Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Serial Number / History Requests => Topic started by: pierreyves on February 12, 2010, 11:17:32 AM
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Hi,
I bought this bass to kungfusheriff, even I know a little about, I want to have a little history.
Do the bass have leds ? If yes, I don't see the switch.
THANX
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/76363.jpg)
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I don't know if this bass has LED's or not but a lot of the early Series instruments did not have a switch for the LED's. They were always on when using the 5-pin connector and always off using the 1/4 jack.
Keith
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Koa is king
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?? I quote kunfusheriff:
The three volume knobs and both CVQs function flawlessly as do the pickup selector, LEDs (red) and the internal electronics.
Thanx Keith, it's a good surprise for me (because the bass is at the factory and I never seen at this date). Ok, the led's (red) will function with the DS-5R. More ecological than signature deluxe
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I never seen koa, I never play Koa, I hope it will be another surpise... different from walnut ?
Mica please, may your assure led's are functionnaly ?
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That's a beautiful series 2, Pierreyves. I'm going to bet you will really like the Koa tone. I have a Koa Distillate and it's very sweet. Koa also looks incredible!
Congratulations,
Mike
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Koa is warm adn sweet (without losing brightness and sounding muddy).
Plus, it is almost surreal to look at the surface figuring from different angles.
(Message edited by FunkyJazzJunky on February 12, 2010)
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Congratulations ,
That is a very beautiful Bass !
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Thanks the recent story was I bought this bass the 20th of november, send to factory by us postal service, the arrived finally in the middle of january !! OUF... some weeks of little anxiety.
The work to do is: electronic update, 2 tone pots change, frets change, knobs and 5 pin change (more recent), heat bend to have truss rods functionnaly both, adjustable nut. I hope one month would be enough to do this for Mica and friends.
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Nice bass. You are changing the knobs? Why? I like old hat knobs better than the new collet ones, but everyone has different tastes. Make sure you keep the old knobs and the old nut. It won't hurt, and in my opinion would be a plus if you decide to sell the bass later on. Series short scale basses are really fun to play, and sound amazing deep for their small size. It will be worth the wait, you will see.
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I prefer (for taste, size, confort) collet knobs, and I need (to change different tuning ADGC, EADG) adjustable nut.
You hurt nothing, I will keep old pieces. Pickups will be change too with the electronic upgrade.
Mica, don't forget, as specified in your electronic upgrade page) to send me old pieces too.
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I hope you do some video clips with this bass so we can hear how it sounds.
J'esp?re que vous faites quelques clips vid?o avec cette basse ainsi nous pouvons entendre comment elle retentit.
Jazzyvee
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I will try in two month with my wife ! But she have only a little Canon, not really good to do some sound clips or video clips.
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There is no switch, so the LEDs are always on. When the bass left me, they all worked. For some reason, the LEDs were smaller in size than my other two Series 2s, but were clearly visible. To my ears, the sound was warm and deep with an emphasis on the low end, but using the electronics prominent mids and highs can easily be added to taste. I have files in iTunes that were recorded with this bass, but have no idea what to do with them other than email. Suggestions?
(Message edited by kungfusheriff on March 02, 2010)
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Hi Shawn, the bass is always to Alembic, some changes as electronic, tuners, gold plated tailpiece, bridge & adjustable nuts and back plates etc. I star to Africa, the bass WILL BE READY when I come back, the 20th of march.
You can send me your files, I will send it to my own serveur and I put the link here after.
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Hi, Pierre. I will send the files first chance I get. My apologies in advance for my playing.
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a raisonable term of schedule (from another topic) and the bass WILL BE READY when I come back, the 20th of march.
Is there a special reason why you shouldn't wait as long as any other Alembic customer?
Please take your place in the line and let Alembic do the planning
That said, I won't order another custom Alembic if this work is done before my bass is completed and I guess there are more here who feel that way about their currently under construction basses/guitars ;-)
Good luck with this great looking bass and I hope it will arrive within a reasonable term of schedule for all of us ;-)
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ditto: follow the policies/schedule of the company doing the work! When trucks delivering materials to our facility show up, they do not tell the company I work for how we should operate our business.
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Mica, some news ? Backplates sould be back from gold plated now.
