Dream Bass Let-Down

[Kevin Teed]

(First-off I want to state that this has nothing to do with the instrument. It's strictly a personal "feeling".)

Ever since I was a kid seeing pictures of Jones or Entwistle with their Alembics, I considered their basses the absolute tops. Then when they came out with the Distillate, I'd thought that would be the perfect dream bass. They seemed smaller and simpler. I remember my brother bringing the new guitar player mags home with the ads in there and just drooling over them. Unfortunately, the local guitar shops have always been pretty lacking in quality inventory and I'd never been able to actually try one out. Fast-forward 35 years and I finally had the opportunity to take the plunge. The one with the right wood, scale and nut width came up at a time I actually could afford to buy it. It looks, plays and sounds really good ... But ... It doesn't do a thing for me. I've been a Fender and Rickenbacker guy all my life and this just feels too different. I've been playing it every day for a month and I just can't get used to it. I've really tried, but I'm coming to the realization that it's probably just not for me.
Has anyone else gone through something like this?

 

[garp]

No shame to be had. I think we all go through experimental phases, even if they're over decades. I know I did.

Beautiful bass, though. Someone else out there will surely appreciate being its next owner.

 

[alembicbones]

I'd have to say your situation is the same for me regarding Steinbergers. I've always been intrigued with these basses, owning 3 and ended up selling each one. Sorry to hear this Distillate isn't working for you. I agree with garp that you shouldn't have much trouble selling this bass.

Bones

 

[kesslari]

That's a beautiful bass. Totally OK that it's not for you. Someone will love it.

 

[Brad Maestas]

Absolutely. For me it has usually come down to string spacing. I tried two different Alembics, one four and one five string and both were just way too narrow for me. I know you can get them at 18 or 19mm spacing but I bought them used with their 'normal' narrow spacing. My vintage Hofner was narrow as well but I was able to cope with it. I also tried Warwick Thumbs and a Series II and they were too narrow for me as well. Every so often I have found an instrument that's acoustically dead. In other cases I just couldn't vibe with the electronics (EMG P/Js in a Fodera Emperor) or sometimes it was the woods (heavily lacquered maple FB on a Precision).

 

[dreamadream99]

I think basses are like cars. Every one feels different.

I’m reminded of when I used to do a lot of business travel. I’d rent a car and drive it for a week. It always felt weird. But invariably, when I returned home and got back in my car, then IT felt weird! Every time you drive a different car, it feels weird—not because it is—it’s just different from what you’re accustomed to. Every time I ever got a new bass, it felt weird. But you can accommodate to anything.

Just because you drive a Chevy, doesn’t mean you can’t drive a Porsche. They do the same basic things, they just feel different. And your body acclimates eventually.

 

[jd56hawk]

(First-off I want to state that this has nothing to do with the instrument. It's strictly a personal "feeling".)

Ever since I was a kid seeing pictures of Jones or Entwistle with their Alembics, I considered their basses the absolute tops. Then when they came out with the Distillate, I'd thought that would be the perfect dream bass. They seemed smaller and simpler. I remember my brother bringing the new guitar player mags home with the ads in there and just drooling over them. Unfortunately, the local guitar shops have always been pretty lacking in quality inventory and I'd never been able to actually try one out. Fast-forward 35 years and I finally had the opportunity to take the plunge. The one with the right wood, scale and nut width came up at a time I actually could afford to buy it. It looks, plays and sounds really good ... But ... It doesn't do a thing for me. I've been a Fender and Rickenbacker guy all my life and this just feels too different. I've been playing it every day for a month and I just can't get used to it. I've really tried, but I'm coming to the realization that it's probably just not for me.
Has anyone else gone through something like this?

View attachment 3451363

I'm guessing plenty of people have gone through that. I remember a similar thread from just last month.
The good news is, you shouldn't have any problem selling it.

 

[Axstar]

I've played a couple of Alembics, and they felt a bit 'cold', if that makes sense? For all the beautiful wood they weren't warm woody-sounding basses. The charm was in the electronics, and therefore they were a bit too much of a blank canvas for me. Tonally the wood seems to be out of the equation, and it is all about how you dial in the filters etc.

 

[Bassmike62]

We choose our instruments, but I also believe they choose us.
Connection didn't happen .

 

[rickster4003]

Sorry to hear that. You can send it to me where I will provide a loving home and promise to polish it everyday!

 

[soflbass]

I also dreamed of an Alembic. I got an older Essence a few years ago, and I absolutely love it. Took a while to get used to the filter vs non filter on all my other basses. But I love it and it's my #1. It just hits all of the right buttons for me. The previous owner just wasn't into it.

Play and enjoy what you like. No sense in holding onto something that you're not fond of.

 

[Jigmay]

Can you say what it is that you don't like in more detail? You didn't ask for 'fixits', but here's my unsolicited advice.

