Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: vibrojet on October 02, 2020, 10:40:57 AM

Title: Bad volume control module
Post by: vibrojet on October 02, 2020, 10:40:57 AM
I'm fixing a friend's guitar. It's a full custom, non-Alembic-branded instrument, but uses Alembic electronics.

The volume control has been messed with, resoldered in clumsy ways, and it seems to be beyond redemption -- shorts and burned-out traces, or at least it looks that way. The purple output wire has broken off, but holding it in place doesn't result in any output. The other wiring seems okay, although it's complex enough that I'm far from certain. (I've fixed the quick-connect plug in the photo, btw. No change in functionality.)

I'm not aware of any way to buy a replacement for just that component. It's labeled 475-020. What are my options? Thanks!
Title: Re: Bad volume control module
Post by: vibrojet on October 02, 2020, 10:52:44 AM
Can't load a photo for some reason. First try kind of worked, but it was too big; I reduced the size, and now I can't choose any file to attach. Whatever. The module's gunked up.
Title: Re: Bad volume control module
Post by: vibrojet on October 02, 2020, 10:59:37 AM
here we go...
Title: Re: Bad volume control module
Post by: mica on October 02, 2020, 03:03:44 PM
We can get you any spares needed. 475-020 is the part number for just the pot. If you need the pot on the board, since you mentioned traces with issues, then usually the easiest thing is to replace the entire 1-volume harness, plus that gets you a new output jack and battery clip.

Email me at mica@alembic.com with your shipping address details so I can get you all the costs involved.

P.S. It warms my heart to see someone taking the housing off the crimped ends instead of cutting it off <3
Title: Re: Bad volume control module
Post by: vibrojet on October 03, 2020, 11:54:28 AM
I was actually able to fix it. As messy as it looked, it was functional. It just seemed wrong because the jack was wired wrong (not my fault). I just cleaned off the extra solder, pulled the broken wire ends, and reattached three wires. Along the way, one trace lifted, so I created a wire bridge between two points.
It's still ugly, and it won't last forever. I will definitely be in touch about a replacement. It isn't needed right now, but probably will be later.
Title: Re: Bad volume control module
Post by: mica on October 05, 2020, 12:19:50 PM
Well that's the best solution in my books!