Alembic Club at Talk Bass

[billostech]

Originally Posted by TRichardsbass

I'll be joining soon. Excel on its way.

Congrats, Tom. Welcome to the family.

[Kmonk]

1997 Epic 5 String and 1995 Epic 4 String

[cfsporn]

You saw it here first folks, my second Alembic! I think I may have found my brand.

[sixway]

Originally Posted by f64

Count me in!
Here's my 95 Epic-5 Quartersawn Zebrawood

Here's my 84 Spoiler Koa

Great looking wood! I just bought a '94 Epic, and would like some help regarding the EQ/Controls. Mine has been modified at some point, and I'd like to know what the original controls were. At this point, what I have is Volume, Pan for the pups, Tone, and at this point, a switch that is a cut/boost switch? Here's a couple of pics of the control cavity and knob config....

Knobs...


Control cavity...


Resistor for cut/boost switch... says ".015UF, +/-10%, 80 DC"....


Can't find any info at the Alembic site other than generic which says Volume, Pan, Bass, Treble. The bottom knob at this point seems to act as a Tone Control, although it could still be either the Bass or Treble module; I'm just not sure at this point.

[Margus Alviste]

Count me in! I've got a wonderful 96 Orion.

[cfsporn]

Originally Posted by chef wong

I tend to like the less ornate Alembic basses. That thing's awesome.

Thanks!

[FC Bass]

Originally Posted by sixway

I just bought a '94 Epic, and would like some help regarding the EQ/Controls. Mine has been modified at some point, and I'd like to know what the original controls were. At this point, what I have is Volume, Pan for the pups, Tone, and at this point, a switch that is a cut/boost switch?

Can't find any info at the Alembic site other than generic which says Volume, Pan, Bass, Treble. The bottom knob at this point seems to act as a Tone Control, although it could still be either the Bass or Treble module; I'm just not sure at this point.

Looks like a filter preamp (vol, pan, filter + q switch) Almost the same as a standard Elan package: Click here
(Elan package has two blue trimpots for individual pickup gain, more info on trimpots)

[cfsporn]

It's funny. I think the Epic is higher in the pecking order than my "lowly" one pickup Persuader, but I find myself preferring the tone of the Persuader.

The one problem I am having with my Alembics is they tend to make every other bass I have seem less good by comparison. And since I chose to fall in love with the one bass company that doesn't do endorsements (not that I will ever even be worthy of a mere SX endorsement), I guess I have damned myself to a life of brokeness or G.A.S.! Yay!

[FC Bass]

Persuader is neck trough, so it's "higher in the pecking order" than the Epic (set neck)
I think the one pickup version would be about the same $$$ as an Essence if ordered today, for the Spoiler and the Elan they charge the same as for a Rogue.

I just added the Alembic script to my '83 Spoiler and '06 fretless, a friend made (copied) a couple for me :-)
They started putting the name under the logo in '87, this is the first one in my list
Somewhere in '02/'03 they stopped adding the script due to a "style change" according to Susan (though they will put it on if requested as with my 5 string custom Elan)

I think it looks better with the script (unless it's a classic Series I/II from the 70's) and they won't send out scripts, you can only get the script added if you send the bass back to the mothership in Santa Rosa... So I had these made locally.

'83 Spoiler headstock:



Total picture with the new "Graffix" sticker:



'06 fretless headstock, this one was a bit trickier... the logo was too low and too far to the right, so I had to fill some holes.
I placed the logo so that the majority of it covers the holes, filled the holes with Maple (Spalted, I got a piece from a friend some years ago) dust and some super glue. Undetectable to the trained (my) eye :-)



Can you see which is the original?

[TRichardsbass]

Well you might be able to afford mine....

[guyzo]

I currently have my 82 custom series I fretless and a fretted 77 series I.
over the years i've had another 77 fretted S I, fretless 82 S I, an 8 string S I, and 2 spoilers. Loved every one of them, but especially the two i have now!

[phillybass101]

Originally Posted by abngourmet

My Custom Series II Entwistle Replica:

[IMG][/IMG]

My Stanley Clarke Sig Std and '91 Essence, which I used in Iraq:



And my '95 Epic:

I see that black jackazz in the background. I was in A Btry 1/82nd FA 1st Cav Div (Ft. Hood) for a little bit as well as A btry 1/76 FA, A Btry 1/10 FA 3rd ID Schweinfurt GE.

[phillybass101]

I'll probably never own an Alembic for the most obvious reasons. But this is one of the most important and significant pics in Alembic History. I wanted to be just like Stanley Clarke and wanted a bass just like his. I no longer want to be Stanley but I still have a soft spot for one of those Brown Basses.

[boamedt]

i dont own one but living down the street from the factory doesnt hurt. i have played a many of theirs at the factory....if life ever permits, i will have one

[cfsporn]

Originally Posted by phillybass101

I'll probably never own an Alembic for the most obvious reasons. But this is one of the most important and significant pics in Alembic History. I wanted to be just like Stanley Clarke and wanted a bass just like his. I no longer want to be Stanley but I still have a soft spot for one of those Brown Basses.

Alembics don't have to be expensive. Both of mine were under $1k.

[malthumb]

Originally Posted by cfsporn

Alembics don't have to be expensive. Both of mine were under $1k.

Pretty good point. My first one cost me $1,300 but that was a long time ago. My least costly one came in at $475. Long story behind it, but suffice it to say it was beat up. I refurbed it and eventually sold it for a modest profit.

My experience has been that trading up is the way to go. Not just with Alembics, but basses in general. I have often saved money, sold a bass and put the proceeds from the sale with the saved money and moved up the food chain with a nicer used bass than the one I sold.

[bareass]

IN!!
Just picked up a used 98 custom Europa this past weekend.
Went to guitar center after setting up for a gig, and came home with it!

[Spleenface92]

Ooooh, I can join this!
1996 Epic, scored it on ebay for $1500 in 2010.

[bucephylus]

Originally Posted by phillybass101

I'll probably never own an Alembic for the most obvious reasons. But this is one of the most important and significant pics in Alembic History. I wanted to be just like Stanley Clarke and wanted a bass just like his. I no longer want to be Stanley but I still have a soft spot for one of those Brown Basses.

This was a great post; and I relate to it in so many ways. All I can say is same here.

For the younger players who may not be fully aware of the Stanley impact thing, here is a YouTube of a typical representative performance. (Its in 2 parts, but well worth watching - listening to both)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3sT5Ucyw_0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YShQZUMe7g

Seeing that level of performance at the time was simply mind boggling (for me). And I have to say, it still is!

In my case, I did eventually buy one of those (used) SSB Series I's. In fact, I just sent it in to Mica & Co for some restoration work. But, I too very quickly got past the point of wanting to "be like Stanley." Wasn't no way ever going to happen; and, as it turns out, we all get our own ideas about how and what to play. And, it turns out the instruments still sound pretty terrific on their own. In fact, if you put regular gauge strings on them, they sound quite a bit different than the clips above.

So, here is my SSB, currently back in Santa Rosa for a refit. Oh, if it matters a whole lot, the wood on top is some kind of mystery. Alembic's records say it is something called "Balluca," which, of course, doesn't exist. It looks like the old Martin Brazilian Rosewood; but Rick Turner told me they NEVER used Braz during his tenure. So, who knows? Doesn't matter much to me. it sounds like a million bucks and cost a "reasonable" amount used a bunch of years ago.

[mb94952]

Not in a hurry , BUT looking for an
Alembic Elan 4 with dual soaps ...

Kind of like this with the maple / maple back