| Author | Message | ||
| glocke
Senior Member Username: glocke Post Number: 498 Registered: 9-2002 |
Well, after having some problems with my series I that I wasnt able to fix myself (E string buzz, bridge pickup that kept coming loose and than settling in at an angle), I decided to take it into a person who does setups and came highly recomended.... Got a phone call from her last night about my bass....Im really not sure what to think....First she complained that the pickup cavities were too tight and asked me if I wanted them routed out...I naturally said no thanks. Than she "complained" that the fret wire used on my bass was the smallest fretwire shes ever seen and said she didnt know why they used such small fretwire....she than proceeded to tell me that the setup would cost $90.00...(my firends that went in with non alembic basses were charged about $40.00) .I told her to forget about it and that Im coming back to pick up my bass later this week.. I really need to learn how to do this stuff myself, but Im worried about messing something up. | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 2008 Registered: 6-2002 |
But the joy is in the messing up - you overdo stuff, then you bring it back to normal. And all of a sudden "normal" is a much lower action or much less relief than what you were used to. Alembics are designed to be eminently adjustable with just a couple of simple tools in the hands of the owner. Just read Joey's Post on Setting Up Your Bass. During the process you will render your bass unplayable, but you'll soon get the hang of testing the limits to get it just right, for you. The only thing to keep in mind is pretty obvious: don't force any of the nuts beyond how far you can get with just a firm touch. | ||
| spose
Advanced Member Username: spose Post Number: 207 Registered: 5-2002 |
route the cavities!!!!! YIKES!!!! you did the right thing by RUNNING AS FAST AS YOU CAN AWAY FROM HER! jeeezze louise... | ||
| hydrargyrum
Senior Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 414 Registered: 3-2004 |
Wow, just wow. . . | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 3394 Registered: 7-2004 |
Gregory: You might want to pick up an el cheapo instrument just to practice on. It's not really necessary - there's little likelihood you will damage your Alembic by adjusting it, but you'll feel a lot less nervous working on the cheap bass until you get the hang of things. This will also give you an appreciation for just how logical and user-friendly the Alembic designs are. "Hey, your bass has a little neck dive - mind if I just cut the headstock off? Then it will balance perfectly!" I agree with Spose - this is not the luthier for you. I hear her husband is an auto mechanic - "Hey, your Ferrari has too many cylinders. I can't believe they built it like this. Do you mind if I just take a blowtorch and cut out 1/3 of your engine?" hehehehe Bill, tgo | ||
| glocke
Senior Member Username: glocke Post Number: 499 Registered: 9-2002 |
ugh.... she just called...apparently the words "do not touch my bass" went in one ear and out the other when I talked to her yesterday..she went ahead and did set it up, action, intonation, neck adjustment...etc...ill be picking it up tonight and will be ninety dollars poorer...crap... | ||
| spose
Advanced Member Username: spose Post Number: 209 Registered: 5-2002 |
heh heh Bill, you funny  but yes, that's how I see it too..like taking your sports car to Joe's garage in the midwest...oh, it's one of those for-in jobs! This is most likely the first series instrument she has ever had on the bench. let's hope nothing was modified that is not reversible..like routing! please report when it's back in your hands | ||
| lmiwa
Intermediate Member Username: lmiwa Post Number: 108 Registered: 2-2008 |
I still remember when I melted a wheel bearing on a Porsche 914. I limped into the nearest service station (literally 50mi from the next exit) where I was told "I hate working on these damn Japanese cars." Bad sign! I told him I would rent his lift and tools from him and do the work myself! Now back to the actual topic... Adjusting an Alembic is both easier and harder than most other instruments. It's harder because there are more things to adjust and they need to be done in the correct order (see link to Joey's instructions in the post above). But ultimately, it's a lot easier because you have really good control over all the variables you need to deal with. First, get the correct tools. You can pick them up at any Sears hardware department for a few dollars. DO NOT use a pair of pliers on the truss rod nuts! Then follow those instructions TO THE LETTER. Once you've gone through the process, you'll get a feel for the results provided by each step. After playing it that way for a while, you can then decide what little things you want to change to get the exact setup you prefer. If you make it worse, no problem, you can always go back to Joey's setup for a good starting point. | ||
