| Author | Message | ||
| athens
New Username: athens Post Number: 1 Registered: 3-2004 |
So, finally, after 938 years of waiting, I have at long last purchased my very first Alembic. It is a Skylark. I have not been able to put it down. That brings me to my question. There is a bit of a buzz on the first fret of the high E string. Also, the G string buzzes a bit when open. Now, here is the kicker, the issue with the first fret first string has just developed in the last day. I have had the guitar three days. Is there a case of the humidity here in the South doing this, or what gives? Also, can I just take it to the local guitar shop. Are they qualified? | ||
| poor_nigel
Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 58 Registered: 7-2003 |
Quick Assessment: From CA to GA would tend to say you need your truss rod(s) adjusted. I am in Maine and I have to significantly adjust those on all instruments I buy from the west coast after a couple of days in this humid place. It is an easy thing to do. OR, take it to a shop and have them set it up for its new climate. Whatever you do, have fun and take care of it and you. | ||
| poor_nigel
Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 59 Registered: 7-2003 |
Had I finished reading your post - I am in SUCH a hurry these days! - I would have simply said, "Yes" and why don't you look on the support pages of the Alembic site and try it yourself. Otherwise, any competent shop could do this easily for you. Sorry for the TOO Quick Assessment . . . | ||
| bracheen
Advanced Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 273 Registered: 11-2003 |
Hi Steve, congratulations on the Skylark. Athens should have several qualified guitar techs. It is a musically oriented town. Ask your band mates or other musicians that you know for recommendations. There are plenty of pros there, someone will have a suggestion. Probably the main difference in set up is the dual truss rods. Most other guitars have one. Luckily I havn't had to make any adjustments to my Epic yet. I would think that Jacksonville has similar humidity to Athens, maybe a bit more. My bass is 10 years old so it's already resigned itself to no longer being a tree. By the way, you do know that you have to post pictures, right? Everyone here wants to share in your excitement about the Skylark. Sam | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1472 Registered: 6-2000 |
If the buzz is only on the open string, you can also raise the nut slightly. Just make sure you loosen the center andchor screw first. | ||
| bassman10096
Advanced Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 207 Registered: 7-2003 |
Congratulations, Steve and welcome! When I received my first Alembic, the neck needed some adjustment - easily corrected along with a superb set up by a local guitar tech. Since then, I've adjusted the neck once when it was only marginally necessary according to the instructions on the Alembic site. Depending on the age of your guitar, it may need more or less frequent adjustment. As Sam aluded, the older the instrument, the more it settles in and needs less help holding its shape. Congrats on your Skylark. Neat guitar. Hope it meets and exceeds all your expectations of an Alembic. Now, as for pictures, certain people in this Club will pester you until you post them. It's pretty easy by following the prompts. Bill | ||
| dnburgess
Advanced Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 201 Registered: 1-2003 |
Welcome Steve. I have a Skylark on order, which I'm really looking forward to receiving. | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1147 Registered: 9-2002 |
Ooops David ...I didn't know you played guitar?!?!?! Steve ...a heartly welcome in this club. Setting up a buzz-free neck cannot be difficult on an Alembic. I'm with mica: buzz's to thne nut and on open strings can easily be changed by raising the nut a tiny little bit. Beware: do it in teeny-weeny-mouse-hair-bits. It REALLY mathers 1/10000 of an inch. Believe me ...I've been there! It's the case with every "setting" scew you touch. It is the best that you learn it yourself. A bit hard to start (and most of all to convince yourself that YOU can do it and to start). The reward though is enormous. Alembics ARE very responding instruments in every meaning of that word versus a guitar. So if you can do it yourself ...it will become "your" axe very quickly. The HOW ...well ...you have to wander around here in different threads. But ...IT MUST BE SOMEWHERE! There is a "Brother Joey-Routine" (code Bigredbass) around here that is a "MUST READ" for all Alembic owners. The trouble is ...I kind find it right now. Ok ...that for the serious part. Now gather thou all Pauls and join me in this joyfull (pestering ????pestering???) choir ...bottles up and PICTURES! PICTURES! (Fake one ...stay away from that odd-meter thing ...I can't find the beat anymore) PICTURES! PICTURES! Paul the bad one | ||
| dnburgess
Advanced Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 202 Registered: 1-2003 |
Paul, like many bassists I started on guitar as a kid. Actually I started on banjo mandolin, because I was too little to play guitar - then moved onto acoustic guitar. Was in a music school where there were 20 kids in a class plucking "On Top of Old Smoky", etc. Saved up pay from my holiday job for my first electric guitar when I was 15 - a Gibson SG Special, which I'm currently having restored. I had put a deposit down on a Fender VI - so I already had bass leanings - but my then guitar teacher convinced me to get a "proper guitar" instead. Took me another ten years to finally get my first bass - an Ibanez P-bass copy. I am aiming to have an official Australian Alembic guitar launch later this year as the people in Santa Rosa tell me they're selling as many guitars as basses. So I better brush up my guitar licks. David B. | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 418 Registered: 5-2002 |
Steve; congrats on the Skylark! If I may add a couple thoughts. In addition to what Mica said about the open string buzz being corrected with a nut adjustment, I believe it is the case that a first fret buzz is also corrected with a nut adjustment. Go here for instructions on making a nut adjustment: http://www.alembic.com/support/care.html Most guitars do not have adjustable nuts and dual truss rods; which is one thought to keep in mind when considering taking your guitar to the local store for a setup. But if you do want to have someone do the setup for you, it might be worthwhile to do some research and find the best tech in the area. Many people in this owners' group will suggest that in the long run it will be very helpful to learn to do the adjustments yourself. As Paul pointed out, there have been some great posts on the subject. | ||
