| Author | Message | ||
| frank
Junior Username: frank Post Number: 40 Registered: 12-2005 |
I need to do some truss rod adjustments and I noticed that there are more threads visible on the low B side rod than the G side one. Does this mean that one is looser/tighter than the other?  | ||
| dfung60
Advanced Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 308 Registered: 5-2002 |
I don't think that the truss rods are fabricated so precisely that this difference means anything. When you adjust the tension, you'll feel whether the tension differs between the two nuts. That isn't necessarily precisely matched either, but probably more meaningful than the visual appearance. David Fung | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1682 Registered: 10-2002 |
If you're going for a full set up, I'd loosen both nuts fully then leave the bass for a couple of days to let the neck settle into it's natural curve. Then you can do up the nuts up till they're just snug. That way you'll know how much longer one rod is than the other and you'll be able to maintain that difference whenever you make adjustments in the future. graeme | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 1213 Registered: 6-2002 |
I notice almost always when I've seen Stan with an alembic, in photo's or live as i did yesterday, the truss rod cover is always missing on the bass. I guess that means to me that it needs constant adjustment such that the cover is just an unnecessary delay in getting to the nuts to adjust his basses. i wonder, have alembic ever thought of redesigning this area of their basses and guitars so that no cover is needed and the access point still looks aesthetic and in keeping with the design of the instrument. I don't personally need to make changes very often as I'm haven't taken my instruments to any place where temperature and humidity varies that much. I know it's easier to acomplish this with other manufacturers instruments since they generally use an Allen key ( hex wrench) to make neck adjustments. But I'm sure something could be done. Just a thought. Jazzyvee | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 533 Registered: 11-2004 |
Jazzyvee..I can see your point but other than moving the adjustment area to the headstock(god forbid) I don't think you could hide that part of the instrument. I guess that's why most people opt for the continual wood cover so it blends in. Incidentally since the smoking ban in the UK I have hardly adjusted the rods at all and my strap doesn't smell like an old ash tray anymore. | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1846 Registered: 10-2002 |
Terry . My gear smelled of smoke for the first time in a couple of years this weekend. You try telling a crowd of 'moderately drunk' bikers they can't smoke inside the marquee ;-( Graeme | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 1214 Registered: 6-2002 |
I don't neccessarily think it should be hidden Terry, just maybe a design change in that area so having that area exposed looks part of the design of the instrument rather than having to hide it under a plate. That would mean access is faster. I don't have a problem with it as I said don't need to adjust mine much, just wondered that since stanley and I'm sure others leave that plate off, maybe it would be worth investigating leaving it exposed but more attractive. As for the drunk bikers making your equipment smokey Jacko, Just ask them politely...remind them of the law and make a citizens arrest if they refuse..... Simple. then whilst they try to to make adjustments to your head with your alembic, just hope all that investment in tone woods helps the harmonics ring out of your amp as you listen to the notes sustain each time the the bass body hits your head. :-) hahaha Ignore me I'm in a post return to forever high today. | ||
| kenbass4
Advanced Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 297 Registered: 10-2003 |
Jazzy, What you're proposing is actually a step back in time for Alembic. They actually did not have truss rod covers until midway throught '76 or early '77. This is 76-525 that I now own, and as you can see, it had no cover and only 1 truss rod.  | ||
| dannobasso
Senior Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 802 Registered: 3-2004 |
I understand the easy access issue but I absolutely love the dual trussrod system and love it even more for its placement as well as the use of a wrench. I really dislike all of the other peghead/nut adjustment area. Hex keys are a pain in the neck and usually strip from the use of the wrong key. Was it metric? Having to move the strings, getting the proper angle etc. The only other instrument own other than Alembic that can be adjusted as easily is my MM Petrucci 7 guitar. It has a small wheel with holes (ie tinker toy) that allow you to put in any small screwdriver to rotate it. But no adjustable nut. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 1215 Registered: 6-2002 |
Ok I see what you mean Dannobasso. Oh well it was a thought anyway. Matter closed. Jazzyvee | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 936 Registered: 6-2002 |
Meanwhile... Ken, have I drooled over your beautiful fretless yet? Consider me dribbly. Mike | ||
