Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Introductions => Topic started by: mich on May 17, 2007, 09:53:45 AM

Title: Hi it's Mich!
Post by: mich on May 17, 2007, 09:53:45 AM

I am the happy owner of what I believe to be a 89 Spoiler. I've opened a thread in the history request section for details on history, wood etc.
I also own a 1992 Musicman Stingray, and a 1994 Fender Squier MIJ Jazz.
 
I was on the look out for an Alembic for years, and to be specific, an Alembic with a Q-maple top (I just love that), and medium scale. Fortunately I spot one at a second hand trade site.
 
The Stingray is a very good instrument, and my with Bass Lines souped up Jazz has a very nice sound too....but this is something different, I could never imagine that after 20 years of playing I can still be knocked over about how fantastic a Bass can play, feel and sound, as it is the case with this for Alembic standards simple instrument.
 
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/397/39877.jpg)

Title: Hi it's Mich!
Post by: olieoliver on May 17, 2007, 10:11:46 AM

Hi Mich and welcome. I had the very same feeling when I got my first Alembic, (after 30+ years of playing).  
 
Nice bass man!
 
Olie

Title: Hi it's Mich!
Post by: FC Bass on May 17, 2007, 11:10:23 AM

The first Alembic I got in my hands was also mine after 5 min :-). I was kinda stunned by the solid feel of the bass (also a Spoiler btw)
I'm sure you're gonna love her, she's a beauty!
Are you from Holland?

Title: Hi it's Mich!
Post by: mich on May 17, 2007, 11:24:13 AM

Hi Fc Spoiler, yeah I'm from the Netherlands!

Title: Hi it's Mich!
Post by: FC Bass on May 17, 2007, 11:32:20 AM

All right! (http://club.alembic.com/Images/397/39882.gif)
 
Be sure to shoot a few nice pics for the showcase section, we love pictures here.

Title: Hi it's Mich!
Post by: muller1007 on May 17, 2007, 01:08:08 PM

Hey fellow Dutchman,
 
Congratulations! That really is a gorgeous bass and I'm sure it plays like a dream. Am I mistaken or does it look brand new? How do you like the FretFx? Nice feature isn't it?
 
Enjoy the bass to the hilt and welcome to this great club.  
 
Duncan

Title: Hi it's Mich!
Post by: the_mule on May 17, 2007, 10:49:34 PM

Mogguh Michel, welkom in d? club!
 
I love your bass, what exactly is the knob or switch that the pickup  selector is pointing at on the picture? Or is it a LED maybe?
 
What I'm most curious about is the dummy humcanceller. Could this Spoiler be prepared (destined since birth) for a Series upgrade? Hopefully Mica will chime in soon in one of your topics to shed a light on this. Congratulations!
 
Wilfred

Title: Hi it's Mich!
Post by: jacko on May 18, 2007, 03:48:49 AM

Hi Mich and welcome to the club from Scotland. That's a very nice spoiler. i do like quilt maple.
 
Graeme

Title: Hi it's Mich!
Post by: mauibassplayer on May 18, 2007, 12:41:48 PM

Hi Mich, wow, that is a beautiful bass.  Very nice indeed.  I have a 86 Spoiler with Bocate top and Walnut body.  I love that quilted look.  I want one now like that.
Aloha and welcome,
Ken

Title: Hi it's Mich!
Post by: the_8_string_king on May 18, 2007, 04:59:52 PM

Welcome to the club, Mich!
 
Congrats on the Spoiler!  The Flame Maple looks really nice... especially contrasted against the Mahagony body!

Title: Hi it's Mich!
Post by: mich on May 19, 2007, 04:23:19 AM

To be honest I want to remove the dummy, but I am afraid I will damage the coating. Any suggestion? I think it's double sided tape.
 
The led, yeah well...it's a feature with no function but on and off :-)
 
Indeed it looks brand new, except for the serial number plate, that looks awfully worn.
 
does anyone know whether I can order a new one (with serial number)?
 
thanks and cheers!
Mich

Title: Hi it's Mich!
Post by: muller1007 on May 19, 2007, 05:15:52 AM

Hoi Michel,
 
If you haven't already, I think you need to register your bass at Alembic first:
http://www.alembic.com/cgi-bin/register.pl (http://www.alembic.com/cgi-bin/register.pl)  
 
You probably should be able to order a new trussrod cover with an engraved serial number from Alembic. You should contact Mica Wickersham about it. She might be reading this post...  
 
Duncan

Title: Hi it's Mich!
Post by: muller1007 on May 19, 2007, 05:28:52 AM

I was wondering, is that dummy just glued onto the neck, or is it actually routed into the neck/body of the bass? Did the previous owner place the dummy himself?  
 
Duncan

Title: Hi it's Mich!
Post by: mich on May 19, 2007, 07:33:01 AM

Thanks muller1007, I just registered on-online.
 
The dummy is mounted with double sided tape, and yes the previous owner did place it for series look. I want to remove it, as I don't want to be a wannabe Series, but a wannebe Spoiler ;-).  
 
Thing is I might damage the top, and refinishing will be costly. I think.
 
By the way, just did my first gig yesterday with my Spoiler.....just two words!... Awe-some!!
 
Mich

Title: Hi it's Mich!
Post by: bassjigga on May 19, 2007, 09:08:47 AM

If it's just tape I don't think it will damage the finish. The finish is relatively hard compared to tape. Just be careful about what you use to remove any left over sticky-residue.

Title: Hi it's Mich!
Post by: FC Bass on May 19, 2007, 09:22:39 AM

The truss rod cover can be polished to it's original "showroom shine"
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/397/39967.gif)
again. The hardware on my '87 Spoiler was also very worn, I brought them to a jeweller who polished them and finished them with a clear powdercoating. Shines like new again
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/397/39968.gif)

Title: Hi it's Mich!
Post by: joram on May 23, 2007, 12:41:52 AM

I just knew there was a thread about removing sticky nonsense... Quoting Mica:  
 
You can use mineral oil or lemon oil to dissolve lots of adhesives. Like has been suggested, if you can get an edge started, then swab the oil in the exposed area and continue to peel the sticker away.
 
Once you get the whole thing off, you can clean up the sticky residue on the bass with an acetone-soaked wipe. You can use acetone to remove the sticker, but it's hard to controle the placement and evaporates quickly.
 
en welkom, natuurlijk!

Title: Hi it's Mich!
Post by: mich on May 24, 2007, 07:23:36 AM

Thanks Joram,
 
Wow! A lot of Dutch guys here.

Title: Hi it's Mich!
Post by: adriaan on May 24, 2007, 07:46:55 AM

One more here. And where are our Flemish friends when you need them ...

Title: Hi it's Mich!
Post by: 57basstra on May 25, 2007, 04:16:37 AM

Welcome, Mich.