Alembic....what more can I say?

[pudgychef]

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.

my '06 MIM Classic 50s P (Honey Blonde) has been silly good as well...it always tempers my GAS for a 'better' P. The neck has been unbelievably stable despite it living with me back and forth from Canada to Korea and now in China - even taking the neck off for packing in checked bags only required reattaching, restringing and a tuning...great basses and I assume the current series are just as good - recently just missed out a great deal for a lacquer model...

Have ALWAYS wanted to even touch an Alembic! Congrats to the owners here.

 

[Skokiaan]

Well, that's one thing. My gigging complaints with the Series I were:

1) Didn't keep the tuning. This is a killer. The long, laminated neck seemed to loosen up under hot lights. I was getting the evil eye from band members in the middle of songs, and having to retune between every number. It was OK in air-conditioned studios, and staying at home in the den.

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.

3) Logistically, on a personal level, the oversize case (with the transformer in it) was a pain to schlep around.

4) As you say, having to keep an eye on it during tours because of how expensive it was anyway.

I didn't have problems 1, 2 or 4, but #3 was a major issue. My Series II was 12 pounds, but in its case it was 36 pounds. That's a pain to dig out of my car crawling home at 3 am in February.

Your problem #1 sounds more like a metal string vs. temperature change issue. Nothing to do with the bass itself.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

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.

Well, there are those who collect instruments, and those that play them. Never had an issue with mine- I recall the day my avatar pic was taken it was 100 degrees with high humidity (check out my hair lol), that bass was solid as a rock.

 

[InhumanResource]

Why would anyone put Bartolini pickups in an Alembic?

Or anything else...

 

[woodyng2]

I have a '58 AVRI I'd possibly
trade your friend....

Hey,butt out,buddy!

 

[woodyng2]

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!

Well,i am interested in checking it out. I've bought several basses from this fella,and returned one,sold another,etc,so we have a friendly easygoing relationship. I'd have to take it to a few band practices to see if i like it.
The body is so small it seems like it would be neck heavy,but that remains to be seen.
As far as the trade,the AVRI P lists for $2k,of course,for used ones the prices plummet.(mine was $1100)
Used alembics like this one seem to go for $1200-1500,(talk about price plummetting!),but they're also not as widely sought after,so if i do the trade,i'd want to be sure i really wanted to hang onto it. (And outside of Rickenbackers,i can be pretty fickle!)

 

[bassman10096]

I've owned three Alembics. Still have a Brown Bass. Every time I get to using another bass for a while, I end up dusting off the Alembic and falling in love again (a really great marriage!). I've played it at every kind of venue - the dumps to featured stages (Well, a couple of the latter.). It has a few dings but they are built like a brick sh**house, so it's no hothouse flower. Just gotta keep an eye on it and keep it insured (the policy covers all the rest of my gear for same price).

 

[GBassNorth]

Well, there are those who collect instruments, and those that play them. Never had an issue with mine- I recall the day my avatar pic was taken it was 100 degrees with high humidity (check out my hair lol), that bass was solid as a rock.

My experience as well. I've played outdoors in full sun high humidity days when it was nearly 100F with my Alembic Essence which has a 9 piece laminate neck and a slab Ebony board. Tuned it during warm up and played an entire set, took a break with the bass left in the stage stand and checked the tuning again before the second set, still spot on. Played into the evening when the temperature dropped to the low 80's and the bass still stayed in tune. I was using Tapewound strings on that gig.
A glamour shot of her backside...

 

[Aragorn35016]

Well,i am interested in checking it out. I've bought several basses from this fella,and returned one,sold another,etc,so we have a friendly easygoing relationship. I'd have to take it to a few band practices to see if i like it.
The body is so small it seems like it would be neck heavy,but that remains to be seen.
As far as the trade,the AVRI P lists for $2k,of course,for used ones the prices plummet.(mine was $1100)
Used alembics like this one seem to go for $1200-1500,(talk about price plummetting!),but they're also not as widely sought after,so if i do the trade,i'd want to be sure i really wanted to hang onto it. (And outside of Rickenbackers,i can be pretty fickle!)

I can tell you at least mine doesn't seem to neck dive. One of the things that I like about it is because the distance from the upper bout to the strings is smaller than say on a fender body which for the same strap length lowers my forearm and takes some stress off of my lower back. Some how the ergonomics of the bass keep 1st position from feeling like its way out there like on other 24 fret basses that I've owned, and the lower cutaway is sculpted as such that you can reach all the way up to the 24th fret with no problems. It really is the most comfortable instrument I've ever laid my hands on. As far as tone goes, it is the only active bass that I've ever played that can mostly replicate a p bass with the tone control backed all the way down if you pan to the neck pickup and roll the q filter all the way back. I love the simplicity of the controls. That one filter does some pretty amazing stuff, from gritty to tubby it pulls off every tone that I'll ever need!

 

[Tanner5382]

The red LEDs are very cool!

 

[bucephylus]

I mean, I don't see what's wrong with that... ?

Sure. There is certainly nothing technically wrong with it. If a players owns a bass, they have every right to alter it to suit their needs.

Bartolini pickups are fine. I have them in several of my instruments. They were the de facto standard for luthiers who did not want to mess with designing their own electronics for many years, and many fine builders use them to this day.

