Did Alembic discontinue the Epic body style?

[hieronymous]

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.

This isn't correct - it is a low-pass filter. There is a frequency bump where you have the filter set - on some electronics passes such as the Series I & II, Anniversary and Signature, you can select the amount of boost. So that frequency can be emphasized, but it is still working like a low-pass filter, cutting the frequencies above the point selected.

The SF-2 Superfilter is a rackmount unit where you can select low-pass, band-pass, and high-pass, but the electronics in the Alembics with filters are all low-pass.

 

[Popps]

I've parted with one Alembic, that was on a trade for another. I'll keep it in mind, but, for the forseeable future she'll be staying. She was a gift from my wife afterall.

 

[abngourmet]

I live in NC, so if you're ever in the neighborhood ....

 

[SGD Lutherie]

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.

It is a low pass filter with variable Q. The Q, or resonance makes the tone of the filter sharper at the cutoff frequency when you increase the Q amount. The idea was that the Alembic pickups have such a high resonant frequency, that using a low pass filter with some resonance boost (Q) will let you imitate high impedance pickups.

If you turn the Q down, you will hear that it removes the high end as you turn it down, only unlike a passive tone control, the frequency that the cutoff happens is variable.

 

[calmb4tehpwn]

What part of NC, abn? I'm not too far, an hour and a half from the border, eastern NC. Would love to take a day trip down sometime.

 

[abngourmet]

Fayetteville.

 

[calmb4tehpwn]

Alright, I'll let you know. You let me know if you ever have plans for the Hampton Roads area?

 

[abngourmet]

Will do. Have been to the Hampton Roads area many times - good memories, and awesome seafood. And the Grate Steak on Mercury Blvd is a particularly great memory.

 

[jbybj]

It is a low pass filter with variable Q. The Q, or resonance makes the tone of the filter sharper at the cutoff frequency when you increase the Q amount. The idea was that the Alembic pickups have such a high resonant frequency, that using a low pass filter with some resonance boost (Q) will let you imitate high impedance pickups.

If you turn the Q down, you will hear that it removes the high end as you turn it down, only unlike a passive tone control, the frequency that the cutoff happens is variable.

Since I'm late in echoing this response, I would add that a traditional passive tone control, is more like a shelving cut, than a low pass. The cap determines the frequency of the shelf, and the pot turns it down progressively, at that set frequency. That's why people swap caps, to change the cut frequency. The Stellartone folks explain it well.

Invalid Link Removed

The folks at Alembic suggest that a low pass curve is a more natural representation of the real world, as opposed to a shelving curve.

 

[bassbenj]

I own an Epic. They are not NT, they're setneck, but mine was used. That's kind of a shame if they discontinued them. I'd love another one, but with Aria Black n Gold style inlays on the fingerboard.

I just surfed the Alembic site and they are still there. I got mine new built to order. 6 string fretless, flamed maple. I fell in love with an Epic in the local high-end bass shop and HAD to have a fretless 6 string one! I'm STILL kicking myself for not getting the fretmarker LEDS! Mine has brass markers that got dark and are hard to see on a dark stage. I noticed they now come with aluminum markers which would be MUCH better. And although my flamed maple on mahogany is gorgeous, the NEXT Epic the store got in after mine was burled walnut!!! You should have seen THAT one! Unfortunately by that time all my money was already gone!

I'd be very surprised if Alembic canceled the Epic, but then they are often doing dumb things. To me the Epic is one of the very few classic bass shapes. Right up there with the Fenders, T-Birds, Gibsons and others with a distinctive body where you just look at it and have instant recognition! There is some story about who designed that shape but I've forgotten what it was.

Personally I've had a love-hate relationship with Alembic from the get-go. When I got it I loved it but there were a number of serious things wrong with it. And then They and I went back and forth many times over them. Let me say that eventually they they made good on (almost) all of them. And that was in part due to a new customer service dude they hired who was positively amazing. (He only lasted a couple of months there).

I still LOVE my Alembic bass, but given current prices, next time I think I'd have money better spent on a Drozd or a Ritter. But hey I guess Alembic exists for the kind of folks who drive Rolls Royces around and just want what they want and Alembic prices are just pin money to them. If that's you, they they DO give you what Alembic gives you. Buy used. Then it would be more likely the flaky things will have been fixed. Much cheaper too!

And oh, let me add that Alembic basses are not for the noob. It takes considerable skill and experience to pull the best out of one. When I got mine it was WAY too much bass for me to handle for quite some time! I grew into it, though. And the more you play it, the more you love it. And dare I say it? I'm STILL in love!

 

[kjpollo]

Fayetteville.

I PMed you about one of the Alembics you used to own....

 

[TolerancEJ]

They still have the Epic. I think they just forgot to include it in the build your bass form.

 

[calmb4tehpwn]

Funny, I'm a half mile off of Mercury.

 

[neurotictim]

I had a zebrawood/mahogany Epic 5 for a while, but had to sell it to pay vet bills. While I loved the playability and sound of the bass, it was soooo heavy. 11+ lbs, a real tank.

:EDIT: Just remembered I posted a long-winded breakdown of the bass here - http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/my-first-alembic-depth-first-impression-395618/

If you find one around $1K, go for it. Anything over $1500 is too much, IMO, unless it's got the filters and/or LEDs. Honestly, though, if all you want are side marker LEDs, you could go with FretFX and save a bundle. That would also give you the option of removing them if you find they're not your cup 'o tea.

And +1 to all the posts about Mica and crew over at Alembic - they'll help you out as much as you can, as long as you're patient - sometimes they get crazy busy and it takes some time to get a response.

 

[calmb4tehpwn]

Fret fx hmm? Are they self contained? Don't need to be hooked up to a master power switch? Do I need to drill in or is it like, stick on? I'm at work so I can't look it up myself.

 

[calmb4tehpwn]

If I get a beater I'd have no problems doing cosmetic upgrades, but on the chance I get a decent one, I wouldn't want to touch it.

 

[Popps]

Try

www.fretfx.com

Not pricey at all. I have them on 2 basses

 

[neurotictim]

I love my FretFX, and plan on getting them for my 'Vette $$.

3 colors - red, blue, and green - and they're totally removable via adhesive strip, with a small battery pack you attach to the headstock, also via adhesive. Coin battery in one way, lights are on, flip it around, and they're off. And, at less than $75, they're a great "upgrade" that you can take off for selling or if you get tired of them. The only downside is that removing them supposedly destroys the array - but I have a suspicion that if you're really careful, you could take them off without destroying them.

Check the FS link in my sig - that's the Corvette I'm trying to sell with the FretFX still on it.

You're local to me, so if you want to see them in real life you should plan on attending the GTG I'm hosting - the other link in my sig. If it doesn't sell here before then (and it's not looking so good on that front, ) it'll be there.

 

[calmb4tehpwn]

Hell, I'd buy 'em right now if my only bass wasn't headless. I'll be at the GTG, and possibly my wife. The only problem is I doubt there'd be anything there for her to do (as music doesn't interest her very much) and I would most likely have to leave early.

Might just try and go alone.

Look forward to it, and the LEDs. I would like to inset LEDs, as I think they look super classy, but would definitely make due considering I most likely wont find an Epic with LEDs

 

[malthumb]

If you go to the "Products" page and the "Price List" page, Epic is included on both those pages.

I don't think Epic has ever been listed on the quote generator, since they are the "mass produced" model. Choices are typically number of strings, top wood, and B/T or filter electronics.

Good luck in your search!