| Author | Message | ||
| pegleg
New Username: pegleg Post Number: 1 Registered: 3-2004 |
I have come across a 3 (matching Alembic) pickup Spoiler #82 or 3S25??. Has anybody seen or heard of this before? And what would be the benefit of a 3rd one? | ||
| keavin
Member Username: keavin Post Number: 72 Registered: 12-2002 |
bigger tone ,almost like a strat, w/all 3 p/u running simotaniously,or 1,2,3-or mix em up you would need to install an additional ,vol ,or pickup selector switch | ||
| pegleg
New Username: pegleg Post Number: 2 Registered: 3-2004 |
Being a strat owner and having tried many different PU combinations, I hear you. However, isn't a bit like gilding the lily w/ Alembic PUs? Or, are we talking about a personal taste and preference thing, cost v. benefit analysis, etc.? Do you think this is an after-factory mod? | ||
| senmen
Advanced Member Username: senmen Post Number: 239 Registered: 7-2003 |
Michael, every time I read your synonym it reminds me of John Entwistle´s song: Peg Leg Leggy..... Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1500 Registered: 6-2000 |
Without the serial number, we won't be able to tell if it was originally made that way (doubtful though) or if it was modified later. I recall seeing a Koa Spoiler picture somewhere with three pickups, and it looked like a nice install (good routing, etc.) Obvioulsy someone thought it was needed to add a pickup. The pickup placement does change the tone. Maybe the neck pickup was too bassy for them? | ||
| effclef
Member Username: effclef Post Number: 80 Registered: 1-2004 |
Pegleg, is this the one you were looking at?  If so, I would guess the three silver toggle switches are the on-off switches for the pickups. Doubt that's a factory job, though as Mica mentioned (if this is the same bass) the routing looks good. Who knows if anything's been done to the back, etc. I am curious where he patches in the third pickup if the normal Spoiler electronics has a separate preamp for each pickup (or does it simply buss them together into one preamp?). EffClef | ||
| lembic76450
Junior Username: lembic76450 Post Number: 42 Registered: 5-2002 |
Andy, where is that from??? Kenn | ||
| effclef
Member Username: effclef Post Number: 81 Registered: 1-2004 |
Kenn, in case it is the one Pegleg is talking about (and may want to buy), I won't post where I saw it yet - if he wants to, he can. Don't want to cause someone else to see it and buy it out from under him! However, that being said, it is still listed as being for sale as far as I know. EffClef | ||
| pegleg
New Username: pegleg Post Number: 3 Registered: 3-2004 |
Thanks effclef for your input and consideration. I am seriously looking at this one for my first Alembic and would be heart broken (kinda) if someone else snagged it. Since we just met Kenn, don't make me take my leg off and come whup you wid it. ;-) | ||
| lembic76450
Junior Username: lembic76450 Post Number: 43 Registered: 5-2002 |
Let me be the first to roll the red carpet right up to your first purchase. After 25 years as a Series I owner, I just bought a Spoiler about month ago. I would highly recommend the Spoiler. Discretion is always the better part of valor. I also add my welcome, Kenn | ||
| pegleg
New Username: pegleg Post Number: 4 Registered: 3-2004 |
Thanks Kenn. Question: Why would a Series I owner buy a Spoiler?...not enough toys...one for the kids/grandkids.... | ||
| lembic76450
Junior Username: lembic76450 Post Number: 44 Registered: 5-2002 |
As you will soon see, some deals are too good to pass up. It also is a fantastic player. Kenn | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 466 Registered: 5-2002 |
Welcome to the group, Michael! I think you will want to find out as much as you can about that modification. On my Spoiler the pickup selector switch and the filter are on the same printed circuit board. Since the pickup selector switch has been removed, I would be concerned about the filter. I would suggest you get the full serial number and post it so Mica can look it up. If possible, it would also be a good idea to get a picture of the control cavity and post it; maybe Mica and/or others would be able to tell what's been done. If it has been done right, the three pickup idea could be really nice. But at the moment I'm leaning toward the pessimistic side if only because of that printed circuit board and the filter control. | ||
| effclef
Member Username: effclef Post Number: 82 Registered: 1-2004 |
Pegleg, you're welcome. Hopefully you are near this bass and can check it out in person? I think that's the important thing. Stock, the Spoiler should have just two pickups, the filter, Q switch, and a volume control. Who knows what the mod may have done, as Dave says. I am not sure if the circuit board of this vintage would be printed, or hard-wired perf board. At any rate, it should not look sloppy at all. So to add a third pickup, someone would have had to tie the signal in somewhere. He may have run each pickup to one silver toggle switch (Alembic used black, btw) and from there into what used to be one pickup input for the filter board. Note that all three silver toggles are part of the mod. It's a huge unknown and without really checking the bass out, opening the control cover, and looking, you won't be certain. If this is the bass in the picture I posted, bear in mind the price is not at a huge discount considering the mods. A stock Spoiler is sometimes about this price. Of course, if the mods were done at the factory (only they can confirm) then it would be highly unusual but that would rule out a sloppy amateur mod! Investigate more, and post what you see or hear. EffClef | ||
| pegleg
New Username: pegleg Post Number: 5 Registered: 3-2004 |
Here they are gang. Now play nice.   | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 467 Registered: 5-2002 |