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Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiica ?
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I'm guessing you didn't get my email from April 23, here's the excerpt that concerns this bass:
For Koa, we're still not quite finished with the bass. It's not likely to be finished beofre the end of next week. And don't forget - the bass was lost over one month in the postal system. We are doing a lot of work on your bass, and I know you want us to do our best job. It's really almost there, so not to worry.
Hope that helps. I will look up the files in approximately the order they were requested.
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Mica, my last smiley was a lol... of course I saw your mail .. but, it was just a or a or a .
It's like that I can translate my patience...
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WAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW after repair......
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/80242.jpg)
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Wow - what a beauty! Congrats Pierre-Yves!!!
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Congratulations !
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Sure is a beauty that one PierreYves.
I look forward to you doing some more video's so that we can hear this bass.
Est Sure une beaut? qui un PierreYves.
J'attends avec int?r?t vous faisant encore plus de vid?o de sorte que nous puissions entendre cette basse.
Jazzyvee
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I'm just waiting for the bass...
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Beautiful Pierre-Yves! Congratulations. Gold plated hardware now? Certainly the bridge looks like it. When are you expecting it back in Switzerland?
Best regards, Art
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Thanks Jazzy for the french translation !! Google ?
Yess goldplated.
Expecting in Switzerland ?? Lol....
Mica must send me the final invoice when she will have some time... 2-3 days ? After I will send money (immediatly) => 5 open days to USA, after a lot of days, how many ?? The bass will be send, 5-6 days to comme in Switzerland... how many ?
3+5+...6=14 minimum... maybe less if God want it!!
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That was certainly more detailed than I expected for arrival time :-) I was hoping to hear you say soon I hope, I hope ;-) All the best, Art
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I have a translation programme that came standard on my mac so I use that but it's not perfect as I'm sure you can tell.
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Oh, my. I don't know what that work cost you, Pierre, but it was worth it. Enjoy.
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a little bit less of the price I paid to you
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Mica, any pictures ? Payment done today
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Hi Jazzy, you can listen my series I of 1980 here:
I did this duo with my drummer when we were 24 years old!!
Mach 2 (http://www.batraciens-reptiles.com/Mach2.swf)
You must have flashplayer.
Enjoy it
Mica, you know I paid, you could be able to give some pictures here no ? I was asking about a little history for this bass, but I'm waiting from february.
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Pierre,
Just a heads up- This weekend is a long weekend here in the United States. Memorial day is on Monday. I wouldn't expect anyone to respond until at least Tuesday.
The bass looks beautiful- I love Koa.
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pfff... ok thank's Toby
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we are the second WE and non news... Mica should receive my money I suppose and I'm sure.
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hey pierreyves..your audio piece...'My Greatest Hits' from Stanley Clarke's 'I Wanna Play For You' very accurate version.
Nice groove!!!
Are you using a chorus or phaser or flanger as well??
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Thank's Terry ... I don't remember but I think it was Roland chorus, big box with tape inside, from 1980!
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Pierreyves..now that is a blast from the past, proper tape analogue chorus.
Oh yes..your bass looks superb after refurbishment.
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Pierre-Yves !! Yess it was the Chorus Echo Roland.
You can see it here:
http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/34072.html?1165596395 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8409)
Thank's for compliment
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Is it us older persons that love nostalgia or the fact that those old Roland Chorus Echo unit with all those funky controls sound great or do we imagine it.
I wonder if there any on ebay??
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baf... this old timer was sold in 1983 maybe. Actually, I use Lexicon, easier to use and greater sound. Enjoy some pictures Mica send me this morning.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/81241.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/81242.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/81243.jpg)
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and the funny, regard to my obsession of centered tailpiece !!
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/81247.jpg)
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complete pictures set:
http://www.batraciens-reptiles.com/alembic.htm (http://www.batraciens-reptiles.com/alembic.htm)
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You certainly have a great collection of beautiful basses.
Jazzyvee
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This bass was a good one. The ridiculously flamy koa and the thin shallow neck would be enough to distinguish it as an instrument, but it also sounds amazing. Thanks to Pierre years of atrophy were corrected so it looks amazing too.
