Spoiler questions

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Author Message bumhucker New Username: bumhucker Post Number: 4 Registered: 3-2006 Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 6:06 pm:    I am considering getting a spoiler- has anyone ever owned a lighter weight spoiler-under 9 lbs? are they comfortable? they don't normally have contours right? sorry for all the questions! i have seen quite a few used spoilers around on the net-i could actually afford one of those soon-a custom shrot scale essence is a ways off in my future. 32" scale might be a good compromise... pas Member Username: pas Post Number: 68 Registered: 3-2003 Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 5:15 am:    I've been playing a spoiler since '85 - bubinga top. Not too heavy for me & perfectly balanced. Medium scale really makes playing in 1st postion quite comfortable. I also had one with a cocobolo top & crown headstock. It was somewhat heavier, due to the cocobolo, but still balanced well. Having a wide strap will help distribute the weight better. Highly recommended. ed_r Member Username: ed_r Post Number: 72 Registered: 10-2005 Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 3:41 pm:    . (Message edited by ed_r on March 14, 2006) bumhucker New Username: bumhucker Post Number: 7 Registered: 3-2006 Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 5:59 am:    is it a pain to slap on the spoiler cuz the neck pickup is so close? it seems like there might be just enough room... adriaan Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 797 Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 6:28 am:    Depends how fast and furious you get, I suppose. The earliest Spoilers had the neck pickup really close to the end of the fretboard. On my 1988, the gap is already wider, and it's plenty of space for what I do slap-wise. Newer Spoilers seem to have the neck pickup even further away, perhaps the same distance as on Epics and Orions - which seems to be roughly twice the distance. pas Member Username: pas Post Number: 69 Registered: 3-2003 Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 8:43 am:    I rarely slap, so it's not much of a concern for me. That being said, I prefer the location of the neck pick-up being flush up against the truss rod cover, as it is on my '85 spoiler. My '99 spoiler, which was custom built, gave me a shock when I opened the case & saw it the first time. The neck pick-up was moved further back towards the bridge. I wish I had known they were going to do that. Keep in mind, this was before we had the Alembic Club & an FTC section. I didn't like the new pick up placement from a feel, tone or aesthetic standpoint. In addition, the neck profile on the 2 spoilers were different. The 85 has a little thicker & has been the picture of stability - I've NEVER had to tweak it. The 99 - which had purpleheart laminates - was thinner, and although the purpleheart is supposed to provide more rigidity to the neck, I had to tweak it repeatedly. Next time I order a custom, I'll have every nuance accounted for. bumhucker New Username: bumhucker Post Number: 8 Registered: 3-2006 Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 9:13 am:    cool-thanks for the info. i'll just look for an 89 or newer. i'm not a huge slapper but sometimes i have to whip it out. that's good to know about the neck profile too. adriaan Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 801 Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 10:56 pm:    Just to give you an impression of the distance you should find on a late 1980s Spoiler: pas Member Username: pas Post Number: 71 Registered: 3-2003 Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 5:09 am:    The way the neck pick up is flush up against the truss rod cover - definitely my preference. Contrast that with my '99 spoiler: http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/3653.html?1141066721 adriaan Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 805 Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 5:44 am:    Agreed Paul, the neck pickup on your 99 is way out there - might sound fine, but the looks ... Check out this set-neck baby blue Spoiler in FTC -http://alembic.com/club/messages/631/19065.html?1140635371 - the "neck" pickup is in the sweet spot, and somehow it looks more in balance. By the way, the earliest Spoilers had a much narrower truss rod cover, and the neck pickup was closer to the end of the fretboard. bumhucker New Username: bumhucker Post Number: 10 Registered: 3-2006 Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 1:22 pm:    cool-thanks for the examples. i know what to look for now! there is a koa spoiler on ebay right now but i don't have the $$ yet. dang it. it's nice one.