Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Dreaming... for now => Topic started by: fivestringdan on December 08, 2021, 10:45:02 AM
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Last month acquired an Orion 6 string fretless. The first Alembic I have ever owned. Right after I got the bass my thoughts immediately to ordering a new instrument. So Susan and I have been working out a spec I wanted to share and get the groups thoughts.
Europa 5-string bass
Balance point body
Crown Peghead, beveled
Right handed
Fretted
Ebony fingerboard
MOP ovals
Side LED's, violet
Single Ebony neck laminate
Mahogany body
Ziricote top(I am trying to source a piece of Gaboon Ebony for the top)
Fatboy pickups
Brass hardware
Anniversary electronics w/pickup selector
Inlaid Logo Bronze with MOP cloud and Albalone Dragon Circle
That's what we have so far. I'm very excited to say the least!
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Looking like it will be quite a nice bass! The Ebony neck laminate is a great choice. Either Zircote or Gaboon Ebony would make a beautiful top. One suggestion, if you are getting a simple on/off switch for the LEDs I would consider asking them to put a trim pot in so you can internally adjust the brightness. After years of wanting an Alembic with LEDs when I finally got one the LEDs were too bright for me. I had a trim-pot installed so I can dial back the intensity, they are still quite bright at the lowest setting. You can also get an external control for the intensity but I didn't feel that was necessary at the time and still feel the same way. I can't imagine a situation for me where I would be frequently adjusting the LEDs.
What kind of wood have you picked out for the peg head?
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I will inquire about the trim pot for the LED's.
I assumed the headstock laminate was the same as the body laminate. Another question I need to ask Susan!
Thank you!
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The LEDs all come with a trim pot for the brightness now, so that's automatic.
Likewise the peghead veneers will coordinate unless you specify otherwise.
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Hi Dan, welcome to the club and congrats on your new Alembics! I, too, had an internal dimmer installed on my custom Further guitar. Once I found the brightness level I liked I have never adjusted it. One thing to consider if you will be playing on a lot of dark stages: red LEDs affect night vision far less than any other color. On mine the LEDs are red with double amber LEDs at the 12th fret.
Bill, the guitar one
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Bill,
Thank you for the suggestion. I don't play many dark stages. I do a fair share of theater gigs and either the pit or backstage is dark. I usually don't have to worry about either me seeing or the audience noticing the LED's on the neck. I chose the color from my sense aesthetic and though it would look pretty. I'm sure at sometime in the future it will work as a visual aid as well. :D
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Congratulations and welcome to the Alembic Acquisition Club. I started with a 5-string Orion with Essence electronics. It wasn't long before I bought a new Brown Bass from Bass Central. After that is was two customs but I'm just an amateur compared to some of the other members when it comes to collecting Alembics.
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Thank you Keith!
I've always wanted an Alembic. I had an idea about a Series II six string fretless. The Orion fretless 6 is an amazing instrument and solidified my decision to have a custom instrument made. I'm sure there will be others. I have a wonderful instrument collection but am understanding more the ethos of Alembic guitars.
If I may pontificate...I believe Leo Fender did a great thing for the instrument world by introducing affordable, electric guitars. However, even with my limited experience so far with Alembic I believe they got it "right". As to say, this is how electric instruments are suppose to sound. Or have accomplished the apex of electric guitar construction and sound.
Either way I'm very excited!
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Dan, my sincere condolences cause…
“You got fever….You got the fever…the Alembic fever.”
Based on years of research, medical experts indicate that once you get it, the fever never really goes away. The best you can hope for is that it goes into dormancy every now and again to give you time to save up for the next time the fever strikes.
Congratulations!
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So true.
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Thank you Hammer!
I see my instrument collection turning into an Alembic collection.
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Congrats! I will agree with my fellow devotees that the sickness of the mothership pathogen is resistant to many interventions. I truly believe that life is too short and the joy that these creations give us is well worth the price of admission.I'm currently waiting on my most extravagant custom. This will be my 8th build and I wish you all the health, wealth and blessings as you see your dreams become reality. The Wickershams are a great family to work with and I've trusted them since my first build in 86. Cheers!
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Thank you Danno!
I agree, I have converted, been saved, changed paths, joined the "cult"...whatever you want to call it.
I have already have a six string fretted in mind!
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I just looked at your build thread, Danno. All I can say is wow! That is going to be a beautiful addition to your collection. A "feather in your cap" as they say.
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Congratulations!!
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Thanks OJ! This is all your fault..lol
Got the order placed and the only thing changed is Susan did an Ebony laminate for the peghead, front/back. Which I'm excited about.
I wanted an opinion about adding a 5 pin to the Anniversary electronics. Is that overkill? Not having to use batteries is nice.
I also saw a bass with a decorative dummy hum canceller. So it would "look" like Series electronics. Interesting maybe.
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Congratulations on the new bass. Now the anticipation of delivery starts.
The "decorative" dummy hum canceller was probably due to the instrument having the Series instrument preparation. Unless things have changed the Brown Bass is the only model that is thick enough to add Series electronics down the road. The Series prep adds a thicker body, dummy hum canceller, 5-Pin and other things to allow the other bass models to be converted to a Series later on. Having both Series and Brown Bass with Anniversary electronics I would not consider converting the BB. While they do sound different almost all of it is due to the woods with the electronics not having noticeable effect in a live environment.
