Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: Flatwoundbass on May 15, 2016, 01:00:46 PM
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Hey all,
I have some minor scratches on the pickups of my recently acquired Orion 5. I was wondering about the thickness of the plastic pickup covers and if they are substantial enough to tolerate a wet sand and buff to remove them? Judging by the depth of the embossed "Alembic" lettering, it appears that I would be OK, but thought I'd ask around first...
Thanks!
Steve
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On a 5-string pickup there is no cover, the coil is enrobed in polyurethane in a silicone mold as a unit, forming the decorative portion of the pickup. You should have a little more than the depth of the letters before you would hit the coil (actually you'd hit the shielding first), so sand away.
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Wet sanding (carefully) with 600 then 1000 or higher is good, with the right sandpaper. Don't get water all over though. Then I use a high quality rubbing compound (many are graded) and an old Tee shirt, and work it into a shine. Lastly I use wax.
Really deep scratches might need a more coarse paper, but it means you have to do more work sanding out the marks the coarse paper makes.
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David,
Please give us an update on how well this works out. Maybe a few pictures?
I have a couple of Series pickups that the last owner / owners gouged grooves in them.
It hasn't gouged to the shielding or effected the sound in anyway, its just a cosmetic thing.
Curious on how well yours come out and method of polishing up.
Pete
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Thanks everyone! Mica, that is reassuring news...I'll post some before and after pics when I'm done!
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+1 on David's tip... wet-sanding with fine/ultra-fine grit. I just fixed a chip in the ear of an AXY, then shined up like this.
Go easy on anything rougher than 600-grit, follow through with 1200-grit, then polish out with some rubbing compound. (I like Meguiar's #7)
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Success!
Sanded with 2000 grit and polished with Meguiar's Scratch-X. They look like new again...thanks everyone!