Personally I'm a Warwick fan. Have tried an Alembic Epic 6 but to me it sounded sterile and it was heavier. I own 2 wicks now and I just love the tone that they produce.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Alembic vs Warwick
- Thread starter Noseferatu
- Start date
lol
I have Warwicks. I had an Epic 5 string and really disliked the shape of the neck on it. I also think most Alembics are ugly....but that doesn't mean they don't sound great. I would love to have one of those Stanley Clarke models....oh man.
I've always liked the Warwicks, in particular the Thumb NT and Streamer II, but have been leery about the arrangement of the tuning posts, where the strings do not make a straight run through the nut slots. On a high-quality bass that is this expensive I think that it would just be good practice to stagger the posts, in a matter similar to what Ibanez does, so that side string friction in the nut slots is minimized.
If I could get that modification from the Warwick custom shop, then I would consider getting the Thumb NT 4 fretless that I've always liked. Otherwise, I'm considering contacting Alembic in Santa Rosa, I don't live far from there, about a customized Europa.
If I could get that modification from the Warwick custom shop, then I would consider getting the Thumb NT 4 fretless that I've always liked. Otherwise, I'm considering contacting Alembic in Santa Rosa, I don't live far from there, about a customized Europa.
So..
Alembic is back to ripping off Status again. And apparently adding Alembic in there too? Doing the Entwhistle Fender bird and calling it? what an AlemBuzzard?
But I wish we could add a "when were you born" to this poll.
I suspect that any of us brought up before the era of Warwick giving instruments/ endorsements to anybody in front of a TV camera tend to opt for Alembic.
I suspect that any of us brought up before the era of Warwick giving instruments/ endorsements to anybody in front of a TV camera tend to opt for Alembic.
Huh?!?
Alembic "ripping off" Status?!?
You CLEARLY are showing an utter lack of knowledge about Alembic. Otherwise, you would say no such thing. That just completely does not line up with the way the folks at Alembic operate. You might want to gather a little more information before saying that kind of thing.
Also, BTW, you did realize that the attachment you quoted was a 'Wick, didn't you. Right?
Last edited:
Good observation. I've got an NT4 and it doesn't seem too bad looking to me, and hasn't hampered functionality at all. However, the B string on the 5 just looks like an afterthought. I can't get past that.
Dude READ the context.. yes I did put Alembic instead of Warwick.
Seems like your CLEAR utter lack of knowledge was not able to put together fender-bird and enwhistle's spider and buzzard.
Ok, Mr Anger; then, please help me understand your quote. You quoted an image of a Warwick rendition of an Entwistle bass, and that prompted you to go off on Alembic for the Spider Bass? Am I understanding that correctly?
Wowee! You two mild mannered gentlemen are arguing over statements made more than six years ago. Been watching too many zombie flicks?
But , @bucephylus, it would be good to review the context of the comments. Check post 36, where someone called Alembics ugly and Warwicks a model of purpose of form. The response in post 39 was a picture of that jacked up thing that Warwick made for Adam Clayton a few years ago, demonstrating that Warwick has no claim to sophisticated aesthetics. Are you following this, or are you gonna freak out again?
As for Alembic, the "Exploiter" was definitely John and Wick's send up of a Gibson Explorer bass. Got a problem? When big Johnny draws up a design and says he wants you to make it, you sign the contract, sell the bass and watch the marketing magic work even if it was inspired by another company. No need to get defensive from either Alembic's or Warwick's perspective. John and Hans did it all over again years later.
As for the OP, which as I mentioned was posted over six years ago, my opinion is that both are outstanding manufacturers who's only commonalities are the Bass Guitar industry and a certain endorser of the late variety. If limited to one, I would say that Alembic outshines Warwick in the aesthetic department by about a factor of 10, with the exception of the Infinity NT maple bass which is every bit as cool as an Alembic. I've grown on the look of the Thumb 5NT, but other than that, I just can't get into the Warwick aesthetic. For me, any Alembic is worth looking at for at least an hour, and their Balance K design is a standout.
Last edited:
Hey Max, I'm all good. No freaking out here. I was simply disputing that Alembic was "ripping off" Status.
Yes, I think I was following the old posts. I still don't understand how quoting the picture of the 'Wick opened the door to harsh criticism of Alembic? Maybe, you may not feel that a charge of "ripping off" is harsh criticism. Maybe, I'm just getting old, and it's out of fashion to think that words matter. If that's so, then chalk it up to getting old, not freaking out.
Sure, Entwistle went to Alembic and commissioned some custom builds to his specs. That was between him and the Alembic staff. That is not Alembic "ripping off" Status. If a cat knows anything about Alembic, they simply don't operate that way.
