| Author | Message | ||
| longhorncat
Advanced Member Username: longhorncat Post Number: 321 Registered: 8-2005 |
Beautiful top wood on this one.  | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 8033 Registered: 5-2002 |
Very nice and unusual top! Strap button has been moved to back of body. Flight case. Pickups are mounted incorrectly. | ||
| enzo
Junior Username: enzo Post Number: 32 Registered: 4-2009 |
I was about to ask for the pickups. Usually there are 2 screws each pickup, although I don't even know why. Beautiful Distillate anyway. Is the price ok ? | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 2194 Registered: 6-2002 |
Enzo - there are usually two screws visible on top of the pickup, and there are two screws hidden underneath the other two corners. The pickup is simply held between the heads of the screws, and can tilt in all directions. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 8040 Registered: 5-2002 |
Enzo; when you look at a pickup on your Spoiler, you'll notice that there are two screws on top, at opposite corners. In the other two corners there are screws underneath the pickup. The pickup sits on those two screws, and is held secure by the top two screws. Using this system, not only can you change the height of the pickup, but you can also change the forward/backward tilt and/or side to side tilt. To adjust the pickups, you loosen the top screws, then with a small screwdriver that will fit through the holes, you adjust the heights of the two bottom screws to the desired levels. When you've got those levels where you want them, you then tighten the top screws back down (being careful not to over tighten and crack the tabs). For instance say you want your pickup closer to the strings. Back off the top screws several turns to loosen the pickup. Now back off the bottom screws so they are taller until the the height is where you want it. Now tighten the top screws snug. Now say you like the sound of the high strings at that height, but you want a little cleaner tone from the low strings. By screwing the bottom screw into the body on the E string side of the pickup, you lower that side of the pickup. The two screws on the G string side, bottom and top, hold that side at the current height. You now tighten the E string side top screw snug. (You may need to loosen the G side top screw a little to prevent binding while adjusting the E side). Or say you want the pickup level side to side, but want it to slope downward toward the neck. Lower the bottom screw on the neck side of the pickup. The bridge side bottom and top screws hold the backside in place. Tighten down the neck side top screw snug. (You may need to loosen the bridge side top screw a little to prevent binding while adjusting the neck side). Simple, easy, flexible, elegant design for pickup height adjustment. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 8041 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hah! Adriaan beat me by 26 minutes. This was old news by the time I hit the post button. | ||
| enzo
Junior Username: enzo Post Number: 33 Registered: 4-2009 |
Adriaan, Dave, thank you so much for the explanation. Dave your work in the Club is priceless ! Are you, by any chance, coming to the Chicago Gathering the end of May ? | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 8042 Registered: 5-2002 |
Thanks! And I don't know the answer to that last question. | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 471 Registered: 10-2006 |
I dunno, Dave - it looks to me more like the button was added to rather than moved. There seem to 3, in fact; inside of upper bass bout, top of UBB, & in back at the neck. Peter | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 8045 Registered: 5-2002 |
I think you're right; and I think that might be a bit of a concern. I think I would be a bit concerned that two recessed strap locks positioned as they are might weaken the upper horn. I don't know that it would, but it's something to think about. I have no idea how deep those go; if they are fairly shallow, then maybe it's not a concern. | ||
| bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 1444 Registered: 11-2003 |
I would be very interested in this if not for the above mentioned inconsistencies. I'm looking for a medium scale and that walnut top is perfect. I did email the seller about the pick up covers. He said it was like that when he bought it. Sam | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 8077 Registered: 5-2002 |
Sam; my guess is that the pickups are not a big deal; probably just a matter of ordering the correct screws from Alembic. The horn is the issue. If you're really interested in the bass, then it would be nice to get some more opinion from other members. I'm thinking that if you were planning to use the strap lock on the neck, then the horn integrity is much less of an issue. And for appearances, you could probably remove the recessed locks on the horn and fill the holes in. If you wanted to use the horn, then I would really recommend getting more qualified advice. | ||
| bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 1445 Registered: 11-2003 |
Thanks Dave, there's custom medium scale at Bass Central that I'm going to go look at this Saturday. Coincidently Victor Wooten will be there for a clinic at the same time. Nice bonus. The East Meets West COTM is also there on sale. It's a 34" scale but that's what I'm used to already anyway. Mostly I just have GAS  (Message edited by bracheen on May 14, 2009) | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 8078 Registered: 5-2002 |
Quite some years ago now I went to a Victor Wooten/Steve Bailey clinic. Very informative! Have fun! |