As to whether to add a 5-pin or not I would not do it unless I knew I was going to be doing a lot of bass swapping between a Series and non-Series bass. Even then there are better ways to handle that via pedals and/or switches. If you were to add one the standard wiring used for Series instruments means the LEDs only work when plugged into the DS-5. They are not functional on batteries only. It is possible to wire things so the LEDs will work on batteries or external power but the question is if Alembic would be willing to do it and the cost if they do. From my experience with my BB the batteries for the LEDs would last at least a year with the preamp battery lasting anywhere from 6 months to a year when I was playing regularly. For comparison my Series 1 will last about 20 hours on batteries. By sticking to batteries you also don't have to drag along another piece of gear.
While we are on the subject of batteries one thing to be aware of is Alembic basses, non-Series or Series, give no warning that the batteries are dying. They pretty much go from a nice clean tone to the sound of hell instantly. To this end I would change out the preamp battery if it had been in the bass a while before important performances. I'd then use the old one in my tuner other outboard gear where I could afford for it to live out its life. To this end I've always carried a fresh spare in my case along with a full set of setup tools so I could field replace the battery or make quick adjustments to the neck or string height.
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Keith,
Thank you for the informative response. After reading your post I was reflecting on the time Susan and I have been discussing this spec. I believe in my heart and mind that she didn't miss anything. I won't consider another change. It's exactly as I want it!
Yes, so now the waiting begins. This maybe the shortest time I've been quoted on a custom build.
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Thanks OJ! This is all your fault..lol
So happy to do my part! Our trade was smooth and easy and I was really glad to get that Orion to someone who could not only play it, but love it and treat it well.
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Thanks OJ! This is all your fault..lol
So happy to do my part! Our trade was smooth and easy and I was really glad to get that Orion to someone who could not only play it, but love it and treat it well.
I'm going to try out some filters in the bass. Jerry made another batch. I wanted to talk with you if you used them in an Alembic. If the connectors were the same.
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I'm going to try out some filters in the bass. Jerry made another batch. I wanted to talk with you if you used them in an Alembic. If the connectors were the same.
I know I answered you over on TB, but for anyone else curious, yes, Jerry's (JTex) Distiller filters worked in that 6-string Orion just perfectly. IIRC, I took out the Bass and Treble and put in the filter and switch. I was just playing around since I had them on hand, but they worked well.
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I know I answered you over on TB, but for anyone else curious, yes, Jerry's (JTex) Distiller filters worked in that 6-string Orion just perfectly. IIRC, I took out the Bass and Treble and put in the filter and switch. I was just playing around since I had them on hand, but they worked well.
I'm waiting on a couple of pickups to start modifying my Peavey. I'll start a thread when I get everything here. I also have an Alembic filter I'm going to run side by side with the jtex filters I got from Jerry.
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Am I excited to see this picture!! What a dream come true.
(https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/balance-point2-jpg.5072931/)
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Very nice :)
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That's awesome! I saw it at talkbass, but it didn't hit me like seeing it here did!
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Congrats. That bass is going to be magnificent!
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Thank you all for the kind words. I can't wait for it's delivery. Here is a close pic of the body.
(https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/balance-point1-jpg.5074812/)
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Thank YOU for the close up.
Inquiring minds would like to see the back also! :-D
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"Always walk behind for the rear view"
(https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/balance-point4-jpg.5074917/)
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😎
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Oh so sweet!
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You will not regret the ebony stringer 😀. They add awesome fundamental response to the sound of your bass.
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You will not regret the ebony stringer 😀. They add awesome fundamental response to the sound of your bass.
We will see. I have some other nice alembic basses to compare. I think I can get a good idea when it's delivered.
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Another appreciation of the ebony stringer. I have it on my 10 string 3 pup Excel w/Europa circuit. Also added it to my custom in progress. Really adds a noticeable dimension. Congrats!
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Another appreciation of the ebony stringer. I have it on my 10 string 3 pup Excel w/Europa circuit. Also added it to my custom in progress. Really adds a noticeable dimension. Congrats!
I'm really interested in hearing the difference. I'm thinking about using ebony on some necks I'm building.
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Got "the" call today from Mary. Bass will be shipping soon!
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😎
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Shipping today!!!
(https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/2161650558771149356-jpg.5182540/)
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Congratulations. Looks great. I like the sandwich with the lines going down from the bridge.
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The bass is a dream come true! Sounds unbelievable!
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Please do my favorite thing on a bass with an Ebony neck laminate: pluck the A string right in the middle (around the 12trh fret, but adjust for intonation). Sometimes it favors the D string, but usually the A - you should hear absolutely MASSIVE fundamental sustain.
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Please do my favorite thing on a bass with an Ebony neck laminate: pluck the A string right in the middle (around the 12trh fret, but adjust for intonation). Sometimes it favors the D string, but usually the A - you should hear absolutely MASSIVE fundamental sustain.
Thank you Mica! I did hear a huge difference. I need to play this bass in a better room. All concrete floors where I'm at. I have a couple of gigs this weekend and we'll see how the rooms sound.