Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => Wanted & Wishing => Topic started by: fivestringdan on January 12, 2024, 09:45:39 AM
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Hello all.
I'm putting a feeler out there for a Maple body 5/6 string Alembic. I prefer larger body instrument than the epic and essence. Also would like a comfort taper neck.
Let me know what you have. Thank you!
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Still looking. Will consider trades as well if I have something you like.
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Guessing you should be looking for an Elan, as they came standard with a maple body, and we've seen them in 5s and 6s. Early Essence had maple bodies too, but probably only as a 5.
All in all it's not like you will find many that will satisfy all your criteria, so honestly you may want to start thinking of a custom build.
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... another custom build, obviously. ;)
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There are a couple maple body Alembics on Reverb
Six string Elan
https://reverb.com/item/76226671-alembic-6-string-neck-through
Nice four string series I
https://reverb.com/item/81526427-alembic-series-1-1976-natural
Four string Essence
https://reverb.com/item/81582780-alembic-essence-1992-legno
Five string Essence
https://reverb.com/item/75451115-alembic-essence-5-string
Four string Elan
https://reverb.com/item/78715955-alembic-elan-4-string-pj-bass-1989-royal-blue-gloss
Another four string Elan
https://reverb.com/item/78507528-alembic-elan-4-string-bass-natural
Another four string Essence
https://reverb.com/item/41527908-alembic-essence-1992-natural
Four string Mark king
https://reverb.com/item/24173989-alembic-marc-king-deluxe-2018-natur
Four string Vector
https://reverb.com/item/64309858-alembic-persuader-vector-bass-1988-maple-original-vintage-usa-custom-jazz
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procrastinating my morning chores so ill pitch in. here ya go:
https://reverb.com/item/76226671-alembic-6-string-neck-through
i know nothing about the seller nor can i advise you on the market value. i hear reverb has become a congress of louts recently so yer on yer own.
i've seen some 5-string maple core essessencesses come and go thru reverb. the 5 string bodies are much chunkier than their 4-string petite sisters. i own a 5 string fretless essence (maple core) and it's significantly larger than a 4-string. fingerboard like a 5-lane freeway.
almost pulled the trigger on this one for a fretted bar-hopper before fate intervened in my life recently. looks like someone else got it:
https://reverb.com/item/73170477-alembic-essence-5?show_sold=true
i gotta soft spot for maple cores. owned a couple. nice snappy sound if yer into that sorta thing. good luck with yer search.
<edit> howyadoin, rob :-) ?
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Wondering what your thoughts are about wanting a maple body Alembic? All my Alembics, save the shop night special scrolled series I, have mahogany body cores. I use TI flats on some and rounds on others and really like the tonal differences I get. That Series I with the maple body though…equipped with rounds, it sounded more like a guitar than a bass. When I used it with rounds in one of the bands in which play we were told our sound sounded “thin.” Toned down with flats, I (and my band mates) like it much better and its now my go to bass. Of course with an Alembic, the neck construction is also going to make a big difference.
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Maple Europa 6 on Talkbass: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/alembic-europa-6.1652701/
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Thanks, Flip! I didn't catch that one in the classifieds.
Maple Europa 6 on Talkbass: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/alembic-europa-6.1652701/
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It maybe my experience owning Pedulla and Spector basses. Mahogany is my first choice. I would like to hear what a maple body Alembic sounds like. The recordings I've heard all sound great.
Wondering what your thoughts are about wanting a maple body Alembic? All my Alembics, save the shop night special scrolled series I, have mahogany body cores. I use TI flats on some and rounds on others and really like the tonal differences I get. That Series I with the maple body though…equipped with rounds, it sounded more like a guitar than a bass. When I used it with rounds in one of the bands in which play we were told our sound sounded “thin.” Toned down with flats, I (and my band mates) like it much better and its now my go to bass. Of course with an Alembic, the neck construction is also going to make a big difference.
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I bought an all maple europa around 2011 and after finding the right eq settings to tone down the brightness, it's my main gigging bass and sounds amazing even for bottom end heavy genres like reggae. I hope you find the right bass.
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I had the same experience with maple body basses. Of course that's without Alembic electronics which are paramount now that I play alembic.
I bought an all maple europa around 2011 and after finding the right eq settings to tone down the brightness, it's my main gigging bass and sounds amazing even for bottom end heavy genres like reggae. Inhope you find the right bass.
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Bummer. The Europa in the TB Classifieds is a Mahogany body.
https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=27693.msg281506#msg281506
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A friend just picked up an Essence 5 string and it didn't feel to small of a body for me. I would consider an Essence. At six string essence would be fun as well.
I was looking at the elan Brian has at his shop. It's a possibility.
