Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Serial Number / History Requests => Topic started by: long on July 26, 2008, 01:41:29 PM

Title: (x) Essence 91K 6948
Post by: long on July 26, 2008, 01:41:29 PM

Hello,I purchased this bass 3 weeks ago in France for 1700?. It is my first Alembic. I am happy with it but I find out somthing strange on the electronics : 3 ways tone controls (bass/mid/treble) + vol and Pan. Have you got  some information about that ? Thanks. (http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/54090.jpg)

Title: (x) Essence 91K 6948
Post by: David Houck on August 08, 2008, 08:17:26 PM

Hi Phil; looking at the picture, and given your description, my guess is that the electronics have been replaced with non-Alembic controls.

Title: (x) Essence 91K 6948
Post by: mica on November 26, 2008, 03:14:31 PM

Hi Phil,
 
Here's what I found in the file:
 
BUILD RECORD
top: Flame Maple
accent: Walnut pinstripe
body: Maple
through body neck: 3-piece Maple, 34 long scale
fingerboard: Ebony  
pickups: 2 Alembic MXY
controls: Essence (volume, pan, filter, mono output)
originally made for: Bass Centre, Los Angeles
birthday: December 20, 1991
 
It was returned to us in 1993 by an owner that lived in California. His note to us states: midrange/slap ability. Needs new pickups? We show return shipping, a week later, but I'm sorry that there's no detail of modifications.  
 
If you post a picture of the inside of the electronics cavity, I can let you know if the electronics were made by us, or if any of the original circuit is intact.  
 
As an all-Maple neck-through bass, the tone should be clean, clear, and quite bright. Even without amplification, the bass will not naturally produce much midrange due to construction (neck-through) and material (all Maple).

Title: (x) Essence 91K 6948
Post by: long on November 28, 2008, 03:17:50 AM

Hi Mica.
Thank you so  much.
I had a look inside:not very clean: there is a black little round  box named  fooltone 3 bands preamp. The balance pot is still alembic but not the others (MEC). The output level is a low but there is no noise nor hum and the trebles are very clear, the bass deeps and very powerful. I like the sounds of it maybe some day I'll try to give it back Alembic circuitry. You are right about the midrange, no need to cut them and the slap is wonderful on it.