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Did Alembic discontinue the Epic body style?

calmb4tehpwn

calmb4tehpwn

Jan 2, 2011
607
0
Burnsville, MN
#1
I've just started looking at buying a bass player's bass, I've got a lotus steinberger style strung in piccolo tuning (I'm kind of proud of my bass) with EMGs, but I'm looking for a Real bass, you know? I just want an alembic. Anyways, I went to their website to see what options they had, read through their forums a bit, and decided to use their online order option to see what choices would cost me how much money, to find the Epic bodystyle not listed.

Has it been discontinued? It's definitely my favorite.
 
#2
It's not listed, so it could be considered "discontinued" I suppose. I'm not an employee so I can't say for sure. Alembic will build anything you can imagine. Most of the "Featured Customs" on the web site can not be built using the online Custom Quote generator drop-down lists. I don't know if they do set necks anymore though. The best way to find out is to call them.
 
#3
I suppose, it just seems odd to stop including one of their popular body styles. Do the Epics come in neck thru? Come to think of it, I'm not sure I've seen one. Of course, I bet they'd make it.

I'm in the market for a used one, but was just dreaming big, and thought I'd check it out, and was caught off guard by what I saw.

I haven't seen any used with the side LEDs, so maybe they stopped offering it before they started offering the LEDs? Or maybe I just haven't seen any yet, it's possible I just haven't been around long enough.

I really, absolutely love the look of the Alembics, what can you guys tell me about their tone?
 
#6
The defining features of an Epic are set neck, B/T tone instead of a filter, and the body style.

They are frequently up for sale on ebay and on the Alembic forum. It shouldn't take too long to find something close to what you seek. It may take quite a while to find one with factory LED's. That's an expensive option for their "low cost" bass.

If you are like me, getting an Epic as your first Alembic will just make you want another, while still keeping your Epic.
 
#7
If you want Alembic to build you an Epic, they will with no questions asked.

However, if this is your first Alembic, buy used. Even the most bare bones Alembic new is insanely expensive to have built. You really need to exactly what you want in a bass, and then be prepared to pay the piper to have it made.

Epics come up with regularity on eBay for reasonable prices. Additionally, there appears to be a nice one at Bass NW right now. I find one major drawback with the stock Epic, though. The electronics are volume, pan, bass, and treble. You can get some nice tones with this package but the real soul of an Alembic comes from the use of the low pass filter. You will find this in its most basic form in the Essence model. Like Epics, they come up with regularity on eBay. You might also consider one of the older models, the Spoiler or the Distillate. They come up used quite often too.

Here's hoping you can find a great Alembic.

Bones
 
#9
alembicbones said:
If you want Alembic to build you an Epic, they will with no questions asked.

However, if this is your first Alembic, buy used. Even the most bare bones Alembic new is insanely expensive to have built. You really need to exactly what you want in a bass, and then be prepared to pay the piper to have it made.

You can get some nice tones with this package but the real soul of an Alembic comes from the use of the low pass filter. You will find this in its most basic form in the Essence model. Like Epics, they come up with regularity on eBay. You might also consider one of the older models, the Spoiler or the Distillate. They come up used quite often too.

Bones
Click to expand...

THIS

25ish years ago I had a Spoiler in the Exploiter body shape. Alembic P-J pickups and v/b/filter controls.
Even though I struggled mightily with the Exploiter body shape (wanna guess who I was trying to copy?) the tones I got from the filter were amazing. From shimmering highs to wall-rattling lows, that filter circuit was amazing. And that was their low-end model at the time.
Ultimately, I got rid of it because I was tired of fighting the body shape. Im sure that if I had a more traditional body style, I'd still own it today.
 
#10
I'm alright having two. I have noticed the Epic has been significantly less expensive than the other models (which is nice, as it's my favorite aesthetically) are the materials or craftsmanship of a lower quality, or is it really just a matter of set neck vs neck through?

Some of the Epics I've seen have been astoundingly beautiful, and I can't imagine they're using lower quality materials, or workmanship. So why the price dump?

Also, I'll wait until the one I want crops up here, I refuse to go to eBay. Every transaction there ends up being a nightmare, no matter how civil I am, or how well packaged my items are.
 
#11
alembicbones said:
I find one major drawback with the stock Epic, though. The electronics are volume, pan, bass, and treble. You can get some nice tones with this package but the real soul of an Alembic comes from the use of the low pass filter.

Bones
Click to expand...

That's why I like the Epic so much, a very different sound from the NT and filter instruments, yet still distinctly Alembic. I love the other Alembic sound as well, and think everyone should own both :-)

JBY
 
#12
calmb4tehpwn said:
Some of the Epics I've seen have been astoundingly beautiful, and I can't imagine they're using lower quality materials, or workmanship. So why the price dump?
Click to expand...

The Epic has every bit the quality and attention to detail that all Alembics have. The main reason for lower price is it takes them less time to make a set neck instrument than a neck through. The reason they are less expensive on the used market, is the old supply, (relatively high) and demand relationship.

JBY
 
#14
Hmm. Low pass is the way to go, good to know. I'm pretty set on the Epic, the essence and a couple of the other models are nice, but that Epic just astounds me. I might have to ask for a neck through of that body style when I have hundreds of thousands of dollars.

I'll keep you guys informed on how my search goes. I can't even really consider it until a couple of my (dear) guitars are sold, and even then I wont be able to go much above a grand. I might be waiting awhile.

If anyone has an epic they can sell, let me know. Also, if anyone is in Virginia with an Alembic, I'd give a leg for a chance for a new friend and some Alembic play time. I really would like to play one myself before putting up a grand.

Thanks for the advice, guys, keep it coming.
 
#17
calmb4tehpwn said:
Hmm. Low pass is the way to go, good to know.
Click to expand...
Not necessarily. I swapped out the EQ section on my Epic 5 for the filter, and it wasn't my cuppa. After about 3 years of trying to get the sound I wanted, I finally realized that what I wanted to do was cut the low end, and you can't do that with the filter, so I went back to the 2 band EQ.

DSFDF and YMMV.

I heart my Epic 5!
 
#18
It's not a low-pass filter, it's a q-filter. The band width is set, as is the amount of boost. What changes as you sweep the knob is the frequency. At the top of it's travel, it's almost up in the dog whistle range. As you sweep it down, the boost becomes lower in frequency. So, unlike a regular passive pot, which IS low-pass (gradually rolls off highs), or the typical bass-treble system, which has SET frequencies but lets you control the amount of boost or cut, the q-filter allows you to pick the frequency you want boosted. The more expensive Alembics (Series I & II) have one for each pickup, and that's where the real fun starts.
 
#19
I forgot to mention, what many of you may not know, seeing as they don't seem to advertise, is that Alembic makes P and J replacement pickups (with electronics), that retrofit into P & J basses. You can get them with either bass-treble controls, or the q-filters. They are the very same electronics used in the lower end basses mentioned above. I have installed many, many sets in all sorts of basses, and they do indeed end up sounding much like an Alembic. Assuming, of course, that Alembic made a bass with pickups located at those positions. What would a J bass sound like if Alembic made one? Pretty much what yours would sound like if you installed their J pickups and electronics. Seriously. Be forewarned that the prices are EXTREMELY high.
 
#20
Which would explain why so many seem to be replacing Cirrus guts with Alembic 'tronics. Considering I found that I liked Alembic after following my joy of Cirrus, I think a Cirralembic would be a good option for me. (still want those LEDs, though, and that Epic body style. Damnit. I love Alembic.)
 

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