Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: el8ed on July 05, 2020, 12:58:25 PM
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Hello,
I was fortunate enough to pick up a short scale Series II (SC) in Cocobolo a few days ago. I absolutely love this bass. Fits my smallish hands like a glove.
Now I am getting serious to (re)learn how to play again.
I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for a practice amp that can reproduce the whole tonal range of this wonderful instruments. I just want to hear all that the bass has to give … or at this point the lack of my ability to get it out. :o
Loud is not a requirement at this point. Sound quality is.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Cheers,
Oliver
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I have a series II alembic and use a Phil Jones Briefcase for home practice and smaller rehearsals and gigs. The sound quality is great and gets on with my Low B string. I also have a series I shorty and that sounds great with it also. They have become quite expensive in recent years but I recommend them.
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I hear really nice things said about the Phil Jones stuff. No firsthand experience with it here. *See, Jazzy beat me to it! ;D
It's pretty hard to foul up a Series bass. It could be as simple as a really good set of headphones or iems. If you just gotta' hear it coming from a box, whew... golly, where to start?
Me personally, I really like the Acoustic Image stuff. It's small, versatile, can run 2 ohms and power a pair of cabs if I needed to, but is fine and dandy with a Bag End S10-D for practice or low volume acoustic jams.
Congratulations on your new-to-you Series II. If that's the one I think it is, I'm glad to hear someone will finally play it and appreciate it.
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It pretty much depends on how much cash you want to drop and if size is a big deal. I'm very partial to Phil Jone Bass amps and speakers. The speakers are small (5 or 7 inches) but the larger PJB cabs include a lot of them (my current playing out rig includes 24) so you're pushing a good deal of air. If one is looking for a light practice rig as well as something that you could use to play with an acoustic group I'd seriously consider one of the PJB combo amps/speaker cabs. I use a PJB Briefcase that I picked up used for $400 and its not only good to use at home but has plenty of power to use with 2-3 acoustic players. The PJB sound is VERY clean and really brings out a Series bass. They have a lot of small combo options. The PJB bass session 77 for example is a 100 watt 2 x 7 Combo amp that Guitar Center sells new for a little over $400.
Congratulations on your Series Bass. I've got a Short Scale Series I and love it too.
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I love my SWR workingmans 10 combo amp, and they are not expensive. You can also add an extra cab to boost the power. Small to medium size gigs are OK too with this setup too.
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I'm thinking a Club Member here had one for sale really reasonable recently... hang on a minute.
*Yeah, (if you're interested); here, check with Kent and see if he sold his. http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=25419.0
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Thanks guys for all the suggestions. I'll see if I can try a PJB Suitcase at a dealer near me.
Thank you Gregory for the link to the for sale post—that would be the ticket.
Btw, I think my bass is the one you are thinking it is. And she is a sweetheart—I named her Miss Coco.
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Thanks guys for all the suggestions. I'll see if I can try a PJB Suitcase at a dealer near me.
Thank you Gregory for the link to the for sale post—that would be the ticket.
Btw, I think my bass is the one you are thinking it is. And she is a sweetheart—I named her Miss Coco.
Good choice. Glad to see that one found it’s way to a good home after 19 years.
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Nice bass! Well heck, plug it into that fine McIntosh integrated amplifier you've got there and dig the tone through your stereo speakers! Just don't get too carried away with the volume. :D
Jimmy J
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I agonised over that bass and relented in the end for a number of reasons.
A) I couldn't decide which of my other alembics I could bear to sell off to help fund it
B) I would have high import duties into the UK. Although travelling to the states to pick it up would have been a cheaper option, I didn't really fancy the air travel at the moment. ( not sure it's even permitted currently)
But I'm glad it is safely out of my grasp and I don't have to think about it.
It is an extremely nice bass. I hope you find a good amp to use and have a great time grasping intricacies of it's tone. :-)
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I agonised over that bass and relented in the end for a number of reasons.
