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Alembic....what more can I say?

#41
cdef said:
2) Too many controls. While they all did what they should, it was not practical to "dial in" everything in the heat of a fast-paced set.
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This depends on what electronics package you have. Mine are both relatively simple. Both have volume, pan, filter, q switch. In addition to that my Europa has bass and treble boost/cut switches. Both are pretty easy to use.
 
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#45
I've had a great experience with the folks at Alembic. It started two years ago when they helped me restore a stripped-out Persuader after a crooked ebay'r doinked me pretty good. Mica treated me like I'd bought the bass from them new... I made up my mind right then, if I ever could afford to commission a new build, I'd do it. Flash forward - I'm waiting on delivery of a Custom Fretless 5-string, due anytime now.

Meantime, I'm playing that restored Persuader 5-string every weekend. A couple months ago, a vintage Distillate came along to join it.
 

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#46
dhagopian said:
It's really an incredible bass. If only my fretless skills were half what the bass is...
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I even borrowed your fretless sidelines feature for my build. ;)

Here is a picture Mica sent me right before getting routed for pickups:
 

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#49
cdef said:
In my experience (which amounts to a 1978 Series I) Alembics are good for temperate and relaxed environments such as lounges or studios, or for conversation, but not so much for the hectic rock'n'roll life of gigging in hot, stuffy bars.
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My primary Alembic has gone to virtually every gig since I bought it new in '92. It definitely has it's road wear and roadie marks, but i bought it to play it. I'm speaking of the one on the right. The one on the left is used as a spare; it's in pristine condition.
 

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#50
I still have one dream bass to buy from Alembic. If they would do it, I'd like the Stanley Clark Brown Bass spec built into an Alembic Tribute guitar body shape with the knobby style headstock. Top wood should be buckeye Burl or cocobolo or flamed Koa. Now that would be sweet.
 
#52
Jeff Scott said:
Half the equation that makes an Alembic what it is, is its pickups and electronics package. Alembic was the first to create a truly high end instrument with wide frequency range sound and a sweeping filter type of EQ, along with Rick-O-Sound stereo outputs on the bass and an outboard power supply to produce the current/voltage needed to power the onboard electronics.

Alembic was the mother and the father of boo-teek instruments.
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Meh. Alembics are too boutique for me haha. Congrats to the OP though.
 
#53
woodyng2 said:
I've got a friend who's wanting me to trade my American '58 Precision reissue for his pristine Essence.
I might have to consider that-the Alembic is a beautiful maple topped one...but i also really like the P.
His bass has no fret markers,and the side dots are miniscule...i could see myself "misplacing" my fingers whilst playing it.
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I have a '58 AVRI I'd possibly
trade your friend....
 
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#55
Aragorn35016 said:
I say do it, as you can see in my pic my essence sits write by an MIM classic P that Ive owned since 06 and IMO is just as good as any Any AVRI that I've owned. (an AVRI 74 jazz is in the pic as well for that matter and I've owned several AVRI p basses). I have played that classic P for years and it will never go anywhere. Unless your incredibly bonded to the P. I say do the trade and pic up a classic P on the cheap later for your P bass fix.
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Agreed!!!
 
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#56
I've played two Alembic basses in my time, as they just don't seem to be very common in the UK. One was a 5-string with a simple electronics setup (volume, pan, master bass and master treble) and one was a 4-string with a bigger body and more complex electronics. Both were astonishingly tonally consistent across all strings on all frets, and the build quality on both was faultless.

For me neither instrument sounded like it looked, if that makes sense. I felt that the inherent tone of both instruments was divorced from the wood of the instrument. Both instruments felt strangely inorganic, even unplugged. In a weird way it is like the mix of woods somehow cancel out any effect or influence from the woods themselves?
 
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#59
Aragorn35016 said:
Hehe sorry we all derailed your thread, you persuader is very nice!

One more comment on the P trade then I'll quit hijacking. I know if someone came up and offered me an essence 5 for the jazz that I have on the wall I'd do it (after making sure the truss rods were good of course) and not even check up!
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Thanks and no problem.... I enjoy the comments about other's experience with Alembics. I think it's a discussion worth continuing. My goal, from an early age, was to acquire play an Alembic bass. Now, I'd love to have one built for me...even as I approach retirement age....not from music, just my employment.
 
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#60
GBassNorth said:
I still have one dream bass to buy from Alembic. If they would do it, I'd like the Stanley Clark Brown Bass spec built into an Alembic Tribute guitar body shape with the knobby style headstock. Top wood should be buckeye Burl or cocobolo or flamed Koa. Now that would be sweet.
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They have done a bass with the tribute bodyshape, scroll down on this page: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Edit: Link to full size picture: Invalid Link Removed
 
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