Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: 6stringman on May 15, 2003, 08:48:30 PM

Title: Back wood
Post by: 6stringman on May 15, 2003, 08:48:30 PM

what is the wood on the back of the bass(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/4719.jpg)

Title: Back wood
Post by: bob on May 15, 2003, 11:15:27 PM

I haven't tried one of these yet, so here goes: I'd say Koa (which happens to be one of my favorites).
 
Looks to me like it's more than just the back, maybe most (all?) of the body - may we see what the front looks like now?

Title: Back wood
Post by: valvil on May 16, 2003, 12:14:39 AM

To me that looks like the standard mahogany body, although it has more 'action' than usual.  Other than a few that are special ordered from time to time, Alembics usually have mahogany bodies... the exception being the Excel model which usually with an ash body.  Other woods listed as options for body wood selection are vermillion, walnut, purpleheart and maple ( both regular & flame).
Bob, you can see the front of this bass following this link http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/4706.html?1052975141 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=2485)
Sixstring, if you can get the serial # for Mica she'll be able to tell you the entire history of the bass.
 
Valentino

Title: Back wood
Post by: adriaan on May 16, 2003, 07:17:59 AM

The link points to a left-handed Epic - but that Orion sure has a nice backside. It looks like mahogany to me! I guess sometimes you get lucky with mahogany, and sometimes you get some that just looks a little dull. On my Epic, it shows different shades of brown depending on the lighting - it can look really dark looking from one end, and very light from another angle. Not sure if the satin polyurethane finish has anything to do with that.

Title: Back wood
Post by: dela217 on May 16, 2003, 07:23:00 AM

Is this a contest?  I would venture to guess that it is mahogany too.  I have seen stripey mahogany like this before and I have heard that it is called ribbon mahogany.

Title: Back wood
Post by: adriaan on May 16, 2003, 08:50:42 AM

Alright, a contest! What prizes can you win?
 
Just kidding, of course.

Title: Back wood
Post by: mica on May 16, 2003, 09:12:27 AM

That lefty 5-string Orion is offered by  G Guitars (http://www.gguitars.com/servlets/Store.ViewInventory?STORE_ID=1&INVENTORY_ID=320&PAGE_NUMBER=1 target=_blank) in New Haven, CT.  
 
I have also hear this figuring referred to ribbon stripe figure.  
 
I like just about any piece of Mahogany, but the one on the back of the Orion that started this thread is particularly beautiful.

Title: Back wood
Post by: bob on May 16, 2003, 11:07:08 AM

Okay, so I certainly didn't win anything - but at least we all seem to agree it's a pretty special piece of mahogany (could've been Koa...)

Title: Back wood
Post by: rockandroller on May 18, 2003, 04:30:37 AM

that just looks like nice 'figured mahogany'... there is also a mahogany-like wood called sapele that commonly exhibits big stripey figure  
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/4730.jpg)
(sapele)