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Show me your Alembics
- Thread starter echo008
- Start date
I think I've finally figured out how to post a couple of pictures of my custom Dragonwing. I've had it since January/February.
It sounds fantastic both live and recorded. It's a medium scale, cocobolo with 2 purpleheart stripes and a mahogony core/back. It has custom neck dimensions designed around a Ken Smith and MusicMan Sabre neck. The setup from the factory was unbelievable, thought I've had some issues with neck movement since restringing. The dragonwing body style is beautiful, but has definitely taken some getting used to from a playing perspective. Like most Alembics I've tried, it's a pretty heavey bass --weighs more than my ric, though probably less than the '79 Sabre I used to own. Nonetheless, I've played a 2 hour gig with it, and it balances so well, I honestly didn't feel the difference between the alembic and any of my other basses.
As you can see, I spent most of my money on the custom electronics. There's so many controls, they couldn't fit the jack on the side --but it was totally worth it.
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Saint,
You absolutely must walk us through the controls. I have visions of the TV commercial where the guy is flipping a switch in his house and his neighbor's garage door keeps opening and closing on the hood of her car. Which switch mutes the g**tar player?
Peace,
James
You absolutely must walk us through the controls. I have visions of the TV commercial where the guy is flipping a switch in his house and his neighbor's garage door keeps opening and closing on the hood of her car. Which switch mutes the g**tar player?
Peace,
James
Saint,
You absolutely must walk us through the controls. I have visions of the TV commercial where the guy is flipping a switch in his house and his neighbor's garage door keeps opening and closing on the hood of her car. Which switch mutes the g**tar player?
Peace,
James
Okay, actually laughed out loud at that post --particularly the part about muting the g**tar play (although I'd actually rather have it mute the singer
Okay, let me see if I can do this. Working from the top left switch downward:
Neck PU controls: Q switch, treble boost/neutral/cut, bass boost/neutral/cut. Top dial is the filter, bottom is the volume.
Tear drop shape is the pickup switch (off, neck, both, bridge)
Bridge PU controls: Q switch, treble boost/neutral/cut, bass boost/neutral/cut. Top dial is the filter, bottom is the volume.
The little switch next to the jack is the stereo/mono switch.
There are no LED's, turn signals, or defrost switches. As I said, most of my money went for tone shaping flexibility -and I got it in spades. While it truly has it's own sound, I can approximate everything from a Pbass, to a Wal, and a Ric.
New pictures + pictures of my refinished '83 Spoiler:
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(the Fender has Alembic pickups and electronics)
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(the Fender has Alembic pickups and electronics)
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A friend just became, and Alembic dealer.
I got to play an Elan 5 that he just got.
Mac Ebony top, Ebony fingerboard.
This was one of the best constructrd basses i've ever played.
Alembic are world class.
It also was the heavest bass I ever played.
Between 15lbs. and 16lbs.
A real backbreaker.
Great tone, and playability.
But for $6000.00. I want a bass I can play standing up.
I use to own an Excel 5.
Which i regret sell.
Alembics are super basses.
Nice!
Is that a series package with signature controls?
Signature with a dummy humcanceller. The humcanceller is a functioning unit but isn't connected. I just wanted "the look", and the Signature package seems enough for me sonically.
I really like my all-maple essence.
MMMMM...
You don't see many all maple alembics....MAN ! .... WOW!
Alembic has developed more features and options to make its players' experience pleasant and successful than any other manufacturer I've seen. It's time they took the gloves off and solved the "overpowering geetar" problem. Sort of an alternate take on bass boost and other helpful sound enhancers...
Until I went over to the dark side of 6, this was my baby. I keep her now, valuable, for the inevitable upgrades.
Strung her with cello strings and played it tuned starting on a C in 5th. CGDB Didn't practice that much and now it is back wearing Thomastic flats. Peavey Cirrus 6 is the main thumper here.
Strung her with cello strings and played it tuned starting on a C in 5th. CGDB Didn't practice that much and now it is back wearing Thomastic flats. Peavey Cirrus 6 is the main thumper here.
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