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mich
New
Username: mich

Post Number: 3
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 9:53 am:   Edit Post

I am the happy owner of what I believe to be a 89 Spoiler. I've opened a thread in the history request section for details on history, wood etc.
I also own a 1992 Musicman Stingray, and a 1994 Fender Squier MIJ Jazz.

I was on the look out for an Alembic for years, and to be specific, an Alembic with a Q-maple top (I just love that), and medium scale. Fortunately I spot one at a second hand trade site.

The Stingray is a very good instrument, and my with Bass Lines souped up Jazz has a very nice sound too....but this is something different, I could never imagine that after 20 years of playing I can still be knocked over about how fantastic a Bass can play, feel and sound, as it is the case with this for Alembic standards "simple" instrument.


spoiler
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 1333
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 10:11 am:   Edit Post

Hi Mich and welcome. I had the very same feeling when I got my first Alembic, (after 30+ years of playing).

Nice bass man!

Olie
fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 504
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 11:10 am:   Edit Post

The first Alembic I got in my hands was also mine after 5 min :-). I was kinda stunned by the solid "feel" of the bass (also a Spoiler btw)
I'm sure you're gonna love her, she's a beauty!
Are you from Holland?
mich
New
Username: mich

Post Number: 4
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 11:24 am:   Edit Post

Hi Fc Spoiler, yeah I'm from the Netherlands!
fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 505
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 11:32 am:   Edit Post

All right!

Be sure to shoot a few nice pics for the showcase section, we love pictures here.
muller1007
Intermediate Member
Username: muller1007

Post Number: 169
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 1:08 pm:   Edit Post

Hey fellow Dutchman,

Congratulations! That really is a gorgeous bass and I'm sure it plays like a dream. Am I mistaken or does it look brand new? How do you like the FretFx? Nice feature isn't it?

Enjoy the bass to the hilt and welcome to this great club.

Duncan
the_mule
Senior Member
Username: the_mule

Post Number: 657
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 10:49 pm:   Edit Post

Mogguh Michel, welkom in dé club!

I love your bass, what exactly is the knob or switch that the pickup selector is pointing at on the picture? Or is it a LED maybe?

What I'm most curious about is the dummy humcanceller. Could this Spoiler be prepared (destined since birth) for a Series upgrade? Hopefully Mica will chime in soon in one of your topics to shed a light on this. Congratulations!

Wilfred
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 1164
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 3:48 am:   Edit Post

Hi Mich and welcome to the club from Scotland. That's a very nice spoiler. i do like quilt maple.

Graeme
mauibassplayer
Junior
Username: mauibassplayer

Post Number: 31
Registered: 3-2005
Posted on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 12:41 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Mich, wow, that is a beautiful bass. Very nice indeed. I have a 86 Spoiler with Bocate top and Walnut body. I love that quilted look. I want one now like that.
Aloha and welcome,
Ken
the_8_string_king
Senior Member
Username: the_8_string_king

Post Number: 610
Registered: 9-2005
Posted on Friday, May 18, 2007 - 4:59 pm:   Edit Post

Welcome to the club, Mich!

Congrats on the Spoiler! The Flame Maple looks really nice... especially contrasted against the Mahagony body!
mich
New
Username: mich

Post Number: 5
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Saturday, May 19, 2007 - 4:23 am:   Edit Post

To be honest I want to remove the dummy, but I am afraid I will damage the coating. Any suggestion? I think it's double sided tape.

The led, yeah well...it's a feature with no function but on and off :-)

Indeed it looks brand new, except for the serial number plate, that looks awfully worn.

does anyone know whether I can order a new one (with serial number)?

thanks and cheers!
Mich
muller1007
Intermediate Member
Username: muller1007

Post Number: 170
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, May 19, 2007 - 5:15 am:   Edit Post

Hoi Michel,

If you haven't already, I think you need to register your bass at Alembic first:
http://www.alembic.com/cgi-bin/register.pl

You probably should be able to order a new trussrod cover with an engraved serial number from Alembic. You should contact Mica Wickersham about it. She might be reading this post...

Duncan
muller1007
Intermediate Member
Username: muller1007

Post Number: 171
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, May 19, 2007 - 5:28 am:   Edit Post

I was wondering, is that dummy just glued onto the neck, or is it actually routed into the neck/body of the bass? Did the previous owner place the dummy himself?

Duncan
mich
New
Username: mich

Post Number: 6
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Saturday, May 19, 2007 - 7:33 am:   Edit Post

Thanks muller1007, I just registered on-online.

The dummy is mounted with double sided tape, and yes the previous owner did place it for "series" look. I want to remove it, as I don't want to be a wannabe Series, but a wannebe Spoiler ;-).

Thing is I might damage the top, and refinishing will be costly. I think.

By the way, just did my first gig yesterday with my Spoiler.....just two words!... Awe-some!!

Mich
bassjigga
Advanced Member
Username: bassjigga

Post Number: 207
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Saturday, May 19, 2007 - 9:08 am:   Edit Post

If it's just tape I don't think it will damage the finish. The finish is relatively hard compared to tape. Just be careful about what you use to remove any left over sticky-residue.
fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 507
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Saturday, May 19, 2007 - 9:22 am:   Edit Post

The truss rod cover can be polished to it's original "showroom shine" again.
The hardware on my '87 Spoiler was also very worn, I brought them to a jeweller who polished them and finished them with a clear powdercoating. Shines like new again
joram
Member
Username: joram

Post Number: 54
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 12:41 am:   Edit Post

I just knew there was a thread about removing sticky nonsense... Quoting Mica:

You can use mineral oil or lemon oil to dissolve lots of adhesives. Like has been suggested, if you can get an edge started, then swab the oil in the exposed area and continue to peel the sticker away.

Once you get the whole thing off, you can clean up the sticky residue on the bass with an acetone-soaked wipe. You can use acetone to remove the sticker, but it's hard to controle the placement and evaporates quickly.


en welkom, natuurlijk!
mich
New
Username: mich

Post Number: 8
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2007 - 7:23 am:   Edit Post

Thanks Joram,

Wow! A lot of Dutch guys here.
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 1466
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2007 - 7:46 am:   Edit Post

One more here. And where are our Flemish friends when you need them ...
57basstra
Senior Member
Username: 57basstra

Post Number: 637
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Friday, May 25, 2007 - 4:16 am:   Edit Post

Welcome, Mich.

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