Author Topic: Alembic failures - are there any?? (Read 454 times)

hankster · « **Reply #15 on:** April 16, 2014, 06:59:58 PM »

Locking screw on bridge pickup loosens over time and pickup suddenly starts rattling around. Happened once in nine years. I think of it as character.

R

pace · « **Reply #16 on:** April 19, 2014, 10:32:49 AM »

I went to Activate a fender jazz bass last week, smelled burning when I plugged it in (electronics seemed to work great outside of bass), and smoke poured out of the input jack when I unplugged it!!!

Looks like a cap burnt on the filter board, so the whole set is off to Santa Rosa.... Looking forward to the diagnosis!!!!

elwoodblue · « **Reply #17 on:** April 19, 2014, 11:23:28 AM »

You let out the magic smoke !
I hate it when that happens.
That reminds me of putting a 9 volt in the same pocket as my keys...DON'T DO THAT

The center detent has gone smooth an a couple of my activator pots, and there's a nice beeep as it goes from 10 to 1.

terryc · « **Reply #18 on:** April 20, 2014, 10:08:03 AM »

elwoodblue..that brings back memories about the 9V in the pocket with loose change..got this lovely warm feeling and there wasn't a woman in sight! LOL

terryc · « **Reply #19 on:** April 20, 2014, 10:08:17 AM »

elwoodblue..that brings back memories about the 9V in the pocket with loose change..got this lovely warm feeling and there wasn't a woman in sight! LOL

smokin_dave · « **Reply #20 on:** April 20, 2014, 01:51:20 PM »

I've given this a lot of thought as to whether to post my experience with my bass or not but the fine folks at Alembic treated me and the problems with my bass so well I guess it must be told.

In the summer of 03' I pulled the trigger on the purchase of my Purpleheart Rogue 5 from Bass Central and the good Beaver Felton and waited anxiously for it's arrival.

UPS arrives with my new purchase in good shape and I excitedly uncrated the my new treasure pulled it out of the case looked it over plucked the strings and so far so good.

Now it's time to run it through the amp.Fire up my practice rig plug the new bass in and....nothing.Well maybe a lot of pops and static but nothing as I expected to hear.Checked the battery but it was good so an immediate phone call to the Mothership was in order.

It was determined that my bass was to be overnighted back to Alembic,repaired and overnighted back to me where finally I played the most incredible sounding playing bass I've ever owned and thought to myself that those folks at the Mothership,when problems beyond my control arose,really treated me right.

OK.Let's fast forward here about 1 and a half years later to the truss rod predicament.

I was doing a setup on my bass,adjusting the truss rod when CRACK.....what the hell was that?The truss rod on the bass side of the neck had snapped and with every turn of the rod nut,the rod itself was working it's way out of the neck.
Another panicked call to Alembic results in my bass being returned for repairs and to my surprise they sent me a loaner Orion 5 to use while I was on a particular busy playing season.Astounding.I couldn't think of another company that would do that for a customer and that is why I say to everyone that Alembic is the greatest instrument manufacturer in the world.

Also I found out later that I own the only bass they produced that had a truss rod break.

Flash forward a few weeks later when my Purpleheart fiver is now returned to me to discover that the quick tone and Q switches were inoperable and another call to the Mothership was in order which resulted in another overnight shipment of a new replacement electronics set to swap out.

Once again,what other instrument company out there is going to do all of that for a customer?

I pledge my allegiance to the BEST instrument manufacturer in the world....ALEMBIC.

lyla53 · « **Reply #21 on:** April 21, 2014, 09:18:20 AM »

HUGE RECURRING PROBLEM = There are never any hats available in the online store.

dannobasso · « **Reply #22 on:** April 21, 2014, 10:59:11 AM »

Led switches, PU switches on my Skylark, 2 basses with one note buzzes. Shrinkage of fretboards exposing frets on every Alembic I own and have owned. About 25 in all.

bsee · « **Reply #23 on:** April 22, 2014, 01:29:52 PM »

That's true, Danno - the frets, and often the plies of the neck will shrink/expand differently and you can feel slight ridges at the glue joints. Not really a problem for me, but I could see how they might bother someone buying new at the top of the market.

jzstephan · « **Reply #24 on:** April 26, 2014, 03:02:39 AM »

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/20662-guitar-shop-101-how-to-file-sharp-fret-ends

alemboid · « **Reply #25 on:** May 21, 2014, 04:13:12 PM »

Fragile output jack! They are made with a plastic body and if you use a straight plug, knock it the wrong way and you are SOL. They should be steel. I was sent a replacement by Mica and it was incredible- all steel. Just be careful with Alembic output jacks!!!

blazer · « **Reply #26 on:** December 23, 2014, 05:29:50 PM »

Well we at Knooren Handcrafted have seen our share of Alembics needing new frets since their owners will play them to death.

It takes careful planning and a steady hand to get those old frets out since Ebony can chip like a nightmare.