| dannobasso
Senior Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 804 Registered: 3-2004 |
Not at all Jazzy, that is just my viewpoint. I just find I fight with my Hamer, Fenders, Gibson, Stambaugh, ESP etc. I suppose like some of my countrymen I am a bit impatient with some things. I had to learn a very different approach to things when I spent 4 months in Ireland a decade ago. Living in the New York City area affects one. (twitch) | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 536 Registered: 11-2004 |
kenbass..a lovely 70's bass, love the old Alembics just as much as the new ones. One truss rod eh but I bet it never gives you any hassle at all | ||
| kenbass4
Advanced Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 298 Registered: 10-2003 |
Terry, I adjusted it when it first arrived from Colorado, and the neck has been perfectly stable since. Growl and Mwah for days... Ken | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 538 Registered: 11-2004 |
ken I have never heard(or played) a fretless Alembic, I guess it must be like a fretless Jazz except on steroids!!!!! | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1847 Registered: 10-2002 |
Terry. If you listen to the samples on my band's website, Hard to Handle, Times like These and Vertigo are all played on my fretless Rogue. That is if the links work; I can't open them from work and I won't comment on the audio quality either;-) Graeme | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 540 Registered: 11-2004 |
jacko will check it out at home as my work website puts a lock on it too thanks | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 844 Registered: 11-2004 |
Jacko- Nice tone from the Rogue- I also read your bio on the band website- funny stuff! | ||
| scotty1
New Username: scotty1 Post Number: 1 Registered: 9-2008 |
I purchased a pre-owned Epic 5 three months ago(my first Alembic) and the D & G strings are now buzzing at frets 1-6, making it virtually unplayable. I have ordered a truss-rod wrench and allen keys from Alembic, but would appreciate any advice and help on how to fix this. It looks to me like the neck has an outward bow on the right side, but I can't be sure. Should I take off the strings and let the neck settle for a few days, as I am changing them anyway? Help!! | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 1101 Registered: 2-2005 |
The first thing I would do is read Joey's post on adjusting the neck. It gives a lot of info on setting up the bass. I would put on the new strings and then adjust go through the setup. Keith | ||
| scotty1
New Username: scotty1 Post Number: 2 Registered: 9-2008 |
Thanks Keith. This is useful although I am still waiting for my tools to come from Alembic in Califrnia. I have chased and tried phoning but no response so far. Iain | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 886 Registered: 11-2004 |
Iain, There are several other Scottish members who are regulars in this forum.... several who live in and around Edinburgh if I remember correctly. Perhaps you might be able to hook up with one of those fellas and borrow the wrench/allen keys required until Alembic gets you what you need? Toby | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 1104 Registered: 2-2005 |
Iain, You should be able to find a 1/4 inch wrench locally. I would think an auto parts store would carry it to support folks with older non-metric vehicles. A big box home center might also carry it. As Dave said we have several folks that are in Scotland and we have a few more that live in other areas of the UK. I'm sure some of them will pop in to give assistance. Keith | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1894 Registered: 10-2002 |
Hi Iain. Sorry, I hadn't looked at your profile when you posted. First off, welcome to the club from an ex-pat Englishman living near Edinburgh. I have a spare set of tools you are welcome to. My band - Big Tuna will be playing at scruffy murpys on Melville place this Friday. If you want to drop by for a listen, I can let you have the tools then. If not, as Keith has said, you should be able to pick up the correct sized imperial spanner from your local autostore. Going back to the group, ther are a few of us living in the central belt who get together from time to time to talk Bass and play each others' instruments. If you're interested in meeting up with us, drop me a line and I'll let you know what we're up to. Bass Day in Manchester on 9th Nov looks like being the next big adventure. Graeme | ||
| scotty1
New Username: scotty1 Post Number: 3 Registered: 9-2008 |
