Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere => Topic started by: xlrogue6 on July 26, 2022, 11:02:50 AM

Title: Elan 5 right around the corner from the Mothership
Post by: xlrogue6 on July 26, 2022, 11:02:50 AM
Posted about this one back in March, noticed yesterday that much to my surprise it's still up for sale. If only I had a spare $2995, I'd be all over it. But I don't, so maybe someone else here can score this one.www.loudandclearmusic.com/shop/Bass-Guitars/p/ALEMBIC-ELAN-5-STRING-ELECTRIC-BASS-W-CASE-x62127741.htm (https://www.loudandclearmusic.com/shop/Bass-Guitars/p/ALEMBIC-ELAN-5-STRING-ELECTRIC-BASS-W-CASE-x62127741.htm)
Title: Re: Elan 5 right around the corner from the Mothership
Post by: adriaan on July 26, 2022, 11:06:35 AM
Fixed the link for you.
Title: Re: Elan 5 right around the corner from the Mothership
Post by: gearhed289 on July 26, 2022, 08:32:46 PM
I just happen to have a spare $2995. 😁 Not the scale I'm looking for, but it's nice enough that I'd consider a compromise. Hmm...
Title: Re: Elan 5 right around the corner from the Mothership
Post by: BeenDown139 on July 27, 2022, 03:41:52 AM
those maple core elans are teh bomb, mate!  closest thing you're gonna get to series sound imho ymmv and all that rot.  others may not agree.  so sayeth the old geezer getting ready to fire the vaporizer up for the mornng eye opener.

whoooo!

<edit now that the rush has worn off a little>  this bass looks familar for some reason.
Title: Re: Elan 5 right around the corner from the Mothership
Post by: jazzyvee on July 27, 2022, 05:52:40 AM
I have two mainly maple alembics. A 4 string all maple Elan 4 which sounds a lot like a series bass when the elan has the filter is fully open though it can't get the subtleties of tone that two filter systems give you. I also have a 5 string Europa with anniversary electronics and an all maple body and maple and purpleheart neck. That too has some of the series flavour to it with the filters fully open but not as much as the 4 string Elan does. Maybe it is because of the P-style pickups in the 4 stringer,

If I was going for a custom alembic i'd certainly be considering a maple body core with a dark wood top.
Title: Re: Elan 5 right around the corner from the Mothership
Post by: gearhed289 on July 27, 2022, 08:22:49 AM
I've always felt that a traditional Alembic should have a mahogany body, but now I'm wondering. I do love maple basses, and I bet the tone can get pretty aggressive, which I like.

I emailed them this morning with a few questions.  8)
Title: Re: Elan 5 right around the corner from the Mothership
Post by: jazzyvee on July 27, 2022, 10:36:50 AM
Not sure what agressive means unless you mean punchy, then yes. But it's also really smooth sounding, deep and crisp all at the same time.
Fully open, my 4 string gets close to that Entwhistle sound from Won't get fooled again.  i's love to play that on a gig. But not sure how that would fare in a Reggae or jazz funk context. :-)
Title: Re: Elan 5 right around the corner from the Mothership
Post by: gearhed289 on July 27, 2022, 01:47:41 PM
Fully open, my 4 string gets close to that Entwhistle sound from Won't get fooled again.

That's what I'm talkin about!  ;D
Title: Re: Elan 5 right around the corner from the Mothership
Post by: gearhed289 on July 29, 2022, 07:16:02 AM
Hope to be closing the deal on this one today. I've been Alembic-less for 3-1/2 weeks, and I don't like it!  ;)

(https://media.rainpos.com/9166/C65A2044_B5D6_4A03_936A_8D7301645B50.jpeg)
Title: Re: Elan 5 right around the corner from the Mothership
Post by: BeenDown139 on July 29, 2022, 09:36:54 AM
Congratulations on your acquisition.  A fine way to re-start a collection, pretty sure you won't be disappointed.

My first alembic after a 16-year hiatus was a maple core 5-string elan with a cocobolo top.  What a monster!
Title: Re: Elan 5 right around the corner from the Mothership
Post by: gearhed289 on July 29, 2022, 10:42:44 AM
Congratulations on your acquisition.  A fine way to re-start a collection, pretty sure you won't be disappointed.

My first alembic after a 16-year hiatus was a maple core 5-string elan with a cocobolo top.  What a monster!

Awesome, good to hear! I've already got two cherry bursts with extra strings. I guess a third won't hurt.  8)
(https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/42912135_10214565256343646_4507840057171771392_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=PBbLneTvVNsAX-d5dnr&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AT-w-d-F2IWd9aR9d27Erd9XQzsYxO-mtX5N27Mm1viLCQ&oe=6308FC9F)
Title: Re: Elan 5 right around the corner from the Mothership
Post by: welovecats on July 29, 2022, 10:49:10 AM
Shades of Chris Squire. Love that 8 string.
Title: Re: Elan 5 right around the corner from the Mothership
Post by: rv_bass on July 29, 2022, 05:29:17 PM
Very nice, congratulations!  The Ric and Guild are pretty cool too. :)