Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: Artgeckko on May 06, 2024, 09:19:22 AM
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Hello Forum,
Maybe a dumb question, but not sure I have seen a stock lined fretless bass from Alembic in my modest searches?
It appears that most are traditional fretboards with side markers.
I wish my skills better suited a unlined bass, but curious if such an bass was produced?
Not really ready to jump into another bass just yet, but always keeping eyes open!
Had a friend drop off a Barker electric bass, which needs some attention, interesting design.
Very much not my thing, but fun to play with.
Wish all well.
Ed Carr
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Well, since alembics are custom made, you are only likely to see one if it was requested at build time or if someone converted a fretted into a fretless and inlayed lines where the frets were.
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They also do sidelines, like on FC Orion Nebula (http://www.alembic.com/info/fc_orionnebula.html).
(http://www3.alembic.com/img/inst/13514_sidelinesL.jpg)
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We do inlaid fret lines, usually in Maple. There's a few in lower contrast woods like Koa or Vermilion.
And as Adriaan stated, sidelines a a thing - lets you have the reference on the side but a clean board.
But I would say most fretless basses we make are unlined.
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I have a long-scale single point Series I that I purchased a few years ago from a musician in Canada. It's fretless and has the maple fret lines that were described by Mica (though I cant say for sure it these are original, done later after a defretting of the bass by Alembic, or done by someone else). It plays well and was a nice introduction to fretless for me. However, when I go for a refurbish (it really needs one as it looks like a dog....no a bear, took a bit out of the lower wing, I will, in all likelihood, ask for markers along the side of the neck. I cant really see the fret lines well when playing from a standing position so markings on the neck similar to what Gregory has on his fretless will be part of the wish list.
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Here's one I sold a couple of years ago:
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both of my fretlessesses are unlined but they have neck LEDs set to be just bright enuff to be seen in a darkened room. that way i know approximately where my hand is supposed to be and i use my finger technique to get the note intonated properly. if yer tone deaf then it probably won't work for ya, lined or not. it's personal taste, i suppose. i prefer the look of an unlined board. if it's gonna be lined, might as well go fretted and save yerself from sounding like a clam most of the time.
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Seven years of lovin' my sidelines.
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That's one fine ebony board.
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Thanks! Some beautiful examples out there for sure.
I've seen a few for sale that have been fretted, post Alembic, with varying results.
Definitely answers my question, and gives me some incentive to be a good squirrel and dream.
Thanks
Ed Carr