| Author | Message | ||
| frankfiveinc
Junior Username: frankfiveinc Post Number: 20 Registered: 6-2014 |
Does anyone have a recommendation to polish out fine scratches on an '86 spoiler?  | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 1784 Registered: 5-2006 |
I've used Commandant for removing a "vague" spot on my '88 Spoiler, very easy and great result. :-) (applied and polished with a soft cloth)  | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Senior Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 568 Registered: 6-2014 |
Similarly, Meguiar's rubbing compound - I'd probably start with about #7 grit... those don't look too deep. If that isn't doing it, back up to #4. You're killin' me with these little pictures Dan! How about posting a full-frontal of that thing? =) Seriously, man - congrats on finally finding a 5'r. | ||
| frankfiveinc
Junior Username: frankfiveinc Post Number: 21 Registered: 6-2014 |
Thanks for the recommendations on the polish guys, appreciate it very much! Greg, I had to use that small photo to visualize the scratches…otherwise, they are not noticeable from the current owner's perspective. Actually, I bought the 5-string that Ricky recently purchased under Introductions of the Alembic Club. I tried to convince the original owner that he bought it from to ship it to PA from Miami when I saw it posted on their local Craigslist, but he didn't want to be bothered. with shipping it. Ricky lives in the Miami area and bought it for a obscene price. Even though I offered much more to the original owner, he just wanted to get the deal done but he gave me the new Ricky's contact info, so I called him. After talking to Ricky for quite some time over the course of a week, he sold it to me for a very fair price. So it was a win-win situation for the both of us. Ricky's a very classy guy and true musician and gentleman. Moreover, we both are bassists for Christian rock music played at our churches. He's also a fine classical guitarist as well with advanced education and training in music. What a great guy and I feel I have a new friend in this process as well! The bass is in transit from Miami to Allentown and will arrive at my location tomorrow, so I'm counting the hours now. I don't have small enough pics to upload but here's the Alembic Club link to his original post after he purchased it, which shows the photos of this beautiful, underplayed beast! :-) The time waited has finally paid off. http://alembic.com/club/messages/397/212390.html?1441757007 | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Senior Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 569 Registered: 6-2014 |
Oh, I already knew about that one. =) I was thinking it was a funny coincidence two 5-string Spoilers popped up within days of each other. I had actually corresponded with Ricky on another forum (TalkBass) about it, and directed him here for advice. Kinda' surprised he didn't hang onto it, but I'm tickled you ended up with exactly what you were looking for. These 1980's 5-strings are not common. And yeah, Ricky's a class act through-n-through! We have done a couple deals on strings before. Congrats & Compliments Dan! | ||
| frankfiveinc
Junior Username: frankfiveinc Post Number: 23 Registered: 6-2014 |
Thanks Greg! I have read that the 80's Spoilers are great with a big sound! I doubt I'll be disappointed. This one had a custom tapered neck, so I think it will avoid the narrow neck problem I've heard about as well. I will be keeping my 4-string Persuader and selling my 6-string Ibanez Prestige SR5006. Ricky is very articulate and knows the sound he wants for his music. Although he was very impressed, I think he had some issues finding the tone he desired without a pre-amp, etc. His ears are looking for the tones he currently produces with his Roger bass jazz 5 and his 4-string fretless Celinder Vintage P-bass. Combined with the fact that my price compensated him very fairly, it probably was more advantageous for him to sell this one and use the money for other purposes. He's very impressed with the playability and tonal range though, as I'm sure he would confirm. We both think it was a win-win!! | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 4474 Registered: 5-2009 |
Flip , I have found the " Commandant " . http://www.jmpbparts.com/commandant-scratch-remover-m5-poetsmachine.html | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 1786 Registered: 5-2006 |
:-) | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 2442 Registered: 9-2002 |
