BROKEN EPIC----Maybe

[pinbacking]

I need some help, I just bought a new Epic (used) through guitar center,  and a couple of things are irking me and I'm not positively sure of the control layout, I think something may be broken.  Here's a pic
 
 
 
 
4 most obviously seems to be volume, 2 seems to be a tone, 3 doesn't seem to do anything at all.  1 is weird, in that when it is turned up it is nice and loud and sounds great, but when I turn it down the sound goes away, leading me to believe that this may be the pan and that a pickup is out or something.  Any help would be much appreciated; I want to fix the problem if possible, if not then I'd really like to send it back!  which would suck.  Please help

[mica]

If you can post a picture of the inside of the electronics cavity I could identify the functions for you easily. In a normal installation:
 
1- pan
2- volume
3- treble
4- bass
 
So what you've observed seems to be different from what we usually do. First, make sure both pickupst are plugged into the pan module. Don't pull the wires, touch the housing only (use needle nose pliers if you need to ).  
 
If someone moved the control positions, check and see if the solder side of one board is in contact with the conductive paint on the side of the cavity and shorting out. This can happen at the end of rotation if the nut holding the bushing of the pot in place isn't held fast.

[pinbacking]

Here's a couple pics of the control cavity  

 

 

  If you need it any brighter please tell me, thanks

[Bradley Young]

Uneducated guess, and I'm looking at it on my cellphone, so it's hard to tell, but I'm not sure those are Alembic electronics.
 
If you want, I can bring my epic to work with me on Thursday, and we can compare notes.
 
Alternately, some pictures of my control cavity (well, the one on my epic, anyway) are here : http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/34467.html?1166478383
 
Bradley

[pinbacking]

Well, it still has the alembic PU's, at first glance anyway.  It might be helpful if you know some things about soldering and could help me fix it.  Looks like all the stuff is there, red cord, yellow cord, black cord, big grey cord; its just all messed up and, from the looks and sound of it, the person who had it before tried to change the orientation, perhaps.  Still too early to tell

[pinbacking]

The control knobs do look different than Alembic ones though

[pinbacking]

Ya, it does look a lot different.  None of variable gain tone pots like in your picture or in my other alembic.  Damn, what should I do?

[keith_h]

If it were me and the electronics truly aren't  Alembic I would return it. After all you expected and paid for an all Alembic instrument. To quote Paul TBO, There will always be another.  
 
Keith

[funkyjazzjunky]

What happend to the silver shielding paint in teh control cavity?

[811952]

Looks like maybe it spent some (low) quality time with a router to make room for some more conventional electronics, thus the silver paint is gone...
 
John

[82daion]

Seconding that those aren't Alembic electronics.
 
The circuit board doesn't look like an Alembic part, nor do the pots, and the wiring looks like nothing that would be let out of Santa Rosa.

[lbpesq]

Looks like Italian electronics, as in spaghetti.
I'd want a BIG discount or my $ back.
 
Bill, tgo

[pinbacking]

Well, I returned it.  $50 hit for shipping, but I guess it's worth it to find the right one.  It was pretty sad to return it, even if the electronics were switched and botched!

[briant]

Dude.  That sucks. :-(
 
At least you only got hit for $50 on the shipping.  Still, that's really weak.  Bummer man.

[David Houck]

Kind of makes you wonder what Guitar Center will do with it now.