Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: glocke on March 20, 2019, 03:34:56 PM
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So this was the Series 1 from Canada that was posted in the swap shop, and that I had posted about in miscellaneous about having rusty screws which I found strange and somewhat worrisome (because I am a paranoid, OCD freak at times lol.
http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=24553.0
http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=24498.0
Really aside from one small ding in the wood that isn't even noticeable this bass is in remarkable shape given its age.
Played it for a few minutes and everything seems to check out..i still need to take the truss rod cover off and see if things are ok there but Im sure they are.
Couple of questions since it's been awhile since I've owned one of these.
Flipping the Q switches back and forth, I "think" I hear a change in the frequency occurring but am not sure..best way to check if these actually work? (again Im sure they do but just want to do my due diligence).
When using a std guitar cable, only the bridge pickup seems to work. Is this the case on all series instruments ? I owned a LS and a MS about a decade ago and don't remember if this was the case or not.
Photo of the screws (rusty ones in the original photo) are at the bottom. these look like they are brass or something..they are a copper color..weird..original to the instrument do you think?
(https://scontent.fabe1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/54364898_10212217022255150_6060604814964817920_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_ht=scontent.fabe1-1.fna&oh=cba8f0e5f8a0051c874e763936c38d5f&oe=5D17BD1C)
(https://scontent.fabe1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/54435427_1181711328654426_1691229710232584192_o.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_ht=scontent.fabe1-1.fna&oh=eeeb1d494c42c2eec8e71cd5d23cb957&oe=5D022AD6)
(https://scontent.fabe1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/54522907_1181711351987757_1904148045302333440_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent.fabe1-1.fna&oh=84304bb252438e83fd02d5b4fd93be86&oe=5D099E1E)
(https://scontent.fabe1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/55802363_1181711378654421_623225485798670336_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent.fabe1-1.fna&oh=ff00e9b4105689fc609c09c8a3db2141&oe=5D4F6E20)
(https://scontent.fabe1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/54728942_1181711398654419_7239202918262374400_o.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ht=scontent.fabe1-1.fna&oh=e240915b28bc70d0d9adf13529b3cc04&oe=5D1E0BF6)
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that top is stunning. congratulations.
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that top is stunning. congratulations.
thanks...yeah photos just really do not do this bass justice. at all...
I wish i could take better photos of it.
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Very nice, congratulations! :)
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Glock, the 1/4" jack is stereo, that is why you only get the one pick up.
That top is quite the beauty, congrats....
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Congratulations & Compliments Greg, that's a nice one.
Open the Filters to 100%, then cycle the Q-switches... the difference will be much more stark.
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Also note that flicking the Q switch while sustaining a note really won't have much impact as the Q acts on the attack of the note most notably. So to test if they are working, hold a sustained note and rotate the filter with the Q switch in the down position. You should hear a distinct "wah-wah" effect. Another test is to play a short passage that you are really good at repeating, play with the Q off and then on. You will hear a more percussive attack with the switch on.
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also, you can plug stereo headphones in the jack and hear one pickup in each ear to test (and to practice without disturbing others if need be!).
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That's a good catch Glocke and in great condition. Here's wishing you some great music making times with it.
The one pickup output using a mono guitar cable is... well standard for basses that age. My 1981 series has the same "feature". There is a mod that can be done if you prefer using the standard jack cable so that you get both pickups outputting with a mono jack lead. Mine came with a stereo to mono jack lead complete with summing resistors in the plug but you can do some rewiring inside to achieve the same thing.
Here is a link to what you need to make up a new cable. http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=275.msg1098#msg1098 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=275.msg1098#msg1098)
And this one if you want to modify the bass innards. http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=270.0 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=270.0)
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That's a good catch Glocke and in great condition. Here's wishing you some great music making times with it.
The one pickup output using a mono guitar cable is... well standard for basses that age. My 1981 series has the same "feature". There is a mod that can be done if you prefer using the standard jack cable so that you get both pickups outputting with a mono jack lead. Mine came with a stereo to mono jack lead complete with summing resistors in the plug but you can do some rewiring inside to achieve the same thing.
Here is a link to what you need to make up a new cable. http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=275.msg1098#msg1098 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=275.msg1098#msg1098)
And this one if you want to modify the bass innards. http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=270.0 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=270.0)
thanks...Im not really skilled at soldering.
I'll probably just pick up a cable from Bayou.
Everything seems to check out with this bass. After putting new strings on it and testing the Q switches it's pretty obvious they function..with dead strings on it just wasn't obvious at all.
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Beautiful! Congrats! I'm waiting for the day that I can own another Series bass. Nothing like it.
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Beautiful! Congrats! I'm waiting for the day that I can own another Series bass. Nothing like it.
Yeah...I've had to let go of a couple of Series basses in the past, and while I've had SCSD all this time Im glad to have a series bass again.
Sadly I'll probably only get with it sporadically. Many of the stages I play are just simply too small and cramped to bring this on...