Alembic Basses - Opinions

[curt basner]

All,

Following on to the custom bass thread I started a short while ago (to ask for opinions on luthiers who build customs), I'd like to know what people think of Alembics. I have fallen in love with the designs and execution on their website. I know they are absurdly expensive, but I am still impressed.

I understand that some folks malign these basses. I've heard that some feel that the tone is distinct and that the Alembic is only good for 'one sound.' Can anyone share your thoughts or experiences with Alembic? Feel free to talk about quality, build, service/support as well as tone.

Thanks in advance.

[Mark Wilson]

If you've got the approximate 10,000 to spend on a custom, knock yourself out! You won't be let down!


-Mark

[SamJ]

It's on my dream list, and I'm sure I'll end up GASing one some day.. if you've got $10K to drop on a bass as Mark said.. you'll be happy with the results.

I had a much cheaper Epic model fretless a while back and they're VERY well made instruments.

[JJBACOOMBA]

I have a 95 Alembic Epic. I am very pleased with it. Played a variety of styles and its never let me down.

[heath_the_great]

love alembic, about 2 years ago i went and tried a few, the 8 string entwistle tribute one, an epic 4, mark king 4 (LOVE!) and a few others..i would totally dig an epic, but this, once i saw these


id love an alembic jazz, total sex, only id have ash body, maple neck with ebony fb

[A9X]

I have two Alembics (previously owned another), both 30.75, a Series 1 and a SC. Both were bought secondhand for the approx street price of a Thumb 4BO here new, so there's no need to custom order your own unless you have a really unusual spec or money to burn. I definitely wouldn't cough up for a new one when I could get a couple of Statuses for the same money.
Execution and tone one both are first rate and easily amongst the best I've used or heard anywhere and the service and support are excellent, no matter the bass' age. But, what I love (tone and feel wise), you might hate.....and some people aren't fans of the ergonomics, but again I like mine and find J's and MM's unweildy for example.
The Series pups and electronics are worth the money, especially at the much lesser price differential secondhand.
Here's my S1
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attach...6&d=1120995679

[Spinal Tap]

I really enjoy Fretless Alembics!

I used to own a fretted Orion, but i missed alot of punch wich I found finally in a (Celinder) jazzbass, but the ebony fretboard, quality woods, placing of the bridge pickup make Alembics one of the best builders of fretless bassses.

...And of course they are beautifull masterpieces...!
But you should really try alot of different models before you decide to buy one

Here's my Fretless Orion 5 with stunning CocoBolo top



really love the bass, but i'am currently selling it, because I don't use a fretless bass very often Maybe later I will buy another when I have more time for playing bass again

[Sorax]

Personally I think Alembics are the ugliest things to ever be labelled bass. Just my opinion though

[jeff_bass28]

I just did a quick custom design quote on their site -- $15,900!

Great stuff, but for that kind of money, no way! If I had a 16G bass budget, I wouldn't blow it all on only one bass!

[HotTubesGrooves]

I'd love one, but will never be able to afford one or justify paying that much for one, when there are so many cheaper alternatives out there.

[kidcharlemagne]

Ergonomically, the older designs seem to have been thought up by someone who has never played a bass (heavy as hell, scary neck dive, no comfort cutaways, long reach, even on the short scale models), and aesthetically you either love or hate the 70s style. But that said, having owned a Mark King model and now a Stanley Clarke signature, I find it hard to bring myself to play anything else. The multilaminated necks and bodies may seem fussy, but the workmanship is second-to-none and the woods really are matched to give the best range of tones. And the electronics with their filters and q controls (as opposed to simple 'treble-mid-bass' controls) can be confusing and, again, seem fussy at first, but once you get in there and play around with them, you realise there's a massive range of sounds available. The 'one sound' most people associate with Alembic is the 'both filters and q switches maxed-out' setting, but, while some people like that, it is only the tip of the Alembic tone iceberg: my SC will put out everything from the twangy, toppy Stanley Clarke-type sound to a gut-rumbling dub reggae boom, and judicious use of palm-muting will give you more vintage sounds. I find them unnervingly responsive basses - they'll make you a better player because they pick up (and put out!) every little nuance (and flaw) in your technique. And you'll need a good amp to get the most out of them - your bog-standard combo doesn't reproduce the full range top-end frequencies or the trouser-flapping bottom end that an Alembic is capable of, and which gives the bass its true character. In my experience, players who have dismissed Alembics because they felt the sound lacked bass have changed their tune when they've tried one through a top flight rig.

But yeah, expensive, I can't deny that. There's always a downside, ain't there?

