Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: jon_ridel on July 07, 2016, 02:49:08 PM

Title: Series 1 76 434 pickup noise
Post by: jon_ridel on July 07, 2016, 02:49:08 PM

Hope you can help

I have a strange issue with the bridge pickup, the 3 way pole switch in its full down position has lost its edge or attack and no longer matches the neck pickup which is fine
The bridge pickup is also now quite micro phonic

She is 40 years old now so can anyone help or advise me ?
If the worst happens, what is the cost for new pickups to the UK ?

Also, can I be sent a pic of the rear presets ? I keep forgetting what each one does !
It's an age thing....

Want my 40 year old girl to sing again !

Thanks

Title: Re: Series 1 76 434 pickup noise
Post by: JimmyJ on July 07, 2016, 04:23:33 PM

Hey Jon,
 
Attached below is a pic I found which should represent the correct layout for the trimpots.

With your amp off, you should first exercise all your instrument's controls.  Meaning, on the front of the instrument spin each pot and throw each switch like 50 times.  This cleans the internals, especially needed if you they haven't moved for several years.  Sometimes that can even solve a constant noise issue.

But a "microphonic pickup" could be trouble.  Pickup failure is rare but does happen.  If you are game, a good test is to open the electronics cavity and swap the two pickup inputs to the board - meaning plug blue to red and red to blue.  Then turn on your amp and see if the problem has moved...  Selector switch will operate the other way around activating the neck pickup first, then both, then the bridge pickup.  If the problem is still in the "1st" position of the switch (1st off of "mute") then it points to the preamp board as the cause.

Let us know what you find.  Gotta get that thing back to spec!

Jimmy J

Title: Re: Series 1 76 434 pickup noise
Post by: jazzyvee on July 07, 2016, 05:32:33 PM

I think I have the same issue with the the pickups being slightly microphonic on my 1981 series I bass. Also I have an occasional squeal when I move the filter fully open on either pickup even after a number of exercising procedures. I have conversed with mica and the suggestion is that it needs to come back home to the mother ship for testing. The situation on my bass doesn't stop it being a great sounding bass, I just feel it's not breathing it's sound as well as my other series I bass. However due to the cost of shipping my plan is tomato prior arrangement with Mica to bring it with me if I come to the alembic meet next year and drop it off at the factory and hope it gets tested and sorted out before my return trip.

Title: Re: Series 1 76 434 pickup noise
Post by: jon_ridel on July 08, 2016, 01:24:07 AM

Thanks Jimmy
Will give it a try, hope it turns out to be something simple !