Good for you Dan, you've been around and watching for a while, and I'm tickled you got this axe. I have a Spoiler Five with the 'Deluxe Laminates', the three-stripe purpleheart neckthru, and in conjunction with the ebony fingerboard, it's VERY stable. I do imagine it may move a bit transitioning from Miami's climate to PA, but on the other hand, any guitar from the 80's (like mine) is through pulling 'new wood tricks' and it may not notice any difference in its' surroundings. Nice looking axe. For 'paint and body', I always use Meguiars: This is derived from the 'Chuck Berry Theorem' which basically states if it works on cars, it'll work on guitars. The brass will shine right up with a little work, and those scratches can be carefully dispatched. Don't forget to oil your fingerboard, and I'd recommend just a little lube in the adj nut screws and the bridge threads (I prefer BreakFree). Congrats, I know you've been looking for a while, and it sure looks like you've come up roses ! Now I'll add the 'First Alembic' caution: In many ways, this is NOT going to be like other axes you've played. You WILL hear things you never heard before, and you will wonder why all of a sudden I'm not near as good as I thought I was. We've all been there, and it will pass. These axes will teach you to hear and play better, but while you may take to it like a duck to water, don't be surprised if suddenly . . . . everything is maddeningly different ! Joey | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 2429 Registered: 11-2004 |
Joey..Your last paragraph is what I found out 17 years ago when I got my MK Signature, I thought 'is there something wrong with this bass ?' No there wasn't it was me ! Suddenly you have to re learn and get rid of all those bad habits that lesser basses let you get away with ! A big learning curve indeed, the term accurate fretting did really come into play ! | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 4669 Registered: 6-2002 |
I can second that, as well as damping ringing notes there is the chink of the string hitting the fret as you finger the note in the fraction of a second before you play it. You get that on most guitars to some degree when you use more top end but it really comes out on these basses. I hope you have a great experience with your bass. It's good to have something different to the norm. | ||
| frankfiveinc
Junior Username: frankfiveinc Post Number: 24 Registered: 6-2014 |
Thanks Joey! I have been looking for a nice 5-string that I hoped to afford for almost 2 years. The wait was definitely worth it! I have owned an '89 Persuader since last December, which is a 4-string with coco bolo face. It is beautiful and I love it. I do know what you mean by hearing those bad habits once you own an Alembic, but with all your experience, I'd love to hear some of those things you learned that had to be re-learned when you finally bought an Alembic. I plan to get the Meguiar's for the body, Flitz for the brass, Lemon Oil for the fretboard, and I'll look for the BreakFree for the threads. I noticed some play in the selector switch but maybe that's normal because it works fine. I cycled it about 50 times to wear any oxide off the contracts. My Persuader has volume controls on each pickup. The selector positions give 3 fixed positions for pickup combinations that produced 3 distinct timbres, regardless of the other controls. It's my first experience with a Q-switch. It's an interesting effect and although I know it raises the dB level, I didn't get the impression that it raised all frequencies the same, or maybe I just didn't notice it. It seemed to enhance the frequencies at wherever the cutoff was adjusted at the filter. I love the neck and its playability…very comfortable and I do get the feeling of stability. I found it interesting that the locking screw on the nut is "under" the A-string. It's obvious because that is the center for a 5 string, but it makes adjustments a bit more difficult. But with the stable neck, I doubt I'll be changing it as much. If anyone reads this and knows a good thread to read about pickup adjustment and a general discussion about strings, I'd really love to read them. "I don't know, maybe it was the roses, All I know I could not leave her there." Thanks so much!  | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 1788 Registered: 5-2006 |
That's a lovely duo! :-) With the Spoiler, you can set the pickup height at any preferred position and adjust the output with the two trimpots in the controls cavity: http://alembic.com/club/messages/16271/24781.html Most likely the Persuader will have only one trimpot, you can set the overall output to match the Spoiler. | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 2275 Registered: 2-2005 |
