Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: FC Bass on October 02, 2009, 09:43:39 AM

Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: FC Bass on October 02, 2009, 09:43:39 AM: Has there been a topic on the weight of Alembics yet?

If not, get out yer scales and post yer findings here please :-)

Starter:

'83 Spoiler: 4180 gram - 9.2 lbs (Koa body, Maple neck)
'88 Spoiler: 4425 gram - 9.8 lbs (Coco bolo on Mahogany body, Maple neck)
'90 Elan: 4490 gram - 9.9 lbs (Quilted Maple on Maple body, Maple neck)
'06 Orion: 3955 gram - 8.7 lbs (Mahogany, Maple, Purpleheart and Spalted Maple body, Maple neck through with 2 Walnut veneers, fretless custom model)

4 Strings and Ebony fretboard on all.

'91 Fender Prodigy: 3525 gram - 7.8 lbs (4 string, Poplar body, Maple neck, Rosewood fretboard, Alembic electronics)

Edit: specified woods and number of strings

(Message edited by fc_spoiler on October 03, 2009)
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: toma_hawk01 on October 02, 2009, 10:23:12 AM: Great thread!

1976 Series 1 Shorty is:
11.0lbs pure muscle mass!

Strong enough to hold my 225lbs of raw power!

(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on October 02, 2009)
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: David Houck on October 02, 2009, 11:30:57 AM: Flip; what are you getting after here?
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: FC Bass on October 02, 2009, 11:52:35 AM: There's an Alembic topic on a dutch board and someone mentioned the weight of a MK Signature causing pain in his back.

Since weight can be an issue for some, it could be helpful if there's a list to use as a reference.

plus it's fun! :-)
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: David Houck on October 02, 2009, 06:10:57 PM: Well, you've already started out with body styles and woods, but shouldn't you include number of strings since a six string neck is significantly heavier than a four string; and even neck taper may make some difference in weight. Back plates; brass is much heavier than plastic, and an MK with LEDs will have two plates. Oh, and LEDs means four more batteries; of course they're displacing wood. The different electronics will vary in weight. And then of course some bodies are chambered. Etc.

But all that makes it much more difficult to make comparisons; so basic models and woods, like you've listed, are probably easier to compare.
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: David Houck on October 02, 2009, 06:19:52 PM: According to my very old and somewhat less than accurate bathroom scale, my bass weighs around 13 lbs (5897 gram).

(Message edited by davehouck on October 02, 2009)
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: 3rd_ray on October 02, 2009, 07:23:31 PM: I was curious so I weighed mine...

MK - 11 lbs (with LEDs) (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8709)

Essence - 9 lbs (http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/52632.html?1213586795 target=_blank)

Excel - 12 lbs (with LEDs) (http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/50690.html?1248823614 target=_blank)

Mike
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: jazzyvee on October 03, 2009, 01:55:14 AM: I was surprised to find that my Series I Dragon Magic guitar weighs in at 11.5 lbs
Although i have to say it doesn't feel heavy when it's on as I have a wide leather padded strap and it balances perfectly.

Jazzyvee
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: krystoof on October 03, 2009, 02:31:39 AM: Hi, folks!
My 5 string MK Sig is 5 kilos, about 11.2 lbs... Of pure pleasure, of course!!! ;-)
Xtof
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: Enzo on October 03, 2009, 08:53:22 AM: My '88 Distillate 4 strings, mahogany/maple body is 9.6 lbs ( 4.36 Kilos ).
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: terryc on October 04, 2009, 09:10:59 AM: MK weight almost 14lbs(uk)..bloody heavy!!!
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: pauldo on October 04, 2009, 07:00:35 PM: I have a very poor scale.
My '84 Distillate, 4 strings, zebrawood is approximately 10lbs.
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: jbybj on October 04, 2009, 08:37:30 PM: (http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll349/jbybj/Europa/DSCF3883.jpg)
92 Europa 5 string 12 lbs.

(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll349/jbybj/bass%20collection/DSCF2393.jpg)
96 Epic 4 string 9.5 lbs

(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll349/jbybj/bass%20collection/HipperVariax11.jpg)
LIne 6 Variax 4 string 10 lbs

(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll349/jbybj/DSCF3030.jpg)
Viola custom 4 string 8.5 lbs

(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll349/jbybj/PurpleheartScarab861-1.jpg)
Wishbass Purpleheart Scarab 4 string 9.5 lbs

(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll349/jbybj/FenderWear-2.jpg)
69 Jazz 4 string 9 lbs.

