Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Dreaming... for now => Topic started by: blackelan on March 04, 2009, 12:07:46 AM
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I am wondering if it is possible to get Series II electronics in a Spoiler body? The reason I ask is I heard that the body is too thin to do the Series electronics in. Of course Newsted used a Spoiler or was it a Distalate with series electroincs?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuJrHH8Yefo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuJrHH8Yefo)
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The Spoiler shape is an option for a Series II on the Quote Generator. They probably won't modify an existing Spoiler to fit the Series electronics, but it shouldn't be a problem for a new build.
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I'm getting a old Series I set in the next few days (payed for them yesterday)and the plan is to put them in one of my Spoilers.
Mica said it will be a engineering challenge to get them in there and for an optimal result, the bass have to go to the Mothership...
My '83 Spoiler is quite a bit thinner than the '87 Spoiler and I think I have the engineering challenge worked out for the '87 (I think I can get it in there)
I think one of the Jason Spoilers is his Persuader used on the Justice tour not sure though...
I would love to hear some more info on this from the Mothership or maybe even better, from Jason himself.
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I meant to say Spoiler or was it a Persuader in my my first post not Distalate, whoops long day.
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This Black Spoiler does seem to have a Distillate bottom:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/62134.jpg)
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Really not recommended. We had to extensively modify the basses and the pots to make it work out. There's simply not enough available depth in a standard Spoiler body to accommodate standard Series I/II electronics.
If you're going to try DYI, consider building up the backplate shelf and converting to brass plates to gain at least 1/16 of an inch. Or, mount the plate on the back of the body and skip the shelf alltogether. You can see the problem yourself if you try to mount the filter pot in the bass and then put the backplate on.
Spoilers are thinner than Series I/II basses, therein lies the root of the problem in converting.
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I have access to some real neat CNC equipment in a Stainless steel processing factory (where I work)
I'm toying with the idea of making a backplate from stainless steel (brass would also be possible) and I think I was planning exactly what you suggest.
I can leave the edges at the full thickness and the controls cavity area at one or 1/2 mm thickness.
No worries, I will only proceed if I'm 100% sure it will work and it's highly likely to be a long term project.
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My Series I set goes to where it belongs, they?re going to be united with a Series I Bass again :-) (not mine)
I'm sure you'll get to see it here on the club, stay tuned ;-)
I love my Alembics and when I got the SI set I realized just how much I love ?em.
The Spoilers were the possible victims ->The Elan was impossible because of pickup routings and I'm not going to cut open the brand new fretless...
Mica highlighted a big problem for this conversion, I found some more:
*Knob layout needs to be altered (imho), you're gonna have to fill some holes in the topwood...
*The connection between the card and the knobs will need a really big hole... (the thickness of the body makes multiple electronics cavities necessary)
*And most of all: Alembics are fine instruments as they were built (at least the ones I've seen)
My basses are great sounding and play like a dream, no need to intervene in this winning team.
(Message edited by fc_spoiler on April 16, 2009)
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Flip, you could of course have ordered a cheap custom Excel to carry those Series electronics ...
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If I had a older spoiler or persuader would Alembic even take on the job of doing a series electronics upgrade or would be it be too much of a hassle?
I really want to get a 4 string bass with Series electronics and ordering a brand new one is out of my price range but getting it upgraded is a possibility for me providing Alembic will still do it.
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You'd probably be better selling what you have and buying a used Series by the time you paid for the upgrade.
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I'm just guessing; but my guess is that the cost to do all of the custom carving and routing, along with the Series electronics and calibration, perhaps a new laminate, new cover plates for the control cavity, card cavity, and battery cavity, possible refinish, etc. is probably somewhere between the cost of two or three used Series I basses, and not too much less than a new Spoiler with Series II electronics. But I really don't know. If you are to the point of seriously considering such an upgrade, then you may want to call Mica for a quote.
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I want a real high quality 4 string that I can get at the best price possible. My Aria's are nice but now that I will have the Elan custom I want a 4 string than eventually a 6 string. So far I have been looking at:
1. Wal MkII with no luck finding one.
2. Spoiler with Series II but it is pricey that is why I was considering a upgrade if possible
3. Warwick Streamer custom in Silverburst ala Mike Inez.
If I had the money I would have a huge rack of Alembic Europas and Spoilers as well as Elans in Series II and 10 string etc...
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Jason:
Have you considered an SF-2? It seems to me that the most economical way to get the equivalent of a Spoiler with series II electronics is to get a stock Spoiler and run it through an SF-2. Used SF-2's can be had for $500 and sometimes even less (I've picked up two of them for about $400 each). This is far less (probably thousands less) than the cost of either an upgrade or a new custom one. You will absolutely LOVE the SF-2, and you'll be able to use it with all of your instruments.
Bill, tgo
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Hi Bill,
I will look into that I did not even consider that an option. Thanks for the info I will pick one up in the near future.
-Jason
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Jason,
An SF-2 just popped up on ebay ...priced at 550.
(Message edited by elwoodblue on April 24, 2009)
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Thanks for the heads up I will pick it up tommorow as I have another auction ending soon so I want to make sure I have enough funds to grab it.
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Well, you might still want to get a modification to get stereo output from the Spoiler if you're trying to approach Series II. You still won't be able to separately EQ your pickups.
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so, would it be possible to have a Series II built in the shape of a Spoiler(with as much body depth as a standard Series II) so you could still have the electronics with the desired body shape?
~Taylor Watterson
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That won't be a problem, I think one of Jason Newsted's Spoilers (the one in the picture above) could be an original Series II (just a thought of me, I don't know for sure)
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that's what i figured, but i just wanted clarify it
~Taylor Watterson