(x) Alembic Epic SN 95W8847

[steveo]

Just received my second Alembic four string, this one an Epic birds eye maple top beauty. Seems wider at the nut than my Spoiler, can keep the strings on the neck when I bend notes. Any info on this bass appreciated. Would love to lower the action but seems complicated. Thanks all

[adriaan]

Set-ups are actually pretty easy, just follow the step-by-step instructions from Joey's Post on Setting Up Your Bass.

I would expect the Spoiler nut to be actually wider than the Epic nut, as Spoilers typically have "classic" taper (wider at the nut, narrower at the bridge) vs. "comfort" on Epics (narrower at the nut, wider at the bridge). However, the strings on the Spoiler may well be slightly closer to the edge of the fingerboard than on the Epic.

[steveo]

Ok thanks for the info...since my Spoiler is long gone, just going from memory. I do love everything about this neck and string spacing. I don't miss the fret marker inlays on the Epic...super clean look to it. The ebony is still in great shape, put flats on right away...old school player I just prefer them. The Alembic pickups are so nice I can get any tone I want with the flats. Cheers, thanks again!

[mica]

Hi Steve,

Here's the details I found in the instrument file for your bass:

top: Bird's-eye Maple
accent: Purpleheart pinstripe
body: Mahogany
neck: 3-piece Maple
scale: 34" long
fingerboard: Ebony
pickups: Alembic MXY4
controls: volume, pan, bass, treble, mono output
originally made for: Music Unlimited, San Leandro, CAbirthday: February 6, 1995

This fingerboard is 1.65 x 2.35 (nut x 24th fret), it's likely that your Spoiler was 1.75 x 2.25, so the nut on the Spoiler would have been wider and the bridge spacing much closer. We have changed our default edge spacing (distance from the edge of the outside string to the edge of the fingerboard) to be .15 inches. Previously it was less so it was easier to bend strings right off the fingerboard. If you even run across another old Spoiler with that issue, a newly fitted nut and bridge saddles can tighten up the spacing and the strings away from the edge no problem!