Brass cleaning

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Author Message ploonter New Username: ploonter Post Number: 3 Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 10:23 am:    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:    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:    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:    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:    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:    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:    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:    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:    Hee hee; thanks Christian! jalevinemd Senior Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 764 Registered: 12-2003 Posted on Monday, May 25, 2009 - 2:36 pm:    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:    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:    Thanks Dave. mjurey New Username: mjurey Post Number: 1 Registered: 6-2009 Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 1:49 pm:    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: sonicus Intermediate Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 131 Registered: 5-2009 Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 3:54 pm:    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:    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:    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:    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.