Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Introductions => Topic started by: JWandling on February 25, 2021, 06:48:54 PM
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Hello everyone, my name is Jeff and I'm a first time owner of an Alembic having recently purchased an '83 Distillate and I have to say; I'm hooked! I also own a Modulus Q6 SS, a 2017 Guild Starfire II a Squire Jazz Bass and my very first bass, a 1980 Aria Pro II TSB350.
About my Distillate; the front pick up is "slanted forward towards the neck. I've tried adjusting it using the instructiions on the Alembic site, but I cannot get it level to safe my life! Any tips that anyone can offer? I'd great appreciate it.
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Hi JWandling, welcome and congratulations, beautiful bass! :)
When I adjust my pickups, I get them to the height I want, then I level it with my finger, and hold it level while I adjust the top and bottom screws to tighten it up in place. If that makes sense, give it a try.
Rob
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Thanks, I will give that a try!
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Hey Jeff,
Welcome and congrats on the Distillate. Nice looking axe! The pickup height adjustment is a little confusing - so allow me confuse you some more...
The two screws that you can see, bottom left and top right of each pickup when looking at your bass in the stand, are there to limit the upward travel. While the two screws that are not visible, beneath the upper left and bottom right holes, are the ones that actually determine the height of the pickup.
You should be able to loosen the upper right visible screw, pull the pickup up by hand until it's level, hold it there as Rob suggested, then turn the invisible upper left screw counter-clockwise until it contacts the bottom of the pickup and snug it into place. It doesn't need to be too tight, just enough so nothing is rattling.
Since you just got the bass, it is also possible that the invisible upper left under pickup screw is missing and that's why you can't get the pickup to adjust right. If the previous owner wanted the pickup as low as possible, they may have removed that screw. If you can't see the philips head cross through the hole, take the visible screws out and lift the pickup out to see if it's there.
Let us know how it goes.
Jimmy J
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Hi Jeff and welcome to our little corner of cyber world! Real pretty wood on that bass you got there. You’ll find a lot of friendly people here with a lot of info about everything Alembic that can answer any questions you may have. But be warned, Alembics can be like Lays potato chips. Many find that they can’t stop at one!
Bill, the guitar one
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To raise the neck side of the pickup you would want to lower the bottom right screw and raise the upper left screw. The first step would be to loosen the upper right screw and lower the lower right screw. You would then raise the upper left screw. Once the pickup is where you want it tighten the upper right and lower left screws to fix the position. Just be careful to not over tighten the upper right and lower left screws as that can result in cracking the pickup housing.
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Welcome and congrats!
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Thanks everyone for tthe advice. I was able to level out my neck pickup successfully! Not regretting joining at all!
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Jeff!
Bill is correct that one Alembic really isn’t enough.
The Distillate that I have allows so much tonal flexibility that I really don’t need another bass...
Well maybe a fretless Alembic...
And those Signature electronics on an SC are pretty cool...
I also thought 4 strings, 4 fingers - what more do ya need? But then I hear Dave’s 6 string demo tunes and wonder how much fun it would be to have extra strings on an Alembic...
Then there are the Series electronics that seem kinda intimidating but wow wee the tones you can dial in!
But besides the electronics there are the woods...
And don’t even get me started on Omega cuts and variations of it!
So beautiful.....
Anyhow - enjoy your new bass! ;D
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As we say this side of the pond "they are more-ish" a sentiment I can attest to with pride. :-)
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Good looking wood on your bass.
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Welcome Jeff