| Author |
Message |
caboverde
New
Username: caboverde
Post Number: 1
Registered: 9-2015
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2015 - 8:52 am: |  |
Greetings from Florida!
Excited to say I'm new to the club here, as of this past weekend: medium scale '86 5 string Spoiler. I came upon one of those "once in a lifetime" kind of deals where the second owner had all of the original paperwork when it was originally purchased as well as a bunch of Alembic literature. The bass was used very little in the past 29 years but the brass looks like it could use a good cleaning.
The tone of this bass is unreal and now I guess I understand what all the "fuss" is about over Alembic's filter pre. The tight spacing isn't too bad, although I'm more used to a 19mm spacing at the bridge; and the short upper horn is taking a bit of getting used to as well. We'll see if it stays or not, but I must admit that if I'm sitting down and plugged in...I'm all smiles 
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm106/WALFREAK/IMG_20150830_151013_zpsjimvxiqn.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm106/WALFREAK/IMG_20150830_151200_zpsnsbh7oml.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm106/WALFREAK/5161a52d-315d-4049-94f6-d7b27f05756f_zpsmhie2ios.jpg |
caboverde
New
Username: caboverde
Post Number: 2
Registered: 9-2015
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2015 - 10:17 am: | |
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moongerm
Advanced Member
Username: moongerm
Post Number: 262
Registered: 8-2013
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2015 - 10:34 am: | |
Congratulations! I have a Spoiler 5 very similar to this but with a Bacote top. Play it in good health. As a matter of fact I just used my Alembic tube of Flitz to shine up the brass this weekend and it worked wonderfully along with some rubbing elbow grease. |
caboverde
New
Username: caboverde
Post Number: 3
Registered: 9-2015
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2015 - 10:39 am: | |
Thanks moongerm!
I'm planning on using some Brasso since I've read a few positive reviews of it in the messageboard...and since it's readily available at the HomeDepot near me (okay, that's the main reason really...lol) |
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus
Post Number: 4448
Registered: 5-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2015 - 10:54 am: | |
Brasso is very abrasive ! I think you will do better with FLITZ as directed . FLITZ is readily available at many hardware stores as well as HOME DEPOT !
Right here ! http://www.homedepot.com/b/Flitz/N-5yc1vZe9l |
5a_quilt_top
Junior
Username: 5a_quilt_top
Post Number: 13
Registered: 6-2012
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2015 - 11:35 am: | |
Three purple heart neck lams = some darn good tone & sustain.
Congrats and enjoy exploring a whole new frontier of sonic possibilities. |
caboverde
New
Username: caboverde
Post Number: 4
Registered: 9-2015
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2015 - 12:33 pm: | |
I appreciate the feedback guys!
Sonicus, if you insist, I'll get some Flitz. Better safe than sorry ;) |
moongerm
Advanced Member
Username: moongerm
Post Number: 263
Registered: 8-2013
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2015 - 1:50 pm: | |
Flitz and nothing else and you won't be sorry . |
rockerdebassman
Junior
Username: rockerdebassman
Post Number: 11
Registered: 8-2015
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2015 - 2:31 pm: | |
Fine bass! Now, play the heck out of it! |
fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler
Post Number: 1775
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2015 - 2:33 pm: | |
You'll need something more aggressive to remove the clear finish from the tailpiece (and probably the truss rods cover)
Scotch brite works great for that, after you've removed the finish you can use Flitz :-)
Congrats, looks awesome! |
moongerm
Advanced Member
Username: moongerm
Post Number: 264
Registered: 8-2013
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2015 - 2:57 pm: | |
Ahhh yes FC, forgot about that. When I was using Flitz on the bridge and nut it worked great but noticed there was a clear coat of something on the tailpiece and truss rods cover. It wasn't tarnished so I left it alone. Good to know. Thanks! |
keith_h
Senior Member
Username: keith_h
Post Number: 2270
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2015 - 3:04 pm: | |
Flitz is what Alembic recommends for cleaning up the the brass on their basses. Also be careful if you decide to polish the logo on the head stock. It is very easy to catch the various little points in it and bend the logo out of shape or worse pull it off the bass.