Also, I may have been emphatic in standing up for Alembic; but there was nothing insulting in my posts. I don't do that either. Let's be nice.
Perhaps, I misunderstood your response. Are you saying Alembic was a typo? Apologies if I did not understand your point. You can edit your posts to correct typos, FWIW.
I've only played the odd few warwick basses in a shop way before I even had an alembic in my sights and the few I tried sounded fine but i didn't like the neck and the look of it didn't do anything for me. A few bass players in my area use warwicks and they sound great and I don't have enough knowledge of them to have an issue other than those two stated. But I found alembic suits me soundwise, for playability and aesthetically so I don't have any desire for another brand...... yet!
I've yet to see a warwick that to me as aesthetically pleasing on the eye as this Series II Alembic.
I've yet to see a warwick that to me as aesthetically pleasing on the eye as this Series II Alembic.
Warwicks are heavy and feel like a baseball bat - they did back in the mid 90s. My new Custom Shop Corvette $$ has a very slim and light neck. Three woods. Nice sounding, easy playing, and light.
Warwicks have that oiled wenge neck - only if you oil it. I've had wenge forever and never oiled the neck. Only the fingerboard, and then wiped it off immediately. Nothing greasy there.
Warwicks low B looks like it was added on. Ever played one? The fivers are all I owned from Warwick. Low B with good equipment will hit you in the gut no matter how odd it looks.
Warwicks get lost in the mix - only if you don't have good equipment, good FOH, or nice guitards. Otherwise, watch out!
Alembics do look good, and sound better. If I had $10,000 - $15,000 I still wouldn't get one new. TB forum has good deals - occasionally really good used prices on Alembics. But at the end of the day Warwicks growl!!! grrrrrrr
All of my Warwicks have been bought used. But if I had $5,000 I'd seriously look at a new neck-thru Warwick $$ Corvette. Just my two cents worth.
Warwicks have that oiled wenge neck - only if you oil it. I've had wenge forever and never oiled the neck. Only the fingerboard, and then wiped it off immediately. Nothing greasy there.
Warwicks low B looks like it was added on. Ever played one? The fivers are all I owned from Warwick. Low B with good equipment will hit you in the gut no matter how odd it looks.
Warwicks get lost in the mix - only if you don't have good equipment, good FOH, or nice guitards. Otherwise, watch out!
Alembics do look good, and sound better. If I had $10,000 - $15,000 I still wouldn't get one new. TB forum has good deals - occasionally really good used prices on Alembics. But at the end of the day Warwicks growl!!! grrrrrrr
All of my Warwicks have been bought used. But if I had $5,000 I'd seriously look at a new neck-thru Warwick $$ Corvette. Just my two cents worth.
Just a quick thought on how I sometimes perceive Alembic and Warwick....way back before I got my first Alembic, I tried several Warwicks. Mainly Thumbs, a Fortress here and there. I came away with "sound good....too heavy".
Then I got my second Alembic, a Stanley Clarke model. Small body, short scale, heavier than any Warwick I had ever played. Heavier than any bass I had ever played up until that time. The weight didn't matter. See where I'm going here? As good as the Warwicks sounded, the weight was a deal-breaker. But the Alembic (to me) sounded so totally awesome, the weight was more than forgiven. Now my main player is my 6th Alembic. Weighs 13-1/2 lbs, because of the way I specced it when I ordered it....17 years ago. It plays and sounds so awesome, I have no issues with the weight.
Earlier in the thread, somebody made a remark about Alembic "ripping off" Status. A few thoughts... You like the separate bridge / tailpiece arrangement on Warwicks? Alembic did it first. Like the Adjust-a-Nut on Warwicks? Alembic did it first. Like your 5-string? Alembic did it first. Active bass anyone? Alembic did it first. I doubt they spent a lot of time looking over Status' shoulders.
Then I got my second Alembic, a Stanley Clarke model. Small body, short scale, heavier than any Warwick I had ever played. Heavier than any bass I had ever played up until that time. The weight didn't matter. See where I'm going here? As good as the Warwicks sounded, the weight was a deal-breaker. But the Alembic (to me) sounded so totally awesome, the weight was more than forgiven. Now my main player is my 6th Alembic. Weighs 13-1/2 lbs, because of the way I specced it when I ordered it....17 years ago. It plays and sounds so awesome, I have no issues with the weight.
Earlier in the thread, somebody made a remark about Alembic "ripping off" Status. A few thoughts... You like the separate bridge / tailpiece arrangement on Warwicks? Alembic did it first. Like the Adjust-a-Nut on Warwicks? Alembic did it first. Like your 5-string? Alembic did it first. Active bass anyone? Alembic did it first. I doubt they spent a lot of time looking over Status' shoulders.