K.
www.harambeuk.com
www.myspace.com/harambe
www.myspace.com/karlclews

[jeff_bass28]

Originally Posted by kidcharlemagne

...the Alembic tone iceberg: my SC will put out everything from the twangy, toppy Stanley Clarke-type sound to a gut-rumbling dub reggae boom, and judicious use of palm-muting will give you more vintage sounds. I find them unnervingly responsive basses - they'll make you a better player because they pick up (and put out!) every little nuance (and flaw) in your technique. And you'll need a good amp to get the most out of them - your bog-standard combo doesn't reproduce the full range top-end frequencies or the trouser-flapping bottom end that an Alembic is capable of, and which gives the bass its true character. In my experience, players who have dismissed Alembics because they felt the sound lacked bass have changed their tune when they've tried one through a top flight rig.

But yeah, expensive, I can't deny that. There's always a downside, ain't there?

K.

I've mentioned his stuff out here before, so at the risk of sounding like a shill, I have to say that if you like the range of sounds from an Alembic, but not the price, Chris Larkin is worth checking out. I had one of his 5 strings for a while (still kicking myself for selling it!) and could get just about any sound you could think of. Had the deepest B string I've ever heard, too. Looks, construction, price, etc. are great too.
Again, sorry for the shill-ness of this; I just like his stuff is all...

[The Hammer]

I bought a made to order Mark King Deluxe 5 string from Alembic a couple of years ago. I ordered it through Bass Central. don't go by the "pricing" guide on Alembics website, when I punched in what I got on my Alembic it said it would cost between $8,000-9,000 My bass didn't cost anywhere near that much. Also you can get a used Alembic on eBay for much much less than if you buy it new. I can't say enough good things about mine in terms of playablity and tone but like everything else they aren't everyones cup of tea.

[jeff_bass28]

I found an Elan 4 in a shop a few years back for $1200. I was $100 short and the guy absolutely refused to come down on the price at all.
Went back the next week, after pay day, and it was gone.



edit: Correction--it was a Spoiler, not an Elan. Remembered what it looked like bit couldn't remember the name. Just looked it up on the Alembic site.

[Son of Magni]

Bass Central usually has a great selection on their website. And the real price is well below the "list price" they display on the web.

[BSR6P-Bob]

I've owned 4 Alembics.

3 Series I 4 strings
(1 short scale small body and 2 med.scale "point" models)
& 1 Europa 6 string.

The Good:

Series I/II electronics - Nothing else like it. A no compromise 36 volt circuit that can let you do anything. Really puts control of the sound in your hands once you understand the application. Repeat: Once you really UNDERSTAND the use of this circuit it is definitely NOT a one trick pony. Also, there is no comparing the other Alembic electronic schemes to the Series I/II. IMHO this is 90% of the reason to own an Alembic.

Fit and finish - Really beautiful and almost seamless execution of the design. Assuming a good neck (see "The Bad") the action can be insanely low with no buzzing.

The Bad:

Poorly executed truss cavity neck design allowed for many basses (at least in my experience "Pre-1990") to come through with recurves. (3 out of my 4 had this, including the short scale Series I that I purchased as a new custom order.

Series I/II standard body designs have very poor balance (neck dive) and it's REALLY bad in the small bodies. This could be overcome, it just takes adapting your technique.

Bottom line, if you can find a used Series I or II with a Europa body style (for balance) and a STABLE neck you would not regret it. Keep in mind warranty is 1 Year on new instruments. Within warranty Alembic's customer service is excellent and out of warranty it's excellent but costly.

Please apply a HUGE In My Humble Opinion and In My Experience to all of the above.

[unatratnag]

Originally Posted by Son of Magni

Bass Central usually has a great selection on their website. And the real price is well below the "list price" they display on the web.

Never owned, just played some at bass central. Couldn't stand the feel of the basses. Not for me. Also agree with an awkward position of standing up and the long reach due to peg design.

Best tone i've ever heard was a fretless alembic -> accugroove 112. Not sure what the head was.

The usual, try before you buy sir. I spent a good 100 bucks or so to get out to Bass Central and try out pretty much all the models you can't find normally. Well worth it and an enriching experience.

[alanbass1]

I have a Mark King sig (series style body shape) and love it. I would love the series 2 electronics and maybe one day. They are heavy though, but this does not trouble me.

[The Hammer]

Originally Posted by unatratnag

Never owned, just played some at bass central. Couldn't stand the feel of the basses. Not for me. Also agree with an awkward position of standing up and the long reach due to peg design.

Best tone i've ever heard was a fretless alembic -> accugroove 112. Not sure what the head was.

The usual, try before you buy sir. I spent a good 100 bucks or so to get out to Bass Central and try out pretty much all the models you can't find normally. Well worth it and an enriching experience.

+10000000000\I can't say enough good things about Beaver and Bass Central

[ghunter]

Alembic does have a lot of models, so it's unfair to think that they're all ugly based on the traditional look.

Personally, I think that the Rogue is gorgeous:



Take a look at the showcase section of the website and you'll see many different examples.