Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Showcase => Custom Basses => Topic started by: geepee on March 29, 2019, 04:24:35 AM
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Hey everybody!
Sorry to the folks who have already seen this post in NoTreble or any of the Alembic pages on Facebook...!
ANYWAY,
HOW AMAZING IS THIS? I picked this up on Wednesday from Bass Direct - UK. Found it on a email they sent me, went to have a look and play, try before you buy and all! Well you know how it goes, I ended up taking it home!
It's a custom bass, barely played, never gigged...that changes now!
Here are the Specs:
Mahogany Body
Purpleheart Laminate
Jarrah Burl Top
Maple-Purpleheart neck - 34” scale
Ebony fingerboard
Abalone inlays
Electronics: Volume, Pan, Q Switch, Bass/Treble, cut/fat/boost switch, on/off for LEDs, dimmer for LED’s
P/J 2 pickups
Blue LEDs
(https://georgethebass.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/img_0763.jpg?w=525)
I would say the collection is complete now...but I said that before...
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Absolutely beautiful top on that one. Enjoy!
But if you really want it to be your last one...don't play Alembic basses that are up for sale, don't listen to them, don't even look at them because once you've caught the fever it's highly likely that any Alembic bass on which you get your hands will just be too good not to purchase (opines the owner of six Alembic basses).
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Congratulations & Compliments (again) George! ;D
I agree with you 200%... Alembics are made to be played. Rock that thing.
*And for what it's worth, I said I was done two Alembics ago... pffft. ;D
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Great, George, this bass is one jazz I'd really love to get. Gorgeous!
It would be great when those cats come while I'm setting my beloved Alembic and ask "don't you have a real bass like Fender?". One drummer I played with some years ago had this "P-Bass fetish" and always bothered me complimenting any P that showed around, even the clearly cheapos ("imagine you with one gem like that?" and this was for a entry level trashy replica!), I assume he thinks the sound comes from the shape... and, honestly, I'm a Alembic guy and would not complain having to play just them for the rest of my days. A bass like that would be the answer to my prayer!
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Congrats - that's a very pretty top!
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Gorgeous bass! Great find!
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It would be great when those cats come while you're setting your beloved Alembic and ask "don't you have a real bass like Fender?". One drummer I played with some years ago had this "P-Bass fetish" and always bothered me complimenting any P that showed around, even the clearly cheapos ("imagine you with one gem like that?" and this was for a entry level trashy replica!), I assume he thinks the sound comes from the shape...
I hear and read the same from some friends and social media sites. Stirratt of Wilco reportedly swears by Fender American Standard Jazz. Every one I've found and played was impressive but not in the desired direction. Considering I found my (pre-owned) Epic at competitive if not better price points than a Fender of comparable grade, I think, as you do, there's just some superstition (shape) or pressure to conform.
On a side note, I love how my Epic's body resonates when I get each string in tune.
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That is a superb catch there George. I'm glad it found a good home and hopefully I will get to another of your gigs to hear it. It would be interesting to hear it side to side with my all maple Elan P-bass. At this rate you will be chasing Pierre-Yves for the most enviable alembic collection amongst our European members this side of Brexit :-).
(http://gif-finder.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/DosEquisThumbsup.gif)
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Once again congrats George!!! Beautiful bass!
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Awesome, congrats!
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Nice find, sweet looking bass!
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Beautiful top; congrats!
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What a beauty.
Just to be a good guy, contact me if you start to have a case of buyer's remorse, I'd be glad to help you out. Who doesn't need one more?
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Nice one! You don’t see too many of those around. I see you have that Alembic smile going too...happens every time :)
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Wow, great catch!
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Hey everybody,
Thanks so much for the messages! Last night was its first ever gig and I have to say, it's really quite something! As you'd expect really! It's nice to play, the sound is great! It's a real head turner, as are most Alembics, if not all! It needs little more fine tuning before it's perfect to play and I think the volume of both pickups needs altering so they are the same!
Anyway, have a great day folks! If I manage to get a demo down of the tones, I'll shove it on my youtube!
Cheers!
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How did you find the balance in volume on the P-pickup? I found on my Elan 4, once I'd got the balance between the neck and bridge pickups where I wanted it. The hardest bit for me was getting the balance in volume across the strings on the neck pickup especially when the filter is closed or nearly closed and a lot of the top end is filtered out. That took a lot of fiddling about at soundcheck and rehearsal to get it right for gigging.
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The balance isn't quite right! With the pan pot in the middle I'm convinced more of the P is coming out. Initially I actually raised the J pickup in the hope the volume would increase however, it was already fairly high up and the screws were very loose, I now know where the volume dial is in the back of the bass so I shall have a play around it! It's going to be a case of trial and error, like most things!
It's nearly how I want it. I think it's still adjusting to the new room but anyway, it's so close to being as perfect as the others!
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I think this has Europa electronics in it - you should be able to adjust the gain of each pickup separately.
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Thanks Mica. It has.
I was in london last week so it has had a full and proper setup now. It is very nice indeed. I prefer the Alembic positive pickup mounting to the Fender design. Floating on foam is so low end!
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I popped up to Leicester to see George and his band at The Soundhouse. It was a great gig with an excellent foh sound. Make no mistake George is a fine bass player and his new alembic sounded incredible. He got all his tones bang on. That warm punchy 70’s pass tone was so powerful and held the band together. When he opened the filters up for his solo....!!!!!!! MAN that sound was unbelievable. For me now hearing the range of tones George was getting i know what my basses should sound like when the sound guy does a good job. I went and spoke to the sound guy and congratulated him for allowing the changes in tone to come through so well. Well done George you are a great Am-bass-ador for alembic.