Author Topic: Dissed by a Distillate (Read 481 times)

yogalembic · « **on:** June 14, 2012, 08:33:49 PM »

Well, lessee...I'm trying to gather some thoughts here ~~~
I've had a Distillate in mind since I first saw one at the Chicago NAMM show back in 1980. I loved the look. In fact, I still have some Alembic literature I picked up at the show, including a Distillate color pic/spec sheet.

Fast forward to Feb. of this year. I turned 60, something clicked and I knew it was time! Up until now, I wasn't financially able to consider an Alembic---kids, divorce, college (kids, not me), and life in general.
Let's throw into the mix the fact that, in May 2005, I was terminally diagnosed with a very rare form of lymphoma and was given just 3 years to live by a very prominent local cancer facility.
I sought alternative facilities and found one in Houston (just outside of Columbus,Oh am I) and, well, here I am, loaded for bear and still fighting (in remission).
So, back to the I'm 60 and I really, really need to pursue this Alembis Distillate thing....
I found one via CL in New Port Richey, Fl. FINALLY! Several phone calls, etc, etc. It came today and it's everything I had hoped it would be. Until, after about 10 minuttes of playing, it suddenly and slowly began to become noisy and static with low-volume rumbling.
I shut it down, unplugged, waited a few minutes, and fired her up again. Same scenario.
I've experienced similar situation with a Polytone amp I have. The problem was solved via a very good tech who reverse engineered it.
So, the bottom line is this---the joy of my very first Alembic has been somewhat stolen from me. I called the seller just a couple of hours ago, and have yet to hear back.
Is the whole Dis problem solvable? Of course.
By trade, I am an assembler and calibration tech of magnet power supplies, digital temperature controllers, gausmeters, etc. So, I do understand that things can suddenly go bad and I'm willing to give the seller the benefit of that fact. The Dis is 30 years old and electronics fail. So....
Has anyone had an experience of the problem I discribed? (the bass, not the seller possibly hosing me)
meanwhile, I wasn to contact Mica to possilbly send her to the MOthership for a total tweak.
'Preciate it....

bigredbass · « **Reply #1 on:** June 14, 2012, 08:38:45 PM »

I'm the LAST person you want anywhere near multimeters and soldering irons, but . . . . mine make exactly that sound when the battery goes. ALEMBIC circuits just don't slowly fade away like EMG's, they die fast and noisily. Battery good?

J o e y

hammer · « **Reply #2 on:** June 14, 2012, 08:47:22 PM »

Jay Michael:

This is EXACTLY what mine sounded like when the battery began to die. I would agree with Joey that the first thing to do is to replace the batteries.

yogalembic · « **Reply #3 on:** June 14, 2012, 08:55:25 PM »

Yep, the first thing I thought about was the battery. So, in lieu of grabbing my meter, I did a quick tongue test....gave me a REALLY hard bite. However, I'll grab my meter in the a.m.

Thanks much!!!

tbrannon · « **Reply #4 on:** June 14, 2012, 08:59:21 PM »

Battery!! I had the same panick moment a few weeks after getting my first alembic. My battery passed the tongue test too, but it sure sounded like garbage.

My bet is a new 9v solves the issue.

yogalembic · « **Reply #5 on:** June 14, 2012, 09:04:07 PM »

@ bigredbass, hammer....good to know that Alembics are fast and catastophic! I have EMG's in a '77 Jazz, and had an active Yamaha---the dying batts gave a very slow fade. I just naturally figured Alembics would do likewise. Should've known.

Funny story---playing a Yamaha BBG5S during a gig....batt starts to die and the one guitar player thought I was ending the song with a slow fade. (he was a stoner and thought it was really cool....lol)

sonicus · « **Reply #6 on:** June 14, 2012, 09:05:58 PM »

Yes, replace the battery. If you are still unhappy with your purchase let me know , I might be interested if you have second thoughts. However , chances are that you just might fall in love with this Bass after a battery replacement.

Sonic Regards !

yogalembic · « **Reply #7 on:** June 14, 2012, 09:06:18 PM »

I'll tell you one thing, I fought posting this late.
Glad I did. I'll sleep a whole lot better, y'all!

NIce.

terryc · « **Reply #8 on:** June 15, 2012, 03:38:29 AM »

Battery battery battery!...our basses do not love low current.
And it sounds almost certain that there ain't no power going to the pre amps. People can forget about the last time they installed a fresh battery as with the new circuits they can last up to a year(useage taken into account) I am not sure about the older basses but it is a cheap fix to start with.

yogalembic · « **Reply #9 on:** June 15, 2012, 04:32:41 AM »

Good morning all.....

No spare batts in house (what?

) Although I metered the batt @ 9.46vdc.
The thing is, once I shut down for a few minutes, then power it up, it's fine for about 5 minutes, then the repeat scenario.
Sounds as if a component is warming up, then failing, which happened with my Polytone.

Regardless, I'll grab fresh batts today.

The saga continues---film @ 11. lol

tncaveman · « **Reply #10 on:** June 15, 2012, 05:00:11 AM »

Michael - not sure if this will help, but my new older Elan sort of did the same thing. I kept thinking it had a bad jack. I looked at all the trouble shooting pages and found a post by the seller (another Michael) and he said that he couldn't use Monster Cables w/ the bass. A generic cable worked fine with it. Sure enough, I switched cables and it worked fine. I put some callipers on the plug and it's slightly smaller than the generic plug and the tip has a different shape. It's kind of weird - it would work one minute and then start getting a staticy sound. I also had a few issues w/ scratchy pots on my GK amp. The scratchy pots were cured w/ some cleaner. That part was kind of odd timing. All is well now. Good luck!

Stephen

David Houck · « **Reply #11 on:** June 15, 2012, 05:54:40 AM »

Speaking of scratchy pots. If the bass hasn't been played recently, or the previous owner always left the controls in the same place, you might want to exercise the pots and jack.

artswork99 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 15, 2012, 07:46:46 AM »

Also consider re-seating all connectors.

pace · « **Reply #13 on:** June 15, 2012, 07:53:53 AM »

There have been basses w similar probs in the troubleshooting section, but you have to prob go back a few years.

All the pots in the bass are sealed so cleaner won't penetrate, but they are self cleaning, if you work them 50-100 times....

Good luck!!!!

yogalembic · « **Reply #14 on:** June 15, 2012, 09:16:21 AM »

I love the support found here!

This weekend, I'll have plenty of time to (hopefully) ferret out a solution.

I had an early a.m. chat with the seller today. He played it problem free for about an hour before it was picked up for purchase.

I'm starting with my cable.

On a more jovial note: maybe the Dis wants to play exclusively with my F-1X. At the moment, it's going through a Trace V-Type pre amp.

Ah, the thrill of the chase.....!?!?!