I've got a mouse stuck in my Alembic.....!!!

[edwin]

You know, I thought this was the case. I got lots of nasty looks when the bass unleashed the squeal. Except that it happened with several different basses, including one with EMGs, so it's not the pickups. It only happens when I use my fEARful cabinet, which is full range. When I just use a JBL K140 equipped speaker, there's no feedback unless I want it.
 
So, what cabinet are you using, Jazzy?

[jazzyvee]

Mesa boogie powerhouse 2x10. I believe it is a full range cab Edwin. Mica i will try standing by the cab later when i do my practice session and let you know how close it happens.

[jazzyvee]

Oops i forgot to try this again for mica to give me a response. Will try next time my rig is up. However the pots do still try to squeal at the fully open position but only as its moves into or out of the fully open end. I regularly exercise them and so far they have not squealed on a gig. I wonder if changing the pots would cure that?  Does anyone have a spare good set to sell or maybe let me know what the cost of new ones are.

[jazzyvee]

The squeal is back near the fully open end of the low pass filter. I notice one on youtube being reviewed and it is the same sound.

Maybe that will help you identify the problem better.

[jazzyvee]

I had a chat with Mica on the phone last night and I intend to send the bass off to her to get it looked at which should include the noise upgrade and possibly new pickups if they are a problem, move the pickup selector switch to be in the more modern place near the rest of the knobs. I just need to sort out with my insurance company whether it's covered when it transport by a common carrier and get a price for shipping over to Alembic.
It's not a cheap option but the other choices are not that palletable.

To sell it, I'd would obviously declare the issues I have and the buyer would still have to get the noise cancelling update and get the squeal fixed.
Not play it, keep it as a collectable or hang it on the wall as an ornament. Hmmm..... I've rescued a few alembics from that position.
Take it to gigs but hope it doesn't play up. I've done that a few times but not felt I could relax.


Will keep you posted...

[Phil P]

If you decide it's not viable to return it to Mica, let me know. The filter circuit is not complex. If it gets fixed on this side of the Atlantic it will not be original 100% Alembic which may impact on the resale value and it wont get the noise reduction mod - but it will be playable. I can give you some pointers on what it's likely to need.

Shipping Direwolf over recently cost a heck of a lot (Fedex). If it gets repaired by Alembic theres a possibility you could get stung for duty on the way back. That would add to the pain.

Phil.

Edit. It would be a crying shame to relegate it to being an ornament.

[keith_h]

Phil brings up a good point about the taxes. I recall seeing on a UK customs site that VAT is owed on any repair and/or upgrade costs. Might be time to look into the cost of tickets to SFO and a personal visit to the mothership.

[jazzyvee]

Those points about shipping and taxes are exactly what mica reminded me about and i have been stung painfully on that point in the past. The other option might be to sell it to a buyer in the USA and the cost of shipping would be one way, the sellers cost and then they could get the upgrade done at alembic with no international shipping costs. I would then be on the market for another series shorty. Hmm any offers?
Thanks Phil, in truth the rf interference is not loud at all and certainly is less than my other non alembic guitars with single coil pickups. It's not audible when playing either. I'm just a bit OCD because it isn't as silent as my other alembics. I suppose I could just order two new filter pots and see if that cures the occasional squeal when the filter is fully open. 

[HyAlembicK]

First, let me say thank you for all the nice compliments of my SII.  Jazzy, just let me know when you want 405, you are the only person I would like to have her, as I know you would play it as much as me. (Maybe more) If you do come in to the Mothership I  would come down and visit.  I had an essence that would not stop squawking. I ended up replacing the filter. I felt the dirt, sweat and blood must have damaged the filter. I do change my settings a lot while playing, and was very active at that time. It would be the least expensive option of those you mentioned. I always check out your stuff, both here and on Facebook. Love what you do, brother!

Niko

[jazzyvee]

Here is my current situation. After doing some calculations it has become clear that sending it back to alembic would be an uneconomic option. I have been contacted by a few members of the forum and so I have some options to consider but I guess no-one is rushing me so I can take a long term view. Like many of us the dream of a custom is always lurking in the backround somewhere and i'm no different and twarted by the same things finance & decisions on how to specify a perfect custom bass. One of the things I love about this forum above all others is the thought provoking insights you guys have about these wonderful instruments and about basses generally without any superfluous judgemental stuff going on like on the other bass forums. Thanks guys I really appreciate your comments.


Well for now I’m going to gig her like a “Romantic Warrior”  on a “Dayride” of “Sofistifunk” hoping for her to exhibit “Crystal Silence” and if "Senor Mouse" comes back I will wonder “Where have I known you before” but there will be “No Mystery” and there will be no “Mothership Returns” by me to “The Sourceress” and “The Magician”.
The “Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant” starts now and will “Return to Forever”,  and “Forever” means Alembic ! 

[edwardofhuncote]

Well played, sir. 

[pauldo]

A true "Hero" "If That Bass Could Only Talk" it would probably say (with the Alembic crew) that "We Supply (all your funky needs)".

[mica]

You guys are cracking me up!

[jazzyvee]

Good news guys, just over a week ago I went up north to meet up with Phil, (George's dad, the electronics wizard), as he offered to take a look at my bass and resolve the issue. So now it's only making musical noises. I have played it a lot this week and it sounds fine.

One thing he noted which I hadn't was that there is a difference in the outputs on the pre-amps. the neck is considerably louder than the bridge. I understand part of that is the physics of where the pickups are located and less string movement over the bridge pickup. Anyway I decided to raise the bridge pickup as far as I can comfortably and compared the output with my other series basses and it is significantly lower even with the trim pots maxed out. When I get a bit more free time I will just go through and meticulously check all the connections and see if something has vibrated astray at any point then report back or maybe ask Phil if he could take another look at it.

I think I need to order a spare set of filter pots and if the mouse re-appears I can change them over, but I will wait till I need some other goodies and spread the shipping across the package cost.

He's an interesting bloke and I also got my hands on one of Pierre-Yves former series basses that Phil now owns. It has master volume and pan instead of vol vol and sounds great though totally different to my vintage series I.

[jon_jackson]

Pierre-Yves actually sold a series bass???