Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Introductions => Topic started by: el8ed on September 12, 2021, 11:55:58 AM
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Hello everyone,
I have been around the board for a while and had a lot of help in the last few weeks from the good folks around here, but I never got around to formally say “Hi!”.
Last year in July I had the opportunity to fulfill a dream and bought a Series 2 short scale in Cocobolo (my avatar) and named her very creatively “Ms. Coco”. I began to explore the new world of online bass instructions (I hadn’t really played much bass for almost 35 years other than a few tracks here and there in the studio).
Ever since I first played Ms. Coco I began wondering what it would be like to have a fretless in the same or similar configuration. In early summer this year I got serious about finding a fretless short-scale Alembic or converting a fretted one to fretless myself (or rather my Luthier). I finally found an older Series 1 bass in Canada that fit the bill and was not priced too dearly and after a reasonably period of belly-aching over it I bought it with the intention to turn it into a fretless.
Well, a few days after the Koa topped Series 1 arrived from Canada I got a note from one of the members here making me an offer I could not refuse to buy his defretted, epoxied (by HG Thor) Brown Bass—and so I did…buy it.
So now here I am—quite speechless, despite the many words—as the lucky care-taker of three outstanding basses. My wife got creative with the camera a few days ago, so I thought I’ll introduce myself and my 3 Spice Girls properly. Meet Ms. Coco, Ms. Honey and Ms. Sugar. You can guess which is which ;) .
Oh, about myself … not much to tell other than music addict from Vienna/Austria, residing for the last 22 years in North Texas (Dallas area). Please to make your acquaintance. Tschamsterdiener, as the seasoned Viennese would say. 8)
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The Mac in the back makes it art. Congratulations & Compliments ×3. ;D
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The Mac in the back makes it art. Congratulations & Compliments ×3. ;D
Thanks! Oh, I didn’t see it, but you did, and she did—McIntosh and Alembic, epic—kudos! We sure love that thing (the Mac) never mind that it eats tubes and fuses as if they were going out of style. The tone, though … the tone … :P
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Nice Collection. Nice wood selection on those.
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Awesome collection. (Don't stop there!!)
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Serious collection of there. That series II is dreamworthy!!!!
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wow they all are gorgeous!
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Thanks guys! I feel quite humbled playing these magnificent instruments. My chops—or better the lack thereof—sure don’t warrant any of this, but maybe practice will remedy that? Been playing 2-3 hours daily for the past few months, and perhaps there is hope for me yet :o .
Here is a close-up of “dreamy” Ms. Coco.
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Love your basses. I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for your Series Koa bass as I’ve got a Series I of that type and love the wood so much that the floors throughout my home are Koa (Brazilian as opposed to Hawaiian, however). Glad you found a fretless and didn’t have to defrost the Series bass.
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Thanks Brian! That Koa top really looks great in sunlight. I imagine that flooring in Koa makes quite a spectacular impression.
Here is a close-up of still not defrosted “Ms. Honey”. ;)
Cheers, Oliver
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Very nice trio of Alembics! And yes, the McIntosh is a nice touch.
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All very nice, congrats!
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Ms. Sugar looks like she can sing!
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That’s my shorty trio.
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That’s my shorty trio. Well 1 shorty and a guitar.
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Ms. Sugar looks like she can sing!
Can she ever! I am having such a blast exploring Bakithi Kumalo, Pino Palladino and of course Jaco bass lines … as far as my humble skills will allow. She certainly sounds better than I deserve. ::)
Me being my insatiable self can of course not stop to wonder what she would sound like with a full compliment of Series electronics in her sexy body … :o
Cheers, Oliver
…walks off to practice some more “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes"
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That’s my shorty trio.
I love the innocent beauty of your Series I shorty.
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Thank you. A cocobo series II is on my long time wish list.
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I thought it was too plain looking at first as i prefer dark woods really. But i love playing it and the sound is something else. it's a 'plain Jane' with a strong voice. I was playing it last night after the new tuner pegs i bought did not fit but that's a story for another thread.
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Great to see that you are playing her out. “Plain Jane” is a great name for a bass—I like it! 8)
I felt in a similar way when Ms. Honey first arrived. She was quite a bit neglected, had obviously not been played much for a long time. But after cleaning up all the brass parts, polishing quite literary everything, replacing many screws, new nut (experimental Tusq at this time to try out a slightly tighter string spacing—works great!), new lighter strings, re-locate the PU selector switch and a thorough and patient setup she is something that would be quite hard to give up again. She goes in to my luthier as soon as he has time for leveling the frets—which are godawful—and a proper adjustable brass nut. Then it will be just a matter of playing her as much as I can….
I am following your progress on the new tuners on your other thread. Keen to hear if she balances better with the lighter tuners.