Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: tomhug on May 24, 2015, 04:39:45 PM

Title: Weight of Epic vs Orion
Post by: tomhug on May 24, 2015, 04:39:45 PM

Generally speaking, and assuming identical wood composition, which would tend to be lighter, an Epic or an Orion?

Title: Weight of Epic vs Orion
Post by: edwardofhuncote on May 25, 2015, 03:32:30 AM

I would *guess* Epic to be lightest in a same-same comparison.

Title: Weight of Epic vs Orion
Post by: tomhug on May 25, 2015, 07:07:08 AM

Hmm. I am wondering. I have an Epic 5-string, and it's my heaviest bass by almost a pound at 10 lbs, 11 oz. (since I sold my 12.5 lb all-maple 6-string Essence). I do not own an Orion.  
 
Looking at body shapes, I'm wondering if the somewhat larger upper bout cut-out might help the Orion in terms of the actual amount of wood used in the body.

Title: Weight of Epic vs Orion
Post by: keith_h on May 25, 2015, 08:02:08 AM

What woods are in your Epic? That will make a big difference when comparing bass weights.  
 
Keith

Title: Weight of Epic vs Orion
Post by: tomhug on May 25, 2015, 08:15:26 AM

- Mahogany body
- Flamed Walnut top & Matching headstock
- Maple accent woods
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/209712.jpg)
 
That's kind of what I am asking: Assuming an Orion with the same woods formulation, which would tend to be lighter, the Epic or the Orion?

Title: Weight of Epic vs Orion
Post by: FC Bass on May 25, 2015, 08:33:52 AM

Well... I should put my Orion on the scale, it's exactly the same except for body/headstock and tailpiece shape. (and some added electronics)
 
I'll see if I can find one :-)

Title: Weight of Epic vs Orion
Post by: FC Bass on May 25, 2015, 09:14:26 AM

Amazingly found one very quick :-)
 
4,7 Kg - = +/- 10,4 lb
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/209734.jpg)

Title: Weight of Epic vs Orion
Post by: keith_h on May 25, 2015, 09:41:49 AM

I just weighed my Orion 5 that has the same woods as yours and come up with a weight of between 9.5 and 9.75 Lbs. I couldn't get a more accurate reading due to me having to steady the instrument on the balance scale plate. The numbers jive with the weight on my much less accurate bathroom scale so should be close to the actual weight. My guess is the average weight is going to be similar between the two models.    
 
Keith

Title: Weight of Epic vs Orion
Post by: keith_h on May 25, 2015, 09:53:12 AM

Just for giggles and grins I weighed a couple of other basses. My Orion 4 string fretless with an ash body, maple neck and spalted maple top came in at 10.25 to 10.5 Lbs and my 4 string Brown Bass with myrtle core, mahogany/birch/walnut neck and walnut top/back came in a 9.25 Lbs.  
 
Keith

Title: Weight of Epic vs Orion
Post by: FC Bass on May 25, 2015, 12:11:55 PM

More giggles:  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/209742.jpg)
  '83 Spoiler, solid Koa bodywings and 3 piece Maple neck: 4180 gram, 9.2 lbs  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/209743.jpg)
  '88 Spoiler, Mahogany body with Coco Bolo (or Bocate) top, 3 piece Maple neck: 4425 gram, 9.8 lbs  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/209744.jpg)
  '90 Elan, Maple body with quilted Maple top, 3 piece Maple neck: 4490 gram, 9.9 lbs (sold)  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/209745.jpg)
  '06 Custom fretless, Mahogany body with Spalted Maple top, Maple neck with Walnut pinstripes: 3955 gram, 8.7 lbs (sold)  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/209746.jpg)
  '10 Elan, Maple body with Flamed Maple top, 7 piece Flame Maple/Purpleheart neck: 5,240 Kg, 11,6 lbs  Series I will be on the scale next week :-)

Title: Weight of Epic vs Orion
Post by: tomhug on May 25, 2015, 12:26:21 PM

Great info, and beautiful collection. Thanks!

Title: Weight of Epic vs Orion
Post by: tomhug on May 27, 2015, 05:25:01 PM

In keeping with the sampling of bodies and weights, here are my current & former Alembics:  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/209819.jpg)
 1977 Series I, 10 lbs, 10 oz. / 4.81 kg. (Walnut top & back, Cherry body, Maple, Beech, Purpleheart neck)  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/209820.jpg)
 1993 Essence 6-string Maple/Maple, 11 lbs, 15 oz / 5.41 kg (actually thought is was over 12... but I guess it was my imagination) I no longer own this one. Miss it sometimes.  And the recent acquisition (above) the 1995 Epic 5, 10 lbs, 11 oz:  I'm still looking for more info re: Orion vs. Epic. From the small sampling so far (and other research online), it seems the Orions run just slightly lighter than the Epics.

Title: Weight of Epic vs Orion
Post by: FC Bass on June 16, 2015, 03:53:26 PM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/210246.jpg)
1979 Series I Walnut top+back, 5 KG, 11 lbs