Author Topic: EEEEEK!! Please try and help! please. (Read 500 times)

georgie_boy · « **on:** November 03, 2014, 09:51:55 AM »

I've just resurrected my 76 Series 1 from her case after 4/5 years with the hope of blowing the village apart.
BUT
I plugged in to my amp with just the jack socket, and all I get is screech /wail switches cutting in/out/volumes up/gone /down/ switches seem just crap!!
When I put her in the case 3/4 years ago, she was a monster!
Please help me to fix my baby.

Thank you

G

adriaan · « **Reply #1 on:** November 03, 2014, 10:07:54 AM »

Yikes!

The normal routine would a couple of dozen turns on each of the volume and filter pots, which makes them self-clean. For the switches, the same treatment.

Using the jack usually means you're activating the batteries. If you've left them in the bass all this time, they might sit very snug - but they'd need to go. Exercising the jack might also help removing built-up corrosion.

What happens when you run it with the 5 pin?

lembic76450 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 03, 2014, 05:53:52 PM »

I had a same sort of issue with my '76 a few years ago. With the stereo 1/4 it would just go on and on. When I used the power supply it would squeal/screech for a couple of minuets and then go away. It did this for about 9 months and then it just stopped. Something different from yours is my volume controls would turn it off while it warmed up. I thought at the time it might have been a leaking capacitor. Maybe Micah knows about this and will weigh in.

georgie_boy · « **Reply #3 on:** November 04, 2014, 01:31:23 AM »

It's great with the 5 pin!!!!
Just an odd very quiet tick on the odd occasion, but I think exercising the pots/switches and jacks after all this time should have her back to good health. Batteries will be changed at the week-end
Thanks guys!!!!!

G

bigredbass · « **Reply #4 on:** November 04, 2014, 03:44:30 PM »

Great result, Georgie Boy.

For those newer owners reading this who are using Alembics on 9v batteries, whether the Series instruments or any of the other AXY/FatBoy, etc. pickup systems:

When the 9v's go south in your Alembic, it's NOT like an EMG or Bart setup, where they slowly fade to black, gain-wise: They will fade somewhat, and then at low voltage they DISTORT ! They don't go quietly into that Dead Battery Night. Until you've experienced this a few times, the beginning of the fade is very subtle, and then, all hell breaks loose, so always take an extra 9v or two in your gig bag. Obviously on Series axes the power supply allows you to skip this, unless there's a failure there and you're going to need those 9v's to finish.

As well, unlike most instruments, Alembic specs very good pots with wipers, so often a bit of static in the knob's travel can be worn away with 50 or 60 back and forth rotations of the given pot, and once again, you're nice and quiet.

J o e y

terrace · « **Reply #5 on:** November 04, 2014, 06:31:46 PM »

Thanks once again Joey.May i add a suitable Phillips screwdriver for access .

georgie_boy · « **Reply #6 on:** November 06, 2014, 10:41:37 AM »

Thank you Joey!
Just like your set-up post, this is spot on. Same as the advice from Adriaan.
What actually happened, was that I plugged a mono lead into the jack just to make sure all was well, but this squeal/groan/roar appeared ; there was some little sound, but very little volume and that depended on the 3 way switch setting. In the up position, it screeched like a Banshee, but got less as the switch was moved down.
Next day, noise, but no volume at any setting. I really thought that my baby had died!
Posted my Plea for help, and Ken/Adriaan and Joey all stepped in right away...............THANK YOU!.
RESULT:
power supply brought the sound back nigh on to perfection. Changed the batteries today ( a very snug fit in the oldies) and exercised all the switches/pots/jack, and even the blue box and 5 pin entry to the bass.She seems as good, if not better, than I ever remember! I now remember why I bought her and play her (again). I will use her everyday, as even my beloved 75 P bass cannot compete.
I have a little cheap 15 watt practice amp which I bought in Paris (France) in 1996. I need to exercise this as well, but I MUST say, I can get the real Stanley sound from this silly little box.
As they say.....

Exercise is really good!! lol

Gentlemen............I thank you
To see the beast, just check the profile pic

George

georgie_boy · « **Reply #7 on:** November 06, 2014, 10:59:53 AM »

Thank you Joey!
Just like your set-up post, this is spot on. Same as the advice from Adriaan.
What actually happened, was that I plugged a mono lead into the jack just to make sure all was well, but this squeal/groan/roar appeared ; there was some little sound, but very little volume and that depended on the 3 way switch setting. In the up position, it screeched like a Banshee, but got less as the switch was moved down.
Next day, noise, but no volume at any setting. I really thought that my baby had died!
Posted my Plea for help, and Ken/Adriaan and Joey all stepped in right away...............THANK YOU!.
RESULT:
power supply brought the sound back nigh on to perfection. Changed the batteries today ( a very snug fit in the oldies) and exercised all the switches/pots/jack, and even the blue box and 5 pin entry to the bass.She seems as good, if not better, than I ever remember! I now remember why I bought her and play her (again). I will use her everyday, as even my beloved 75 P bass cannot compete.
I have a little cheap 15 watt practice amp which I bought in Paris (France) in 1996. I need to exercise this as well, but I MUST say, I can get the real Stanley sound from this silly little box.
As they say.....

Exercise is really good!! lol

Gentlemen............I thank you
To see the beast, just check the profile pic

George

georgie_boy · « **Reply #8 on:** November 06, 2014, 11:01:36 AM »

oops.......sorry.....double post!

terryc · « **Reply #9 on:** November 07, 2014, 06:15:23 AM »

georgie....is it a myth or is it true that this bass was owned by Norman Watt-Roy and is on the 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick' video?

georgie_boy · « **Reply #10 on:** November 07, 2014, 09:20:16 AM »

Wow!
You're very well informed Terry. It may well have been that bass, but I'm not sure, as there were very few S1 basses around at that time.
From the historical searches I've made, NWR had 2 S1's I may have the other one, but from what I,ve deduced, the bass belonged to Georgio Kilkenney.
Who?? well if you watch the live version of Dexy's C'mon Eileen , That's it at the back!. It may have belonged to NWR before or after this, as, at the time I bought her from the Bass Centre in London, there was a second one there that was in pretty bad shape, that was owned by the same person, so, I got the good one sent up, and sent it back for some work........and now...........she's been here for 14 years!
It's one or the other, or both LOL

G

georgie_boy · « **Reply #11 on:** November 07, 2014, 09:22:17 AM »

But, how did you hear this story?

G

terryc · « **Reply #12 on:** November 10, 2014, 01:12:12 AM »

Georgie..well yes I know Georgio had a series bass and I thought he had had bought it from NWR.
The reason I know that it was mentioned on here ages ago but I knew before that 'cos I saw Wilko at a small gig in Darlington a long time ago and I was talking to him and asked what happened to his Alembic, he said he sold it to someone in London and then it went up north but he didn't know where.

georgie_boy · « **Reply #13 on:** November 11, 2014, 10:34:35 AM »

May be that bass dude!
G

jazzyvee · « **Reply #14 on:** March 06, 2015, 01:32:32 AM »

Hey I have been watching a you tube video from BassJaymia and he is looking over a 1980 series I bass. I heard this squeal when he turned the filter for the bridge pickup and it reminded me of this thread. So I though i'd better put it here so we get to know what the squeal is from the filter. It's a few seconds in from this point.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cHx-cxM2HY&list=UUkL5Yr0mf37cfKZ4u-vUbIQ&t=172