| Author | Message | ||
| godoze
Member Username: godoze Post Number: 74 Registered: 10-2004 |
I've got a lead on a beautiful Lacewood SII. It is a 1980 model. Just wondering if there are issues with the age that effect sound. I 'm thinking mostly about the electronics. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 498 Registered: 3-2004 |
Well, you have to look at the data on the electronics upgrade. I did some research recently on the boards and believe that what I read was as follows: Most but not all of the older Series basses will experience some problems when exposed to ambient fields resulting in high frequency hums coming out with the sound. If you play in an electronically quiet area, you won't notice it. If you play in the big city, it will show up if the bass is susceptible. If the bass requires the upgrade, it typically costs anywhere between $1000 and $1800. The result is a bass that is more quiet than it was when it was born. Does this seem accurate to everyone? | ||
| godoze
Member Username: godoze Post Number: 75 Registered: 10-2004 |
yes. along the lines of what i was thinking. I'd love to post shots of this bass but o do not know the size limits here and it seems that i have o make my shots extremely small in order to post them. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 499 Registered: 3-2004 |
look here for pic info: http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/447.html?1022542644 | ||
| godoze
Member Username: godoze Post Number: 76 Registered: 10-2004 |
IF I could only figure out how to change the resolution... | ||
| the_mule
Advanced Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 337 Registered: 1-2004 |
Don, for that you need some kind of drawing or picture editing software, like Paintshop Pro, Photoshop or maybe even more simple stuff that came with your computer and/or printer (Picture It, Imaging). Unfortunately my e-mail capacity is limited, but I'm sure someone around here wouldn't mind if you e-mailed them one or two pictures, so that they could post them here. Good luck, Wilfred | ||
| tom_z
Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 69 Registered: 7-2004 |
Don - I'd be happy to optimize and post the images for you. Feel free to email them to me if you like. | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 519 Registered: 12-2002 |
Take it from me, guitars are like wine,they sound better with age. wood settles and breaths with the weather,but electronically it might require an upgrade,however my alembic (old #12) is the best sounding bass on the planet and i do experience some noise from time to time especially when im on stage in a casino or places like that,but the older the better,any PRO will back that up,but remember one thing, all guitars are made from "aged" woods. | ||
| lbpesq
Intermediate Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 160 Registered: 7-2004 |
Except of course for Travis Beans, which are made from "aged" aluminum, and Ovations which are constructed of "aged" helicopter plastic. And I shouldn't forget the old "aged" acrylic Dan Armstrongs. (I knew there was something I like about Alembics). Bill, tgo (Message edited by lbpesq on November 21, 2004) | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 474 Registered: 6-2002 |
Keavin, You are sooo right. The 1972 Alembic that I have sound much better than all the others I have. It has a certain vibe that I just cannot explain. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 501 Registered: 3-2004 |
The folks at Alembic say that the instruments they make today are improved over the ones made long ago, but there is no way to speed up the aging of the wood, especially when it is played regularly. But what about the electronics? Do they improve with age, or would a fresh set of electronics on that beautiful old piece of wood result in even more of a masterpiece? While I won't have anything to compare it with, the '82 Spoiler that is on the way here has '99 Signature electronics in it. Hopefully I will end up with the best of both worlds! | ||
| poor_nigel
Senior Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 428 Registered: 7-2003 |
