Title: Aquired used Alembic Spoiler...Have Questions
Post by: schwagadelic on July 31, 2010, 04:09:26 PM

Just did.  I will do the same for my Epic when I get home.  Thanks for the info everyone.

Title: Aquired used Alembic Spoiler...Have Questions
Post by: David Houck on July 31, 2010, 05:09:07 PM

Hi Dominic, welcome to the board, and congrats on picking up an Epic and a Spoiler.  As Kenn mentioned, a description of the Spoiler controls can be found in our FAQ section here (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=280).
 
The pots on both of your basses are sealed, self-cleaning pots.  If the pot is scratchy, just turn it back and forth for its full rotation twenty or thirty times.
 
There is a lot of information in the FAQ and Must Reads section.  But if you still have questions, just ask; someone will usually jump in when they run across the thread.

Title: Aquired used Alembic Spoiler...Have Questions
Post by: FC Bass on July 31, 2010, 06:59:47 PM

Welcome here!
 
I'm pretty sure that's a solid Koa body, like almost all early Spoilers ('82/'83) had.  
 
Congrats and have fun!