A) I couldn't decide which of my other alembics I could bear to sell off to help fund it
...
I was in the same boat, the back story of that sweet custom alone was enough to touch this old hippy's heart. I could have done without the three recessed strap locks on the bridge end personally, but there's plenty of players that could have made better use of them, I'm sure. As for a proper practice amp, I do have an older PJB briefcase 2x5 from 2007, but I'm hooked on my '67 Sunn Sonic I with a 1x 12" Sunn cabinet that I upgraded with full range Eminence dual concentric speaker. Let the harmonics sparkle on.
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After playing through a BIG system from PJB, I switched to their BG-300 "Super Flightcase" combo. I use it for both rehearsal and performance. It's not earth-shaking like the previous system, but the accuracy is the same. Highly recommended.
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I appreciate y'alls constraint in regards to buying my bass. :D She’ll have a good home for a long time.
Thanks for the suggestion, Jimmy. That’ll be a surefire way to get into bad graces with the powers to be. That McIntosh is sacred ground. ;)
I wonder if there is something wrong with me … I took Ms. Coco to the local GC to see what she sounds through some proper bass amplification and I really liked the tone I got through an Acoustic 4x10 cabinet with an Acoustic head. (Didn’t like the Markbass stuff at all). Even the new cheapish Ampeg combo sounded pretty good to me. Maybe my tastes are not as sophisticated as I thought.
Right now I am practicing through a ’74 Fender Vibro Champ and I don’t hate what I hear either. Can’t go too loud though without blowing the speaker.
I hope to try some of the PJB stuff later this week.
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It's not a question of "sophistication". Whatever sounds good to YOU is the amp to get. When you ask the question in here you'll get as many answers as there are players. That helps to learn what's currently available and what folks are playing through, but as with all gear conversations it's up to the individual. You might want to stick with your 6-Watt Vibro Champ, I bet that's nice. Or get a few more of those and run them all together ... like 4 amps per pickup. Yeah, that's the ticket!
Jimmy J
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Yes, my PJ Briefcase is still for sale!
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Another vote for Phil Jones. They make a very wide range of amps and configurations. I currently have the 2x7 combo, a 6x5, an 8x5 and the 2 channel 600 w head. My series 2 is on order but I know I will be very pleased with the results from these lightweight amps and cabs. Contact Mike Albronda on Facebook and I'm sure he'll answer all of your questions.https://www.facebook.com/michael.albronda
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Nice bass! Well heck, plug it into that fine McIntosh integrated amplifier you've got there and dig the tone through your stereo speakers! Just don't get too carried away with the volume. :D
Jimmy J
Alembic and McIntosh are a match made in heaven!
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I was in the same boat and needed a small amp for a quiet gig and found an SWR Workingman's 15. It's a bit bigger than I really wanted but I threw a JBL K140 in there and it sounds really nice.
Although I have too many amps now.....
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It might depend on the type of practicing you are doing. I have a hollow body Guild Starfire bass that I can hear fine like an acoustic instrument, so If I am going over exercises or learning new tunes I can do so without an amp. I can hear my Alembic bass pretty well unamped for this purpose too.
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My .02.
Non-series owner here. As you discovered and others support, what you hear makes you happy. It can be anything. I was leaning towards the SWR that Edwin mentioned but opted for the Carvin MB15. Has a headphone out and it has enough power for small ‘unplugged’ gigs, nice clean sound.
Can’t believe you went into GC without employees wanting to try you bass... when I took my Distillate there to do the same thing you did it was rather awkward. Sale people are supposed to sell you stuff not ask to play your stuff. :o
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Can’t believe you went into GC without employees wanting to try you bass... when I took my Distillate there to do the same thing you did it was rather awkward. Sale people are supposed to sell you stuff not ask to play your stuff. :o
LOL — it was a kind of surreal experience at GC. But <bragging mode on> no one asks a guy who looks like this (photo attached) to play his bass :) <bragging mode off>.
