Alembic Essence

[Samatza]

The first time I played an Essence through a Bass 400+ & 8x10” cab I was hooked!

I own an Orion with Essence electronics and a Fatboy bridge pickup. The filter gets a wide range of tones from deep dub to glass shattering highs, I wanted a bass with simple tone options, great build & useful tones & I’m very impressed with it.

One thing for sure they are very responsive to amp settings and string types, you can dial in a lot of tones on an Alembic, very responsive to your touch too and as others have said it forces you to clean up your playing. If you can get your hands on one and really experiment with it you’ll find everything you need.

 

[Pauly 4001]

I don't want to frighten anyone or derail the thread but I thought this would be a good place to show my Boo Radley/Hamer/Alembic "customized" 8 string.
I bought it in the 80's as a stripped body with a bag of parts including Dimarzio PJ pickups. Someone had not only stripped it, filled the original massive rout for the humbucking pickup and routed for the Pjs, and then executed several modifications which can politely described as whimsical though they do show some odd skills with power tools.
What could I do but have it painted black, wired with Alembic Spoilers in a Rickenbacker type layout including stereo and mono outputs and then keep it discreetly hidden away from the light of day most of the time?
It does have a beautiful piano hi fi tone.
I also used the same pickups and wiring for a Warmoth garage sale bass back when they used to have a local sales of seconds and such. Here's a flamed maple top on swamp ash with an ebony fretboard because it was all cheap and on sale.
And yes, it was the 90s.

 

[littlebun]

Agree.

It’s the Alembic pickups and preamp that are the soul of the sound and constitute the bulk of the Alembic experience. There are other high end limited production basses from small shops that can rival it in workmanship. But, much like Wal, it’s the unique electronics package that gives Alembic (and Wal) something nearly impossible to get elsewhere and separates it from the select herd of other fine boutique builder basses.

I just received some new version, updated Alembic pickups for my Series 1 bass wound by Ron W. himself --They're beastly.

 

[bassbones2]

Had one and it was the best finger tone I’ve had but at the time I was getting into the dreaded “ketchup of bass” SLAP and the front pickup made me trade it for a custom Dolan Jazz. Bad move on my part.

JB

 

[FishDub]

Recently found myself taking a liking to the Alembic Essence. All based on pics, so I’m wondering if anyone could share their opinions on the sound/feel of these basses. Thanks in advance!

I had one briefly and didnt jive with it..But it could have been the fact that I always wanted a Spoiler and thought I would come close. Nope.

 

[Tom Baker]

I had one briefly and didnt jive with it..But it could have been the fact that I always wanted a Spoiler and thought I would come close. Nope.

I had an Essence for about 3 weeks and just couldn't get comfortable on the damn thing. The necks are not to my taste. A friend of mine has a Europa and it's a little better but they definitely aren't on my wish list anymore.

 

[CryingBass]

I never could get a $10k Alembic. But I picked up an Essence fretless with the Europa electronics from a fellow TB’er a few years back. For my non-giging needs it makes me smile.

 

[azureblue]

Stanley Clarke is a series I electronics, but your going to be right in the ball park with an Essence, Alembic is Hi Fi whatever model you choose

his red bass is a medium scale with light gauge strings and almost no neck relief. Also the bass is tenor tuning - no low E and a high C.

 

[El Thumpo]

Also they recently squeezed the Series II package into an Essence that ended up being lightweight even for an Essence.

That got me excited, since I'd love to see the ergonomics of the Essence matched with the full-boat electronics package; I didn't think such a retrofit was possible. I asked Mica up at Alembic headquarters, and this was her reply.

Ahhh! They are talking about a custom build - the bass was made thicker to accept the electronics. AAANNNDD... the body shape is "bumped" out slightly to fit everything inside. It's not just the knobs it's what's under the hood so to speak.

Not the same as modding an existing Essence and working around the cavities and holes that are already there.​

There you have it, from Lady Alembic herself. You can custom-order a special build that roughly approximates a standard Essence, but nada to a retrofit. Thought I'd pass that along.

 

[malthumb]

I’ve owned a lot of Alembics over the years but never an Essence. If I were starting over I’d probably start with an Essence. I’ve played a few in stores and they are ergonomically and sonically wonderful basses. Some really good examples in these posts. Twocan is an excellent source of info on Essence (and a helluva player).

Woah. That's alot of knobs

Yeah, that would be totally over my head too. The picture is one of Phil Lesh's basses. I would not be getting that electronics package with the Essence.

The minefield of controls on a Series bass is not as difficult to manage as it seems. Look at it from a pickup perspective. Each pickup has

• A volume knob
• A Q-filter
• A Q-control

So that’s 6 knobs. Then add a pickup selector/ on-off switch. Now we’re at 7.
If it’s a Series II, add a Master Volume, so now we’re at 8. I have a Series I and a Series II. I typically set each pickup where I want it and leave those knobs alone. During a show I typically only touch the Master Volume and the selector / on-off switch. On rare occasions I might turn one of the pickup volumes up or down to get a better balance between pickups.

