| Author | Message | ||
| hammer
Advanced Member Username: hammer Post Number: 285 Registered: 9-2009 |
I admit that I use a pick 60% of the time and when I'm using my fingers it's in the traditional manner sans any slapping and popping, but can the latter technique really do this much damage to the PU covers. Looks like some pretty deep grooves here in this Ebay offering. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3235 Registered: 6-2002 |
I saw that and wondered what playing technique could have caused that much mojo... :-) Jazzyvee | ||
| tubeperson
Advanced Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 393 Registered: 5-2005 |
It could be the strings were set too low without a proper neck adjustment, and an aggressive picking technique (ever see Will Lee with the Fab Faux tear up the upstrokes on his bass?), could have cause that damage. | ||
| neyman
Intermediate Member Username: neyman Post Number: 126 Registered: 7-2002 |
I have a Steinberger with the same type of wear (except more extreme) on the bridge pickup. It comes from using a pick and playing hard over the pickup. | ||
| hammer
Advanced Member Username: hammer Post Number: 286 Registered: 9-2009 |
Wow! I've been a picker for 30+ years and never seen any damage done to the PUs on any of my basses or those of the people I know. It must be an incredibly aggressive technique in combination with the neck adjustment that the owner uses. As far as aggressive upstrokes causing the damage, wouldn't the wear patters suggest it was the down stroke that was the culprit? And can one pick hard enough to hit the hum canceler which is lower than the PUs. | ||
| tubeperson
Advanced Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 394 Registered: 5-2005 |
Hello Hammer: I only brought up the power of Will Lee's upstrokes as an illustration that the powerful picking motion exerts a lot of force. I would agree that it looks like down strokes are the culprit here. If the picker was chanelling Pete Townsend and doing the windmill, then the hum canceller could have been marred as well. I have seen damage to pickup covers on fretless basses as well. Same deal, strings too low in relation to the neck adjustment, and a whacking hand motion (anybody use a pick with a fretless?). | ||
| flpete1uw
Intermediate Member Username: flpete1uw Post Number: 102 Registered: 11-2011 |
Well this conversation is a little disconcerting. I'm in negotiations for this Bass. Any input from my Alembic brethren on this Bass would be appreciated. Always value the input here Pete | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 10952 Registered: 5-2002 |
Perhaps more than neck adjustment, it may be that the wear is related to the pickups being raised to get them close to the strings for a bit more dirtier tone. The neck pickup appears to be angled so that the trailing edge, where most of the wear is, is higher than the leading edge. The bridge pickup seems more level; and if he was picking anywhere but right over the bridge pickup, then the leading edge would get the wear. I don't think he was flailing away because the wood around the pickups looks great; just that the pickups are close to the strings. It's a pre-77, single truss rod, so it could be that the same guy has been picking above those pickups for a long time. As for the humx, I don't know. Maybe he was anchoring his little finger there while picking and thirty years of sweat slowly wore it away. Pete; I haven't seen the listing, but other than comments about the appearance of the pickups in close-up pictures, I don't know that anything has been said that would otherwise be disconcerting about the bass. | ||
| flpete1uw
Intermediate Member Username: flpete1uw Post Number: 103 Registered: 11-2011 |
Thank You Dave, I'll let you know when it arrives  http://www.ebay.com/itm/1975-Alembic-Series-1-electric-bass-with-2-pre-amps-and-road-case-/170945166220?pt=Guitar&hash=item27cd203b8c | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 10953 Registered: 5-2002 |
Congrats! Looks like you got a great deal on a very nice bass, two power supplies and two cases. I love the back laminate! | ||
| hammer
Advanced Member Username: hammer Post Number: 288 Registered: 9-2009 |
Peter: In spite of the PU cover marring, you purchased yourself a beautiful bass. Given the price you paid versus what I've seen a lot of other Series I basses go for you could in all likelihood purchase a sufficient number of PU covers to last you a life time. | ||
| adriaan
Moderator Username: adriaan Post Number: 2997 Registered: 6-2002 |
Nice one! BTW the pickups do not have covers. | ||
| flpete1uw
Intermediate Member Username: flpete1uw Post Number: 109 Registered: 11-2011 |