A couple of things not covered, and not concerning electronics related, are that the older basses generally had a thicker, Gibson-like neck. I much prefer the thinner necks of the newer models. The old ones have a thicker body and weigh a bit more - I love that part! The necks are set back on the body about an inch, so they are a touch less neck heavy (Get a Balance K, if you want perfect balance). The bridges are not as adjustable as the newer ones. The newer ones are wider (deeper) in the dimension of the saddle area, so greater adjustment is possible on newer models. I believe an 80 would have the double truss rods, something I consider of great importance. If you slap, the pickup selector can be a bit painful, if you don't watch out on the old ones. This info is just posted for FYI. IMO, the old ones and the new ones are almost equal when the variable of woods aged another 20+ years is put the mix. Now if you can get a new one made of aged (20 years or more) woods, that would be great! Bob is on the right track. | ||
| godoze
Member Username: godoze Post Number: 77 Registered: 10-2004 |
Tom i tried to email you but it came back "undeliverable." | ||
| poor_nigel
Senior Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 429 Registered: 7-2003 |
Use tshaw@maine.rr.com If that does not work, use tkshaw@maine.rr.com I have a problem with AOL people sending me e-mails sometimes, and all servers go down because of problems or maintenance, at one point or another. Please try again. | ||
| godoze
Member Username: godoze Post Number: 85 Registered: 10-2004 |
I just recieved a shot of the headstock. The logo is there but the name "Alembic" does not appear. Is this possible ? | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 520 Registered: 3-2004 |
Common in older instruments. | ||
| godoze
Member Username: godoze Post Number: 86 Registered: 10-2004 |
Well, I've just got a whole slew of pictures of this bass and it is gorgeuos ! Looks like I'll be making the deal after T-day... If i could resize the shots i would post them. even has a bookmatched Lacewood headstock. Anyone know what cranolin is ? | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 1043 Registered: 5-2002 |
Apparently, Cranolin is a pot cleaner. Why do you ask? | ||
| jagerphan84
Intermediate Member Username: jagerphan84 Post Number: 121 Registered: 10-2003 |
Here's what I got from Google: >>A chemical called cranolin (sp?) was mentioned as sold by MCM. I was told that Ten-Tec repair shop uses two cranolin products to cleanup corrosion on the wafer switches. The first is called "K5" that dissolves the corrosion while "V5" coats the part to protect it against future oxidation. MCM doesn't list it, nor does (almost) anyone on the web sell it. I've seen another reference to "Ten-Tec's repair shop" and in that post they are said to recommend an entirely different set of products (Collins Collector's mailing list), also hard to find. There aren't many references on the web to cranolin, but I did find an on-line health supplement store selling it for about $50. No, it can't be the same thing. Maybe an urban legend?<< Maybe not too helpful, but it's something. | ||
| godoze
Member Username: godoze Post Number: 87 Registered: 10-2004 |
The person that has this bass tell me that it hasn't been played in = years; it's been sitting in the case and the "it may need a bit of = cranolin." He went on to say that everything works and sounds great. As soon as I get the serial number I will persue this bass further. | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 1044 Registered: 5-2002 |
Mica has stated that Alembic uses sealed pots and that therefore spraying them with electronics cleaner is useless. She states that the pots are self-cleaning; that turning them back and forth several times is usually sufficient for cleaning noisy pots. | ||
| edwin
Junior Username: edwin Post Number: 38 Registered: 5-2002 |
The reference is to Cramolin, a product made by CAIG Labs. It's very good stuff. However, Dave is right. The pots are sealed. I have a '78 series one that required a new pot, but for the most part, they last a very very long time. Edwin | ||
| edwin
Junior Username: edwin Post Number: 39 Registered: 5-2002 |
The reference is to Cramolin, a product made by CAIG Labs. It's very good stuff. However, Dave is right. The pots are sealed. I have a '78 series one that required a new pot, but for the most part, they last a very very long time. Edwin | ||
| edwin
Junior Username: edwin Post Number: 40 Registered: 5-2002 |
The reference is to Cramolin, a product made by CAIG Labs. It's very good stuff. However, Dave is right. The pots are sealed. I have a '78 series one that required a new pot, but for the most part, they last a very very long time. Edwin | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 521 Registered: 3-2004 |
Interesting method of padding your post count, Edwin! | ||
| edwin
Junior Username: edwin Post Number: 41 Registered: 5-2002 |
Sorry about that. My browser was telling me the messages hadn't gone through, but then I checked later, and well, there it is! Edwin |
