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Alembic Essence
- Thread starter jbl71004
- Start date
They did? More details, please! I was long under the impression this wasn’t possible. Would be extremely happy to learn it’s been done.
I owned one for a while.
Mine came with the filter without the Q switch, and I always felt adding that switch would have offered more Usable tonal possibilities. If you like the Alembic sound, this is a good way to get in at likely a lower price point (although as some have mentioned these models can be very customizable).
The biggest gripes for me were ergonomic. I’m 6”1, and the body looked small on my frame, and felt like it extended from my body unnaturally, like a Thunderbird. If one was used to a Steinberger or HOFNER 500/1, they may find this works better for them.
Very well built basses with incredible hardware and wood choices.
Mine came with the filter without the Q switch, and I always felt adding that switch would have offered more Usable tonal possibilities. If you like the Alembic sound, this is a good way to get in at likely a lower price point (although as some have mentioned these models can be very customizable).
The biggest gripes for me were ergonomic. I’m 6”1, and the body looked small on my frame, and felt like it extended from my body unnaturally, like a Thunderbird. If one was used to a Steinberger or HOFNER 500/1, they may find this works better for them.
Very well built basses with incredible hardware and wood choices.
I’ve owned a pair of four-string Essences: beautifully built, magnificent fit and finish, but I actually found them to have some issues with neck dive. I couldn’t get comfortable using them, especially if I was sitting down, so I eventually sent them on their way. Perhaps there’s something unique about the geometry of my upper body or my playing style, because I’ve had issues with other basses that have been touted for their balance and ergonomics, such as the Steinberger L2.
I have also owned a six-string Essence, and while it didn’t have neck-dive issues (I believe the larger body helped), I found the neck to be too wide for my comfort, so I moved it along as well.
The Essence’s LPF-based electronics, however, spoiled me for anything else. They’re absolutely spectacular. As a result, my current two main basses have been Alembicized with Signature electronics packages, and I have to say, while I enjoy dialing in the tone for each pickup separately, I don’t think the Signature electronics really deliver much true practical value over the scaled-back electronics created for the Essence (as long as the Essence has the Q-switch installed). The configuration of the Essence electronics hits an excellent sweet spot.
I have also owned a six-string Essence, and while it didn’t have neck-dive issues (I believe the larger body helped), I found the neck to be too wide for my comfort, so I moved it along as well.
The Essence’s LPF-based electronics, however, spoiled me for anything else. They’re absolutely spectacular. As a result, my current two main basses have been Alembicized with Signature electronics packages, and I have to say, while I enjoy dialing in the tone for each pickup separately, I don’t think the Signature electronics really deliver much true practical value over the scaled-back electronics created for the Essence (as long as the Essence has the Q-switch installed). The configuration of the Essence electronics hits an excellent sweet spot.
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View attachment 3922572 I don't have an Essence, but I do have this '96 Epic. Basic principles still apply, though...
- Kinda hard to say what "an Alembic bass" will sound like. Alembics are probably the ultimate Custom instrument. They make pretty much everything but the tuners and the strings, and if you're willing to spend the $$, you can have any kind of wood, in any combination, and any kind of electronics, that your heart desires. So, within pretty broad parameters? Every Alembic bass will not sound like any other Alembic bass; each one is sorta unique...
- Alembics are all active - all the time. There's no passive mode. The basic Essence electronics replaces the Bass & Treble boost/cut circuits on my Epic with a Bypass Filter - which does essentially the same thing, but with just one knob. But, you can make either one sound pretty much however you want. Will it sound like a Stanley Clarke model? See my first point. Plus, a Stanley Clarke bass is a short scale; an Essence is a long scale. There are differences - dictated by Physics - that make short scales sound different from long scales. The electronics can make up most of the difference, but they will be different. The strings you use, and what the bass is made of (and how it's made) will make them different, too.
- How does it feel? That's very subjective. My Epic is just about the most "neutral" feeling bass I own - out of 23. Not particularly light @ 9.12 lbs., but not particularly heavy, either - for me. It's nicely balanced - again, for me. Basically, when I hang it on my shoulder, it's just... there; and I can concentrate on simply playing it. However, some Alembic models are known for being a little neck heavy, and some folks find some of them to be a little... awkward... to play. Again, that's pretty subjective. I also own multiples of two basses that are considered pretty terrible to play - Gibson Thunderbirds, and Rickenbacker 4001/4003s. I have no problems at all playing a T-Bird; and a Rickenbacker fits me like a surgeon's rubber glove. I can play one all day... Like I said; feel is subjective.
Bottom line? If you want an Alembic, and you can get a good deal on an Essence? Even a base model - which is what my Epic is (no options) - will be a very nice instrument. I sure do like mine...