Hi Graeme/Keith/Toby Firstly let me say a big thanks to you guys for your responses - I am completely overwhelmed by the friendliness and help - very much appreciated! As a new Alembic owner I am still getting to grips with not only a fine bass, but also five strings as well. I have two other four-string basses, and I will post the pictures on the forum. It is a whole new experience playing five strings as, in my humble opinion, there is a danger that you continue to play it as a four-string instrument, or you completely overuse the bottom B! However, striking the balance will bring great rewards I am sure. Graeme, I will take you up on your offer and pop into Scruffy's on Friday night. It will be good to meet up with you and hear the band. I play in a band called Chil and we play mainly rock covers - http://www.myspace.com/chiltheband. We played Scruffy's in mid-August and it was great, so much so that we are back again in late October and November. Can you let me know when you are on and I will see you then? Thanks again guys, really appreciate your comments. Iain | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1899 Registered: 10-2002 |
We kick off around 9:30 this Friday. I checked out your website to find out what you looked like but there seem to be 2 bass players - ne called Iain in the stills looks around my age ;-) the other has long hair and looks how I looked 25 ears ago ;-) Graeme | ||
| scotty1
New Username: scotty1 Post Number: 4 Registered: 9-2008 |
Graeme The band did two nights at the Guildford Arms in Edinburgh in May this year when myself and the good lady were in London catching a show - We Will Rock You, featuring famous Edinburgh bassman Neil Murray in the pit band, fantastic - and more importantly buying my first Alembic!! I was celebrating a big birthday(?!) and decided to treat myself - no mid-life crisis just a desire to splash out on a nice five-string. The band got in a stand-in for the two nights, guy called Lawrie McMillan who was great, so respect to him. See you Friday! Iain | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1920 Registered: 10-2002 |
Good to meet you last Friday Iain and thanks for coming out to the gig. Hope you've figured out how to get your epic comfortable enough to play out. BTW, can you post details of the gig we said we'd come to. Graeme | ||
| scotty1
New Username: scotty1 Post Number: 7 Registered: 9-2008 |
Good to meet you too Graeme, good band, very similar type of music. Have stripped down the bass and will be re-stringing and setting it up this week. Gigs are: Southsider on 11th October, Scruffy's on 25th October and 22nd November, Corner Bar on 12th December, with dates to be announced for Whistlebinkies. Look forward to seeing you if you can make it along. Iain | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1926 Registered: 10-2002 |
iain. We'll definitely be out to the Southsider on the 11th. looking forward to it. Regarding the Corner music bar in Dunfermline, we played there last Friday and had a pretty dismal time of it. No promotion, no audience, no atmosphere and a big argument about whether or not they'd pay the full fee as they hadn't made enough on the bar!See our webmaster's comments on our website. Needless to say, we'll not be going back even if they ask us. Graeme | ||
| scotty1
New Username: scotty1 Post Number: 8 Registered: 9-2008 |
Graeme Thanks for the update on Corner bar, sounds like a bummer! I know you guys play in another bar in Dunfermline - P J Malloys? Can we talk about that when I see you Saturday - looking forward to it. Iain | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1949 Registered: 10-2002 |
Sorry I couldn't make it on Saturday Iain. Our shower tray split on friday and I've spent all weekend in the bathroom armed with hammer and cold chisel trying to get it out. By 9.30pm saturday I'd got the cubicle cleaned out ready to take the new tray which I completed sunday. I'm now planning to take tomorrow off to replace the tiling I had to destroy. Not the way I'd planned my weekend ;-( Hope the gig went well. Let me know when you're playing again and I'll definitely make it along. What were you wanting to ask about Molloy's? in my opinion it's one of the best venues we play at - excellent PA with a very attentive sound guy. We get to load in and soundcheck at 8 before the bar opens leaving us time to have a group meal at a very nice italian up the road. Gigs usually start at 10 and run till 1am. Anything else I can tell you? Graeme | ||
| scotty1
New Username: scotty1 Post Number: 9 Registered: 9-2008 |
Hi Graeme Sorry to hear of your problems - hope you are all sorted now! The gig on Saturday was really good, great audience reaction and loads of people up dancing. The manager has offered us a once-per-month slot there which we are discussing at present, so we must have done something right. We would like to approach P J Malloys about a gig but have no contact name or details, so ..................was kinda hoping you could help? Your description of how it works at P J's sounds good! Iain | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1953 Registered: 10-2002 |
I'll see what I can find out Ian. Our drummer handles all the bookings (he's a PR guy in real life) and he's unavailable this week although I'll be seeing him friday night. In the meantime, I'd suggest talking to the manager at Molloys. There's an email address if you scroll down this page although their website account has been suspended. On a different topic, are you interested in coming down to manchester for Bass day on 9th November? I'm trying to fill the car to get the cost down - probably best if you email me via my profile - I think we've hijacked Franks thread enough ;-) Graeme |