Now, I gotta admit it is possible to tweak yourself into oblivion if you screw around randomly while your playing. So I just don’t do that. This diagram shows the control layout. Not one of my basses, but a good illustration.

 

[TolerancEJ]

I’ve owned a lot of Alembics over the years but never an Essence. If I were starting over I’d probably start with an Essence. I’ve played a few in stores and they are ergonomically and sonically wonderful basses. Some really good examples in these posts. Twocan is an excellent source of info on Essence (and a helluva player).





The minefield of controls on a Series bass is not as difficult to manage as it seems. Look at it from a pickup perspective. Each pickup has

• A volume knob
• A Q-filter
• A Q-control

So that’s 6 knobs. Then add a pickup selector/ on-off switch. Now we’re at 7.
If it’s a Series II, add a Master Volume, so now we’re at 8. I have a Series I and a Series II. I typically set each pickup where I want it and leave those knobs alone. During a show I typically only touch the Master Volume and the selector / on-off switch. On rare occasions I might turn one of the pickup volumes up or down to get a better balance between pickups.

Now, I gotta admit it is possible to tweak yourself into oblivion if you screw around randomly while your playing. So I just don’t do that. This diagram shows the control layout. Not one of my basses, but a good illustration.

View attachment 3924673

Yeah, there’s no way I’ll be able to figure out or make the most benefit of Series I or Series II electronics. I’d be fine with whichever electronics come standard with the Essence.

Heck, I have one of the import Conklin BDGT-7 and it has so many controls. I have no idea what I should do. Bill Conklin emailed me a wiring diagram but I don’t know how to read or interpret those.

 

[megarat]

If you think the controls for the Series I or II are bewildering, then avert your eyes from [Invalid or Expired Link Removed].

 

[TolerancEJ]

If you think the controls for the Series I or II are bewildering, then avert your eyes from [Invalid or Expired Link Removed].

Yes, I saw that April Fools post from the Alembic page. It’s pretty funny. I thought it was legit for a long time until someone clued me in on the joke.

 

[BrusselsBass]

Hi guys,
I'll see tomorrow at an Essence from 2000 with Europa electronics. Price is about 1700€=2000$ - no papers, tools, case....
I can also check on a Spolier from 1989, but only in January.
Any thoughts?
Answers appreciated!

 

[Aussie Player]

If you can find a good deal on one then yes, if your going to spend a considerable amount then maybe find a good used series I. There was a nice Koa top Essence recently on reverb for $2500, good deal that didnt last long, but I've sen some asking north of 4K and more, that seems a bit too high in my book.

Don't forget that they are now over $12k new so why would you expect someone to donate funds to the purchaser? They have the same build quality as the rest of the Alembic line and the sound includes the low pass filter which sets the Alembics apart from rest of the market.

 

[Aussie Player]

Hi guys,
I'll see tomorrow at an Essence from 2000 with Europa electronics. Price is about 1700€=2000$ - no papers, tools, case....
I can also check on a Spolier from 1989, but only in January.
Any thoughts?
Answers appreciated!

The Spoiler used to be the cheapest model, it is not the equal of the Essence. I have owned both and still have an Essence 5. The tonal range of the Essence is far greater than the Spoiler.

 

[StephenR]

Hi guys,
I'll see tomorrow at an Essence from 2000 with Europa electronics. Price is about 1700€=2000$ - no papers, tools, case....
I can also check on a Spolier from 1989, but only in January.
Any thoughts?
Answers appreciated!

That is what I consider a nice, fair, price for an Essence bass and it has a much more versatile electronics package than the blue Spoiler you have also been considering. If you are able to try the bass, it is in good structural shape and you like the way it plays and sounds go for it!

 

[Aussie Player]

That is what I consider a nice, fair, price for an Essence bass and it has a much more versatile electronics package than the blue Spoiler you have also been considering. If you are able to try the bass, it is in good structural shape and you like the way it plays and sounds go for it!

Disagree, I think 2 grand is a bit rude and when you compare the bass market and what you can get for 2 grand, it is a no contest against the Alembic so how could that be a fair price?

 

[FC Bass]

The Spoiler used to be the cheapest model, it is not the equal of the Essence. I have owned both and still have an Essence 5. The tonal range of the Essence is far greater than the Spoiler.

The Spoiler has the oval inlays, bird tailpiece and double preamp + Q-switch, those are superior specs compared to the Essence.
(though these days the Essence might also come standard with the double preamp, not sure about that)
IIrc current price of a spoiler is the same as the Rogue.

 

[BrusselsBass]

Disagree, I think 2 grand is a bit rude and when you compare the bass market and what you can get for 2 grand, it is a no contest against the Alembic so how could that be a fair price?

Cheapest Essence / Epic on Reverb are at 2500 €, and maybe there is 5% off Reverb.
If you find me an Almbic <1500 €, let me know.