Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: tomiv9 on March 30, 2015, 10:45:00 AM

Title: Brass Cover Plate rattle?
Post by: tomiv9 on March 30, 2015, 10:45:00 AM

I have noticed the back plate on my Distillate rattles a little bit on some notes when i play unplugged. Anyone else have this issue? I was thinking of trying to insulate the inside somehow, anyone have any suggestions?

Title: Brass Cover Plate rattle?
Post by: 5a_quilt_top on March 30, 2015, 11:02:27 AM

Yes. My Spyder was so resonant that the back control cavity cover plate rattled. I placed some small strips of thin cotton cloth between the cover plate and the wooden edge of the cavity and that stopped the rattle when I replaced the cover and tightened the screws.
 
It took me quite awhile to figure out what was causing the rattle. I originally thought it was a string, or the bridge or a loose pickup screw.
 
These basses are so resonant that everything vibrates, which can sometimes make it challenging to track down the source of a rattle.
 
You might also want to check to make sure the cover plate isn't warped slightly - if it is, it won't make good contact with the edge of the cavity. You'll want to correct this as much as possible prior to doing anything else.

Title: Brass Cover Plate rattle?
Post by: keith_h on March 30, 2015, 01:44:38 PM

I would also check the ferrite core and battery to see if they might be rattling. To fix just use a bit of foam.  
 
Keith

Title: Brass Cover Plate rattle?
Post by: tomiv9 on March 31, 2015, 04:18:14 AM

Thanks guys! Not sure what a ferrite core is though?

Title: Brass Cover Plate rattle?
Post by: jacko on March 31, 2015, 06:18:57 AM

It's the grey metal tube that the pickup wires go through - cuts down on RF interference.
 
Graeme

Title: Brass Cover Plate rattle?
Post by: pauldo on March 31, 2015, 09:42:41 AM

My Distillate's cover will rattle also.
 
I do not over torque the screws as stripping them out could be a real bugger . . .  so when she starts to rattle I will just snug up the screws a tad.
 
 
Thomas, I see you are new here - we really enjoy pictures of others instruments.  You should go here:
http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/419.html?1422414448
And start a thread for your Distillate.
David's suggestion is wise, the cloth would act like a gasket and probably assist with holding the torque of the screws.
 
(Message edited by pauldo on March 31, 2015)

Title: Brass Cover Plate rattle?
Post by: 5a_quilt_top on March 31, 2015, 12:10:44 PM

Just make sure the cloth, or other chosen material, is thin, otherwise it will cause the cover to protrude slightly above the surface of the bass (also undesirable).
 
And - Pauldo is correct - take care that you do not over-tighten the screws. Screwed THAT up trying to fix a rattling PRS Custom 24 truss rod cover several years ago - ouch.
 
Ahhh - the price we pay for resonance...

Title: Brass Cover Plate rattle?
Post by: lidon2001 on March 31, 2015, 07:39:11 PM

Stash the brass, make yourself a cover from single ply pickguard material, and lose one half a pound off your shoulder.
 
 
 
 
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/208062.jpg)

Title: Brass Cover Plate rattle?
Post by: tomiv9 on April 01, 2015, 06:50:02 AM

Awesome thanks for the help guys. I actually just loosened a few of the screws a bit and presto, problem solved. I think 1 or 2 were just too tight. I didnt notice any ferrite core though, is that something that should be on a 1981 Distillate? I'll try and post pics soon too, but it's this bass : http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/145489.html?1357078537 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=13637)