I have a bass w/Alembic pups. I know what your talking about. I've felt like its missing 'something'. Then I tried various strings on it and I think I've found two kinds that make it great. Also, have you tried an amp to warm up the sound? Wickersham seems to have envisioned these basses to be played through tubes, and they originally came stock with Pyramid flats (a pretty dead flat). Those crisp, detailed electronics do well with some toning down. (But lots of players love it that way as well.)

I'd also ask if you've played it live? Now, that is where these things can really shine.

 

[southpaw723]

Man I know the feeling. I spent a year saving up for a midnight blue rick and it was my absolute dream bass. Finally got it and I was underwhelmed. It was the most gorgeous bass but I didn’t like the sound or how it played so I sold it, I ended up with D’angelico hollow body that I dig.

 

[sleddogn]

yep me too, i had a ric, sold it, missed it, bought another, tried to love it, sold it, bought another one, tried to love it, now have it for sale, i really tried, lol there are more switches than spocks computer panel on that alembic

 

[Element Zero]

I totally understand. I lusted over a Pedulla Pentabuzz for over a decade. Finally I was in a financial state that I could have Mike build me one. It was beautiful. Effortless playability and tone to die for.

After a year I knew it wasn’t meant to be. But I tried to force love it for another 6 months. Then I put it up for sale. Went to a good home. I felt guilty for a couple days, but got over it. I’ll always have the pictures and the memories. Onward and upward.

 

[matthewbrown]

I had the same experience with a Rick Turner Renaissance. Gorgeous instrument, but I just couldn't love playing it.

 

[bluesblaster]

Alembics are stunning craftsmanship, top shelf all the way, beautiful in every sense. That being said I find them very heavy for the most part, really Hi Fi sound and obviously very expensive. Love to look at them but that's as far as it goes, not my thing either.

 

[thetaxmiser]

I went through a phase about 10 years ago where I bought and sold a bunch of used basses. Kept them for a few months and sold them for another bass. Gave me a chance to try a lot of different brands. I thought a MTD was going to be the "be all, end all" bass for me. It was beautiful, perfect construction, but the sound and feel left me cold. Same with a Pedulla Rapture. Terrific bass that was just didn't work for. It was a great learning experience.

 

[Wasnex]

(First-off I want to state that this has nothing to do with the instrument. It's strictly a personal "feeling".)

Ever since I was a kid seeing pictures of Jones or Entwistle with their Alembics, I considered their basses the absolute tops. Then when they came out with the Distillate, I'd thought that would be the perfect dream bass. They seemed smaller and simpler. I remember my brother bringing the new guitar player mags home with the ads in there and just drooling over them. Unfortunately, the local guitar shops have always been pretty lacking in quality inventory and I'd never been able to actually try one out. Fast-forward 35 years and I finally had the opportunity to take the plunge. The one with the right wood, scale and nut width came up at a time I actually could afford to buy it. It looks, plays and sounds really good ... But ... It doesn't do a thing for me. I've been a Fender and Rickenbacker guy all my life and this just feels too different. I've been playing it every day for a month and I just can't get used to it. I've really tried, but I'm coming to the realization that it's probably just not for me.
Has anyone else gone through something like this?

I have played several Alembics that I found in random music stores and rarely liked any of them. I have played lots of Rickenbacker and Music Man basses in random music stores as well, and had the exact same results. But when you find the right one, it's magic....perhaps, you just need to find the right one.

 

[dave hope]

(First-off I want to state that this has nothing to do with the instrument. It's strictly a personal "feeling".)

Ever since I was a kid seeing pictures of Jones or Entwistle with their Alembics, I considered their basses the absolute tops. Then when they came out with the Distillate, I'd thought that would be the perfect dream bass. They seemed smaller and simpler. I remember my brother bringing the new guitar player mags home with the ads in there and just drooling over them. Unfortunately, the local guitar shops have always been pretty lacking in quality inventory and I'd never been able to actually try one out. Fast-forward 35 years and I finally had the opportunity to take the plunge. The one with the right wood, scale and nut width came up at a time I actually could afford to buy it. It looks, plays and sounds really good ... But ... It doesn't do a thing for me. I've been a Fender and Rickenbacker guy all my life and this just feels too different. I've been playing it every day for a month and I just can't get used to it. I've really tried, but I'm coming to the realization that it's probably just not for me.
Has anyone else gone through something like this?

View attachment 3451363

I had the same experience in the late 70s. Having never seen one in person, I order an Alembic from the factory. On the day of its arrival, I pulled it out of the case and maybe played it 5 minutes.
I disliked it the moment I touched it. It had a lousy feel and my arms were not long enough to reach the first fret. I then put it back in the case and under my bed, never to be played by me again. I later gave it away. Expensive lesson.