The guy at the door was drooling when he saw the bass but they were grossly understaffed so I did what I wanted and left without being bothered. Walking out I said to the guy at the door “I’m stealing this one.” and he just mumbled “I wish we had nice basses like that in the store.”
I do appreciate the good folks at GC though. Nice of them to let me try out stuff in a safe environment.
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Oh, sorry, I missed the part about wanting to hear all of the nuances of the Series II bass. I use any combination of the following with my Series II five string and they all let you hear what the SII sound has to offer:
Barefaced Big Baby II (clean with great low end)
Or-
Accugroove Wedgie (very clean, a little lighter on the low end)
Either with-
GK MB500 (colored a little warm)
Or-
F-2B with a power amp (clean, great preamp with an Alembic bass)
I’m happy with any of the combinations above for practice or performance.
Or try-
SII straight into the power amp for unaltered SII sound.
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I tried plugging my SII into a power amp and it sounds great fairly similar to having my F1-X in front of it. Good to know it will do that. Do other branded active basses have the outpit to do that or is it just because of the 36v powering?
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Been using my Big Baby II for practicing at home lately. At 27 pounds it is the first cabinet I have owned that is easy to carry up into the house to my office. I generally have either an SWR Studio 220 amp plugged into it or the pre-amp only from the Studio 220 (same pre-amp as the old Groove Tubes pre from the late-80s) running into my Crest ProLite digital power amp. I had my F-2B hooked up to the same power amp and used that for practice with the BBII before I dragged out my old SWR again. I prefer the SWR pre for the sound I like to hear, and because I have never gotten on particularly well with the Fender-type tonestack in the F-2B, but the Alembic pre is great for an old-school tube sound and having the ability to run each pickup into a separate channel makes it an excellent choice for Series basses. I sold my first F-2B back in the early 80s and immediately realized it was a mistake, my second one has been with me since the mid-80s and I will never again make the mistake of selling one, classic preamp.
I agree with rv_bass that the Barefaced BBII really lets you hear all the tonal variations and nuances a Series bass is capable of. There are other great cabinets out there but the BBII sounds like playing through a high-end PA so if you like the sound of your bass through studio monitors or a PA it is a great choice. But, to get the most out of the cabinet tonally you need an amp with robust EQ as it is a very flat and neutral sounding cabinet with wide frequency response, whatever amp you choose you will really hear the sound of your bass and amp... what goes in is what comes out.
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I'd suggest any combination of the Mesa Subway heads and cabinets that seem to fit your needs. Excellent.
https://www.mesaboogie.com/amplifiers/bass/subway-series/index.html
https://www.mesaboogie.com/cabinets--simulators/bass-cabinets/subway-series/index.html
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I can't say enough good stuff about the Mesa D-800. I gigged with that little box, and a pair of Bag End S15 X-D's last year. An Alembic bass through that setup leaves very little to long for.
That said, the D-800 also makes a magnificent headphone amp. For that matter, so does the Subway DI pedal.
Another possibility - Have you considered just a simple powered speaker? Available in practically any size and power requirement.
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Wow! I really appreciate all the great information and ideas. This turned into quite the roll call for proper diminutive Alembic bass amplification. I’d love to try all of it in good time but for now I have actually found a setup that satisfies my curiosity and I really like the sound. It was a local opportunity and kind of a “why not” moment. And I really like the looks of the rig. 8)
So here it is, kinda not what I would have actively looked for, but a lot of fun and so far I like what I am hearing:
TC Electronic BH800
TC Electronic K-210 speaker cabinet
TC Electronic K-212 speaker cabinet
I apologize for not heeding the great advise I got from all of you, but all the different suggestions gave me a better understanding what to look for ultimately. And maybe I’ll grow up some day and get more sensible in my choices…but…probably not.