The circuit board differs a little from mine (mine's an '84). But it looks like the circuit board is still intact. It looks like one of the modular connectors that the leads from the pickups plug into on the circuit board is missing and instead the white wire from what appears to be the middle switch is hard wired where the connector was. The white wire from the rear switch is plugged into the other board connector. And it looks like the leads from the pickups go to each switch; but other than that I can't tell how the switches are wired together. But it looks like some combination of the three switches chooses two signals to go to the circuit board. I'm guessing the filter control and Q switch are ok. So I feel a lot better about it than I did before. If only signals from two pickups are going to the board at any time then there may be no problem. And if the wiring was done well this may be a very nice setup. The pickup installation appears to be ok, though the screws look a little large. You should ask if the new pickup has been installed correctly and if the height adjustment screws work as they should. (Message edited by davehouck on March 23, 2004) | ||
| effclef
Member Username: effclef Post Number: 84 Registered: 1-2004 |
Great eyes, Dave! I wonder if you are right about the pickup selection. Only way to find out is to try it. Pegleg, I would suggest getting the exact serial number and calling Alembic to see if they have anything on file. They can probably tell you how the bass was originally shipped, and whether or not it ever needed repair. Hopefully those pickups are all real Alembic ones. (I have no idea if anyone else made soapbar style the right size.) The screws that hold the pickups are different from other basses you may have seen. Instead of using springs underneath for the up/down adjustment, Alembic uses two screws on top and two underneath. You have to loosen the top ones, and then slip the screwdriver down into the other two holes to adjust the height, then retighten the top ones to snug them down against the underside screw heads. In this bass, I can see the neck pickup has mismatched screws and the position is reversed compared to the other ones. The chiseling in the cavity doesn't look too bad. I'd also see if you can knock $100 or more off the asking price, because it is modified. It can never truly be brought back to stock condition... The good news is, the rest of it is STILL an Alembic, so if you do get it, you will enjoy the Alembic hardware adjustments and the feel of the neck. I wonder if it is medium scale, 32"? (Measure from the nut to the 12th fret and then double the number.) A lot of people find that much more comfortable than normal 34" scale and the sound doesn't seem to suffer at all. Good luck, Pegleg - keep investigating. EffClef | ||
| lembic76450
Junior Username: lembic76450 Post Number: 45 Registered: 5-2002 |
I'd like to throw out a question to those of you with knowledge. My '76 Series pick-ups are plain and my '86 Spoiler has "Alembic" embossed in them. When did that start? That might help Pegleg figure if those are Alembic pick-ups. Kenn | ||
| hollis
Member Username: hollis Post Number: 82 Registered: 11-2003 |
It might help, but then again........My Skylark's pickups are plain, that is to say Alembic is not embossed on them, and yet they are most assuredly Alembics......Hmmmmmmmmmm.....Clear as mud? | ||
| kipknee
Member Username: kipknee Post Number: 59 Registered: 10-2002 |
My '84 Spoiler has (had) plain pickups. The bridge pickup died in 1987 and the replacement I ordered from Alembic was embossed. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1517 Registered: 6-2000 |
I don't remember when the plain/engraved/gold decorations on the pickups took place. I think the engraving happend before I started working here in 1987. Usually you can order pickups with different finishes to match what's on your Alembic already. | ||
| adriaan
Intermediate Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 160 Registered: 6-2002 |
The AXYs on my 88 Spoiler have ALEMBIC embossed, but without the gold accent, and in a plain type face, which is different from the fancy logo. The MXYs on my 94 Epic have the fancy logo with the gold accents. Is my memory playing tricks on me, or is it correct that there have been AXYs or MXYs that looked as if they were made out of rubber? Most seem to have a shiny surface, sometimes the top has a satin-like texture (perhaps to go together with the gold lettering?). I seem to remember some Epics that had MXYs embossed with plain type ALEMBIC, and these did not look shiny at all. | ||
| effclef
Member Username: effclef Post Number: 89 Registered: 1-2004 |
Pegleg, any news? Have you actually tried the bass out yet? EffClef | ||
| pegleg
New Username: pegleg Post Number: 6 Registered: 3-2004 |
No, I have not played it; it is over 1800 miles away. We are still working the numbers. How strongly do you feel about your pricing opinion? The boss lady is gonna kill me either way. | ||
| effclef
Member Username: effclef Post Number: 90 Registered: 1-2004 |
Well, it's hard to say without actually seeing it and trying it out. But unmodified Spoilers do go, at times, for what this store is asking. So seeing as how the mods are radical (third pickup plus three extra holes for the add-on switches), my opinion would be that it should go for less. I do know I've seen this in the store's ad for several months - 3 or 4 I think. They may be motivated to sell! Can't hurt to ask. Another alternative is to post to Swap Shop and ask - hey, anyone got a nice Spoiler for sale? There were a couple which appeared and sold about a month ago. EffClef | ||
| pegleg
New Username: pegleg Post Number: 7 Registered: 3-2004 |
Alas, it was not to be. I had $900 on the table. I sent a status request email yesterday. The reply came a few minutes ago stating it was sold this past weekend. I am sad. Some day my Alembic will come....... | ||
| keavin
Intermediate Member Username: keavin Post Number: 139 Registered: 12-2002 |
hey keep your head up alembics are plentyful! | ||
| keavin
Intermediate Member Username: keavin Post Number: 140 Registered: 12-2002 |
hey keep your head up pegleg,lembics are all around you! | ||
| effclef
Member Username: effclef Post Number: 96 Registered: 1-2004 |
Sorry to hear that, Pegleg. Well if you can, save that $900 toward another. Add to it if you can. And ask on the Swap Shop section of this board! someone may have one. They do show up...just keep looking. I think you will be happier with a completely stock model anyway, not one which has been modified so much. EffClef |