What is the material that encases the pickups around the magnets? I was wondering if there was a way of filling these grooves in with multiple thin layers of a non magnetic epoxy or even Krazy Glue? | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 1123 Registered: 6-2002 |
If it were me, I would not fill them in. You could replace them with new pickups rather inexpensively, but I really would not do that either. I wouldn't even polish that bridge. I bid on that bass too because it was sooooo original, but you beat me to it. It looks as though the neck q switch was changed, but thats it. No adjustable nut, moved strap button or pickup selector switch, truss rod cover etc... was added. Nice bass! For what it's worth there was a bass running around New Orleans for a while that was just two serial numbers away from that one. It was a mirror image of this bass. It had the zebra front with the koa back. In fact, it looked as though the wood used on it were the next consecutive sheets. I recognize the two knots on the front of your bass as exactly as what was on the rear of the one that was just two numbers away. The zebrawood even followed the same pattern in the way in angles away from the horns. Great score and I know you will enjoy that one. Michael | ||
| flpete1uw
Intermediate Member Username: flpete1uw Post Number: 110 Registered: 11-2011 |
Wow!! Thank You Michael, I have no real intensions of doing anything at least impulsively. And I agree she has been alluring since the first time I laid eyes on her. That Koa is Beautiful. It's just that my mind never stops in a quest to repair or make things better (Real or Perceived). I guess I always like to know my options. Nice call on the Q Switch I will look closer at it when she arrives. Thank You for your kind words, Peace Pete | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2724 Registered: 5-2009 |
I agree with Michael, if the pickups are functional, leave them or if the worn in esthetic bothers you, replace them with new ones but don't fill them in . To be honest with you that Bass was in my watch list and I even emailed the seller with an inquiry regarding shipping details and choices for shipping. I ended deciding not to bid at the last minute and descend upon it during the last few seconds like a bird of prey and fly away with it ! Congratulations __ She's a keeper ! | ||
| flpete1uw
Intermediate Member Username: flpete1uw Post Number: 111 Registered: 11-2011 |
Ha!!! While I was in the E-Mail exchange with owner and having an agreement for the sale. (only the details needing to be worked out) I kept getting comments from him that people were all of a sudden making offers ;) However to his credit, He was a Man of his word and a Deal was a Deal. Wolf, I can’t fully explain this but from the first time I saw her I just knew this Bass would be mine. Weird things like the SN# and Born On dates having significant meanings throughout my life. Plus that Koa! Anyway, Thank You all for not pushing too hard on the bidding ~Pete | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1345 Registered: 10-2006 |
"...if the worn in esthetic bothers you, replace them with new ones but don't fill them in." But keep the originals! Peter | ||
| flpete1uw
Intermediate Member Username: flpete1uw Post Number: 112 Registered: 11-2011 |
Also curious what the Neck with it's Walnut/Maple construction is going to sound like? Has anyone seen any examples of this arrangement? As you can probably tell I'm having a hard time waiting for the delivery truck. | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 1124 Registered: 6-2002 |
It's gonna sound great. I have a couple of 70's basses right now with that same neck recipe. It works well. By the way, I really like that maple core too! Michael | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 550 Registered: 9-2004 |
The pickups are a cast Polyester resin, BTW, with the electronics encapsulated. | ||
| afrobeat_fool
Senior Member Username: afrobeat_fool Post Number: 481 Registered: 7-2009 |
Hi Pete! I am glad to see you have fully caught the Alembic bug! I knew it would not be too long before you got a series bass. I am very fond of my maple and walnut neck combo. It is warmer than the purple heart/maple neck. It lends itself to a smoother sound. I would order the neck maple/walnut if I could afford a new one. Nick | ||
| flpete1uw
Intermediate Member Username: flpete1uw Post Number: 113 Registered: 11-2011 |
Nick, I guess that Persuader infected me until I needed to Distill my thoughts to now make a Series run of it!! Thanks for your input on the neck. I am a finger style player and the more I learn of this Basses configuration the more I think She will be Great! ~Pete |
