Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: mica on January 15, 2015, 06:16:53 PM

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: mica on January 15, 2015, 06:16:53 PM

I'm so excited about this bass. The only woods we used are Bird's-eye Maple and Walnut. It's got an amazing punchy tone with fast attack and crazy sustain. Plus it's sooooo pretty with those golden mother of pearl inlays and violet/amber LEDs.   We shipped this to Music Unlimited in Monterey, CA today.  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/205836.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/205837.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/205838.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/205839.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/205840.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/205841.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/205842.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/205843.jpg)
  Of course it looks even better in person!

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: David Houck on January 15, 2015, 06:55:53 PM

Would love to see that Bird's-eye fingerboard in person!

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: bassfingers on January 15, 2015, 07:52:11 PM

Oh my!.

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: sonicus on January 15, 2015, 08:07:38 PM

I would probably really like playing this bass as per Mica's description !  Punchy City with fast attack ! Thanks what I like .  
 
   Looks beautiful too !

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: hifiguy on January 15, 2015, 08:43:59 PM

What a sweet lookin' bass.  Pardon my attack of GAS.

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: jazzyvee on January 15, 2015, 11:00:03 PM

I saw some photo's of this bass on facebook last night, It's certainly a l looker and another superb example of alembic embracing maple fretboards.
I hope the dealer produces some video's to show off the bass.

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: wfmandmusic on January 16, 2015, 08:28:11 AM

Wow! I like this one very much....

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on January 16, 2015, 09:13:29 AM

Most of it's pretty sharp - but I mourn the passing of Susan's No maple fretboards rule.
 
Peter

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: lidon2001 on January 16, 2015, 10:36:23 AM

I want to send my Amboyna Essence in for one if Susan and Mica will let me.  Maple finger boards were long over due.

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: 5a_quilt_top on January 16, 2015, 10:56:22 AM

I saw her under construction when I visited the Mothership during the New Year holiday. The fretboard is indeed stunning.
 
It made me happy to know that Royale has inspired a sibling.
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/205878.jpg)
 
If she's anything close to her inspiration, she's amazing - trust me.
 
Long may the Bird's Eye Maple Princess rule!

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: lidon2001 on January 16, 2015, 11:27:46 AM

But then again, having just picked it up, it plays so well not sure if I should change anything.  The old don't fix it if it ain't broken.  But it sure would look good on it, and I did ask for one back when I ordered it.
 
Another choice in an accomplished artist's palette can only be a good thing.

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: mica on January 16, 2015, 12:33:07 PM

It's a pretty major repair, Tom. We can totally do it of course, but since it involves finish time, it can take a while. I know you didn't ask my advice, but I'd leave it as is, for now anyway.  
 
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/205887.jpg)

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: tbrannon on January 16, 2015, 01:54:03 PM

I love it- throw some caramel pickups in there and I'd be looking to sell a kidney.  
 
 
Looks like a satin finish on the walnut? Looks less glossy- I really like it.

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: mica on January 16, 2015, 02:23:26 PM

Nope, it's regular gloss finish with satin neck. You can see the reflective surface in the picture of the tailpiece. I'm just experimenting with the lighting. It's so hard to take pictures of guitars!

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: pauldo on January 16, 2015, 07:16:10 PM

Dag gum it!
 
That close up of that neck is giving me a bad case of GAS.
 
I would love to sit down and hear what a maple neck on an Alembic sounds and plays like.

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: moongerm on January 16, 2015, 08:03:40 PM

Beautiful and more beautiful with that fingerboard and killer looking leds. Wow!

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: bigredbass on January 16, 2015, 09:34:27 PM

In a different world, I would use the connection with Ikebe Gakki into the world of the Japanese builders, take several of the non-Series instruments and distill several models into versions just like this, and have a line of Japanese-only production models (NOT Taiwan, Phillipines, China, and so forth, JDM or nothing) built using an interesting, yet repeatable and reasonable wood recipe just like this.  Limited production (hell, number them one of 100 or something along those lines), but do-able while keeping the numbers low enough to make money and stay very exclusive.   Certainly FGN or any number of others would do a fine job, and allow more people into this world.
 
Joey

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: hifiguy on January 16, 2015, 10:41:30 PM

That fretboard is making me crazy and I'm not a huge fan of maple fretboards.  Strong John Lodge vibes here.

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: lidon2001 on January 17, 2015, 05:14:40 AM

Thanks Mica, your input is always appreciated and welcome.
 
I see rivers of maple going around the eyes.  Amazing how nature puts it together.

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: rustyg61 on January 17, 2015, 03:53:14 PM

I've never been a fan of Maple fretboards, but I have to make an exception for this one! WOW!!!

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: sonicus on January 17, 2015, 05:09:12 PM

I remember a preference among some folks in the recording industry  and country music scene for ash body maple neck Fender Bass's as what they thought was what they wanted in the mix. This bass might be THAT on steroids . Who nows , a new paradigm perhaps ? Maple neck Alembic bass's for that market demand , and nicer , ten fold to boot  then anything else available , the BEST made .

Title: Bird's-eye Maple & Walnut Europa 4 @ Music Unlimited Monterey
Post by: 5a_quilt_top on January 19, 2015, 10:14:55 AM

Re: sound of a maple fingerboard - as near as I can tell, it's brighter than the traditional ebony. To complicate things, Royale also has three purple heart neck lams, which adds some brightness and makes it difficult to tell how much influence the fingerboard has.
 
Playability on a fretted maple fingerboard is the same as ebony to me - both are hard woods. YMMV on a fretless - I've never played a fretless maple fingerboard, so I can't comment.