I am a big SC admirer, seen him play many times over the years.
So I always get a chuckle out of hearing about his "short scale" ( electric ) basses - for a guy that can palm a Volkswagen Beetle! I know, I have shaken his hand before
I went from many decades (40 years) playing an old precision and wondered if the Alembic would hold up to the reputation.
I was very pleased when my long scale Essence arrived and how comfy and natural it feels. Not heavy, no neck dive and beautiful build quality. I am not a knob fiddler so its set and forget.
The electronics and sound are not much like the Stanley Clarke Series bass. I have a hunch SC could make any bass sound like an Alembic Series. You can see the right half of the bass is a Series body.
Great bass.
I was very pleased when my long scale Essence arrived and how comfy and natural it feels. Not heavy, no neck dive and beautiful build quality. I am not a knob fiddler so its set and forget.
The electronics and sound are not much like the Stanley Clarke Series bass. I have a hunch SC could make any bass sound like an Alembic Series. You can see the right half of the bass is a Series body.
Great bass.
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Unless you're the cat in that picture, I think there's a difference of opinion about just exactly who owns what...
I was considering buying one from a friend,and he let me keep it for a few days to try out.
The things i loved were the small body and the sound of the pickups/electronics.
Absolutely the best sounding active system I’ve ever heard. I’d love to have that system in my Spector!
The bad-It had a very thick rounded neck that was more than a handful for me,and i had a hard time figuring out where my left hand needed to go, like others have mentioned.
Fretmarker leds would’ve been most welcome!
I also have noticed on this and other make basses,that i am not really a fan of 2 piece bridges, as it seems like getting playing action set up is a compromise when you can’t adjust individual string height.
The things i loved were the small body and the sound of the pickups/electronics.
Absolutely the best sounding active system I’ve ever heard. I’d love to have that system in my Spector!
The bad-It had a very thick rounded neck that was more than a handful for me,and i had a hard time figuring out where my left hand needed to go, like others have mentioned.
Fretmarker leds would’ve been most welcome!
I also have noticed on this and other make basses,that i am not really a fan of 2 piece bridges, as it seems like getting playing action set up is a compromise when you can’t adjust individual string height.
I have over 40 basses and the Essence is the finest I got. It is truly a work of art, both sound and it's good looks. Electronics may be different than the norm, I love em. Others on this site do not. I would recommend taking your time, and finding a good used one. I got one for $1,600 a few years ago. I have seen em sell for less and much more.
Haha that is the coolest cat.Unless you're the cat in that picture, I think there's a difference of opinion about just exactly who owns what...
She was rescued as a kitten by a fireman in the Cariboo area of British Columbia a couple of years ago. Wild bush fires ravaged through the area. Only one to make it out of a barn. My son was running a CN freight train up north and decided he wanted company and adopted her. Very spoiled now and has a sense of humour. Never come across a smarter cat
Regarding a comment about a thick neck mine certainly is not thick. It actually is very similar to my Fender ‘C’ neck. Some may find it too thin. The bridge is adjustable enough for me, not an issue. Not adjustable vertically on each string separately but there is vertical adjustment. The brass nut at the head is also adjustable vertically.
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An Essence is a great gateway into Alembics. Smallest of the neckthru bodies, and usually cheaper. New can be expen$ive (because quite literally, they are built by artisans, checked by one of the great electronic minds in the music industry, and use the finest materials available, built on a 'as long as it takes to get it perfect' schedule). The Wickershams are as well, utterly the best people in the world to deal with, and treat their customers who bought a used one the same as if you bought a brand new one. Eerily, they remember most of their basses, regardless of the age.
With the filters, they are a different kettle of fish. They can be ruthlessly clean, I mean 'listen to yourself back in a recording studio' clean. These basses will MAKE you a better player, as you will instantly hear bad habits in your technique that you never heard before. Every Alembic first-timer goes through this. They want a very clean, miminally affected signal going down the cable to the amp. Typically extremely quiet electronically.
I can understand your reticence in trying to stay away from Alembic's website (www.alembic.com), but to really begin to get a working knowledge of these things, it's THE destination, especially 'The Alembic Club', their online chat forum where you can learn lots and lots, and ask owners who know these things backwards and forwards.
They're a breeze to set up: Double truss rods, one piece 'tuna matic' type bridge, built to the fingerboard radius, even a brass adjustable nut. Except for the Excels, all Alembics have a 1/4" ebony fingerboard, which adds a lot of stiffness vis-a-vis set up stability. The build quality simply yields a lifetime instrument, and the electronics and wiring are in for the long haul as well.