| athens
New Username: athens Post Number: 3 Registered: 3-2004 |
Hey everyone, thanks for posting replies to a question I now realize is well covered in other areas of the site. I will get that buzz under control quick. I was going to post a few pics of the newest member of my family on the introductions board, but for some reason I could not get the HTML to work right, and so I just put up a link. Here is that link in case you want to see the skylark for yourself: CLICK. I don't know anything about it other than it was made in 2002. It did not come with anything but the guitar. I need to find a case it will fit in, but since it is not leaving my house any time soon, I have time to work on that issue. So, have a great day! | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 366 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hello Steve, a belated welcome from me as well. Your Skylark is real sweet; it looks like a standard flame maple top (double thick, carved) with an amberburst finish. The fretboard is ebony with oval inlays, the peghead veneer is also ebony. I can't see the body in the pictures, but 99% it's mahogany. The hardware is made of brass, the logo is bronze, the neck should be maple. If you let me know the serial number, I'll post the build record when I'm back at work tomorrow. Valentino | ||
| hollis
Member Username: hollis Post Number: 58 Registered: 11-2003 |
Hi Steve, Welcome again. I spent the first two weeks dialing in my Skylark. Playing, adjusting, playing, adjusting...etc. At first I was reticent to do it myself, but following the advice of these fine folks gave me what I needed. I agree with Paul TBO that doing it yourself will give you the ability to zero in on the exact action you want. Take your time.....little itty bitty adjustments. I have mine set up better than any guitar I've ever owned. It's built so you can do it yourself. All my other guitars have been set up by well respected luthiers in my area. I did this one myself, and yet it far surpasses all of them in ease of play as well as ease of expression. My technique has improved (audibly)at least ten fold as a direct result of having this wonderful guitar in my hands. Good luck! Have fun! | ||
| athens
New Username: athens Post Number: 4 Registered: 3-2004 |
Okay, after calling around to three local guitar shops (as far as bracheen's suggestion to check with band mates and local musicians, I don't have any or know any of those so it is just me), the first one when I told them it had two truss rods said they would not touch it. The second store referred me to a guy that works out of his house in small town (Jefferson, Ga) about 30 miles NE of hear....I did not go for that. So, I called the last place, which is the place I should have started since they are the nicest place in town, and the guys said he knows what and Alembic is, and that he can do it. So, tomorrow morning, I will drop of the Skylark at 10:00 AM. I asked if could wait around, kinda like taking a kid to the doctor, he said I could, but it might be a few hours. So, since I like these folks, and I trust them, I am going to drop it off and be back a few hours later to pick it up. Let's keep our fingers crossed. Thanks again everyone for this board and all the suggestions. I have been searching for this sound for so long and not even knowing what exactly it was as far as describing it to folks at guitar shops, etc. This is it, the perfect sound. Now, I am only dieing to lay down some tracks! | ||
| athens
New Username: athens Post Number: 5 Registered: 3-2004 |
valvil - 02L128115USA Thanks, I would like any/all info I can get on this Skylark. It is never going to leave my possesion, so, a record of it's "birth" would be great. So far as I know, the place that I bought it from in Canada was the first place to own it. They said they had it for a little over a year. | ||
| athens
New Username: athens Post Number: 6 Registered: 3-2004 |
So, after going through three music shops, none of which would touch the Skylark, I found the guy I should have went to in the first place. He is a local guy here in town, runs a service call "The Fret Shop" out of his house. He has worked on several big name act's stuff, and since they live here in town, works on Widespread Panic's guitars and basses. So, it looks like the buzzing will come to an end and I can finally get to play all of the Skylark's 24 frets! Okay, this thread has run its course, thanks again for the tips. Steve | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 372 Registered: 7-2002 |
I'm guessing the number must be 02L12815 since the other is too long. Everything I listed on my previous post is correct, the neck is maple with walnut pinstripes; it has gold knobs and straplocks and the date of completion is 06/19/02. Valentino | ||
| athens
New Username: athens Post Number: 7 Registered: 3-2004 |
Okay, one more update, I am supposed to take the Skylark in in Friday morning, but today, there is even more buzzing. Now, it goes all the way up to the 4th fret on the high E string, and a few other places in the first four frets in the B and G. So, my question now is, should I wait a few more days to let it do all that it is going to do before taking it in? | ||
| cdf
Member Username: cdf Post Number: 56 Registered: 5-2003 |
athens, I had a new Tribute guitar delivered a couple months back. It came from Santa Rosa to very humid So. Florida and also developed a bit of a buzz. The folks at Alembic said it would take a couple of weeks to adapt to new surroundings, but to go ahead and make small adjustments if I wanted to. Well I waited several weeks (partly because it was a new build, but mostly 'cause I was doing it myself and was apprehensive about monkeying around with the truss rods) and then made some adjustments, it worked out fine and is sounding great now. So to make a short story long, I think you could adjust away, but I would recommend waiting a couple days. Good luck and congrats, Court |
