Hopkins
Commercial User
Throw us a bone...uh, I mean a pic
To me, the Series II sounds like this, which sounds amazing
They aren't really my sound.
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Alembic price list: HOLY $#%*!!!!!
- Thread starter Chatdawg
- Start date
They aren't really my sound.
They did when I ordered mine back in 1999. I wanted coco bolo top and back because I had heard that coco bolo was a deeper, more resonant tone than usually associated with Alembic (12-1/2 years later I still agree). I specced it as a Mark King because the Mark King Deluxe has coco bolo standard. I saved a lot of $$ ordering it as a Mark King and adding Series II electronics over ordering a Series II and adding coco bolo. Coco bolo was a $2,000 upgrade to the already out of my price range Series II back then. The Series II electronics package was a $2,000 option on top of a Signature. Today that's a $6,800 option. They caught on to what I was doing.
Mica called to let me know that
A) Coco Bolo is one of their heaviest woods....
B) Making it a 5-string would increase the size and mass of the headstock....a lot.
C)The Mark King body is a solid body, whereas the Series I and Series II bodies are "almost semi-hollow" so adding coco bolo to a Series I or Series II would make the bass a few pounds lighter
So I knew going in it would be heavy. At the time I ordered I already had a Stanley Clarke Sig. 4-string (small, solid body) and a Series II 4-string (small, semi-hollow). The difference in weight between these two same size basses was very noticeable and the bass I was ordering was larger than each of them, solid, and with an extra string. Came in at 13-1/2 pounds.
Here's the Stanley Clarke (in the case....about 11 pounds) and the Series II 4-string (@ 9.5 pounds)
I'll buck the trend here. My 4-string Alembic Series I, large Omega body weighs LESS than each of my pre-EB Music Man Sabre basses. It's a 1987 and has the flatter body profile (ie...less wood) and the tail end is an Omega cutout (less wood) as opposed to a Point contour (more wood) like my 5-string.
On the left....13-1/2 lbs.....middle @ 8-1/2 lbs (no longer have, so I'm guessing, but it was light).....on the right....9-1/2 lbs
I totally agree. Based on my experiences with the company and the product, I seriously doubt the existence of a 23 pound single neck instrument. Just not important enough for me to get into a 'net debate over it.
Not sure how you go about getting a 24 pound bass unless maybe you spec a double neck 12 string with an ebony body
Any way, weighing in at 10 pounds - here's my 5 string maple on mahogany body with a slab ebony fb Alembic Essence...
...and my 4 string cocobolo on mahogany body with a slab ebony fb Alembic Dragon Wing at 10.5 pounds...
Both are lighter than my preEB Stingray and about the same weight as my Fender American Deluxe 5 string Jazz.
Any way, weighing in at 10 pounds - here's my 5 string maple on mahogany body with a slab ebony fb Alembic Essence...
...and my 4 string cocobolo on mahogany body with a slab ebony fb Alembic Dragon Wing at 10.5 pounds...
Both are lighter than my preEB Stingray and about the same weight as my Fender American Deluxe 5 string Jazz.
...my 4 string cocobolo on mahogany body with a slab ebony fb Alembic Dragon Wing at 10.5 pounds...
Beautiful! 
I don't think I've ever looked at their price sheet before. Certainly not something for an impulse purchase, for sure.
The pricing of used Alembics sure look like a steal if the actual pricing for new instruments is anywhere near the list price.
The pricing of used Alembics sure look like a steal if the actual pricing for new instruments is anywhere near the list price.
Not sure why someone would abuse an Alembic but my '97 Epic looks like someone used it to level out their gravel driveway then proceed to hammer up some new lumber on the side of the barn.
It still sounds great. Someday I'll get it restored.
I got it pretty cheap and my lack of income and playing ability will never justify the price of a new one.
It still sounds great. Someday I'll get it restored.
I got it pretty cheap and my lack of income and playing ability will never justify the price of a new one.
He says that it's 23 pounds, but I'll be honest, I've never held it, and he's probably adding 10 pounds (on purpose? don't know..). It does look heavy, though, and 13 pounds would probably feel like 23 after a 3 hour gig..
Thanks, the looks don't fit in many venues but it really shines in the studio. My Essence is the gigging bass.
As for the 23 pound weight topic, I suspect the owner was mentioning the shipping weight of the bass. My last Spector purchase had a FedEx shipping weight of 24 pounds which included the bass, hard case and packaging. Of course the bass doesn't weigh any where near that but some of those hard cases can be downright heavy. My preEB Stingray in the original hard case with the strap and a spare set of strings, batteries and screwdriver probably weighs over 30 pounds.
BTW - your Pedulla clip is beyond impressive, I dont think I'll ever get to that level of playing.
Thank you!
It was quite a project (far outside my "comfort zone"), and I learned a lot from it. I'm glad I did it.
