Author Topic: Serial Number Question (Read 493 times)

essencetimestwo · « **on:** March 02, 2005, 12:55:19 PM »

Just received my new Spoiler and am curious about the serial number. It is printed on the end of the fingerboard and is very difficult to read. It seems as though it wasn't stamped deep enough or has worn off. From what I can tell it reads 87S4454. The last number is a guess since it is barely visible. Does this sound correct for a stock spoiler with a birdseye top? If so I would love the build info. Does anybody know if the serial number is hidden anywhere else on the instrument? I already looked in the control cavity. Can the serial number be restamped at the factory? Hey Val remember me? I am the guy from Chico. You spoke with my girlfriend Wendy about installing a Q-switch in my Essence. I am still planning to come down at some point and can bring the Spoiler too. Let me know what you think.

lbpesq · « **Reply #1 on:** March 02, 2005, 10:48:45 PM »

Hey Simon:

The '87 means it was built in 1987. The S means it is a spoiler, and the 4454 means it is the 4,454th instrument ever built by Alembic. My '83 Electrum guitar is #2780 and an '85 Electrum in the Showcase thread is #3796, so 4454 for an '87 sounds about right to me. My Electrum also has the serial # on the 24th fret, as did most Alembics of that era. When I brought mine to the factory, Mica copied the number into the electronics cavity.

Usually Valentino or Mica will respond with build info on this thread within a few days, though they do have other work to do.

Bill, tgo

essencetimestwo · « **Reply #2 on:** March 03, 2005, 09:36:40 AM »

I have had several dealings with Mica and Val in the past and they always go above and beyond the call of duty. Anyway it seems that I have another problem. I took the bass home and plugged it in last night. the pickup selector switch was dirty and the signal cut out sometimes. this seems to be getting better as I work the switch back and forth. The other problem is a buzz like a bad ground from the neck pickup. I switched the neck and bridge pickup connectors at the preamp and the buzz still stayed with the bridge pickup. It is quiet with the neck pickup soloed, a little louder with both and really loud with the neck soloed. Any thoughts on this? Anybody got a Fatboy pickup they want to sell me?

David Houck · « **Reply #3 on:** March 03, 2005, 09:52:28 AM »

This may not be the problem, but the first thing that came to mind to look for; does your Spoiler have the ferrite bead in the control cavity? And are the pickup leads from both pickups passing through the bead? For those of you who are unfamiliar with the ferrite bead, it is, to quote Mike (Dadabass), a hollow cylindrical tube that significantly reduces stray RFI (radio frequency interference).

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 03, 2005, 10:15:55 AM »

Spot on Dave!
A quick way to tell if RFI (and I don't mean Radio France International) is a problem is to check if the buzz changes or diminishes as you turn around (sorta like using your bass as a radio direction finder)
Mike

effclef · « **Reply #5 on:** March 03, 2005, 10:31:33 AM »

Hah, OK, figures we have bass players who are also shortwave listeners around here!

EffClef

valvil · « **Reply #6 on:** March 03, 2005, 11:55:25 AM »

Hello Simon,

here's what we have on file on your bass:

1987 4 string medium scale Spoiler bass
flame maple top
mahogany body
maple neck
ebony fretboard
chrome gotoh tuners
oval inlays
completed 7/3/87

That's it.

Valentino

essencetimestwo · « **Reply #7 on:** March 03, 2005, 12:03:27 PM »

Thanks for the build info Val! As for the other problem with the buzz it does change when I move around or get closer or farther from the amp. I don't think it is being caused by the lack of a ferrite bead because neither pickup has the bead and only the neck pickup makes the noise. Thanks for the ideas though. Any other thoughts?

effclef · « **Reply #8 on:** March 03, 2005, 12:15:43 PM »

Check where the pickup wires head for the circuit board, and make sure the shield (outside braid wire) goes into the connectors in identical directions. At least this sounds like the way Ron would have laid them out. If the connectors are two-pinned and square, then one pickup may be reversed. I don't know what the inside of the Spoiler cavity looks like, though.

EffClef

David Houck · « **Reply #9 on:** March 03, 2005, 12:17:10 PM »

Well, just for kicks, and in the interest on Science!, take the bead out of your Essence and put it in the Spoiler and see if it makes any difference.

Here are some other threads that might be helpful:
http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/5718.html
http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/3578.html
http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/3187.html
http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/8949.html

David Houck · « **Reply #10 on:** March 07, 2005, 05:04:32 AM »

Ken;

I moved your serial number request to a new thread of its own here. I figured it would increase the chance that Val or Mica might see it.