New to alembic and torn on what to do

[Alembicnoob]

Pics or it didn't happen..... Jazzyvee is working on the pics now, so hopefully soon. It spoke to me at the shop when i bought it. so keeping it is of course what i want to do.  Money wise, right now i get by. I'm a full time student and bartender so the bills are payed and the lights are on. but there isn't a lot of wiggle room. When I am done with school I will have plenty of funds to get another one if i do sell this one.  BUT.... I just love the raw look to this bass. that is why without hesitation I jumped on it.  For what they are worth compared to what I paid for it, I got it at a steal.
 
I'm pretty sure that you guys have talked me into keeping her, and I appreciate that.
 
Thank you
-JP

[5a_quilt_top]

My advice - which is based on the perspective of someone who works for a small guitar store - is always:
 
If you really like it and don't need to sell it - hang onto it.
 
100% agreement with Edwin: Chasing what you already had is always a losing proposition.
 
We just love it when someone walks into the store with an instrument they absolutely must sell. Likewise, we love it when someone walks in with a request for an instrument they absolutely must have.
 
Either situation puts us squarely in the driver's seat.
 
As for advice on your repair:
 
If the bass functions well enough, other than the noise, to use for your purpose I'd continue to use it until you have the funds and time required to upgrade it correctly (read: by Alembic).
 
Also, remember you'll need a backup instrument to cover you for the duration of time it will be at the mothership.

[lbpesq]

Does it make noise in all environments?  Not all the old instruments need the upgrade.  I have a '76 medium scale guitar and a '77 long scale 12 string, both Series 1.  Neither has had the upgrade.  In most situations they do not make noise (unless, of course, I want them to).  Sonicus, a member of this site, has an early Series 1 bass that made noise in the studio where he bought it (near lots of RF interference), but is relatively silent in my studio.
 
Bill, tgo

[sonicus]

Bill is telling it like it is !   We have not seen your instrument yet but I would tend to agree to keep it as well . I know sellers remorse all too well .  
 
 Wolf

[ed_zeppelin]

Tell you what: as a Series 1 owner, not only do I agree that you should keep it, but if someone at the Mothership will set up an account, I will gladly contribute a significant amount toward the repair and encourage my fellow members of this elite fraternity to follow suit.
 
After all, you can't make much money with a busted bass.  
 
I'm not doing you a favor, I'm repaying one (more like hundreds).  
 
The only condition would be that you do the same for somebody else up the road.

[jazzyvee]

Here are the pictures of Alembicnoob's bass

 

 

 

 

 

  Enjoy

[edwin]

Looks like it's in pretty good shape!

[David Houck]

Pickups need to be mounted properly.  Pickup selector switch has been moved; but it looks like it was done quite nicely.
 
Did you get a power supply and five pin cable with it?

[Alembicnoob]

no power supply.  
how can the pickups be mounted better? could that be causing some of my noise problems?

[bsee]

Not noise related. Alembic pickups are mounted differently from most others. Many pickups use springs or foam underneath and just screw down from the top. As such, they aren't really locked into place.
 
Alembic pickups are mounted with the screws/bolts on one diagonal pushing down and the other diagonal underneath the pickup holding it up. When they are all made snug, then the pickup is held firmly in place.
 
All of your screws are mounted from above, probably by someone who wasn't used to the Alembic method, so you can't adjust the position correctly. To fix it, you have to loosen or remove the strings and remove all four screws. Then, put two on a diagonal back in before the pickup. Screw them in far enough so that you can place the pickup over them and then get the other two screws to bite on the other diagonal. At that point, you should be able to put a screwdriver through the hole in the pickup to adjust the lower screws and adjust the upper ones from the top. Be careful about how much pressure you apply anywhere or you might crack the pickup housing. Set the pickup height and angle any way you like it.
 
-bob

[David Houck]

No; not causing the noise.
 
Take a look at .  Notice that it looks like there are only two screws for each pickup; that's because the other two screws are under the pickup.  The pickup rests on two screws in opposite corners.  Then the top screws hold it securely in place.
 
Mica has written a nice description on how it works and how to adjust pickup height here in the FAQ section.
 
There are also several posts about pickup height adjustment in the Must Reads section.
 
Be sure to note that when tightening the top screws, you don't want to over tighten; that could result in cracking the shell.  Similarly, you want to remember to loosen the top screws before raising the bottom screws.

[elwoodblue]

Have you plugged in a stereo(TRS) plug in to hear both pickups ?(headphones I hear can work)  
A mono plug will just give you the neck pickup. There is a thread here that shows how to make a proper mixing Y cord.  
 
You might be able to bring the noise down with the gain/humcanceller adjustments on the back plate.
 Hopefully you'll get a reasonably awesome sound to keep you busy until the upgrade.

[sonofa_lembic]

Dude, the bridge is on backwards!  Reverse it, and it will intonate and sound better.  You will have to reposition the individual saddles for intonation, but at least get them going in the right direction. LOL.

[sonicus]

Could be after a  cleaning it got put back wrong . Mr. Lindsey might be correct as he has seen quite a few of these .
   
Wolf

[charles_holmes]

Good eyes Lindsey! But for me (IMHO)...This is a no brainer...KEEPER!!! Just sayin' mind ya! THanks for the photos Jazzyvee!