[/off-topic]
I wanted one for years. When I went to the NAMM show in 1983, in Chicago, and not being a partier, I got a good night's sleep Sat night and got to the show early Sunday morning. There weren't many people there. I walked over to the Alembic booth, and just finished hand copying the schematic for their preamp, when Don Wickersham came up to me. We talked for a couple hours. Great guy! It was a real honor and a highlight of my year. Very inspiring.
I am a proud owner of a Orion 5. Orion can be bought for a really good price but the sound is always awesome. I really love it's sound, perhaps even better than the more expensive neck-through models. The sound is huge, lots of sweet lows and snappy highs. The set-in neck also gives more mids. All the soundmen are surprised by the full sound when I plug that instrument in.
The neck is kind of chunky and perhaps not for everybody but still manageable. I like that it has two truss rods.
The finish is thick and that makes the bass bulletproof even in high humidity conditions.
So why not to try out an Orion?
PS! I have to say that I have never got any replies to my e-mails from the Alembic folks. I know that some people call them nice but I have no personal experience to confirm that.
The neck is kind of chunky and perhaps not for everybody but still manageable. I like that it has two truss rods.
The finish is thick and that makes the bass bulletproof even in high humidity conditions.
So why not to try out an Orion?
PS! I have to say that I have never got any replies to my e-mails from the Alembic folks. I know that some people call them nice but I have no personal experience to confirm that.
Strange ! Mica answered me asap last month about the serial number of my new Rogue
Good for you! I sent them 3-4 e-mails with the serial number questions a few years ago and a few e-mails to get a chance to order the truss rod wrench (they do not offer a possibility to pay for their goods using Estonian credit card). No answer so far! Had to order the wrench key from UK.
basscentral has alembics at good value prices..... still really expensive 
I nearly bought one, just decided to get a full custom wyn instead
I nearly bought one, just decided to get a full custom wyn instead
for an european bassist, best to do is to buy an Alembic in USD !
you can also look in Germany www.station-music.de
I have an extensive collection of basses. I don't bar gig much. But when I do studio or fill in work, I've used one of my Alembics several times, one of my Ritters on occasion and a purdy cool Brubaker (very) custom bass as well.
I'm NOT ashamed to say that ALL of my boutique basses, other than my single Lowenherz, were purchased used. And yes, they are still very expensive. But, though I use these basses and even earn a penny or two playing them, I'm very careful to make sure I am "in them right" when I buy them. I make sure that the price I'm paying, relative to model desireability and condition warrant the financial investment purely from a collectors liquidation standpoint. I'm always hunting for deals and "mistakes" on online auctions, music stores, and pawn shops. It's an addiction for me, really. And by being patient, through the years, I've been fortunate to amass a collection through purchase and trade that's pretty formidable! The key is, as much as I want to, I can't let myself fall in love!!! My personal pain point is around $2500-$3,000. If it costs more than that (and every single one of the aforementioned basses cost over twice that even used), then I have to really approach my acquisition from a very analytical standpoint.
This means that many prospective sellers hate me. I keep a running tab of what these basses actually sell for (as much as possible), so that I can get out of them relatively quickly if I were to need cash, or (more likely), I find something else I want. I've been watching a quilt top PRS bass on eBay for what seems to be a couple of years now. When that bass is about $750 cheaper (its always listed at $4995), I'm going to pull the trigger. But NOT before!
As to Alembic durability, all I can say is that all four that I own are built like tanks. Yes, they are heavy, and one has some especially ornate Omega wood work on the tail that looks as though it could break off. But there is a reason many if these basses still look and sound so great after 30+ years. Truly a no excuses instrument!
I'm NOT ashamed to say that ALL of my boutique basses, other than my single Lowenherz, were purchased used. And yes, they are still very expensive. But, though I use these basses and even earn a penny or two playing them, I'm very careful to make sure I am "in them right" when I buy them. I make sure that the price I'm paying, relative to model desireability and condition warrant the financial investment purely from a collectors liquidation standpoint. I'm always hunting for deals and "mistakes" on online auctions, music stores, and pawn shops. It's an addiction for me, really. And by being patient, through the years, I've been fortunate to amass a collection through purchase and trade that's pretty formidable! The key is, as much as I want to, I can't let myself fall in love!!! My personal pain point is around $2500-$3,000. If it costs more than that (and every single one of the aforementioned basses cost over twice that even used), then I have to really approach my acquisition from a very analytical standpoint.
This means that many prospective sellers hate me. I keep a running tab of what these basses actually sell for (as much as possible), so that I can get out of them relatively quickly if I were to need cash, or (more likely), I find something else I want. I've been watching a quilt top PRS bass on eBay for what seems to be a couple of years now. When that bass is about $750 cheaper (its always listed at $4995), I'm going to pull the trigger. But NOT before!
As to Alembic durability, all I can say is that all four that I own are built like tanks. Yes, they are heavy, and one has some especially ornate Omega wood work on the tail that looks as though it could break off. But there is a reason many if these basses still look and sound so great after 30+ years. Truly a no excuses instrument!
We have an 97' Alembic Epic with what looks to be a Zebrawood top for $1800 If I had the dough I would check it out. fer shure!
