Alembic Spoiler Issue

[g-dude]

I owned a Spoiler Five for 10 years.

If this had happened to me:

Replace the battery. Although I don't think that's it: Unlike a lot of battery circuits, once a battery loses enough voltage, Alembics will distort like an AM radio between stations for several hours before they wink out.

I'd exercise the two pots, they're self-cleaning, just roll them open to shut quite a few times.

You can remove the back plate and carefully unplug and plug back in all the connectors you can see. IF your bass has one or two of the blue box preamps (not all do) be sure the little white slot screw trim pot(s) are at least halfway through their travel. These are individual gains to set the blend in the both-pickups-on spot on the rotary selector out front.

The traditional rotary selector circuit is neck pu/ both pu/ bridge pu/ standby (both pu OFF).
I'd check it as well.

Of course, it's a SWAG (Silly Wild Ass Guess) to diagnose these things long distance, but I owned one for a long time and knew them very well. I'd also contact Will Gunn at Will Gunn Guitars, an Alembic-only dealer. Will has an encyclopedic knowledge of them and could be a big help, and easier than reaching the perpetually really busy small shop at Alembic.

Link Removed
(615)708-7783
[email protected]

Also, at www.alembic.com, click on 'The Alembic Club', Alembic 's online forum with lots of users and info.

Best of Luck,

JW

Be careful plugging and unplugging your pickups.

The wires can get fragile, and you may find yourself with a wire that breaks where the connector was crimped on.

Ask me how I know.

Of course, if this happens, the “official” tools are expensive to fix, but I sourced stuff off of Amazon that was way cheaper.

 

[J Wilson]

Be careful plugging and unplugging your pickups.

The wires can get fragile, and you may find yourself with a wire that breaks where the connector was crimped on.

Ask me how I know.

Of course, if this happens, the “official” tools are expensive to fix, but I sourced stuff off of Amazon that was way cheaper.

I said 'carefully', and I don't need to ask how you know !

 

[g-dude]

I said 'carefully', and I don't need to ask how you know !

What kills me is how careful I was…and it was putting things back together that was the problem.

That being said, I’ve gotten my Alembic to a place where I feel like there isn’t anything else it actually “needs”, especially since I reinstalled the missing pickup threaded insert.

 

[rapidfirerob]

I owned a Spoiler Five for 10 years.

If this had happened to me:

Replace the battery. Although I don't think that's it: Unlike a lot of battery circuits, once a battery loses enough voltage, Alembics will distort like an AM radio between stations for several hours before they wink out.

I'd exercise the two pots, they're self-cleaning, just roll them open to shut quite a few times.

You can remove the back plate and carefully unplug and plug back in all the connectors you can see. IF your bass has one or two of the blue box preamps (not all do) be sure the little white slot screw trim pot(s) are at least halfway through their travel. These are individual gains to set the blend in the both-pickups-on spot on the rotary selector out front.

The traditional rotary selector circuit is neck pu/ both pu/ bridge pu/ standby (both pu OFF).
I'd check it as well.

Of course, it's a SWAG (Silly Wild Ass Guess) to diagnose these things long distance, but I owned one for a long time and knew them very well. I'd also contact Will Gunn at Will Gunn Guitars, an Alembic-only dealer. Will has an encyclopedic knowledge of them and could be a big help, and easier than reaching the perpetually really busy small shop at Alembic.

Link Removed
(615)708-7783
[email protected]

Also, at www.alembic.com, click on 'The Alembic Club', Alembic 's online forum with lots of users and info.

Best of Luck,

JW

Thanks for the great response. The one time my battery had an issue, it distorted. I changed the battery today. I use the bass often, but I rolled the knobs back
and forth today. I'll take another look at the connectors. I'm fairly sure they are all the way in, but i'll look again. I had a pickup changed years ago when it stopped
working completely. The person who swapped them re connected so the neck pickup rotary position is where the bridge position was. No big deal. No issues until yesterday.
I have an account with The Alembic Club but can't recall my password. When I request a password reset, I get no email (spam either). I'll try calling Will Gunn.

 

[J Wilson]

These things are built to last with any kind of normal care. This problem is on an 80's production bass.

No solder joints, all plug in. Top shelf pots and wiring. No wood screws on an Alembic, except the tailpieces and the cinch screw on the keys. Double truss rods (the trick to double rods? Set your relief on the low side, then set your identical relief on the high side, done), most have adjustable nuts, one piece bridges, there is so much built into these to not need service for very long periods with any kind of reasonable handling.

Threaded inserts (no wood screws), conductive paint (no foil), and bespoke electronics in many cases. Look at the wiring job.

I mean, who else specs stainless pickup screws as they're non-magnetic? I always say Alembics are NOT for everybody, they're just not. BUT . . . if they are, believe me, there is nothing, I mean nothing like an Alembic.

 

[rapidfirerob]

These things are built to last with any kind of normal care. This problem is on an 80's production bass.

No solder joints, all plug in. Top shelf pots and wiring. No wood screws on an Alembic, except the tailpieces and the cinch screw on the keys. Double truss rods (the trick to double rods? Set your relief on the low side, then set your identical relief on the high side, done), most have adjustable nuts, one piece bridges, there is so much built into these to not need service for very long periods with any kind of reasonable handling.

View attachment 5418937
Threaded inserts (no wood screws), conductive paint (no foil), and bespoke electronics in many cases. Look at the wiring job.

I mean, who else specs stainless pickup screws as they're non-magnetic? I always say Alembics are NOT for everybody, they're just not. BUT . . . if they are, believe me, there is nothing, I mean nothing like an Alembic.

I'm with you, brother! I've been playing this instrument since I bought it new in 85. Nothing like it.

 

[g-dude]

These things are built to last with any kind of normal care. This problem is on an 80's production bass.

No solder joints, all plug in. Top shelf pots and wiring. No wood screws on an Alembic, except the tailpieces and the cinch screw on the keys. Double truss rods (the trick to double rods? Set your relief on the low side, then set your identical relief on the high side, done), most have adjustable nuts, one piece bridges, there is so much built into these to not need service for very long periods with any kind of reasonable handling.

View attachment 5418937
Threaded inserts (no wood screws), conductive paint (no foil), and bespoke electronics in many cases. Look at the wiring job.

I mean, who else specs stainless pickup screws as they're non-magnetic? I always say Alembics are NOT for everybody, they're just not. BUT . . . if they are, believe me, there is nothing, I mean nothing like an Alembic.

So spot on.

I was really impressed by the bridge in particular when I disassembled and rebuilt it, and the adjustable nut is awesome.

 

[rapidfirerob]

Later today I will take a picture of the circuitry. Maybe someone will notice something.

 

[rapidfirerob]

It looked like the grey wire from the volume pot (middle wire) may not have been in all
the way. I gently pushed it in with a needle nose plier. Bass still plays. Hopefully it took care of the issue. We'll see in the future. Anything you guys notice
would be great.