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Shoot... looks like a winner to me! I stand by my original post; hard to foul up with a Series bass anyway. ;D
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What sounds right to you is the right one for you. :-)
Like StephenR, I use barefaced cabs for gigging and they are incredible speaker cabs that really give that hifi sound which i find perfect for my alembic. I tend not to use them much for home unless I'm experimenting with configurations or in the run up to a gig. TC Electronic are really popular over here.
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As suggested by Jimmy, I'd be very tempted to use the MacIntosh, though if that's sacred, there are many good options. Before I go on, what a really beautiful bass - great that it's gone to somebody that will treasure it. Right, back to options. I actually use my Series II through a MacIntosh set-up (in part, at least). I have an MB50 streamer that has a really nice pre - so, it's bass into the MacIntosh and then into a pair of powered ATC monitors. Obviously, one needs to keep the volume at a reasonable level, though dynamics and range capture are exemplary. If the Mac is definitely a no go (and much depends on your speakers), then AER is worth some investigation. They're German-built so not cheap in the US but the company's Amp One is a superb, small combo and one that will capture the nuances of a Series bass. I haven't had the pleasure of using Phil Jones gear but hear nothing but good things. I appreciate that the size of the Acoustic rig may be prohibitive, but if it sounds good... Also, I've used quite a bit of Bergantino gear - some of the powered cabs (if you can find one), might make a decent, reasonably compact practice rig. I'll admit that with Berg, I'm a bigger fan of the cabs than the amps.
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... And maybe I’ll grow up some day and get more sensible in my choices…but…probably not.
Growing up is over rated. ;D
Plus that IS a sweet looking setup. 8)
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Glad you found a rig that you are happy with. I have always found the "form factor" of the TC Electronic cabinets intriguing but never had a chance to hear what they sound like. Looks like more than enough rig for home practice, you are gig ready, too.
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To my own amazement I like the TC rig more very time I play through it. Might also have something to do with me learning to understand Ms. Coco a bit better. So far I haven’t even moved the EQ controls from noon and I am getting all the tones from the bass I could wish for. For the first time I actually feel completely comfortable with the instrument and confident in my tone. This might be the beginning of a long love affair….
Now if there was just a way to learn to play better … practice, you say? Oh! :o
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My pratice Amp is a Peavey Microbass mini combo [sigh].... sometimes you guys make me feel like a small kid hahaha
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I have a Peavey microbass amp that I stuck a vintage big giant magnet 8" speaker in (JBL or EV or something) and I play guitar through it and it sounds killer!
The secret to making it sounding great is my Topanga reverb pedal. I have even gigged with it.
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I used to have a Peavey microbass amp about 13 years ago and I thought it sounded superb. I used it for guitar on small gigs, home practice on bass and low volume rehearsals in small rooms and it sounded fine to me. It struggled a bit on the low B but at that time I was playing mainly 4 string bass.
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I bought it almost 20 years ago after reading that it was chosen as "best little bass amp" in a Bass Player Mag shootout, regarded as the only one "not sounding boxy". Don't know about that, I cut its mids entirely. To me its 8" speaker little cabinet sounds too honky, but it serves me well as home pratice amp.
It is sturdy, but if I was buying a new one today I could find way better choices, though.
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Mine went to the son of my gf at the time as he was getting into electric guitar and that opened the door to my PJB Briefcase. sometimes i wish i still had it though as it was great as a clean guitar combo. You are right about the mids mario though i liked that crispness sometimes.
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I bought it almost 20 years ago after reading that it was chosen as "best little bass amp" in a Bass Player Mag shootout, regarded as the only one "not sounding boxy". Don't know about that, I cut its mids entirely. To me its 8" speaker little cabinet sounds too honky, but it serves me well as home pratice amp.
It is sturdy, but if I was buying a new one today I could find way better choices, though.
I bought one a long time ago and was a long time Bass Player magazine subscriber... it might have been what prompted me.
I was not a fan of the Micro Bass.