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Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: effclef on March 09, 2004, 06:39:59 AM

Title: Deluxe vs. Standard neck laminates
Post by: effclef on March 09, 2004, 06:39:59 AM

I searched the archives but didn't see any info.  
 
What is the difference between deluxe neck laminates? Is it the width, or the number of them?
(I mean when there are purpleheart or ebony laminates, not just the standard maple neck with accent stripes.)
 
EffClef

Title: Deluxe vs. Standard neck laminates
Post by: valvil on March 09, 2004, 11:11:47 AM

4 string instruments (from Europa on up) generally get 2 purpleheart laminates in the neck ; a deluxe would get 3 purpleheart laminates. Series II come standard with deluxe laminates.
 
Valentino

Title: Deluxe vs. Standard neck laminates
Post by: effclef on March 15, 2004, 09:51:03 AM

Ah! So that's it. Great.  
 
Now I am wondering if Alembic could make an entire neck from ebony, no maple at all, and what that would sound like. ;-)
 
EffClef

Title: Deluxe vs. Standard neck laminates
Post by: palembic on March 15, 2004, 09:59:14 AM

Effclef ...ask Brother Rami ...he's the man who KNOWS!!!!
 
Paul the bad one

Title: Deluxe vs. Standard neck laminates
Post by: bob on March 15, 2004, 10:48:25 AM

Another important question is what it would cost... but an interesting compromise might be swapping the maple/ebony segments? 'Deluxe' in this case would mean more maple stripes, and smaller pieces of ebony.

Title: Deluxe vs. Standard neck laminates
Post by: effclef on March 15, 2004, 10:56:53 AM

Paul T.B.O. - I thought Rami just had laminates and a top/back of ebony. Oh - do you mean his new bass in-progress has a solid ebony neck???
 
Wow. Let's see. Start the custom quote gen. Pick Essence. Pick solid ebony neck. Hmm.
 
Delete cover plates. No front or back laminate. Plastic tuners. Single truss rod. No strap buttons. Delete one pickup. No frets. Hmm. Nope, still can't afford it!  
 
:-)
 
EffClef

Title: Deluxe vs. Standard neck laminates
Post by: poor_nigel on March 15, 2004, 10:58:50 AM

Hey Bob:
 
Someone did this with purple heart and maple.  The Series II on eBay is reversed.  I like it, but it would be my second redundant 4 string then.  I guess it is a medium scale, hmmm . . .
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3710695832&category=38083&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWA%3AIT&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3710695832&category=38083&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWA%3AIT&rd=1)

Title: Deluxe vs. Standard neck laminates
Post by: tsarter on March 22, 2004, 08:48:08 PM

Bob,
 
I have an older Boogie Bodies bass that has a solid ebony neck with an ebony fingerboard.  Fantastic bass and the neck feel unbelievable.  Chambered zebrawood body too - cool thing is it just looks like an old P-bass at first glance.  Check it out if you'd like:
 
http://www.shplack.com/tsarter/basses2.04/161_6112-tb.html (http://www.shplack.com/tsarter/basses2.04/161_6112-tb.html)
 
and  
 
http://www.shplack.com/tsarter/basses2.04/161_6110-tb.html (http://www.shplack.com/tsarter/basses2.04/161_6110-tb.html)

Title: Deluxe vs. Standard neck laminates
Post by: bob on March 22, 2004, 09:30:39 PM

Tim,
 
Nice. Looks like Macassar ebony, right? Aside from the cost issues - ebony in general, and Macassar in particular, seem to be skyrocketing in price - I'd be a little concerned about the weight. Have you had an opportunity to compare neck dive with a comparable instrument with mostly maple neck? (probably not, and the fact that you have a chambered body would throw that off anyway).
 
'Nigel' - yes, I saw the reversed purpleheart you mentioned, though I'd been thinking about doing it with ebony before then. Maybe if I wait long enough, Rami will get around to trying one first and he can let us know how it turns out :-)
-Bob

Title: Deluxe vs. Standard neck laminates
Post by: tsarter on March 22, 2004, 10:48:48 PM

> > > Hi Bob, > > I've had many opportunities to make that comparison - at least with > similar basses without the chambered body. Surprisingly enough this > bass balances perfectly! Heavy, yes, but also balanced. I'm at a > loss to understand how they pulled it off, but I suspect it is a > combination of that massive Schaller bridge and the wide, Fender style > headstock, which is of course Macassar ebony. The fact that my Turner > Renaissance bass, which has much more neck dive than this one but > lacks the heavy neck and massive bridge supports this. > > >

Title: Deluxe vs. Standard neck laminates
Post by: tsarter on March 22, 2004, 10:52:54 PM

> > > > PS:
 
> The Turner Renaissance is also a chambered body. > > >