Author Topic: Aquired used Alembic Spoiler...Have Questions (Read 169 times)

schwagadelic · « **on:** July 31, 2010, 02:59:01 PM »

Hello. I have been a fan of Alembics for some time and resently got 2 of them. I got a mid 90s Epic that is in great shape and this Spoiler that is very used. That is no problem to me. It sounds great, but I have some questions and hoping I can get a few answers here.

I am uploading a close up of the pick ups and nobs. I am wondering if these pick ups are Alembic pick ups. The bass is a 1983 and I am not sure if Alembic was putting their name on these pick ups around this time. Bascially I am wanting to know if these are Alembic or not. I also am curious about the knob functionality. The POT on one of the knobs needs to be cleaned, but what does the 2 way switch do? Is it an Active/Passive type deal? The other knob...Is that just preset tones? I did notice that if the knob is all the way to the right, the bass won't put out any sound. Is this normal? Sorry for the ignorance, but I am learning. I would appreciate the help. I really love these basses and just want to learn the ends and outs.

Here is the link to the picture. I used image hosting because the file is too big and I don't feel like editing it.

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/9131/pic2alembic.png

lembic76450 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 31, 2010, 03:20:53 PM »

Dominic,
Yep, those are the real deal. The knobs are Alembic hat knobs and the pick-ups are from the era that did not have Alembic embossed in them. The control layout is in the FAQ and Must Read section.

schwagadelic · « **Reply #2 on:** July 31, 2010, 03:49:10 PM »

Thanks for follow up. As I am reading this forum I am finding more and more answers. Any idea on the wood? Mahogany maybe? Koa?

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 31, 2010, 04:00:56 PM »

Hello Dominic,
Welcome to the forum. If you start a thread with your serial number from the Spoiler as the title, Mica will look it up when she has the chance. It may take some time as Alembic is a small family-run business.
I hope you enjoy your spoiler for years to come.
Mike

schwagadelic · « **Reply #4 on:** July 31, 2010, 04:09:26 PM »

Just did. I will do the same for my Epic when I get home. Thanks for the info everyone.

David Houck · « **Reply #5 on:** July 31, 2010, 05:09:07 PM »

Hi Dominic, welcome to the board, and congrats on picking up an Epic and a Spoiler. As Kenn mentioned, a description of the Spoiler controls can be found in our FAQ section here.

The pots on both of your basses are sealed, self-cleaning pots. If the pot is scratchy, just turn it back and forth for its full rotation twenty or thirty times.

There is a lot of information in the FAQ and Must Reads section. But if you still have questions, just ask; someone will usually jump in when they run across the thread.

FC Bass · « **Reply #6 on:** July 31, 2010, 06:59:47 PM »

Welcome here!

I'm pretty sure that's a solid Koa body, like almost all early Spoilers ('82/'83) had.

Congrats and have fun!