Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: mumra on March 14, 2010, 07:12:16 AM

Title: EUROPA
Post by: mumra on March 14, 2010, 07:12:16 AM

Hallo.to all.Finally I have an Alembic bass.Is an alembic Europa 1991 model with Koa front finish.I bought it used for $2750.It is in ex codition like never played before.I would like to ask if anyone knows the sound differences between the MXY pickups of a Europa and the AXY (ex.Spoiler)

Title: EUROPA
Post by: mumra on March 14, 2010, 07:23:51 AM

Here is a picture(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/77650.jpg)

Title: EUROPA
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on March 14, 2010, 07:34:33 AM

Hi Daffy,
Congratulations on the new bass, & welcome to the board.
AXYs & MXYs are the same pickup cast in different size shells.
 
Peter

Title: EUROPA
Post by: gregduboc on March 14, 2010, 07:35:49 AM

Congratulations and welcome to the club Daffy!
If it helps, here is an explanation on the  Europa controls (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=238), and here the ones for the  Spoiler controls (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=280). This gives you some info on the tone shaping capabilities of each of the electronics. I leave a more detailed explanation to a more expert member!
 
Greg

Title: EUROPA
Post by: mumra on March 14, 2010, 07:39:28 AM

Thanks a lot for your Help.

Title: EUROPA
Post by: FC Bass on March 14, 2010, 07:41:37 AM

Welcome :-)
 
Looks very nice, congrats!
 
I have AXY, MXY and P/J pickups and they all sound like... Alembic :-)

Title: EUROPA
Post by: mumra on March 14, 2010, 07:45:16 AM

fc_spoiler does the AXY sound more 'bass' than the MXY (sorry for my english)

Title: EUROPA
Post by: FC Bass on March 14, 2010, 07:50:34 AM

It's difficult to say because they're on different basses, but I would say they all sound about the same.
 
As CC wrote: AXYs & MXYs are the same pickup cast in different size shells

Title: EUROPA
Post by: mumra on March 14, 2010, 07:53:10 AM

Thanks again to all.I hope someday to find money for an ALEMBIC spoiler and a WAL MK2 bass

Title: EUROPA
Post by: mumra on March 14, 2010, 09:18:16 AM

FC hallo again.Where do you buy the alembic picups.I am intrested to buy for an IBANEZ ST824 bass.

Title: EUROPA
Post by: FC Bass on March 14, 2010, 09:51:07 AM

Hi again :-)
 
Most of them came with the basses :-)
The ones in my Fender came from the local used market.  
I bought them all seperate: First the P pickup, then the J pickup and then the electronics (Volume, Filter and Q switch)
 
You can buy them direct from Alembic and I think they can make you custom pickupshells that will fit in your Ibanez, used it will be hard (or impossible I guess) to find... (unless they have the same dimensions as the AXY, or you are willing to use a router)

Title: EUROPA
Post by: mumra on March 14, 2010, 09:54:19 AM

Thanks fc.The pickups of the fender i mean.I think that to buy new pickups from alembic its expensive so I waiting for used.I hope someday to find.

Title: EUROPA
Post by: jazzyvee on March 14, 2010, 12:09:34 PM

You have a lovely bass. I own an Europa 5 string and it sounds great. I have to say I haven't seen many four string versions of that bass.
Enjoy playing it welcome to the alembic sound.  
Jazzyvee

Title: EUROPA
Post by: pace on March 14, 2010, 01:33:20 PM

Daffy,  
 
That's a beautiful Europa... play it in good health! My Elan Plus has the same circuit, except it has Jazz Bass pickups instead of MXY's.  
 
As far as the difference between AXY and MXY pickups, don't let the size fool you... they both have the same size bobbins, magnet, and coil windings. The AXY's mold just has more epoxy~ and that's done mainly for aesthetic reasons (to look more like a Series I or II pickup).