I think that letting this bass go bought me a lot of karma that was used to bring home an old German upright that is my new love for very little money. I'm happy with the outcome.
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Thank's !
here is the tracking link, koa bass left mothership on the 17.
http://wwwapps.ups.com/WebTracking/track?HTMLVersion=5.0&loc=en_CH&trackNums=1Z9078526744267408&track.y=10&Requester=TRK_MOD&showMultipiece=N&detailNumber=undefined&WBPM_lid=homepage%2Fct1.html_pnl_trk (http://wwwapps.ups.com/WebTracking/track?HTMLVersion=5.0&loc=en_CH&trackNums=1Z9078526744267408&track.y=10&Requester=TRK_MOD&showMultipiece=N&detailNumber=undefined&WBPM_lid=homepage%2Fct1.html_pnl_trk)
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All right! Did you end up buying a new case for it? I remember there was some concern over the condition of the case it arrived in.
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Congratulations Pierreyves !
This Bass Looks Superb! Very desirable !
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thank's Yes Shawn, I bought a new case for it because yours was not really safe for a long travel.
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the Koa Bass is now at 5 km from my home, in the UPS deposit of geneva...grrrr...I must wait until tomorrow !!! good sleep
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Yes , the UPS ...GRRR ! __________ I feel that way about UPS very often !!!!!
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DELIVERED!!!!!
@ Mica: a lot of thank's, the bass is PERFECT ! congratulation for your work.
@ Shawn: al lot of thank's, my feeling to give you all my confidence was good. The bass is a monster of sound, no scratches (a little on the body not visible).... your bass will never go away of my hands.
THANK'S
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Hi everybody ! I play this bas, it's always a great moment...
Anyone can explain to me if the 2 batteries have some utilities with cnnection to DS-5R ?
Have you explanation because this bass is lighter of my SC deluxe ?
@ Mica: What is this finish ? it's not polyesther, it's satin finish ?
Thank's
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As far as I know, you can use the two batteries for playing the bass without the DS-5R.
Mica will know for sure, but I guess it is still a polyester finish. After the finish (paint) is applied, it is buffed (poli) in different ways to get either a satin or a high-gloss effect.
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Adriaan is correct about the batteries. They are for use with the 1/4 jack. One thing is when you use batteries the LEDs do not light. The LEDs only work with the DS-5R.
Keith
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Ok, I can remove it because I ever use DS5-R?
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Pierre-Yes - do you mean I never use DS5-R?
Series instruments eat batteries for breakfast - they will only last a couple of hours of play.
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no no I mean always or ever...:
1. always
2. still
3. ever
4. forever
5. yet
6. constantly
7. evermore
8. all along
9. aye
10. for aye
11. all during
I use only DS5-R, I can remove the batteries of course ?
(Message edited by pierreyves on June 25, 2010)
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Yes you can remove the batteries if you will always use the DS5-R.
Keith
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Thank's
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Although I doubt if you will sell this bass but, If you ever decide to in the future, let me know. I'd love to have the first option to buy it.
Bien que je doute de si vous vendrez cette basse mais, si vous d?cidez jamais ? l'avenir, louez-moi savent. J'aimerais avoir le premier choix de l'acheter.
Jazzyvee
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you doubt, I doubt too... Never... BUT, I will think to you IF...
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Hi !!
Here are 3 tunes from yesterday evening (sorry for some errors...)
http://www.batraciens-reptiles.com/GoodBye29.06.10.mp3 (http://www.batraciens-reptiles.com/GoodBye29.06.10.mp3)
http://www.batraciens-reptiles.com/JamJazzy29.06.10.mp3
http://www.batraciens-reptiles.com/WildDog29.06.10.mp3 (http://www.batraciens-reptiles.com/WildDog29.06.10.mp3)
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It looks as if the original finish was a satin finish and the new finish is a satin finish.
What a great deal for everyone involved. I love Koa.
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..hum...the finish was not update, it's the finish from 1982.
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Correct. That finish is typical of Alembics of that era. Can't remember when they switched to high gloss, but I have had several '80s instruments that had this funky almost-kinda-satin finish.
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Shawn, may you explain me why this bass is really lightweight compare to my SC deluxe ? Electronic's cavity ok, is the koa really lighter of cocobolo ?
