Alien 6 Fretless Demo - Looking for Ideas

[slombovia]

Thanks for responding to my no doubt less than tactful comments.

It sounds like you are pleased with the overall quality. So I assume you are OK with the laminated top?

Also, Bass Player gave the Boulder Creek an award saying: "With its big booty, jam-worthy acoustic volume... the Boulder Creek is more than deserving of an Editor’s Award." Apparently its volume and bassiness also comes from having a more freely resonating top but I don't know if I am comfortable with the reliability of the Boulder Creek technology. It's a pretty radical change.

I'm glad to hear you say the Alien is louder because once I get a pair of Thomastik Flats (or something warmer) on there I may enjoy it quite a bit. (You're right about the string thing.)

BTW here is the bass player roundup. They liked the Alien too: "Unplugged, the Alien sounded balanced, full, and loud"

http://www.bassplayer.com/article/roundup-acoustic-bass-guitars/147935

 

[Jon Moody]

Thanks for responding to my no doubt less than tactful comments.

Hey, you've got questions and aren't afraid to get down to it. I'm the same way, so no worries here.

It sounds like you are pleased with the overall quality. So I assume you are OK with the laminated top?

Here's the thing. While a solid top affords some benefits, any acoustic luthier is going to tell you that the bracing of the instrument is really going to make the difference. I have a ukulele that sounds like an acoustic guitar, and while it IS a solid top, the main reason is that the luthier braced the top accordingly to allow the string vibrations to resonate appropriately.

Too many times in this industry, someone will say, "Let's make an acoustic bass guitar!" and then just resize the plans for the acoustic guitar and call it good, not wanting to spend the time to figure out the correct bracing for the bigger size.

My old upright bass was completely laminated, and that sound was killer. So, the short answer (finally!) to your question is yes, I'm fine with the laminated top. If it sounds good and can resonate, I'll gig with it.

 

[slombovia]

Wood choices are different between all three models, but the biggest difference is in the electronics. The Prefix Plus preamp was a factor in me choosing the "top" Alien over the Rockbass Deluxe.

Otherwise, yeah, they're fairly similar.

...from the Warwick website, the 4 and 5 string Deluxe models have a lower model preamp but the 6-string Deluxe is upgraded to the same preamp as the high end model:

"Fishman Presys Preamp with Piezo Pickup on 4 and 5-string"
"Prefix PlusT with Piezo Pickup on 6-string"

It also repeats this in the video at:
Invalid Link Removed

I prefer the look and tailpiece of the high end non-deluxe version. But for the price of one high end model I could get a fretted AND a fretless with the same preamp, bubinga instead of ovangkol, and those lovely pain in the ...bridge pins.

Since it was discussed here, thought I better add this here.

 

[Jon Moody]

Very good info for someone to know. I ordered it immediately after it was unveiled at NAMM, so the specifics weren't available yet.

That said, for myself, I'm glad I have the model I do.

 

[slombovia]

Very good info for someone to know. I ordered it immediately after it was unveiled at NAMM, so the specifics weren't available yet.

That said, for myself, I'm glad I have the model I do.

I would say it's also a good choice because of the deeper cutaway for higher access, the satin body finish rather than gloss, the wood soundhole ring looks nice instead of the rosette, and higher quality fingerboard woods. And did I mention that priceless tailpiece? Oh, and the thumbrest if you like it - I do.

 

[Jon Moody]

Actually the sound hole ring and the thumbrest are both molded plastic. A lot of members on the 'wick forum pitched a fit, but after talking to an experienced work worker, there was a good reason they went that route over carving/CNCing something out of wood.