Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: bad_fad on February 16, 2009, 07:13:29 AM

Title: Are this tuning machines original?
Post by: bad_fad on February 16, 2009, 07:13:29 AM

Hi,
 
I am new to this Club and I'd like to ask you a question about my new (used) Alembic Essence.  From the pictures that I have managed to find, I doubt that the tuning machines that I am showing in the attached file are originals by Alembic.
 
Could someone tell me if I am correct?
 
(Please note, all the tuning machines are chromed, not bluesy as they look in the photograph.  They have the inscription Gotoh and the G of Gotoh.
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/61273.jpg)
 
Regards

Title: Are this tuning machines original?
Post by: terryc on February 16, 2009, 07:59:05 AM

depends how old the bass is, I think new Alembics have an elaborate 'A' engraved on them but earlier ones did use Gotoh.
Other members will pipe in if I am wrong

Title: Are this tuning machines original?
Post by: dfung60 on February 16, 2009, 08:20:06 AM

Those A logo tuning heads are made by Gotoh. I'm not sure what year they started with the logo'ed heads, but before that, Gotoh's like this would have been the OEM heads out of the factory for an Essence.  
 
In the early days (probably up through Distillates, maybe even Spoilers), Schaller heads would have been the standard.  I don't know whether they would be the standard on a Series bass today, but they were the standard on Series into the 90's.  They are more expensive than Gotohs, although many people feel the precision of the Gotohs is better.
 
The shaft hole diameter and position of the little positioning screw is different between Schallers & Gotohs, so, at a glance, it doesn't look like these have been changed.
 
David Fung

Title: Are this tuning machines original?
Post by: David Houck on February 16, 2009, 08:37:24 AM

It is highly likely that those are the original tuners.  As David mentioned, Alembic switched from Schaller to Gotoh as their standard tuner at some point in the 80's.  And while Gotoh makes a tuner for Alembic with the Alembic A, these tuners are not always available, and regular Gotah tuners without the A are used.  My '08 Series bass has tuners marked Gotoh.

Title: Are this tuning machines original?
Post by: bad_fad on February 16, 2009, 08:39:02 AM

Thanks a lot, Terryc and David.  I am sorry I didn't state that the bass is a 1991 model.

Title: Are this tuning machines original?
Post by: FC Bass on February 16, 2009, 09:12:54 AM

More Gotoh from my '90 Elan:
 
 Click here (http://painandgrief.com/aaa/fcbasssite/index_bestanden/Mijnelan/Elanmaster/Headstockback.jpg target=_blank)
 
Alembic-club image eating ghost strikes again, the link will show the same picture I posted earlier.
 
(Message edited by fc_spoiler on February 19, 2009)

Title: Are this tuning machines original?
Post by: bad_fad on February 17, 2009, 10:46:29 AM

It is funny that a fellow bassist in Spain, who's also a proud owner of a '91 Essence, answered to this same question of mine, stating that he had the same feeling about the tuners of his gear.
 
Anyway, although the machines might be original, I'll ask for prices to the shop.
 
Thank you all, guys!

Title: Are this tuning machines original?
Post by: ulf on February 19, 2009, 01:19:22 AM

Dave,
also my Stanley Clarke Signature made in 2006 has the Gotoh Tuner with G
My new Stanley Clarke made in 2008 has the Gotoh Tuner with Alembic A
??

Title: Are this tuning machines original?
Post by: adriaan on February 19, 2009, 01:29:00 AM

I can imagine they may sometimes run out of A-labeled tuners, whereas G-labeled ones (which are the exact same tuners) are easy to come by.

Title: Are this tuning machines original?
Post by: southpaw on February 19, 2009, 07:05:44 PM

I have a '97 Orion with the same Gotoh G tuners.
Great tuners too...