(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll349/jbybj/DSCF4040.jpg)
Wishbass Cherrywood Hipper 4 string 8 lbs
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: mario_farufyno on October 05, 2009, 04:43:19 AM: Oh, nice Viola!
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: jbybj on October 05, 2009, 09:54:12 AM: Thanks,

It is a true joy to play, and I love the EMG TW pup. If AXY/MXY's are a 10, then I rate the EMG's an 8.5.
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: 12stringwilson on October 06, 2009, 12:04:40 PM: My Wal Pro IIE bass circa 1980 weighs 11 lbs.
It balances well though.
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on October 06, 2009, 02:02:51 PM: If we go to a gym and complain about 12lbs we will be called a sissy
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: bigbadbill on October 08, 2009, 05:40:19 AM: There's a big difference between 12lbs being lifted in a fixed press (or whatever) and a 12lb weight being dangled around one side of your body. I used to be able to bench 250 easy, heck, even curled 50-oddlbs dumbells for 10 reps, but I had to sell my approximately 11lb Alembic because it aggravated the 2 prolapsed discs in my back. Anybody who called me a sissy because of that would have found said Alembic inserted where the sun don't shine. I sincerely hope you never find out what it is to have chronic back problems. When your back is fine it's easy to dismiss such things, but my quality of life is getting worse all the time and I had to sell a bass I waited 20-odd years to get because of back problems. Anyone who can still wear a bass over 9lbs, just think yourselves lucky.
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: terryc on October 08, 2009, 07:49:02 AM: bigbadbill...yep I agree there..one gig with my MK(almost 14lbs UK) and my back is telling me to remove said bass.
Gym work is different..you are using other muscles and limbs..carrying a weight close to your centre of gravity causes strain.
A lot of soldiers who carry large amounts of gear eventually suffer with spinal problems.
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: benson_murrensun on October 08, 2009, 01:07:32 PM: I have chronic back pain, too. I lift weights in order to mitigate the problem. I can lift a good amount of weight, but don't care much for a heavy instrument around my neck. My Warmoth P-Bass is the heaviest one I have; it will have to be the first one to go when weight becomes the deciding factor.
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: malthumb on October 10, 2009, 08:42:31 AM: Well, according to my NEW bathroom scale, my Alembics have been doing some late night snacking! I remember using one scale and getting just under 9.5 lbs for my 4 string and just over 13.5 for my 5 string. Here's the new official weights for all my basses......

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/71341.jpg)

Series I 4 string (Walnut/Mahogany/Walnut) 11.5 lbs
MK / Series II hybrid 5 string (Coco / Maple / Mahogany / Maple / Coco) 15 lbs WOWZER!!
Roscoe LG-3005 (Maple / Spanish Cedar)10lbs

My others are....
1980 Music Man Sabre (Maple) 10 lbs
http://s590.photobucket.com/albums/ss348/martinjlm/Music%20Man%20Basses/?action=view¤t=MusicPictures001.jpg (http://s590.photobucket.com/albums/ss348/martinjlm/Music%20Man%20Basses/?action=view¤t=MusicPictures001.jpg)

Marchlewski 5 string (Amboyna Burl / Maple / Amboyna Burl w/ Bloodwood in some trim) 9.5 lbs
http://s590.photobucket.com/albums/ss348/martinjlm/Marchlewski%20Basses/?action=view¤t=Marchlewski5String.jpg (http://s590.photobucket.com/albums/ss348/martinjlm/Marchlewski%20Basses/?action=view¤t=Marchlewski5String.jpg)

(Message edited by malthumb on October 11, 2009)
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: malthumb on October 10, 2009, 08:46:03 AM: Probably should have mentioned that I've had both Alembics for a bit over 9 years now and the 5 string has been my primary instrument all that time. Although I notice the weight difference between that and all my other basses, it's not objectionable as long as I wear a wide strap.
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: serialnumber12 on October 11, 2009, 03:42:36 AM: 11.5 pounds!(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/71347.jpg)
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: serialnumber12 on October 11, 2009, 04:26:11 AM: 12 pounds! (http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/71350.jpg)
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: Enzo on October 11, 2009, 07:35:53 PM: Keavin, 11.5 pounds headed or headless version ?
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: oddmetersam on October 12, 2009, 12:37:11 AM: MK Signature Deluxe 5-string. 35 scale, bookmatched cocobolo top, cocobolo back w/continuous wood backplates and truss rod cover. One ebony neck laminate and bird of prey tailpiece. 11 lbs. (I prefer to play sitting down.) More pics at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2013756&id=1244010328&l=0f2e68b112 (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2013756&id=1244010328&l=0f2e68b112)

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/71387.jpg)
Title: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: gtrguy on October 12, 2009, 10:19:38 AM: Yeah, every time I turn my back they are at the fridge again. Don't know what to do. Time for a Beatle bass.

Dave
Title: Re: Alembic weight (other brands welcome for comparison)
Post by: Mark 63 on December 23, 2018, 06:33:26 AM: This is an old thread, but I have relevant data. My recently acquired '77 Series I (shedua beeswing; DBA Bee's Wing) weighs in at 11 lbs 2.4 oz or 5.06 kg.