3 PU Spoiler??

[David Houck]

The circuit board differs a little from mine
(mine's an '84).  But it looks like the circuit
board is still intact.  It looks like one of the
modular connectors that the leads from the
pickups plug into on the circuit board is missing
and instead the white wire from what appears to
be the middle switch is hard wired where the
connector was.  The white wire from the rear
switch is plugged into the other board
connector.  And it looks like the leads from the
pickups go to each switch; but other than that I
can't tell how the switches are wired together.  
But it looks like some combination of the three
switches chooses two signals to go to the circuit
board.  I'm guessing the filter control and Q
switch are ok.  So I feel a lot better about it
than I did before.  If only signals from two
pickups are going to the board at any time then
there may be no problem.  And if the wiring was
done well this may be a very nice setup.  The
pickup installation appears to be ok, though the
screws look a little large.  You should ask if
the new pickup has been installed correctly and
if the height adjustment screws work as they
should.
 
(Message edited by davehouck on March 23, 2004)

[effclef]

Great eyes, Dave! I wonder if you are right about the pickup selection. Only way to find out is to try it.  
 
Pegleg, I would suggest getting the exact serial number and calling Alembic to see if they have anything on file. They can probably tell you how the bass was originally shipped, and whether or not it ever needed repair.  
 
Hopefully those pickups are all real Alembic ones. (I have no idea if anyone else made soapbar style the right size.) The screws that hold the pickups are different from other basses you may have seen. Instead of using springs underneath for the up/down adjustment, Alembic uses two screws on top and two underneath. You have to loosen the top ones, and then slip the screwdriver down into the other two holes to adjust the height, then retighten the top ones to snug them down against the underside screw heads. In this bass, I can see the neck pickup has mismatched screws and the position is reversed compared to the other ones.  
 
The chiseling in the cavity doesn't look too bad.
 
I'd also see if you can knock $100 or more off the asking price, because it is modified. It can never truly be brought back to stock condition...
 
The good news is, the rest of it is STILL an Alembic, so if you do get it, you will enjoy the Alembic hardware adjustments and the feel of the neck.
 
I wonder if it is medium scale, 32? (Measure from the nut to the 12th fret and then double the number.) A lot of people find that much more comfortable than normal 34 scale and the sound doesn't seem to suffer at all.
 
Good luck, Pegleg - keep investigating.
 
EffClef

[lembic76450]

I'd like to throw out a question to those of you with knowledge. My '76 Series pick-ups are plain
and my '86 Spoiler has Alembic embossed in them. When did that start? That might help Pegleg figure if those are Alembic pick-ups.
 
Kenn

[hollis]

It might help, but then again........My Skylark's pickups are plain, that is to say Alembic is not embossed on them, and yet they are most assuredly Alembics......Hmmmmmmmmmm.....Clear as mud?

[kipknee]

My '84 Spoiler has (had) plain pickups.  The bridge pickup died in 1987 and the replacement I ordered from Alembic was embossed.

[mica]

I don't remember when the plain/engraved/gold decorations on the pickups took place. I think the engraving happend before I started working here in 1987. Usually you can order pickups with different finishes to match what's on your Alembic already.

[adriaan]

The AXYs on my 88 Spoiler have ALEMBIC embossed, but without the gold accent, and in a plain type face, which is different from the fancy logo. The MXYs on my 94 Epic have the fancy logo with the gold accents.
 
Is my memory playing tricks on me, or is it correct that there have been AXYs or MXYs that looked as if they were made out of rubber? Most seem to have a shiny surface, sometimes the top has a satin-like texture (perhaps to go together with the gold lettering?).
 
I seem to remember some Epics that had MXYs embossed with plain type ALEMBIC, and these did not look shiny at all.

[effclef]

Pegleg, any news? Have you actually tried the bass out yet?
 
EffClef

[pegleg]

No, I have not played it; it is over 1800 miles away.  We are still working the numbers.  How strongly do you feel about your pricing opinion?  The boss lady is gonna kill me either way.

[effclef]

Well, it's hard to say without actually seeing it and trying it out. But unmodified Spoilers do go, at times, for what this store is asking. So seeing as how the mods are radical (third pickup plus three extra holes for the add-on switches), my opinion would be that it should go for less.  
 
I do know I've seen this in the store's ad for several months - 3 or 4 I think. They may be motivated to sell! Can't hurt to ask.  
 
Another alternative is to post to Swap Shop and ask - hey, anyone got a nice Spoiler for sale? There were a couple which appeared and sold about a month ago.  
 
EffClef

[pegleg]

Alas, it was not to be.  I had $900 on the table.  I sent a status request email yesterday.  The reply came a few minutes ago stating it was sold this past weekend.  I am sad.  Some day my Alembic will come.......

[keavin]

hey keep your head up alembics are plentyful!

[keavin]

hey keep your head up pegleg,lembics are all around you!

[effclef]

Sorry to hear that, Pegleg. Well if you can, save  
that $900 toward another. Add to it if you can.  
And ask on the Swap Shop section of this board!  
someone may have one.
 
They do show up...just keep looking. I think you  
will be happier with a completely stock model  
anyway, not one which has been modified so much.
 
EffClef