Here is Joey's updated Setup & Adjustment procedure. If you like, you can read the original within the context of the original thread
here.
Alembic Setup & Adjustment
Alembics are the perfect instrument to use to learn how to setup your own bass or guitar: The one-piece bridge with separate tailpiece is far easier than the typical bass bridge to adjust, the dual truss rods, even an adjustable nut. IF this is completely new to you, until you ‘get it’, you can always just put everything back where it was until you get the hang of it.
For tools, you’ll need a set of auto feeler gages, a rule that reads to 64ths of an inch, a capo, a small Phillips screwdriver, and 5/64” and 7/64” inch Allen wrenches, and a ¼” box or open wrench. Here we go:
TUNE to PITCH. Pitch translates to the amount of tension on the neck/fingerboard, and we adjust with the instrument at playing pitch (tension).
THEN WE ALWAYS DO THE ADJUSTMENTS IN THIS ORDER ONLY:
Neck relief
String height over the last fret
Intonation
Pickup clearance
String height over first fret
NECK RELIEF
Install capo at first fret. Hold the E or B string down where the neck meets the upper cutaway. Check the gap between the bottom of the string and the top of the 7th fret. Repeat on the G/C side of the fingerboard. In both cases we want .012” relief, measured with the feeler gage at the 7th fret. If this is not the case, remove the truss rod cover and access the two truss rods. Loosen a little at a time if there’s less than .012” relief, or tighten a little if there’s more than .012” in the 7th fret gap.
Do this for the E/B string side as necessary, then repeat on the G/C side as necessary.
We want that .012” gap the same across the fingerboard. Some basses with older and/or harder necks may take longer, so you always double-check tomorrow. And always adjust it only in fractions of a whole turn.
STRING HEIGHT
Remove the capo from the above step. Using your rule, check each string height over the last fret. We want 5/64” clearance under the two outside strings (E/B and G/C). If it’s not there, use a 5/64” Allen to raise or lower the bridge via the two Allen screws that are facing straight up at both ends of the bridge.
INTONATION
Note that while you can do setups with any age strings,
we always ONLY set intonation with brand new strings.
Plug your bass into your tuner. Bring each note to pitch. Then play the octave note of each string pressing down at the 12th fret. IF it matches the open string on your tuner, you’re good. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to adjust the string length via the adjustable saddle for that string. If it’s flat, use the 7/64” Allen wrench and turn the adjusting screw to move the saddle towards the neck. If it’s sharp, move saddle away from the neck. It’s easier on the bridge if you detune to move the saddles, then retune to check your adjustment. Do these movements until all the octave notes on all the strings match the open strings, and you’re done.
PICKUP CLEARANCE
Alembics, with their low-impedance pickups, can be adjusted to taste far closer than regular pickups if you’re looking for a particular tone adjustment. But for now, we want simply an even starting point, so hold the outside low string (E/B) down at the last fret, and adjust the pickup height on the low side to ¼” clearance. Repeat on the outside high string (G/C). Do this for both pickups.
Alembics have a unique spring-less pickup mounting system. As you look at the pickup, you see only two screws on the outside corners. The other two are below the pickup, look through the ‘empty’ hole and you’ll see them. So first, loosen the two you can see. Then reach through the other two holes and use these to raise or lower the pickup to the desired height, Then just SNUG UP the two you can see: REALLY tighten them and you may break the pickup ‘ears’, so snug is good enough, they’ll stay right where you left them.STRING HEIGHT OVER FIRST FRET
Here, we want .020” clearance in the gap between the top of the first fret and bottom of the strings. If this is not the case, first detune the bass slightly to lessen the pressure on the nut. Using the 5/64” Allen wrench, raise or lower the nut until you reach this clearance on all strings. Tighten everything back up when you reach that number.
YOU’RE DONE !
This is meant to be a repeatable set of numbers to set your Alembic bass up properly. However, all basses and the bassists that use and own them are individuals, so some may want less or more relief, some basses will vary in just how low your action can go if you’re after that sort of thing, you may like a different clearance in your pickups to tweak your tone, and all these variations are as they should be for each of us.
But I feel like this is a very good starting point, and a repeatable set of numbers, and the proper method in this order to get you where you want to go to make your bass your own with YOUR own set of numbers. It certainly did for me, and if I can learn this, anyone can, and is a remarkable set of skills to maintain your instrument just the way you like it.
All the Best,
JW (
bigredbass)
