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ploonter
New
Username: ploonter

Post Number: 3
Registered: 3-2007
Posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 10:23 am:   Edit Post

I was wondering if it's O.K. to remove the brass "parts" for cleaning or if it is a bad idea to remove and replace them? Any help...
tbrannon
Senior Member
Username: tbrannon

Post Number: 1035
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 10:39 am:   Edit Post

Here are a couple threads on the subject that you can check out for reference. It's definitely OK to take apart your bridge for cleaning and to give your tailpiece the same treatment.

One suggestion- find a digital camera and snap a few pictures before you start. It's easy to get all apart, but if you don't have a reference, seeing all those little brass parts sitting separate can be scary if you're not sure how they go back together.

Here is a thread about disassembling and cleaning your bridge:
http://alembic.com/club/messages/16271/16386.html?1107732526


Here is the source thread for taking care of your instrument
http://alembic.com/club/messages/16271/16354.html?1210994407
speicky
Advanced Member
Username: speicky

Post Number: 368
Registered: 3-2005
Posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 11:00 am:   Edit Post

I spied post #4 from a Mister Dave Houck in the disassembling thread... had a good laugh. There was a beginning, even for the master of all the moderators of the universe ! :-)

once more: thank you for all your work here, Dave !

grmph... sorry for being off-topic, but I've randomly anything to add except my humor...
ploonter
New
Username: ploonter

Post Number: 4
Registered: 3-2007
Posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 11:30 am:   Edit Post

Thank you tbrannon for the thread...and to all involved after "going there".
Man, that logo cleaning looks tricky
tbrannon
Senior Member
Username: tbrannon

Post Number: 1036
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 2:58 pm:   Edit Post

Tim,

Below is the link for a thread I started when I was getting ready to clean up the used Rogue I bought. There are a few photos and also a few extra tips from club members there. Hope this helps:

http://alembic.com/club/messages/394/32442.html?1162176823
terryc
Senior Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 848
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Friday, May 22, 2009 - 1:14 am:   Edit Post

I remove the brass hardware when I am doing a major clean, I don't disassemble the whole bridge but if there is polish residue on the bridge one suggestion is to take it to a jewellers who have a sonic bath, these are excellent in removing the residue that is stuck on the hard to clean parts
gtrguy
Advanced Member
Username: gtrguy

Post Number: 204
Registered: 9-2004
Posted on Friday, May 22, 2009 - 9:27 am:   Edit Post

I have tried all my strippers/thinners etc on the clear on my tailpiece to no avail. I just carefully sanded or steel wooled it off. You can then polish the brass, remove all residue, and then shoot new clear on it's absolutely clean surface if you like. Or you can not re-shoot it and just keep polishing it!

Bye, Dave
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 3845
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Friday, May 22, 2009 - 9:51 am:   Edit Post

I bought a dremel tool and a flex extension for polishing the brass on my instruments. Boy, does it make the job easier!

Bill, tgo
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 8105
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, May 23, 2009 - 7:42 pm:   Edit Post

Hee hee; thanks Christian!
jalevinemd
Senior Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 764
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Monday, May 25, 2009 - 2:36 pm:   Edit Post

Okay...but how do you remove the bridge itself from the body? Do you simply raise the height adjustment screws until the thing pops off?
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 8123
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, May 25, 2009 - 2:47 pm:   Edit Post

Yes, and you will need to go back and forth, one screw and then the other, a little at a time, to keep from binding. You may find it helpful to keep some kind of record of the original height so you can return it to the same height when you're done.
jalevinemd
Senior Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 765
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Monday, May 25, 2009 - 5:30 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks Dave.
mjurey
New
Username: mjurey

Post Number: 1
Registered: 6-2009
Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 1:49 pm:   Edit Post

I used a polishing wheel on my bench grinder and here are the before and after pictures. I took the bridge apart but took measurements first. 98 Epic bridge:BeforeAfter
sonicus
Intermediate Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 131
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 3:54 pm:   Edit Post

Nice, a bridge to be proud of !
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 8217
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, June 21, 2009 - 2:55 pm:   Edit Post

Welcome to the board Mark! Nice polishing job!
mjurey
New
Username: mjurey

Post Number: 2
Registered: 6-2009
Posted on Sunday, June 21, 2009 - 3:47 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks for the welcome. I just bought an Epic after laying off from bass playing since 1980. A coworker owns a Alembic and said that I could buy one, sight unseen. Boy, was he right. I love the Epic and look forward to playing again. Look forward to more postings.
terryc
Senior Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 925
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Friday, July 03, 2009 - 1:08 am:   Edit Post

In my opinion the Alembic bridge is a great piece of engineering and looks great.
I guess the Epics don't have the brass sustain block like the SI & II's and Signature models.

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