Here I am 19 years ago in the studio with my Europa 5 string w/ Series I electronics. It's the Alembic I will have for the rest of my life.
Bones
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Best looking Alembic you’ve seen
- Thread starter Chickenwheels
- Start date
Here I am 19 years ago in the studio with my Europa 5 string w/ Series I electronics. It's the Alembic I will have for the rest of my life.
Bones
The people at Alembic are some of the best of the best people you'll ever meet. I'm a proud owner since 1981, and while they know I'll never be able to afford to have another Alembic built for me, they treat me like a long-lost loved one every time I stop by the shop. My '81 Series I with some Series II bits is the best sounding and most versatile bass I've ever played.
John
John
My first Alembic was a Spoiler. $1750 back in 1981. Traded it years later for a Distillate Exploiter which I later sold for $1750.
The next one was an Essence 5 with a flame walnut top. Wonderful bass in every respect except I never enjoyed 5 string basses or wider necks so traded that for an Essence 4.
This one will stay.
The 5:
The 4:
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I'm partial to the Elan/Europa body shape. These balance perfectly sitting or standing. I may be an outlier, but I also prefer the simpler electronics for live work over the somewhat more fiddly series electronics. I bought the walnut-top on the right new in '92. It clearly shows wear from literally thousand of gigs, my preferred method of applying a relic finish.
The looks of this one definitely influenced my decision to buy it. Almost two years later, I'm still infatuated - sometimes when I open the case I just need to stop and stare at it awhile until I'm overcome by the desire to hold it in my hands....
It plays as nice as it looks - the Epic body shape is super comfortable, it sets up real nice (very playable), and the pickups/electronics provide a wide range of sounds. It is one of my main players, in fact I'll be gigging it a little later today.
It plays as nice as it looks - the Epic body shape is super comfortable, it sets up real nice (very playable), and the pickups/electronics provide a wide range of sounds. It is one of my main players, in fact I'll be gigging it a little later today.
Try one if you can, you might be surprised. Mine is the heaviest of all my basses, a bit over 10 lbs., but it doesn't feel that way when I'm playing it.
It almost looks photoshopped in the hands of a human being!
Epic.
That's a lot of bass for $1800, and if you look closely it's in mint condition.
That's a lot of bass for $1800, and if you look closely it's in mint condition.
I’ve owned a bunch of Alembics over the years, and I’m a dealer now so I get to handle some really special instruments. I’d say I’m pretty biased, but I think this custom Rogue I ordered for myself a few years ago is up there with the “prettiest” I’ve seen (or at least played).
Similar experience. I drove up for the day back in the early 90's when I was researching custom builds. They were wonderful and very accommodating, and eventually sat me in a room with a bunch of basses to check out.
I actually live closer these days. Threads like this make me want to go for another visit.
Any time I peruse the Alembic website, I gravitate to the Rogue lineup. If I'm ever in a position to order from them, that's what I'm going to get.
And don't forget: Save for the most basic electronic bits and screws, knobs, and the like, they fab everything themselves. Their own pickups and tone networks, truss rods, all the various brass fittings. They use monogrammed Gotoh keys, but past that none of the common parts or pickups/preamps you see on most every other small builder bass: All that stuff would be a step down for them.
I definitely love the Rogue body shape. If I were to come into a pile of money, I'd love a Rogue Series II 5-string in cocobolo.
John
The bridge feels steampunk as can be. Doing the bridge rehab on my bass was fascinating.
I can't deal with Explorer/T-bird ergonomics, but always loved the look of the Entwistle Alembic Exploiter/Spyder.
I am a rock type so I like the Explorer type, the body shape doesn't bother me.
Epic.
That's a lot of bass for $1800, and if you look closely it's in mint condition.
That's a well-loved bass! Someone has played it a lot!
Yes, once you get past the beauty you can see from a distance, you realize there's a deeper beauty built into an Alembic. Once I had spent some time close up and personal with mine, I really got the vibe that everything about it is purposefully crafted to be the best bass in the world.
Got my first Alembic, made in 2000, ordered thru Bass Northwest.
Mark King Sig Std. Never tried one prior, and never saw this one until I opened the case. That month the free upgrade was neck side LED's.
A nice uncommon quilt top. It's a beast to play (my back won't do two gigs in a row) but I've worked out the strap balance - it sounds wonderful.
Mark King Sig Std. Never tried one prior, and never saw this one until I opened the case. That month the free upgrade was neck side LED's.
A nice uncommon quilt top. It's a beast to play (my back won't do two gigs in a row) but I've worked out the strap balance - it sounds wonderful.
