Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Showcase => Instruments Customized by Alembic => Topic started by: sonicus on October 19, 2022, 10:00:44 AM

Title: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: sonicus on October 19, 2022, 10:00:44 AM
After a pursuit of discovery for the relevant facts as to who actually built this instrument, I was able to ascertain and corroborate the recollections of the craftsmen involved for certain. I had direct communications with the gentleman who did the actual original woodwork and build whilst working for Stars Guitars. He wrote to me that his previous employment was  in the Alembic shop in Cotati ,CA and before that at Satterlee and Chapin music in San Francisco .
I bestow my sincerest gratitude to all those at Alembic whom have brought this lovely little creature back to life.

Here is a link from the original posting by lbpesq;
https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=24422.msg243929#msg243929
Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: rv_bass on October 19, 2022, 10:28:10 AM
Beautiful!  Very nice restoration and cool bass.  What electronics configuration did you end up having installed?
Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: pauldo on October 19, 2022, 10:33:08 AM
Thanks for posting Wolf.  Does she sing? 
Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: sonicus on October 19, 2022, 11:58:14 AM
Rob ; The electronics are, Alembic Activator Electronics with a custom wring configuration utilizing 5pin power and stereo output.
pauldo ;
             Nimbus the bass dost sing, with resonance.
             With clarity henceforth, she plays and reigns.
             Reawakened, not to be mistaken.
             Such creation amidst all elegance.
             From the Alembicus hast been reborn.
             
             
Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: edwardofhuncote on October 19, 2022, 02:33:49 PM
Great to see you and Nimbus back again, Wolf!  :)


Awesome, that you were able to track down the builder too. That's great!
Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: StephenR on October 19, 2022, 04:14:58 PM
That is a cool bass Wolf. Play it in good health!
Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: pauldo on October 20, 2022, 04:53:20 AM
😃
Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: tbrannon on October 21, 2022, 05:12:29 AM
That's a cool bass with an amazing history.  Congrats. Edwin!
Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: rv_bass on October 21, 2022, 06:35:59 PM
I like the control knob layout in a ring like Phil’s old bass.  The five pin for power is a nice feature. The body wood is pretty dark, is it vermillion or Purple Heart?
Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: paulman on October 22, 2022, 06:15:56 AM
Wow what a great instrument and story.  I love the build completely and you are a true steward of this amazing instrument Wolf.  Play it in good health I'm sure those low frequencies align and increase your energy on a cellular level :)
Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: gtrguy on October 22, 2022, 09:43:53 AM
It would be a cool look if you did a hand-hammered brass pickup plate like some of the really Alembics had.
Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: sonicus on October 22, 2022, 11:41:38 AM
Thanks paulman !
Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: tbrannon on October 22, 2022, 03:27:59 PM
That's a cool bass with an amazing history.  Congrats. Edwin!
Wolf,
my apologies.   got my wires crossed and thought Edwin had this one.  very glad to see it in your hands- play it healthy!
Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: sonicus on October 22, 2022, 04:05:14 PM
Toby, no worries, thanks so much !
Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: hieronymous on October 22, 2022, 07:20:21 PM
Wolf - that's awesome! I remember when we bumped into each other at Safeway, I think you had just gotten it. Glad to see it reawakened!
Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: rv_bass on October 23, 2022, 05:22:29 AM
Wolf, did you know that Nimbus is the name of the cat that lives at the Mount Washington Observatory?  :)
Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: sonicus on October 23, 2022, 08:05:50 AM
Rob, that is a very interesting fact to have learned.

Nimbus, sweet harbinger of fruition.
From a cloud of mystery, dost such magik reign.
Unbeknownst hither which direction, in notion.
Only thee hast the key for such motion.
In speculation and observation.   

Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: rv_bass on October 27, 2022, 04:43:32 AM
Wolf, I don’t see any Q switches, is there a reason you chose not to include them?
Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: sonicus on October 27, 2022, 06:36:28 AM

Rob, In the path of my mentation and deliberation to bring this instrument back to life, I chose to go the path of ”do no harm". Thus, installing a switch or knob function only to existing holes without drilling additional holes. I deliberated on the Q switches and decided not to have them for the initial rejuvenation.
Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: rv_bass on October 27, 2022, 03:15:04 PM
Great choices and fantastic results! :)
Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: sonicus on October 27, 2022, 03:48:52 PM
Thanks, Rob !
Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: edwardofhuncote on October 27, 2022, 03:51:22 PM
I agree. You could always add them later if you felt they were needed.

Seems like I remember, in the absence of a switch, the Q is always on to it's maximum value. That would be pretty sweet with two filters and two volumes.
Title: Re: Fretless Bass Reawakened By Alembic
Post by: welovecats on October 28, 2022, 05:04:04 PM
Wolf, did you know that Nimbus is the name of the cat that lives at the Mount Washington Observatory?  :)

We have a black Norwegian Forest cat named Nimbus that lives in our neighborhood in Omaha. He’s not ours but comes to visit a lot. Very friendly.