Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Showcase => Series I Basses and Guitars => Topic started by: edmouk on October 21, 2007, 01:27:16 PM

Title: My 1978 Series I
Post by: edmouk on October 21, 2007, 01:27:16 PM

Hi there Here's my recently bought Alembic Series I. Very good bass, sound is excellent and is more comfortable to play than my other S I from 1977. However I'm a bit disappointed as I got a problem with it since I started putting new strings : the previous strings had a rather heavy gauge (maybe 105 for the E string) , which I don't really like. So I put a lighter gauge string set, the one I usually use on my other basses, 35-95. Then the frets began to buzz very much at the 3rd fret. Looks like the neck backbowed. And of course the truss rods adjustement didn't help as they'are both completely loose.  So here's a fantastic bass but unplayable at the moment ! If anyone can suggest some advice, that would be wonderful. Thanks.  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/45087.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/45088.jpg)
  (I'll post better pics soon !)

Title: My 1978 Series I
Post by: pierreyves on October 21, 2007, 02:14:45 PM

many Alembic have this problem, thank's Alembic.
I too I can't choice light gauge, I must run with 105-40, 105-30 for my 5 strings and 80-30 for my tenor.
If trussrods are loose, like on my SC deluxe, the only thing you have to do is to elevate (put higher) the bridge and wait 1 week. You adjust after a little. Don't forget to put some oil on the fingerboard, it protect against humidity and dry.
I did one thing when I was on hollidays: you elevate your strings with the bridge very high, you put a big book (3.93701 inches) on the middle of your neck under the strings, you really loose completly your trussrods and you wait 2 weeks.
After you can adjust the truss rods. Mines are not more loose now.
Good luck
PS: maintain your bass at constant hygrometry in a dry place and out of his case.

Title: My 1978 Series I
Post by: edmouk on October 22, 2007, 12:01:27 PM

Merci Pierre-Yves ! I hope I can solve this problem very soon as I can't wait to play this bass with my bands !  
Je vais donc suivre tes conseils.

Title: My 1978 Series I
Post by: David Houck on October 22, 2007, 10:33:01 PM

If it's just the third fret, you might want to check to make sure that the fret heights are consistent.  But if you're seeing a back bow, then a heat bend might be the answer.

Title: My 1978 Series I
Post by: adriaan on October 23, 2007, 02:47:12 AM

I would suggest raising the bridge just a fraction. Not sure if 78 is too early for an adjustable nut - that could also help you eliminate buzz on the lower frets.

Title: My 1978 Series I
Post by: edmouk on October 23, 2007, 03:28:54 AM

Thanks for your replies mates !
Actually it's not just the 3rd fret (it rattles up to the 5th fret), but it's the worst. It is also much more important on the E string than on the 3 other strings.
The nut is not adjustable and as Adriaan wrote it, maybe I should inquire about raising it a bit, or see if I can replace it with an adjustable one.
... Very frustrating ! Yesterday, I took time to plug my new Series I on my rig (300 watts Ashdown head + 2 Trace Elliot Cabinets) and the sound is just amazing. You get the best of all the frequecy range. Not many basses can achieve that.

Title: My 1978 Series I
Post by: edmouk on October 28, 2007, 04:04:19 PM

Here's the same again, outside.
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/45334.jpg)

Title: My 1978 Series I
Post by: David Houck on October 28, 2007, 04:10:14 PM

The outdoor pic looks nice!

Title: My 1978 Series I
Post by: edmouk on November 11, 2007, 02:30:09 PM

Two more of the same :  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/45790.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/45791.jpg)
  Et voil?...