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Yes.
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yes what ? for both (cavity & wood)?
I'm a little anxious for my ABW... anyway, I'm young and strong I hope for 20 years !
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The Koa really is much less dense than Coco Bolo. The Series I is hollow core, your SC may or may not be, we have made them both solid and hollow core over the years.
Your ABW bass will likely be closer to the SC than the Koa bass.
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Thanks to give some news Mica. This Koa bas is really light in compare to my old SC series I in walnut, and REALLY lighter than all my SC & MK deluxe a????eee... The sound is great, rond, deep, loud, less metallic than my SC deluxe, Possible the position of pickups really close to the neck is working for less metallic or crystal sound ?
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Yes, the bass pickup moved closer to the end of the fingerboard produces a bassier (and preferred) sound to me. The Koa also produces a much rounder and bassier tone than many other woods. It's one of the few woods I can teach anyone to hear clearly. Very distinctive.
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Happy to read you Mica, Thank's
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finally I found this:
history request (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=6068)
and the following story who put
this bass mine (http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/70430.html?1260204890)
(Message edited by pierreyves on July 01, 2010)
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here are news pictures taken this morning in my garden (below the page)
http://www.batraciens-reptiles.com/alembic.htm (http://www.batraciens-reptiles.com/alembic.htm)
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Hi there, here is a small tune with two typical sounds I love to use:
http://www.batraciens-reptiles.com/pedrosong.mp3 (http://www.batraciens-reptiles.com/pedrosong.mp3)
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I hope i'm not tempting fate by revealing that I will be picking this bass up tomorrow evening from it's current owner who lives just south of London. If i'm not mistaken I will be the third owner since PierreYves owned the bass. Seems like for me at least, patience has paid off and my alembic bass search has come to an end, subject to a large inheritance or lottery jackpot win, in which case I will revive my dream spectrum guitar. :-)
Yes i'm sure you can quote where i've said this before but, now that I will have 4 and 5 stringers in the body styles and specifications that suits me I can delete my browser searches and concentrate on getting the most out of these basses.
I can see from earlier on in this thread that it has had an electronics upgrade and new pickups. I take this to mean the noise upgrade. Plus new pots, gold plating of the hardware and heat bend on the neck so it should be robust enough for many more years.
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Play it well, Jazzy. 8)
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Thanks Greg.👍🏾
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That’s a beautiful bass and I love the koa, congratulations! :)
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Congratulations Jazzy... beautiful bass, play it in good health!
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Congrats, stunner! (I know, have had her in my hands) :-)
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Oh, beautiful! Where's the "jealous" emoji? ;D
If I could have my dream Alembic bass... this would be it. I hope you'll post some pictures, audio, and video of you playing it so I can enjoy it vicariously.
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TBH, Koa was not on my top ten body woods wishlist but this one has something about it. I have had a previous opportunitiy to buy it from the guy PierreYves sold it to but it wasn't the right time. Thankfully now is the time.
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Congratultations! Your new bass reminds me of my Series I in Koa. I love the wood.
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Just got it home and played briefly with my series I shorty as well to compare without any q switched in. This one certainly is warmer in tone overall and less crisp on the top end than my series I and has more up front bottom end. I don't know how old the strings are which could be a factor. I can certainly hear what Mica said when i played it. I will give it a good session tomorrow when i can turn up a bit more. I will see if i have a round pickup selector in my spares kit. But yeah really happy with it.
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Excellent score! Congratulations!
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Congrat Jazzy! Koa has been a favorite choice of mine for many years.
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"TBH, Koa was not on my top ten body woods wishlist but this one has something about it."
When I received my '83 Distillate Exploiter in 2022, I quickly became a big fan of flamed koa! It looks like tiger's eye in the sun. I love the way the flame runs opposite of the grain. Enjoy that cool, cool bass Jazzy!
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I went through a couple of upcoming setlists with it last night on my practice session and a few Clarkee and funky tracks and some slapping to get the filters open, and i'm still impressed with it.
Whilst I haven't measured anything the neck looks and feels narrower and less deep than my other shorty but the string spacing feels the same somehow. It's probably a smidgen different in those measurements but feels really comfortable and lighter in comparison.