| glocke
Senior Member Username: glocke Post Number: 500 Registered: 9-2002 |
thanks for the advice... Ive adjusted my jazz basses before no problem, but I was intimated by the alembic setup... This gal came very highly recomended by some people whose judgement I did trust...one friend of mine had her work on his 10k laungedoc. Ill be picking the bass up tonight...ill post back later. | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 625 Registered: 11-2004 |
I have an old guitar which was my apprentice teaching tool. Setups are not quantum mechanics just common sense. Take your time, READ Joey's set up post..it is the oracle of Alembic setups, once read, read it again & again and then once you have read it for the 4th time then begin your setup. Glocke..I thought you of all people would have more sense taking your bass to someone like that. Route the cavities...as Amy Winehouse says;- 'NO!, NO!, NO!' | ||
| dwmark
Advanced Member Username: dwmark Post Number: 218 Registered: 1-2005 |
glocke do post back. this is an amazing thread b/c there but for the grace . . . it could have been me, and I am on the edge of my seat. lmk how it turns out. dw | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2090 Registered: 3-2004 |
There's no excuse for her doing the work after you told her not to. If you're even thinking of paying her, you better pull out the bass and make sure it is 100% perfect. If anything is wrong, broken, or otherwise questionable, I would refuse payment. Once you have it in your hands to check it, she won't be in a position to refuse to hand it over. I would make sure to check the pickup height adjustment screws and look for cracks on the pickup casing. That's an easy screw-up for someone who doesn't understand an Alembic to make. At best, I would remind her of your conversation where you told her not to touch it and offer her the $40 that it should have cost if it looks to be a decent job. | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 479 Registered: 1-2005 |
Messing up the pickup covers is exactly what I was worried might happen. Hopefully she didn't try to force anything! Or went online and found the manuals online @ the Alembic site... | ||
| glocke
Senior Member Username: glocke Post Number: 501 Registered: 9-2002 |
"Glocke..I thought you of all people would have more sense taking your bass to someone like that" Well Terry, so am I..but dont forget, she came highly recomended by some of the top players in my area.... Picked up the bass last night. I really wasnt in the mood for a confrontation so just ponied up the money and left after making sure everything was ok...90 bucks is alot to me..no starbucks for me the next few weeks. There wasnt any damage done to the bass fortunately. Im lucky..Im going to read the thread about setting up, and after that never again will anyone but myself or the mothership touch my bass.... | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 626 Registered: 11-2004 |
glocke..I have had experience of recommendation, I always do my own car maintenance but one year I was too busy and this 'recommended person' did not locate the oil filter properly..you can guess the rest! Never again! I recommend people to others but I have checked them out to be very competent. 90 is a lot in any currency, dollars or sterling..my sympathies but at least your bass was not damaged. I guess it is one of those lessons we all learn at one time. | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Advanced Member Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 266 Registered: 5-2007 |
Glocke What is a 'laungedoc' | ||
| glocke
Senior Member Username: glocke Post Number: 502 Registered: 9-2002 |
Its the guy who builds Trey Anastasios guitars.. http://www.languedocguitars.com/ | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 480 Registered: 1-2005 |
He also built the bass that Mike Gordon used with Phish in the early-'90s. And Scott Murawski of Max Creek, Mike Gordon's band, and the Trio with Bill Kreutzmann and Oteil Burbridge started using one after using an Ibanez for decades - here's a shot jamming at his house, I'm using my Alembicized Tele Bass, with my erstwhile drummer Greg DeGuglielmo: | ||
| edwin
Advanced Member Username: edwin Post Number: 369 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hey, I've jammed with Greg in the distant past (early 90s) in my Boston years. Great guy! Edwin |