The Q-switch as you noticed boosts the frequency at the current setting of the filter. I think it is 9db for the Spoiler. Some folks find the boost of 9db to be too much and will go with a 3 position switch to have some middle ground. If it sounds interesting you can order it from Alembic. Keith | ||
| adriaan
Moderator Username: adriaan Post Number: 3260 Registered: 6-2002 |
Most of the effect of the Q-switch is at the very start of each note you play. It's definitely not the same as boosting bass or treble by 8 dB. The best way to hear it is by doing some popping-and-slapping, with the filter wide open, first with the Q switch off (pointing up) and then the same with the Q switch on (pointing down). I'm one of those who found the 8 dB boost on the Spoiler a little harsh, so I had mine replaced with a 3-position one (0, 3 and 6 dB) - much better, at least to my ears. I also tend to leave the filter wide open, but that might just be because koa is not exactly a bright sounding top wood (it more than makes up for that in the looks department). On a sustaining note, the effect of the Q-switch is minimal, though with the Q-switch on you will hear a gentle wah effect as you turn the filter knob. Happy tone hunting! | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 2445 Registered: 9-2002 |
Dan, you might double-check the pointer knob on your p/u selector. Mine felt like that, then it dawned on me the knob might be loose, and it was. It's .050" allen wrench; re-seat and snug that up, and it'll probably feel right. The pickup heights are set differently than your P/J bass, where the Activator pickups ride on spring heights like most axes. 0n Alembic 'soapbar' shapes, the drill is loosen the two Phillips head screws you can see. Then reach down thru the holes and loosen the two 'buried' ones, they set your height / angle of the pickups. Once they are where you want them, then use the two exposed ones to lock them in place. BE SURE and just get them snug, NOT hard-tight, as you can break the ears off the pickups ! Since these are low-impedance pickups, you will not hear as big a jump in gain or treble as they get closer to the strings, but if you listen carefully, there is a difference in tone. What's right is up to you. Also, you can adjust the relative gain / blend with the preamps in the back cavity. It may take awhile for you to dial this in. The five-string adjustable nut is, as you've found, divided in half, with the locking screw under the A-string slot. One more brilliant Alembic feature, as we typically would want the bass side just a bit higher than the treble side. With this, we can leave filing these nut slots to other brands, and simply raise or lower one side or the other. Brilliant. Strings . . . . are real personal. With fives, you will either fall into the a) I've GOT to do something about this floppy B-string camp, or b) This is the way fives are, no big deal I would only suggest starting with Alembic's 'factory' gauges (45-128), and them branching out from there. Again, something else that you may find, something I only really noticed with Alembic: With these pickups and a relatively flat amp setting, you might hear a bigger difference between string brands than you did before. I'd really recommend the FAQ and MUST READ sections for lots of good knowledge and background. Joey (Message edited by bigredbass on September 11, 2015) | ||
| frankfiveinc
Junior Username: frankfiveinc Post Number: 25 Registered: 6-2014 |
Wow, that's a wealth of information from all of you! Thank you so much! I've appreciated these instruments for years of listening to players without ever owning one. Now I do, and the people in this club are fabulously helpful! I will be digesting this info and applying as I'm setting it up now with new strings, etc. Thanks so much! | ||
| frankfiveinc
Junior Username: frankfiveinc Post Number: 26 Registered: 6-2014 |
"I had my first experience on stage today with the 5-string Spoiler and it was everything I had hoped for! Sounded fantastic and it really cut through the mix=E2=80=A6.love it!! Does anyone have a solution for dull side markers? My eyes aren't as good as they used to be and I'm having a little problem seeing the markers because they are very small and non-reflective. They look like the same material as the fretboard ovals. Also, in changing my strings today on my Persuader, I noticed a small crack in the face wood above the center screw running perpendicular to the brass nut. It must have been caused if the screw was not loosened before adjusting the nut height. I think I read other threads in the past about applying Cyanoacrylate (crazy glue) to those types of problems. Is that an wise approach to follow? Thanks so much!" | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 4679 Registered: 6-2002 |
