Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: sir_bigend on March 10, 2008, 11:55:55 AM

Title: Volume
Post by: sir_bigend on March 10, 2008, 11:55:55 AM

im having trouble with my volume pot ( i think) my sound seems to get louder when i play. and last night when i pluged my bass in the sound was distorted. i checked the usual battery,leads,and pluged direct into the desk and it (the distortion) was still there, it when after a while then the sound funny again, ther is a very slight crackle when i turn the volume knob up/down and i've done the up/down volume thing to clean it, just wondering if my pot is on its way out or its somting else. my bass is a mark king model. please help meeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Title: Volume
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on March 10, 2008, 01:49:02 PM

What model/electronics do you have?

Title: Volume
Post by: David Houck on March 10, 2008, 06:37:02 PM

He has a Mark King, so he probably has Signature electronics.  The question was originally posted here (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=1777).

Title: Volume
Post by: David Houck on March 10, 2008, 06:48:38 PM

So you've tried a different battery, a different cable, and a different preamp, and the problem is unchanged.
 
Turn the pan control all the way to one pickup and play some, then turn the pan control all the way to the other pickup and play some.  Is the problem the same, or does it seem to be associated with one particular pickup?
 
Also, is this a bass you play often and the problem has just suddenly started happening?

Title: Volume
Post by: terryc on March 11, 2008, 03:12:18 AM

sir bigend...if you remove the control knob make sure you read the 'must reads' on removal, the knobs are secured by a compression type screw, don't try and pull it off as it will destroy the shaft.
Similar happened to me, I did 60 turns back and forth and the trouble cleared.
I would check the battery again as it is the main cause of sound degredation, then a high quality lead and as davehouck says make sure the pot is well firm to the inner cavity for the grounding.
Alembic components are near indestructable on normal use but I guess they wear out with age(as we all do!!!)
Keep us all posted

Title: Volume
Post by: artswork99 on March 11, 2008, 05:47:10 AM

Sorry, meant to post in No Output thread.
 
 
(Message edited by artswork99 on March 11, 2008)

Title: Volume
Post by: terryc on March 11, 2008, 06:41:19 AM

artswork99 - he says its a MK Signature model, not a series bass maybe he is wrong as they are very similar..I guess the MK on the truss rod cover or inside the control cavity would ascertain this

Title: Volume
Post by: sir_bigend on March 11, 2008, 10:18:23 AM

hi guys thank you all so much for the replys.. it is the mark king model 95mj9514. ive had it since new and it is my main bass. the sound has been going funny the last few weekends. how ever i'll try the pickup select idea and i will hav a look to see if the volume pot is secure for the grounding. and i will turn the pot more than the 20 times i did before. ill keep you posted, and again thanks for the posts guys.

Title: Volume
Post by: sir_bigend on March 18, 2008, 01:00:10 PM

i think you did it.. did 3 gigs last week after i turnned the pots more than 40 times and a got alittle nip up on the volume pot and all went well i had the best sound i've had for a few weeks now so hopefully between you all its. fixed. i owe you lot a beer or two. thank again guys.

Title: Volume
Post by: keith_h on March 18, 2008, 01:41:52 PM

Be careful about offering beer around here. We can drink a lot (as I bang my empty glass on the table and holler Bring me another). :-)
 
Keith

Title: Volume
Post by: 2400wattman on March 18, 2008, 01:54:57 PM

I hear you Keith...but does your wife? I'll have a Weihenstephaner Weizen Bock please....please.....anybody?

Title: Volume
Post by: speicky on March 18, 2008, 03:02:27 PM

oooh, Adam... Weihenstephan. We HAVE to meet in person one day  
 
Paul, I'd like a case of Schoefferhofer hell... well, not that I did contribute anything to your problem, but I was always with you, in spirit, anyway  
 
Christian

Title: Volume
Post by: David Houck on March 18, 2008, 06:43:10 PM

Congrats on getting it sorted out!  (I think that's what they say in England; when something's fixed, it's sorted out.)

Title: Volume
Post by: 2400wattman on March 18, 2008, 07:27:48 PM

Absolutely Christian! If you get that case of Schoefferhofer I'll have to lie to my wife to get over there....ah ha! Only because she would want to go as well.

Title: Volume
Post by: georgie_boy on March 19, 2008, 11:41:15 AM

yep dave, You're right. It's sorted out
As for those beers, with those names, I think I caught something like that a couple of years ago, but I got tablets from the Doc, and that seemed to clear it up  LOL
 
george

Title: Volume
Post by: terryc on March 20, 2008, 07:39:08 AM

Glad it is fixed(USA), sorted(UK).
I guess we all panic when something goes wrong but the rule is try all the simple obvious 'fixes first(battery, leads) then looks at the components and if they are secure. I knew one guy who was about to strip his amp down when I pointed out that maybe the fuse or loose wire in the mains plug..it was a loose wire!
Beer..please do..a favourite pastime of mine