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schwagadelic
New
Username: schwagadelic

Post Number: 1
Registered: 7-2010
Posted on Saturday, July 31, 2010 - 2:59 pm:   Edit Post

Hello. I have been a fan of Alembics for some time and resently got 2 of them. I got a mid 90s Epic that is in great shape and this Spoiler that is very used. That is no problem to me. It sounds great, but I have some questions and hoping I can get a few answers here.

I am uploading a close up of the pick ups and nobs. I am wondering if these pick ups are Alembic pick ups. The bass is a 1983 and I am not sure if Alembic was putting their name on these pick ups around this time. Bascially I am wanting to know if these are Alembic or not. I also am curious about the knob functionality. The POT on one of the knobs needs to be cleaned, but what does the 2 way switch do? Is it an Active/Passive type deal? The other knob...Is that just preset tones? I did notice that if the knob is all the way to the right, the bass won't put out any sound. Is this normal? Sorry for the ignorance, but I am learning. I would appreciate the help. I really love these basses and just want to learn the ends and outs.

Here is the link to the picture. I used image hosting because the file is too big and I don't feel like editing it.

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/9131/pic2alembic.png
lembic76450
Advanced Member
Username: lembic76450

Post Number: 235
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, July 31, 2010 - 3:20 pm:   Edit Post

Dominic,
Yep, those are the real deal. The knobs are Alembic hat knobs and the pick-ups are from the era that did not have "Alembic" embossed in them. The control layout is in the "FAQ and Must Read" section.
schwagadelic
New
Username: schwagadelic

Post Number: 2
Registered: 7-2010
Posted on Saturday, July 31, 2010 - 3:49 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks for follow up. As I am reading this forum I am finding more and more answers. Any idea on the wood? Mahogany maybe? Koa?
dadabass2001
Senior Member
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 1472
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, July 31, 2010 - 4:00 pm:   Edit Post

Hello Dominic,
Welcome to the forum. If you start a thread here with your serial number from the Spoiler as the title, Mica will look it up when she has the chance. It may take some time as Alembic is a small family-run business.
I hope you enjoy your spoiler for years to come.
Mike
schwagadelic
New
Username: schwagadelic

Post Number: 4
Registered: 7-2010
Posted on Saturday, July 31, 2010 - 4:09 pm:   Edit Post

Just did. I will do the same for my Epic when I get home. Thanks for the info everyone.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 9517
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, July 31, 2010 - 5:09 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Dominic, welcome to the board, and congrats on picking up an Epic and a Spoiler. As Kenn mentioned, a description of the Spoiler controls can be found in our FAQ section here.

The pots on both of your basses are sealed, self-cleaning pots. If the pot is scratchy, just turn it back and forth for its full rotation twenty or thirty times.

There is a lot of information in the FAQ and Must Reads section. But if you still have questions, just ask; someone will usually jump in when they run across the thread.
fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 1144
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Saturday, July 31, 2010 - 6:59 pm:   Edit Post

Welcome here!

I'm pretty sure that's a solid Koa body, like almost all early Spoilers ('82/'83) had.

Congrats and have fun!

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