For dull fret side markers, a few of us including myself have found these to be very effective. https://fretfx.com/ | ||
| frankfiveinc
Junior Username: frankfiveinc Post Number: 27 Registered: 6-2014 |
Thanks Jazzy, I'll look into it! | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 2278 Registered: 2-2005 |
The side of the fingerboard is unfinished. You could use a white Scotchbrite pad to buff the side markers to remove the oxidation. If you have brass markers even after buffing them they will not be the easiest to see though. Keith | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 6229 Registered: 7-2004 |
You might also try a little Flitz on a Q-tip. Or check out Fretlord GlowDotz. They are peel and stick glow-in-the-dark markers. Musician's Friend has them for around $15. I've never used them myself, but for $15 it might be worth a try. Bill, tgo | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 4483 Registered: 5-2009 |
Bill , " Thumbs Up " , for the Flitz on a Q-Tip for the side dots ! It has work for me sensationally as well . Have some lemon oil ready for a little wipe as well in the surrounding wood . I avoid abrasive cleaning and striping methods , Chemicals if used wisely and skillfully in a craftsmanlike manner can have stellar results. Wolf | ||
| slawie
Senior Member Username: slawie Post Number: 822 Registered: 8-2002 |
Position markers. I use a little piece of electrical tape that always lives in my gig bag. Cut off a thin strip and whack it on. Only for really dark stages and only at positions 5,7 and 12. Comes off easily at the end of the gig. Available in a variety if colours. Cheap as chips. The adhesive does not damage the finish. Slawie | ||
| mavnet
Member Username: mavnet Post Number: 67 Registered: 2-2003 |
I got some of these for my upright, and ended up using them on the alembic currently being refinished. Worked great http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ETJPELI | ||
| flpete1uw
Senior Member Username: flpete1uw Post Number: 547 Registered: 11-2011 |
I'll second the Fretx, I thought they would come off but 2+ years later still kicking. Also a pretty low profile on the fret board. From what is claimed they can be removed without damage to the instrument? Time will tell. Nice Spoiler! Pete | ||
| ed_zeppelin
Member Username: ed_zeppelin Post Number: 97 Registered: 2-2010 |
Let it gooooo (those with kids will please forgive me for implanting that "ear worm" in your heads). One of my very favorite experiences is showing bassists that they already know how to play fretless, they just don't realize it. Every second that they've spent playing bass has also been fretless training. I wouldn't know how if I hadn't been playing upright since I had to stand on tiptoe to reach a low F (no kidding), so I just grew up with it. The same rules apply to fretted basses, with or without position markers: the higher up the neck you go, the closer your fingers are together. That's all there is to it. Play some "air bass" for a moment. Close your eyes and hit a low "F" with your left hand, then slide it up to the twelfth fret. I'll wait. See? That's not even your fingers doing it, that's just your ARM. your arm has a pretty good idea where things are. Believe it or not, it's even easier for your fingers to do it within an area of the neck, simply because the relative distance between your fingers is something you don't even have to think about. This isn't about my ego. Frets and position markers are important, and I'm not telling you this to show off or anything. It's about music, and being able to access your muse easier with something you already know but might not have realized. Challenge yourself to practice finding positions by muscle memory alone (just don't look, is what I'm saying here). You'll be astonished, I promise. In every single case where I let another bassist try upright for the first time, they look at that vast blank expanse of ebony fingerboard and freak out until I tell them what I just told you, and to relax, close their eyes and just play. And they do. It's just about confidence. I use a *Michael Kelly "Dragonfly" 5-string fretless acoustic bass for bluegrass and country gigs, and they have a pretty interesting take on it. This is a pic I found on the net that shows both their "traditional" markers on the fingerboard - in the form of inlaid abalone dragonflies (two on the 12th fret, natch) - between the (imaginary) frets, just like any other guitar. The dots on the side of the neck are actually ON the fret, though, and they put tiny corresponding dots on the edge of the fingerboard to keep morons like me from getting the two confused.  *a Chinese name, apparently |
