Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: ploonter on May 21, 2009, 10:23:16 AM

Title: Brass cleaning
Post by: ploonter on May 21, 2009, 10:23:16 AM

I was wondering if it's O.K. to remove the brass parts for cleaning or if it is a bad idea to remove and replace them?  Any help...

Title: Brass cleaning
Post by: tbrannon on May 21, 2009, 10:39:26 AM

Here are a couple threads on the subject that you can check out for reference.  It's definitely OK to take apart your bridge for cleaning and to give your tailpiece the same treatment.  
 
One suggestion- find a digital camera and snap a few pictures before you start.  It's easy to get all apart, but if you don't have a reference, seeing all those little brass parts sitting separate can be scary if you're not sure how they go back together.  
 
Here is a thread about disassembling and cleaning your bridge:
http://club.alembic.com/Images/16271/16386.html?1107732526 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=204)
 
 
Here is the source thread for taking care of your instrument

Title: Brass cleaning
Post by: speicky on May 21, 2009, 11:00:32 AM

I spied post #4 from a Mister Dave Houck in the disassembling thread... had a good laugh. There was a beginning, even for the master of all the moderators of the universe !  
 
once more: thank you for all your work here, Dave !
 
grmph... sorry for being off-topic, but I've randomly anything to add except my humor...

Title: Brass cleaning
Post by: ploonter on May 21, 2009, 11:30:47 AM

Thank you tbrannon for the thread...and to all involved after going there.
Man, that logo cleaning looks tricky

Title: Brass cleaning
Post by: tbrannon on May 21, 2009, 02:58:25 PM

Tim,
 
Below is the link for a thread I started when I was getting ready to clean up the used Rogue I bought.  There are a few photos and also a few extra tips from club members there.  Hope this helps:
 
http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/32442.html?1162176823 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=5135)

Title: Brass cleaning
Post by: terryc on May 22, 2009, 01:14:02 AM

I remove the brass hardware when I am doing a major clean, I don't disassemble the whole bridge but if there is polish residue on the bridge one suggestion is to take it to a jewellers who have a sonic bath, these are excellent in removing the residue that is stuck on the hard to clean parts

Title: Brass cleaning
Post by: gtrguy on May 22, 2009, 09:27:54 AM

I have tried all my strippers/thinners etc on the clear on my tailpiece to no avail. I just carefully sanded or steel wooled it off. You can then polish the brass, remove all residue, and then shoot new clear on it's absolutely clean surface if you like. Or you can not re-shoot it and just keep polishing it!
 
Bye, Dave

Title: Brass cleaning
Post by: lbpesq on May 22, 2009, 09:51:50 AM

I bought a dremel tool and a flex extension for polishing the brass on my instruments.  Boy, does it make the job easier!
 
Bill, tgo

Title: Brass cleaning
Post by: David Houck on May 23, 2009, 07:42:47 PM

Hee hee; thanks Christian!

Title: Brass cleaning
Post by: jalevinemd on May 25, 2009, 02:36:46 PM

Okay...but how do you remove the bridge itself from the body? Do you simply raise the height adjustment screws until the thing pops off?

Title: Brass cleaning
Post by: David Houck on May 25, 2009, 02:47:22 PM

Yes, and you will need to go back and forth, one screw and then the other, a little at a time, to keep from binding.  You may find it helpful to keep some kind of record of the original height so you can return it to the same height when you're done.

Title: Brass cleaning
Post by: jalevinemd on May 25, 2009, 05:30:58 PM

Thanks Dave.

Title: Brass cleaning
Post by: mjurey on June 20, 2009, 01:49:01 PM

I used a polishing wheel on my bench grinder and here are the before and after pictures.  I took the bridge apart but took measurements first.  98 Epic bridge:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/66497.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/66498.jpg)

Title: Brass cleaning
Post by: sonicus on June 20, 2009, 03:54:51 PM

Nice, a bridge to be proud of  !

Title: Brass cleaning
Post by: David Houck on June 21, 2009, 02:55:33 PM

Welcome to the board Mark!  Nice polishing job!

Title: Brass cleaning
Post by: mjurey on June 21, 2009, 03:47:06 PM

Thanks for the welcome.  I just bought an Epic after laying off from bass playing since 1980. A coworker owns a Alembic and said that I could buy one, sight unseen. Boy, was he right. I love the Epic and look forward to playing again.  Look forward to more postings.

Title: Brass cleaning
Post by: terryc on July 03, 2009, 01:08:14 AM

In my opinion the Alembic bridge is a great piece of engineering and looks great.
I guess the Epics don't have the brass sustain block like the SI & II's and Signature models.