Author Topic: Persuader 89P5559 (Read 3226 times)

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #30 on:** June 27, 2014, 12:12:45 PM »

+1 for Rogue / Europa style.

Very performance friendly.

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #31 on:** June 30, 2014, 03:58:01 PM »

Hey folks, thanks again for the helpful advice and educated opinions... if you've been following this (does it qualify as a saga yet?) here's the latest update.

I just made the call... and after a brief but informative conversation with Mica about the installations, a set of Alembic's PJ / PVF activators are headed my way later this week. For the controls, I opted for Volume/Pan/Filter + Q (3 position switch) Sounds like the only mod necessary is I may possibly need to slightly recess for clearance on the Q switch. If so, may also need to dab some shielding paint in there. Very soon I hope to have this old bass back up to spec.

slawie · « **Reply #32 on:** June 30, 2014, 05:45:36 PM »

Congratulations.
The waiting is the hardest part.
Take your time when installing.
Measure twice, cut once!
slawie

David Houck · « **Reply #33 on:** June 30, 2014, 07:38:48 PM »

Congrats!!

bigredbass · « **Reply #34 on:** June 30, 2014, 09:55:38 PM »

Bingo ! The single filter is faster in that you're Q'ing both filters 'globally'. Looking forward to hearing your impressions once everything's restored.

BTW, you've stumbled (like a lot of us did) into Alembic ownership from a used axe, only to find Mica and Alembic treat you like you just spent a fortune with them on a new axe. They are just the best people in the world. Encyclopedic in their knowledge of their guitars and basses, they are so vitally interested in the lives of these axes, new or used.

I appreciate Mica, and Susan, and Mary greatly, they're just the best.

J o e y

flpete1uw · « **Reply #35 on:** July 01, 2014, 04:06:48 AM »

Couldn't agree more with Joey, All my Alembic Basses were purchased used (1 being a 1975!) and all needed to be worked on or I wanted to modify.
The modify was a Persuader in adding a Q switch, good choice Edward by the way

.
The good people at Alembic were amazing at their support and quickly with much care helped me in getting my girls singing like they were meant to. Couldn't have done it without them.
Best of luck with your new Bass and like Slawie states go slowly, if you even think there is an issue stop, think, take a break, then come back to it. This is probably one of the reason's it takes so long to build one. Time spent well.
Peace,
Pete

(Message edited by flpete1uw on July 01, 2014)

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #36 on:** July 01, 2014, 05:16:23 AM »

Pictures of progress coming when I figure out how to shrink the files... saw an FAQ on that somewhere around here... =)

(Message edited by edwardofhuncote on July 01, 2014)

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #37 on:** July 01, 2014, 05:20:04 AM »

Was telling Mica yesterday - last year, after thinking it over for several years, I finally ordered a guitar from C.F. Martin & Co. going through their Custom Shop, painstakingly replicating a treasured 1930 vintage Martin guitar. Talking with the director, I was able to specify every minute detail of the guitar, from selecting the tonewood, right down to the traditional hide glue they used constructing the body. I now look forward to doing that here with Alembic... though admittedly I have no idea yet what that bass will look like or what wiring I'll prefer, sort of the 'fun part' is figuring all that out.

In addition to building top quality instruments, I can't recall having a more personable experience than the past couple exchanges with the Alembic office staff. I would be willing to bet a sizable percentage of Alembic players are return customers having multiple Alembics, many of them having started out with a secondhand one.

As we say here in Virginia - they are a fine buncha' folks!

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #38 on:** August 14, 2014, 07:29:38 AM »

I haven't updated this thread in a while, but 89P5559USA is almost ready for business again.

The new activators, Volume/Pan/Filter/3 position Q-switch arrived week before last, just as I was headed out for a week of playing music/vacation... (is there a difference?!) I only had time to open the box and admire the new parts, and remove all the installed aftermarket Bartolini equipment. Sadly, but not surprisingly, I found the control cavity was a mess too. The Volume and Pan, and Jack holes were unscathed, but the hole where the Filter pot would go had been moved almost a half-inch to the left, which didn't allow for clearance on the card. It would have to be plugged and re-drilled in it's original position. The hole that the Q-switch would go in was way oversized, and wasn't even round, so it would have to be completely redone as well.

A couple late evenings of shopwork and the repairs are complete. After some pre-fitting, including a somewhat un-nerving counterbore recess for the Q-switch, followed by brushing in a new coat of shielding paint, the control cavity is now ready to accept the new equipment.

I swear I'll post some start-to-finish pictures one day!

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #39 on:** August 14, 2014, 09:48:12 AM »

Control Cavity before:

and after:

and on the outside:

David Houck · « **Reply #40 on:** August 14, 2014, 03:14:21 PM »

Thanks for the pics; nice to see this bass getting its Alembic magic back!

jon_jackson · « **Reply #41 on:** August 14, 2014, 05:35:46 PM »

Very nice woodworking. Good job.
Jon

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #42 on:** August 15, 2014, 06:49:11 AM »

Spent yesterday evening in the shop installing all the new electronics into the repaired cavity, then re-mounted the brass hardware after polishing. Ran out of time last night, so this evening I'll re-string the bass, set the action and pickup height. Then, at long last, I hope to PLAY IT.

Looking forward to that magic, Dave!

Thanks, Jon!

P.S. I'm ordering a set of hat knobs this afternoon... they will be just large enough to cover the fix on the filter pot re-drill. (Thanks FC and Mica.)

Here's last nights' work:

artswork99 · « **Reply #43 on:** August 18, 2014, 07:18:15 AM »

Real nice woodwork! The installed electronics look really good

I'm sure they sound even better!

FC Bass · « **Reply #44 on:** August 18, 2014, 08:31:14 AM »

Yeah, looks great! Way to go!