Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: haircuttingcowboy on March 23, 2017, 02:40:04 PM

Title: Custom Essence Type three switches Three Knobs
Post by: haircuttingcowboy on March 23, 2017, 02:40:04 PM
This one arrived today 93C7918. Very nice, well-kept, barely-played bass. I am pleased and excited like a kid on Christmas to finally own a beautiful Alembic. (I listened to "School Days" often on my drive to college 35 years ago) Three issues.

1.) Can you point me to a tutorial on the controls?
2.) I saw a stainless screw kit to replace the black bridge screws. I'd like to do that.

3.) Input jack is dodgy. At first I couldn't get any sound. Replaced battery. No luck. Pulled male plug out of jack just a bit and got sound. If jack is inserted fully, signal gets shorted. Did not have the time to inspect thoroughly.

Is this a common problem that may develop in older units? Perhaps the jack conductor prongs can be re-tensioned. Perhaps not. Might be a good idea to replace the jack.  Assume it is a stereo jack which grounds the negative battery wire to energize the circuit. Maybe my male jack was too long. Didn't have time to investigate thoroughly.
 
The knobs and switches seem to operate properly. I am glad that the electronics are ok. At least good for now. When I get it set up, I will be gigging this bass at venues which offer a large stage to operate with care.  Then I will upload a picture.
Title: Re: Custom Essence Type three switches Three Knobs
Post by: keith_h on March 23, 2017, 03:08:12 PM
Congrats on the new bass.

Three knobs with three switches sounds like Europa electronics. Their explanation can be found in the FAQ section. Here is the link:

http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=238.0 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=238.0)

A couple of pics of the body and control cavity would go a long way to definitely identify stuff.

Here is a link to the main FAQ page:

http://club.alembic.com/index.php?board=6.0 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?board=6.0)
Title: Re: Custom Essence Type three switches Three Knobs
Post by: haircuttingcowboy on March 23, 2017, 03:25:46 PM
Thanks for that, Keith. Just what I was looking for. It is Europa electronics in a widened Essence body. I'll post some pics soon.
Title: Re: Custom Essence Type three switches Three Knobs
Post by: StephenR on March 23, 2017, 04:51:17 PM
This one arrived today 93C7918. Very nice, well-kept, barely-played bass. I am pleased and excited like a kid on Christmas to finally own a beautiful Alembic. (I listened to "School Days" often on my drive to college 35 years ago) Three issues.

3.) Input jack is dodgy. At first I couldn't get any sound. Replaced battery. No luck. Pulled male plug out of jack just a bit and got sound. If jack is inserted fully, signal gets shorted. Did not have the time to inspect thoroughly.

Is this a common problem that may develop in older units? Perhaps the jack conductor prongs can be re-tensioned. Perhaps not. Might be a good idea to replace the jack.  Assume it is a stereo jack which grounds the negative battery wire to energize the circuit. Maybe my male jack was too long. Didn't have time to investigate thoroughly.
 

Congratulations on the new bass! Post a couple of pics when you get a chance.

As far as the issue with the jack... the following thread may be helpful. I have never had a problem but apparently the plugs on some cords don't play well with the jacks Alembic uses.

http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=22226.0 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=22226.0)
Title: Re: Custom Essence Type three switches Three Knobs
Post by: haircuttingcowboy on March 23, 2017, 10:04:59 PM
Question Answered. Thanks for the link. I was using a male Amphenol Jack. Works as it should with a Neutrik male jack.
Title: Re: Custom Essence Type three switches Three Knobs
Post by: mario_farufyno on March 24, 2017, 08:17:09 AM
To all new Alembician, is good to point that they have a different system on leveling PU height and to take off the knobs, be aware... you can find tips at FAQ and Must Read.