Title: EUROPA
Post by: David Houck on March 14, 2010, 02:42:03 PM

Beautiful bass!  Congrats and welcome to the board!

Title: EUROPA
Post by: coastaltony on March 14, 2010, 07:33:39 PM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/77674.jpg)

Title: EUROPA
Post by: poor_nigel on March 14, 2010, 10:55:00 PM

Kind of a confusing post, but I believe the most interesting possibility is how the pool cues are related to the thread and the one Europa fiver shown and the gaggle of Gibsons, et.al behind them - not to mention all the pool queue cases which may have greatest significance of all.  Welcome Tony, and 'sup?

Title: EUROPA
Post by: eligilam on March 15, 2010, 07:02:52 AM

I've got to get me an Eagle or a Mockingbird.  The more of those I see, the more I want one.  Oh, and a Europa, too.

Title: EUROPA
Post by: jazzyvee on March 15, 2010, 10:57:57 AM

Costaltony is your europa back plate gold plated?
I have one just like that and it is gold plated. I'm not sure if that was standard when made or an addition done by a previous owner.
 
 
Jazzyvee

Title: EUROPA
Post by: coastaltony on March 15, 2010, 04:39:32 PM

Yes, both plates are plated

Title: EUROPA
Post by: wideload on March 16, 2010, 04:10:58 PM

Tony, you won't believe this, but I was thinking of my old RD Artist just this morning! Quite possibly the only one with a California Rodeo sticker in captivity. Hope all is well with you and your basses. Larry

Title: EUROPA
Post by: coastaltony on March 16, 2010, 05:05:03 PM

Larry, WOW!!! I think of you every time I walk into my office. That RD is a KILLER machine. With new Roto's on it, she screams. I've using two 200W Orange amps each driving two Orange 4x12 cabs. Thanks a LOT for helping me out back then.

Title: EUROPA
Post by: alembickoa on March 18, 2010, 09:40:14 AM

Always loved those Europas...congrats!!!

Title: EUROPA
Post by: gtrguy on March 21, 2010, 10:50:34 AM

An old Eagle or Mockingbird is truly a great playing and sounding instrument. The active switch adds nothing to the tone but some extra volume though. They sound fine passive.

Title: EUROPA
Post by: briant on March 21, 2010, 11:58:12 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/77885.jpg)

Title: EUROPA
Post by: jazzyvee on March 21, 2010, 02:46:21 PM

Hi Mumra, you may find these of interest.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250600117088&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123#ht_2604wt_941 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250600117088&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123#ht_2604wt_941)
 
jazzyvee

Title: EUROPA
Post by: mumra on March 21, 2010, 11:09:49 PM

Hallo jazzyvee .I have seen this pickups yesterday.Thanks a lot for your help.I'll try to bought them.

Title: EUROPA
Post by: mumra on March 29, 2010, 09:55:39 AM

Hallo again to all.Does anyone knows how can I clean the brass parts of the bass?

Title: EUROPA
Post by: lbpesq on March 29, 2010, 11:28:22 AM

Daffy:
 
Alembic suggests using Flitz Metal Polish which is available in the  Alembic Store (http://alembic.stores.yahoo.net/flitmetpol.html).  That, and some elbow grease, usualy does the trick.  For really bad tarnishing, I use Flitz with a dremel tool.
 
Bill, the guitar one

Title: EUROPA
Post by: artswork99 on March 29, 2010, 11:44:59 AM

Be aware that generally the tailpiece, truss cover and backplate (if brass) are usually coated and polishing will likely remove the coating.

Title: EUROPA
Post by: gtrguy on March 29, 2010, 12:06:30 PM

The clear is a bitch to remove. No stripper I have will touch it. You just have to sand or steel wool it off. The good news is that you can clean it up after sanding (fine grit wet sand paper, 1000 - 1500 - 2000, and then polish) and make sure no resudue is left on it (I use automotive wax and grease reomver) and then rattle-can a clear coat on it and it looks great.
 
Bye,
Dave