Our normal terms for warranty service, which is service performed as result in defect of materials or workmanship, is that you need to get the instrument to us. We pay for the repair and the return shipping costs. These details are printed on the warranty card you received with the bass. If we elect to reimburse for the shipping to us, it's after the item arrives here and the determination of defect is made by us.  
 
A factory defect is covered by the warranty. Maybe there is a different idea of warranty in Japan, but traditionally in the United States, manufacturing defects are covered by the manufacturer's warranty, meaning the manufacturer pays for the repair.

Mica,  
 
Thanks for the prompt reply.
We will discuss the shipping cost to ALEMBIC later on.  
Anyway, I will send the bass this weekend.
 
Shoji

When you send, please email me the tracking number so that I can be expecting it. I will alert you when it arrives.

Mica,
 
Have you received my bass???
What the hell is going on there???
 
Shoji

Mica,
 
Have you received my bass???
What the hell is going on there???
 
Shoji

Hi Shoji,
 
I sent you an email immediately the day we received it, which was Tuesday. Apparently you did not receive my notice. I knew you would be anxious to know when we got it. I should have the final report to you on Monday or Tuesday at the latest.

The problem we were having was we could not duplicate the LED problem. Voltage across the string is 24V which is normal, and the LEDs are the normal brightness. We found the switch to have a possible defect, but that still would not explain the reading you got on the LED string or the lack of brightness.  
 
I'm afraid that we must still conclude that a rare component failure has happened, and we will replace the fingerboard.  
 
I've written up the work order for this and the work will start tomorrow. Warranty repair work gets top priority in the shop, and I hope that your bass will be ready to ship back to you in approximately 4-5 weeks. Sadly, there is some refinishing work that will need to be done, and that's why the work will take so long.  
 
Before we ship, we will confirm you will be available to receive the bass.

Hi Mica,
 
Thanks for your support.
With regard to the problem you have, IT HAPPENS.
Sometimes it works, sometimes doesn't.
Especially when I play the bass, it turns on and off automatically against my will.
Needless to say, the voltage reading I gave you was the one when it didn't work.
Please take your time to wait and see what's happening, and check up thoroughly.
A complete inspection would be greatly appreciated.
 
Shoji

Mica,  
 
Could you duplicate the LED problem?  
Eager to hear what the reason was.  
 
Shoji

Hi Shoji,
 
I guess you didn't get this email from me sent about 4 hours before your post:
 
We removed the fingerboard, and both the neck and the board are in perfect condition. New board should be in place early next week and then the finish touch up. We are working hard to get this warranty repair completed as soon as possible.
 
No, we haven't been able to duplicate the problem, but because of your observations with the voltage, there is only one answer, the component was defective and the repair was needed. We're continuing to test the removed fingerboard to see if we can discover which one and the manner of failure, it would be interesting. But the most important thing to address is getting your bass repaired and back to you as soon as possible.

Mica,
 
Any updates?
 
Shoji

Your bass is in the finish department now. New fingerboard with new LEDs in place.  
 
As of yesterday, we were not able to duplicate the problem on the original fingerboard.

Mica,  
 
How is the bass going?  
 
Shoji

Mica,
 
What's going on there???
 
Shoji

Hi Shoji,
 
I am sorry for not updating you since the end of November.  
 
Your bass is ready to rub out. I hope to have it completed this week or next. I'm actually very pleased with how quickly we've been able to progress on this warranty repair.
 
I will email you when it's ready to ship to make sure you will be available to receive it.  
 
We were still not able to duplicate the problem you reported on the original fingerboard.