Author Topic: Alembic Service in South Florida (Read 155 times)

bobrien330ci · « **on:** January 02, 2005, 09:27:12 AM »

I've got an Alembic Bass that I purchased in 1976. Needs some work. Anyone know of a person in South Florida who you'd trust to refurbish an original instrument?

dgcarbu · « **Reply #1 on:** January 02, 2005, 09:49:31 AM »

First of all, Welcome to the club Bob!

There's a lot of information in this forum.

Give us more details like what kind of Alembic do you have, (a pic would also help)and exactly what kind of work does your Alembic require?

Darrell

bobrien330ci · « **Reply #2 on:** January 07, 2005, 07:14:19 PM »

Thanks for the welcome. It's a 4 string bass with a long-scale neck numbered A067 and built in '76. I bought it at a place called Stars Guitars in San Fransico. After almost 30 years the bass needs new electonics - so it needs a complete update on pickups, preamp, etc. I also had the frets removed in 1980 and am toying with the prospect of re-fretting the bass.

I really don't want to mail it back to the factory if I don't absolutely have to, plus I want to discuss the work thoroughly with whoever ends up doing it. So I'm wondering if there are any Alembic-certified repair facilities in South Florida.

Thanks

Bob

lothartu · « **Reply #3 on:** January 07, 2005, 10:21:20 PM »

Hi Bob, welcome to the club.

Wanting to get a '70s Alembics electronic package updated is a reasonably common thing around here. Some '70s basses need the update while other models don't. It appears to be pot luck. (pun intended)

Alembic electronics are special. Any and all electronic upgrades should be done by Alembic. If a wire comes desoldered or something comes loose the people at Alembic will go out of their way to help you so that you DON'T have to send the bass back to them but what you're talking about is an electronics package upgrade which is very much a ship the bass back and get comfy because it'll be a while job.

Why do you say that the bass needs new electronics? What is it about the current (pun not intended) electronics that you are unhappy with? The usual reason for an older Alembic getting an electronics upgrade is that the bass has become too noisy. (Actually it's not the bass that's become noisy, it's the modern air being packed full of signals that were never there in the '70s and now that older bass is picking up all the modern electronic interferance.)

As far as refretting the bass goes you could find someone close to you to do that I'm sure but you'll have to ship the bass to Alembic for the electronics anyways so you might as well get that done there too. That way you'll know it's going to be done properly.

- Jim

serialnumber12 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 08, 2005, 04:27:41 AM »

Man, Stars guitars (which is the birthplace of modolus graphite basses) on folsom st in san francisco, that was my hangout in the 70's i had my old#12 worked on there and if im not correct that used to be ALEMBIC be fore they moved to 40 foley st in santa rosa.i'm sure there's someone in florida that can help,get online that should get you some play.

lbpesq · « **Reply #5 on:** January 08, 2005, 08:24:53 AM »

Wow, Stars Guitars on Folsom! Brings back memories. I got my stratoblaster there. Also had them put what I think was called the stardrive eq into my '61 strat in the ever elusive quest for tone. (Pulled it out in '86 when I got my boogie - the strat is basically back to original now). I always thought they had something to do with Alembic, just wasn't sure what.

Bill, tgo

jlpicard · « **Reply #6 on:** January 08, 2005, 08:44:14 PM »

Gee, Somewhere in a pile of boxes that I have stored in my basement is an old Stars Guitars pre amp that I once had installed in a late seventies Chavel P-bass! Brings back some old memories of a trip to San Fran and a meeting with Geoff Gould. I remember a neck thru Modulus with three pickups, vol, and just on/off switches and a short scale graphite necked bass that had the the thinnest neck that I have ever felt in my life! All I can remember of Geoff was that he was very adament about these basses being far superior to anything else on the market. Thanks for jogging my memory!

bracheen · « **Reply #7 on:** January 09, 2005, 04:44:38 PM »

Hello Bob, there is an Alembic dealer in Stuart that may be able to point you in the right direction. If not Bass Central in Orlando might have a suggestion.

I'm in NE Florida so I'm no help at all, sorry. I don't know anything about Stars Guitars either. My hangout in San Francisco is Johnny Foley's Pub on O'Farrell near Powell.

Good luck and welcome to the club.

Sam

bigredbass · « **Reply #8 on:** January 13, 2005, 09:01:05 AM »

Bob

While not familiar with South Florida, I can recommend my friend Dick Boyden at ALEMBIC's dealer in Pensacola, Tringas Music (850/477-2210).

Dick is a first class tech, builds his own amps, and I would trust him with anything I own. And if this would NOT be his cup of tea, he won't be above telling you, a VERY important trait for this kind of work.

Best of Luck,

J o e y

palembic · « **Reply #9 on:** January 13, 2005, 01:26:02 PM »

Hello Joey,

glad you are posting again!
Some people in the club -me included- tried to post E-mails to you privately what didn't seem to work anymore.
Hope you are well and with you misses bigredbass>
My regards.

Sory guys and girls completely off topic!

PTBO

bigredbass · « **Reply #10 on:** January 13, 2005, 10:54:07 PM »

My long lost Belgian Brother:

Me and Miz Betty are doing fine, I've changed ISPs to ComCast and will post my new E*address once I get a new one (I'll update my profile).

Hope Santa was good to you and yours.

J o e y