Thanks to everyone for posting the links! It's a big help.
procrastinating my morning chores so ill pitch in. here ya go:
https://reverb.com/item/76226671-alembic-6-string-neck-through
i know nothing about the seller nor can i advise you on the market value. i hear reverb has become a congress of louts recently so yer on yer own.
i've seen some 5-string maple core essessencesses come and go thru reverb. the 5 string bodies are much chunkier than their 4-string petite sisters. i own a 5 string fretless essence (maple core) and it's significantly larger than a 4-string. fingerboard like a 5-lane freeway.
almost pulled the trigger on this one for a fretted bar-hopper before fate intervened in my life recently. looks like someone else got it:
https://reverb.com/item/73170477-alembic-essence-5?show_sold=true
i gotta soft spot for maple cores. owned a couple. nice snappy sound if yer into that sorta thing. good luck with yer search.
<edit> howyadoin, rob :-) ?
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here's a pretty girl that jsut popped up:
https://reverb.com/item/83126767-rare-1996-alembic-elan-natural-maple-walnut-purple-heart-neck-thru-ohsc
as i've said before, i've got a soft spot for maple core elans. i had the cocobolo version of this for a coupla years a coupla years ago. the upside: when strung with fresh rotos, closest sound i've heard to a series II (imho, ymmv and all that rot). the downside: one of the most uncomfortable and un-ergonomic instruments i've ever played second only to a mid-70's series I that i owned for a time. ya gotta have long arms to reach that D-tuner. not for crowded stages. finally hadda sell it or have surgery on my right shoulder. just could not find a playing position that didn't put my right shoulder in a painful position. still i kinda miss that bass
here's a shot of it. i think i sold it for $2200 about 3 years ago which is about what i had in it. no LEDs or fingerboard markers. OHSC. guess prices have gone up since ::)
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Asking prices have certainly gone up. That is a pretty Elan, at that price it will be interesting to see if it sells or sits.
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here's a pretty girl that jsut popped up:
https://reverb.com/item/83126767-rare-1996-alembic-elan-natural-maple-walnut-purple-heart-neck-thru-ohsc
as i've said before, i've got a soft spot for maple core elans. i had the cocobolo version of this for a coupla years a coupla years ago. the upside: when strung with fresh rotos, closest sound i've heard to a series II (imho, ymmv and all that rot). the downside: one of the most uncomfortable and un-ergonomic instruments i've ever played second only to a mid-70's series I that i owned for a time. ya gotta have long arms to reach that D-tuner. not for crowded stages. finally hadda sell it or have surgery on my right shoulder. just could not find a playing position that didn't put my right shoulder in a painful position. still i kinda miss that bass
here's a shot of it. i think i sold it for $2200 about 3 years ago which is about what i had in it. no LEDs or fingerboard markers. OHSC. guess prices have gone up since ::)
I am really surprised you found elans to be non ergonomic. I have a 4 string thatbalances perfectly and a 5 string Europa which is all maple and pretty much the same body shape and that also balances superbly. Yes it is really heavy but i had some custom straps made that spread the weight across the shoulder better and that helps. Elans have that series bass clarity going on.
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It's also under consignment so no trades. Good looking bass for sure. Thanks for posting.
here's a pretty girl that jsut popped up:
https://reverb.com/item/83126767-rare-1996-alembic-elan-natural-maple-walnut-purple-heart-neck-thru-ohsc
as i've said before, i've got a soft spot for maple core elans. i had the cocobolo version of this for a coupla years a coupla years ago. the upside: when strung with fresh rotos, closest sound i've heard to a series II (imho, ymmv and all that rot). the downside: one of the most uncomfortable and un-ergonomic instruments i've ever played second only to a mid-70's series I that i owned for a time. ya gotta have long arms to reach that D-tuner. not for crowded stages. finally hadda sell it or have surgery on my right shoulder. just could not find a playing position that didn't put my right shoulder in a painful position. still i kinda miss that bass
here's a shot of it. i think i sold it for $2200 about 3 years ago which is about what i had in it. no LEDs or fingerboard markers. OHSC. guess prices have gone up since ::)
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I am really surprised you found elans to be non ergonomic. I
maybe it's just me. it wasn't a weight/strap issue necessarily but the body shape put my right arm and shoulder in a configuration that just plain hurt me after a while no matter what i did. that 4+1 headstock didn't help. otoh it gave me a wider perimeter for singers to steer clear of. it hurt my brain to sell that bass. kinda like that exploiter i let go a coupla years ago. loved the look and sound. but it drove me crazy so it had to go.
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👍🏾🎶
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A very nice one. The sound of maple is awesome.