The 3 knobs threw me off. Never saw that but I'm no expert. My Epic had 4 or 5 and it is the entry level Alembic.
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Is this trade worth it?
- Thread starter Lauri Lahtinen
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- alembic bass help rickenbacker
The 3 knobs threw me off. Never saw that but I'm no expert. My Epic had 4 or 5 and it is the entry level Alembic.
Volume, Pan, Filter
The funny thing about entry level Alembic is that they still build it pretty much however you want it and scale the price accordingly. This one is the most basic configuration for a two-pickup bass. If it were mine, I'd have them add a Q switch. The original Distillate, when it was the entry level model, had volume, filter, Q and treble and bass switches with a rotary pickup selector. Some of the Excels are simply volume and filter.
John
I have a 1988 Spoiler/Persuader that’s a 3 knob. Vol/Vol/Filter.
as far as I know there are no passive alembic basses. what makes an alembic is the active alembic pickups
epics have a volume volume bass treble entry level circuit
essence has vol vol q filter, its a step up from the epic electronics wise
essence has vol vol q filter, its a step up from the epic electronics wise
You're the type of person I'd love to do trades with. Maybe I have a Squier that plays amazing and you love it, you have a Fodera you never bonded with, let's do this and not worry about money
I traded for a dream bass... A 6 string German Warwick.... Just sold it recently, it wasn't for me, if I hadn't made the trade I never would have known.
I have traded down more times than I have traded up, but I have gotten to try some nice instruments.
I have traded down more times than I have traded up, but I have gotten to try some nice instruments.
Ditto. I have never considered the 4003 a "one trick pony" as it is so often mislabeled; I've played mine in everything from slap-n-funk to country projects. But if I wasn't happy with my Ric that Alembic looks sweet, active electronics, OP should be able to bond with and squeeze some good tones out of it.
Oh, and if you don't know what you're doing, don't go fiddling with the truss rods. Leave that to someone who has experience, and a two-rod system (same as your Ric) takes an even more specialized knowledge. There may be some good videos on YouTube on how it's done. I've had inexperienced techs botch it before I took charge of my own set ups.
I hear ya...
My first and only Alembic was an '84 in '89 and was a 32" scale 4 string Series I, full body with the stinger in Bubinga. I was playing with a progressive rock band with a fantastic drummer, lead guitar and an Organ major @ UT-Austin. (Both hands and both feet!)
I traded the following for this Alembic:
Fender-Rhoads Suitcase Electric Piano
*Marshall 12 watt Lead Guitar Combo Amp
*As New Hot Pink Robin Ranger Bass-OHSC
$300 in cash
(*Pawn Shop Raid)
Total Investment = $900
Alembic Series I - OHSC - Power Cable/Box Tagged @ $1000 at another pawn shop.
I definitely traded up. But, in the end, the Alembic was like 11 lbs and I couldn't play it standing comfortably for long periods of time. I sold it and picked up a Steinberger XM-2 and a Chapman Stick.
You're the type of person I'd love to do trades with. Maybe I have a Squier that plays amazing and you love it, you have a Fodera you never bonded with, let's do this and not worry about money
Well, I have done it at least twice, the first one I got a Mark King 500 amp head (maybe around 1200€ new) for a cheap Cort Z42 guitar (around 300€ iirc) and the second I said goodbye to my 1987 Jazz Bass Special (second hand for about 700€) for a mexican Precision in alder which, for me, sounded (and still sounds) far far better. I was never able to tame that basswood body tone (very disliking for me).
All the best!
