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Recommended By
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Average Price
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Average Rating
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71% of reviewers
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$5,300.00
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10.0
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Description:
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2003 Alembic Spyder. Limited edition, number 7 of 50 being produced. Flame Maple top and back, walnut core, vermilion headstock veneers, walnut and maple headstock laminates. 7 piece purpleheart and maple neck, neck through. Individiual brass tailpieces for each string, brass bridge, bridge block, and adjustable nut. Ebony fingerboard with mother of pearl inlays. Surface mounted logo, red side LEDs, and sterling silver spider webs inlaid into points on top of instrument. Anniversary electronics with a stereo option. Two volume controls, two "Q" switches, two low pass filters, and a 4 position rotary pickup selector switch on the lower horn (neck, both, bridge, off).
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Author
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abngourmet
Registered User
Registered: November 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 821
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Review Date: Fri April 8, 2005
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $5,600.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Superlative craftsmanship, tonal variety, \"wow\" factor
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Cons:
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This is a big and heavy instrument, long, long neck, huge case
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This was my first new Alembic (I had an \'84 Spoiler-Exploiter previous to this one), and it has fed my Alembic addiction ever since. I\'m a big John Entwistle fan, and this is similar to what he used (much less expensive, though - it would cost about six times what I paid for this to get an exact replica of John\'s Spyders made today). When I saw it, I just had to have one.
It has all the tonal variety associated with Alembic\'s \"Q\" filter system, and I can get pretty much any sound I want (with the exception of a classic J Bass and a Rickenbacker). Workmanship is the finest one will find anywhere, at any price. These folks care about what they do, and it shows.
Only drawback to the instrument is that it\'s huge and heavy. I had to buy a Moody strap (through Alembic - nicest strap I\'ve ever owned) to alleviate the weight across my shoulders. Once I did that, though, it was fine. It is remarkably well balanced, but the neck is long, long, long. I almost have to extend my arm fully to reach the first fret. This being said, the action and playability are superb. It\'s not very good for slapping and popping - the neck pickup is too close to the neck for it. However, I didn\'t buy it for that style, so for me it\'s not much of an issue. I did see a video of John Entwistle playing his Spyder, and he popped between the pickups. It is still a definite possibility for those so inclined.
Wow Factor - I can\'t say enough how impressive this instrument is. I once took it with me to a Guitar Center to buy strings - since it is so big, it required me to actually measure the available strings on the Spyder to determine which ones to use (I settled on DR High Beams). Anyway, I took it there, and the minute I opened the case, a crowd gathered, like bees to honey. People just stood in awe, and every bassist wanted to pick it up and play it. I took it over to the amp section, and the majority of onlookers followed me just so they could hear it. Try getting that reaction with Fender, Musicman, etc.!
Would I buy another? Yes, simply because I\'m a John Entwistle fan, and it\'s just an awesome instrument.
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"I think the end all, be all answer to this would be.. Any band would suck without their bassplayer" - Metalguy 2
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Anonymous
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Review Date: Tue May 17, 2005
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 0
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They were probably gathering around you because they couldn\'t believe how ugly the damn thing is!!!
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abngourmet
Registered User
Registered: November 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 821
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Review Date: Thu June 2, 2005
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Would you recommend the product? No |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 0
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Ugly is relative. I think Dingwalls are ugly for example, as are Roscoes. But others like them. To me, my Spyder is beautiful. To date, I\'ve not heard one person tell me my Spyder is ugly. You\'re the first one. If you think so, that\'s your opinion, and I respect that. I\'d be interested to know what bass you think is \"beautiful.\"
If you tell me a run of the mill Precision, that will tell all.
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"I think the end all, be all answer to this would be.. Any band would suck without their bassplayer" - Metalguy 2
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abngourmet
Registered User
Registered: November 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 821
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Review Date: Fri June 3, 2005
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Would you recommend the product? No |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 0
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BTW, how about registering? I\'d be more than happy to link up with you somewhere and allow you to give the Spyder a try.
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"I think the end all, be all answer to this would be.. Any band would suck without their bassplayer" - Metalguy 2
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Anonymous
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Review Date: Sat February 11, 2006
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Alembics are are the bomb. They play great and sound awsome
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Cons:
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The price { they're very expensive }
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A simply incredible instrument. Need I say more.
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BobbyDevlin
Registered User
Registered: December 2007
Location: Yonkers, NY
Posts: 22
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Review Date: Sun December 16, 2007
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $5,000.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Tone forever...responds to every fingering subtlety..a TRUE artist's instrument.
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Cons:
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I can carry 'em & I can pay for 'em, soooo...THERE ARE NO "CONS"
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I actually own a 1983 Series I Exploiter and a 1986 Series II Exploiter...They BOTH are amazing tonally, balance & playability are top-notch and the electronics have limitless possibilities for every situation. My personal fave currently is my 1998 Walnut Burl MArk King Sig with triple heart omega body a la John Paul Jones 1973 (with LED's in lieu of the tree-of-life inlays). They are flawless instruments and the superior craftsmanship puts them in the category of expressive sculpture. All my Fenders, MusicMan, G&L and Gibsons stay in storage, while the Alembics keep making me look AND sound good ! ! !
Thanks to Ron, Mary & Mica Wickersham ! ! !
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ivyman
Registered User
Registered: April 2008
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 306
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Review Date: Thu June 26, 2008
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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simply incredible, enswistle played one
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Cons:
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hard to get used too
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i tried this today at bass people in sydney and was amazed about everything about this bass the look and the craftsmenship are amazing and the leds on the fret markers are cool too ive never tried an 8 string before but i reeally love this bass
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Follow The Bass Blog!!
jacksbassblog.blogspot.com
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