With the filters (even a single one as on most Essences), you can go from organ pedal thump to a crazy 'clavinet on meth' super bright sound THAT fast.
As a former owner, I can not recommend them highly enough. They are not for everybody, but if you 'get it', believe me, there is NOTHING like an Alembic. Nothing else is even close, and I've seen everything.
With the filters, they are a different kettle of fish. They can be ruthlessly clean, I mean 'listen to yourself back in a recording studio' clean. These basses will MAKE you a better player, as you will instantly hear bad habits in your technique that you never heard before. Every Alembic first-timer goes through this. They want a very clean, miminally affected signal going down the cable to the amp. Typically extremely quiet electronically.
I can understand your reticence in trying to stay away from Alembic's website (www.alembic.com), but to really begin to get a working knowledge of these things, it's THE destination, especially 'The Alembic Club', their online chat forum where you can learn lots and lots, and ask owners who know these things backwards and forwards.
They're a breeze to set up: Double truss rods, one piece 'tuna matic' type bridge, built to the fingerboard radius, even a brass adjustable nut. Except for the Excels, all Alembics have a 1/4" ebony fingerboard, which adds a lot of stiffness vis-a-vis set up stability. The build quality simply yields a lifetime instrument, and the electronics and wiring are in for the long haul as well.
With the filters (even a single one as on most Essences), you can go from organ pedal thump to a crazy 'clavinet on meth' super bright sound THAT fast.
As a former owner, I can not recommend them highly enough. They are not for everybody, but if you 'get it', believe me, there is NOTHING like an Alembic. Nothing else is even close, and I've seen everything.
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Love the Essence. Small body (compared to the Series), good ergonomics, long scale and the finest electronics, hardware and build quality n the business. Mine has a non-standard electronics package which is simply volume, blend, bass and treble I would like to see about adding a Q filter but I’m in no immediate rush. The mini switch is for the front marker LEDs
These are a joy to play and always sound great in the mix or in the recording. Here’s mine:
These are a joy to play and always sound great in the mix or in the recording. Here’s mine:
Agreed.....with ONE exception: The Alembic Spoiler....Peavey T-40s can sound almost exactly like them......I know this makes no sense but as a guy that has owned both, I find this to be true (Theres another poster on TB who had a similar experience with the Spoiler/T-40 but I cant remember who it was)
I owned both too.
Never heard my Peavey sound like my Alembic - although the T-40 does have remarkably powerful for output for a passive bass.
Mustn’t have dialed around enough on the T-40 or something.
But I guess I’m in the minority of T-40 owners in that, while I think that remarkable bass does extremely good impressions of other signature bass tones, I didn’t think it ever really totally nailed the sound of any of them. Much like how a bass guitar can get an upright-ish bass vibe going - and maybe even pass for one the less experience with the real deal the listener has.
But who knows? Maybe I just never had ears good enough to find them that similar. Which is a real
possibility too.
I'm in agreement with you on that....Theres a YouTube vid (actually two videos) of a guy with a T-40 that dials in all these different facsimiles of a Jazz, P-bass, MusicMan, etc .....aaaaand, I didnt really hear it either.....some were in the general neighborhood (others were just in the zip code) but that was about it........The Ric facsimile is pretty good, tho.......but I swear that my T-40 (the new one and the one I got rid of that Ive owned forever) sound exactly the way my old Spoiler did....To be honest, I think this is only because the pickups are in the exact same spots as the Spoiler and those old Passive Peavey toasters are some high output yet quiet mofos
jbl,
My first Alembic was an Essence 5 string. It got me through many a gig and it was a fabulous bass. I think the name "Essence" is derived by the model being the most basic with the low pass filter. It's straight forward, intuitive and delivers the classic Alembic tone. A clean, used Essence will take you many places.
Best of Luck with your hunt.
Bones
My first Alembic was an Essence 5 string. It got me through many a gig and it was a fabulous bass. I think the name "Essence" is derived by the model being the most basic with the low pass filter. It's straight forward, intuitive and delivers the classic Alembic tone. A clean, used Essence will take you many places.
Best of Luck with your hunt.
Bones
Exactly so. The first time I plugged mine into a decent amp was... an extremely humbling experience. I knew I wasn't a very good player, but... jeez. That Epic did not let me get away with anything. If you don't pick up an Alembic with your A game ready to go - and it better be a real A game, too - you better not let anybody hear you, 'cause it will lay bare all your faults with stunning clarity. It sure does mine... And, as for their customer service? Again, I have to agree. I bought the least expensive Alembic made - and I bought it used. They don't care. If you have an Alembic, you are not a "customer". You are part of the extended Alembic family - and they treat you as such. It's a nice feeling...
