Author Topic: Spoiler Information (Read 174 times)

essencetimestwo · « **on:** May 17, 2004, 04:50:10 PM »

I was wondering if anyone could tell me anything about the Spoiler model. Features, control layout and such. Original pricing and todays market value. Can anyone point me in the direction of any technical info or threads on the Spoiler. I know that if anyone can help me out it will be somebody here in the club.Thanks a bunch in advance

(Message edited by essencetimestwo on May 17, 2004)

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** May 17, 2004, 05:45:26 PM »

Well, the electronics are Volume, Pickup Selector Switch, Filter, Q Switch. The Volume is closer to the bridge than the Filter. There are two trim pots. The retail on a new one is probably right at $4,000. Most Spoilers were 32. Most had Mahogony bodies, Maple necks and Cone headstocks. Many had Koa tops. I believe some of the earliest had solid Koa bodies.

(Message edited by davehouck on May 17, 2004)

bsee · « **Reply #2 on:** May 17, 2004, 06:21:19 PM »

I didn't think the Q switch was present on all Spoiler basses. In general, they have sold on eBay from $800-1200 in the standard body shape. Exploiter shaped Spoilers tend to go for a few hundred more.

Persuaders are pretty similar with slightly different electronics and tend to go for slightly less.

dannobasso · « **Reply #3 on:** May 17, 2004, 08:12:51 PM »

The first spoilers had soild Koa bodies glued to a maple neck. (no laminates) It was the first afforadable Alembic offered in the 80's. I have an 83 4 string like this. All true Spoilers have the Q switch. Persuader don't although they are the same in shape. You could get them any manner of electronics. I have a Spoiler exploiter that was ordered with double p pickups with V, V, T, controls, quilt maple over mahogony. I really like the electronics package. I ordered my Excel 5 with that package with the fatboys. BTW in 83 my 4 string was just under a grand w/o case. Those were the days!
Danno

lembic76450 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 17, 2004, 08:22:09 PM »

Simon, there is still a Spoiler link,http://alembic.com/prod/spoiler.html
I hope this helps.

Kenn R.

hup · « **Reply #5 on:** May 18, 2004, 04:09:10 AM »

Also check out the showcase part of the club it shows all. I'm a proud SPOILER owner and its an awsome bass to play, mega to look at, its an all around great bass!!!!!!!
Hup

ALEMBICISE THE WORLD

apdavis · « **Reply #6 on:** May 18, 2004, 10:54:44 AM »

The Spoiler was considered one of the best recording basses that Alembic made at the time.

I'm still happy with my Exploiter/Spoiler.

APD

bsee · « **Reply #7 on:** May 18, 2004, 11:09:07 AM »

I get the feeling that anything 'better' than a Spoiler just gets you more ability to tweak tone parameters from the front of the bass. I almost universally run my basses flat into the amp with the volume cranked, so I doubt it would matter much to me. Any tone shaping is done through the preamp in my setup, which is programmable to make easy transitions between songs. With all the different styles and sounds I need, I don't think I would want to remember how to adjust six or eight knobs for every tune we do.

Am I missing something, or is this an accurate assessment?

-Bob

dannobasso · « **Reply #8 on:** May 18, 2004, 01:22:29 PM »

Works for me. I always run my basses the same flat out, both pups, q on. Preamp (F1X) all knobs at 12 o'clock, bright and deep up. I have a Distillate that I like the bass and treble boost cut on. That's a cool feature. My SC deluxe has the pan (no detent)that I like less than a selector switch. My Excel is 2 pups equal on the pan as well (has detent)I love Spoilers. They sound and play great.
Danno

adriaan · « **Reply #9 on:** May 18, 2004, 01:31:13 PM »

Bob,

With the Alembic filters flat is not really flat. Even with the Q switch in neutral and the filter knob open, there's always a small amount of boost around the highest setting for the cut-off frequency (IIRC 3500 Hz) and there's a roll-off for frequencies above that.

What kind of programmable pre-amp are you using? And have you A/B'ed going directly into a 'classic' pre-amp versus going through your processor? At the risk of sounding like a purist, most of the times you'll hear a lot of the sound built into the processor and just a tiny bit of the sound of the bass.

Just my 2 cents.

Adriaan

bsee · « **Reply #10 on:** May 18, 2004, 02:12:41 PM »

Adriaan,

I don't disagree with you. Playing a lot of covers, I find that a relatively accurate representation of the original tone often works better than a 'perfect' bass tone. For that, I have the Bass Pod XT.

My favorite pure tones come from things like the Mesa 400+ or the Alembic preamp, though I currently own neither. I've got one of the original Baby Blue amps that does pretty well. I like to think that I can be as much a purist as the next guy when the situation calls for it, but I consider myself fortunate that it is not an obsession for me. On the other hand, I generally won't buy a bass unless it sings to me acoustically. I firmly believe that you have to start with good wood to get great tone.

When I refer to flat, I meant more that I didn't tweak a lot of knobs during or between tunes to alter tones. This habit goes back to the old active basses I had in my youth where trying to alter the tone from the bass would add significant noise. I am not old enough that I couldn't have had an Alembic back then, but that was not my lot.

adriaan · « **Reply #11 on:** May 19, 2004, 12:18:12 AM »

Bob,

Sounds like you have a decent set of ears and a lot of practical sense (well, at least where your rig is concerned ).