Keith |
fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler
Post Number: 1776
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2015 - 3:15 pm: | |
The best way to polish the logo/script is to remove it from the bass, but be extremely careful when you do. (if you break it, they will only replace it if you send the bass/guitar back to Santa Rosa)
See here: http://alembic.com/club/messages/394/51895.html |
stephenr
Intermediate Member
Username: stephenr
Post Number: 106
Registered: 9-2014
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2015 - 3:20 pm: | |
I cleaned up the tailpiece on my 78 Series bass recently and there was no finish on it or the truss rod cover. A little Flitz and it looked good as new. So... I would make sure there IS a finish before you try to remove it. The brass on my bass had not been cleaned in the 30 years I have owned it so either the tailpiece never had a finish on it or the previous owner removed it. The back plates both did have a finish.
Sweet looking bass... good luck with it and enjoy! |
fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler
Post Number: 1777
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2015 - 3:25 pm: | |
Yep, my '79 bass also came without clear finish on the tailpiece/tr cover. (also only on the backplates here)
I think they started to do that about halfway in the eighties? |
caboverde
New
Username: caboverde
Post Number: 5
Registered: 9-2015
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2015 - 3:35 pm: | |
Wow! I just saw the thread on logo removal...I don't think I'll be trying THAT. I'll do my best with a Q-tip and then just leave it as is.
I believe there IS a finish on the block and truss cover, and if they began doing this in the mid-80s then that would make sense. Would Brasso work better in this case to remove the clear finish then? |
rustyg61
Senior Member
Username: rustyg61
Post Number: 1724
Registered: 2-2011
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2015 - 3:51 pm: | |
Congratulations on your first Alembic! Your Spoiler is gorgeous! It looks brand new! I had a custom Europa built last year & I specified the neck width to be pretty narrow which made my string spacing narrow too. It felt a little weird at first, but now I love it!
For cleaning the brass, I took J o e y's recommendation & use Eagle One Never Dull. It is cotton impregnated with cleaner that works great for removing tarnish. I like it better than the cream because there is no residue to get down in the cracks where it is hard to get it out. I've had my can of Never Dull for 2 or 3 years & it is still 90% full! You can get it at Wal Mart -
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Eagle-One-Nevr-Dull-5-oz./15125758
Welcome to the club! |
fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler
Post Number: 1778
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2015 - 4:08 pm: | |
I use Brasso, which does the same thing as Flitz.
It will not remove the clear finish, you'll need to use Scotch brite or something similar.
There are some pictures in this thread: http://alembic.com/club/messages/395/211890.html |
artswork99
Moderator
Username: artswork99
Post Number: 2053
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2015 - 9:55 am: | |
Nice! Beautiful bass, congratulations. |
edwardofhuncote
New
Username: edwardofhuncote
Post Number: 8
Registered: 6-2014
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2015 - 11:40 am: | |
Hey Ricky, glad you found us over here. Welcome! |
caboverde
New
Username: caboverde
Post Number: 6
Registered: 9-2015
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2015 - 12:44 pm: | |
Thanks for pointing me over here, Greg |
gtrguy
Senior Member
Username: gtrguy
Post Number: 924
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 08, 2015 - 5:03 pm: | |
Yeah, brasso with 0000 steel whool is the thing! Take pictures before you take the bridge off. I have also (Egads!) used Tarnex on the old style logos that were silver, but don't know if that would work on the newer ones.
That will look like new when you are done!
Sometimes the bridge pins are hard to get out. I have several tiny punches I use. The pins go in one way. Look for the tiny little tool marks on the pins and call that the bottom and tap them out at the other end while supporting the bridge at the bottom so as to not block the pin you are working on, if memory serves me right. |