Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: jazzyvee on July 06, 2023, 01:11:41 AM
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I somehow carelessly managed to bump my bass on the door frame yesterday with the following result.
Seems a task with some spanners and soldering iron at the weekend if I have a replacement switch in my goodie box.
:-[ :-\ >:( :( ::)
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Ouch! Was that the Q-switch? Lucky no damage to the finish.
*I see now, looking at it upside down... bass boost/flat/cut switch.
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Bass boost/cut switch. I don't think I have a three position switch though so will need to order one.
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Bummer. Do you use that switch while playing? If not, you could probably get it into the position you prefer using a small screwdriver and leave it there while waiting for a replacement. I think having Alembic send you one might be quickest because although they're still being manufactured there are so many specific variations available in those small toggle switches that exactly what you're looking for is rarely stocked by distributors. But I'm sure there's a whole drawer of them at the Alembic HQ.
These things happen. It's all serviceable.
Oh, be sure to check your Entwistle kit of spares!
Jimmy J
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Woah, just opened the back of the bass and it's a pretty crowded place around the two bass and treble boost and cut switches. I hope my soldering skill are up to it.
The bass switch has 6 lugs and the treble switch has 3 so it's going to be a challenge.
Jimmy, i have checked the spares box and there is one switch in there with 6 lugs but i don't know if it is the right type of switch. Plus it's silver whilst the ones on the bass are dark coloured and my OCD would have a fit especially since the bass has been refinished. So i will need to check with Mica then order either two silver switches or three black ones. I've emailed Mica regarding the switch and hope to get it posted to where I will be staying in the states next month.
[removed formatting]
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Black Sharpie (marker) or better yet black nail polish…. what silver switch? ;)
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You will definitely want a black one to match and I'm not sure a sharpie would effectively disguise your silver spare. You could test that... Does your spare have 3-positions? But oh my there's a lot happening on the back side of that switch! Bit of a tricky solder job there. I'll ask again, is this a switch you use while you're playing? Is the bass out of commission until repaired? Is this the bass you were planning to bring on your tour? (Your last gig is closest to Alembic HQ...)
Jimmy J
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Yes the spare has 3 positions and it is used more occasionally than often. I did try to see if could move it with a small screwdriver but all i can feel in there is loose bits that are not connected to the switching mechanism. So there is change in sound when moving anything.
It's not the bass i plan to take with me but i suppose if I take the innards of the bass with me i could try to pop into Alembic and see if it could be repaired whilst I wait.
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OK, now WHICH one of these three does NOT look like the other two?
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Joey, The first thing that popped into my head from your comment:
One of these switches is not like the others.
One of these switches just doesn't belong.
Can you tell which switch is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?
Can you tell I spend a lot of time with a toddler and Sesame Street?
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Joey, The first thing that popped into my head from your comment:
One of these switches is not like the others.
One of these switches just doesn't belong.
Can you tell which switch is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?
Can you tell I spend a lot of time with a toddler and Sesame Street?
A shame they can't spend their time with Loonie Tunes, instead.
But really, while I nor my boys never watched much Sesame Street, I take great pride in the fact that the first kid whose Eagle Rank I signed off on as Scoutmaster has now won several Emmys for editing work on SS.
Peter
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I picked up my new bass/treble boost cut switches on my visit to alembic a few weeks back and installed it in my bass last night and all works fine. I also took the opportunity to change the strings from roundwounds to D'addario Chromes on the recommendation bass player i met on my tour. I bought two sets whilst in the states as they are much cheaper than the UK). So far they feel and sound better than the nylon flats i bought previously. I may try them out at rehearsal on Wednesday.
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I've been using Chromes (on Mica's recommendation) for quite a while now, and love 'em!
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They feel a bit grippy when sliding but i guess they will smooth over after some playing time.
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Depending how much you play they could be fine after only a few days. I have them on my fretless rogue and love the feel and tone.
Graeme
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After couple of weeks or so and a lot of playing, the strings have bedded in nicely. I think i want to lower the action a touch more.
Interesting that the G-string now seems to have a bit more meat in the tone than the same gauge round-wound when the filter is rolled off but still seems a bit low in output compared to the other strings. With the filter more open the balance is fine. The pickups on the D/G side are as close to the strings as the screws will allow me to go without risk of popping out.
Here are some of my thoughts as to how this might be addressed and please advise.
1) Would there be any difference if I leave the bass filter open wide enough to allow the volume balance between the strings to be fine, then EQ the sound from my bass amp?
2) The nut and saddles are chromed and i expect was cut for .45 gauge and i really don't want to try to open them up if possible, but from your experience, how far up in size could i go with the string gauge without having to replace the nut or experiencing any imbalance in playability/string height across the strings? I'm thinking more mass would help bring up the lower frequencies.
3) If it is just that I need a heavier gauge of string, maybe I can order a new nut have it cut for heavier gauge of strings and then re-chromed.
4) Is it really just physics and this is the p-style pickups sound?
As usual your experience is welcome.
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I would just do what is easier to get where you need to be, sonically. Is it possible to just use a screw with longer threads on that one side of the P to allow it to spring upward just a *twitch* more? I know what you mean, that thing is really tricky to get balanced. I can't imagine two of them.