But, in the case of Alembic, you've got electronics designed and crafted by Ron Wickersham, who is one of the true innovators, inventors, and common sense cats in the business. They are an easy group of folks to work with and offer a very wide array of options, if a player takes the time to work with them. So, in this case, if the choice of Bartolini pickups was the result of having first worked with Alembic to see what was possible and then choosing the Bart's based on prefs, then no big deal. But, if the Bart's were just an "oh, I've got these spare Bart's in the drawer, and I think I'll throw them in there to see what happens;" then, that would kind of be an opportunity lost. IMO YMMV

 

[BlueAliceOasis]

Sure. There is certainly nothing technically wrong with it. If a players owns a bass, they have every right to alter it to suit their needs.

Bartolini pickups are fine. I have them in several of my instruments. They were the de facto standard for luthiers who did not want to mess with designing their own electronics for many years, and many fine builders use them to this day.

But, in the case of Alembic, you've got electronics designed and crafted by Ron Wickersham, who is one of the true innovators, inventors, and common sense cats in the business. They are an easy group of folks to work with and offer a very wide array of options, if a player takes the time to work with them. So, in this case, if the choice of Bartolini pickups was the result of having first worked with Alembic to see what was possible and then choosing the Bart's based on prefs, then no big deal. But, if the Bart's were just an "oh, I've got these spare Bart's in the drawer, and I think I'll throw them in there to see what happens;" then, that would kind of be an opportunity lost. IMO YMMV

Okay, I see. Thanks for explaining, haha and I reiterate, congratulations to the OP.

 

[woodyng2]

I can tell you at least line doesn't seem to neck dive. One of the things that I like about it is because the distance from the upper bout to the strings is smaller than say on a fender body which for the same strap length lowers my forearm and takes some stress off of my lower back. Some how the ergonomics of the bass keep 1st position from felling like its way out there like on other 24 feet basses that I've owned, and the lower cutaway is sculpted as such that you can reach all the way up to the 24th fret with no problems. It really is the most comfortable instrument I've ever laid my hands on. As far as tone goes, it is the only active bass that I've ever played that can mostly replicate a p bass with the tone control backed all the way down if you pan to the neck pickup and roll the q filter all the way back. I love the simplicity of the controls. That one filter does some pretty amazing stuff, from gritty to tubby it pulls off every tone that I'll ever need!

Thanks,Aragorn,that's great info!

 

[dhagopian]

My Essence balances well also. Yes it's a small body with a long neck, but the upper horn reaches to about the 15th fret on the 4 string and even further on 5+ string versions. You could also always put lightweight tuners on it to help.

 

[bassclef112]

I ordered and bought a brand new Mark King Sig Std in 2000 and I still have it. I had 2 other Alembics along the way -
an '84 Distillate and a really cool '99 custom Rogue (the original owner had them load in 2 full sets of the Q electronics - one per pickup).
That was an excellent bass - except for the major dead spot in the middle of the neck. Hey, it happens even to the best. Had to go.

Back to the MK - huge body, it does have neck dive (which I've got under control) and it weighs a ton.
Having said that, I'll never sell it. I've got many great sounding basses, but nothing sounds quite like the MK.
The neck is a joy (32" scale) with side LED's, and that tone rocks every venue.

I'm lucky to have it because I couldn't afford another one like it.

 

[GBassNorth]

...
Some how the ergonomics of the bass keep 1st position from felling like its way out there like on other 24 feet basses that I've owned...

Wow!
24 feet is a heck of a long scale length!...

 

[Aragorn35016]

Wow!
24 feet is a heck of a long scale length!...

Lol stupid tiny keys and auto correct on iPhone

 

[Bassmann79]

I have loved them since seeing Newsted use them on the Justice and Black Album tours. The ones he had are hellaciously expensive too!

 

[Brother Goose]

I owned a '90 Persuader Medium Scale 5 (32") Mahogany w a tiger koa top strung B-G and it was an INCREDIBLE bass. It was, however, a very heavy instrument with extremely tight string spacing.

The Persuader has a very usable modern tone and simple control layout (V/B/Q ) and while I don't regret selling it to finance a Smith VI, I have very fond memories of it's sound and gorgeous looks.

If I have stumble upon a pile of money, you can rest assured that I will own another Alembic AND a vintage Smith.

Alembics are truly the gold standard for modern basses and I've played many imitators that can only dream of capturing their quality and tone.

 

[GBassNorth]

Well,i am interested in checking it out. I've bought several basses from this fella,and returned one,sold another,etc,so we have a friendly easygoing relationship. I'd have to take it to a few band practices to see if i like it.
The body is so small it seems like it would be neck heavy,but that remains to be seen.
As far as the trade,the AVRI P lists for $2k,of course,for used ones the prices plummet.(mine was $1100)
Used alembics like this one seem to go for $1200-1500,(talk about price plummetting!),but they're also not as widely sought after,so if i do the trade,i'd want to be sure i really wanted to hang onto it. (And outside of Rickenbackers,i can be pretty fickle!)

No neck dive in my Essence 5 either. But it is a heavy bass and the fingerboard is wide. Still a comfortable bass to play, you don't ever feel like you're fighting it. And with the simple vol/pan/filter layout I can dial it in to any tone I want (piano crisp to dub thud) quicker than any bass I own.