Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Dreaming... for now => Topic started by: pinbacking on August 01, 2011, 07:34:47 PM

Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: pinbacking on August 01, 2011, 07:34:47 PM: I'm quite a ways from my custom bass, but of course I daydream about it everyday. What I want out of it is a more aggressive, mean sound. I've already decided on set neck, ash body. What I'm really curious about opinions on is what would be the best electronics/pickup configuration for that badass sound. I was thinking 2 fat boys with Europa/rogue electronics, but I really don't know and was hoping for some insight
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: sonicus on August 01, 2011, 08:57:35 PM: If I want GROWL ? I can get that from running stereo with Series I/II Electronics from my D5S-R Alembic Power supply or Alembic IN-2 directly into an Alembic SF-2 Super Filter then to Alembic F-2B then to Crest Power amp to EV 10 speakers in Mesa Cabs . With your SF-2 Dial in Lower mid range GROWL off the Bridge pickup.

I think if you don't want to spring for Series Electronics
Anniversary Electronics in Stereo would be nice . I used to bi-amp but recently have gone back to playing Stereo like I experimented with over 30 years ago. The difference NOW is that I have the SF-2 : if you want mean that little guy gives MEAN! If you want nice it gives NICE
If you want ANY sound ________!!!_!_!_!_!_!_! Gives that too ____

Sonic Regards __ bass dreams are fun___

ASH body might work well attack wise on the transient response!

(Message edited by sonicus on August 01, 2011)
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: rami on August 02, 2011, 09:51:35 AM: I found that in my experiences, the absolute meanest, growliest Bass out there is the basic Excel. Just the most basic version with one pickup - WOW!!!

I fell so in love with it.....well, most of you guys know the rest!

Cheers
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: pinbacking on August 02, 2011, 01:05:21 PM: Well, as a matter of fact I want an excel body for my custom, and I've been looking for a four string excel for some time now but they are still so new they're hard to aquire used; probably because whenever one becomes available you take it first ;-)
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: tmoney61092 on August 02, 2011, 01:37:50 PM: perfect timing!

http://cgi.ebay.com/2002-Alembic-Excel-4-String-Bass-Guitar-/180704928935?pt=Guitar&hash=item2a12da64a7 (http://cgi.ebay.com/2002-Alembic-Excel-4-String-Bass-Guitar-/180704928935?pt=Guitar&hash=item2a12da64a7)

~Taylor
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: rami on August 02, 2011, 04:43:35 PM: Somebody buy it already!!! At $1200, it's a steal.

There's no other Bass that's more worthy of every penny. It has the deepest, punchiest, MOST powerful and GROWLIEST tone.
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: pinbacking on August 02, 2011, 04:56:57 PM: Trying to buy it now! haha
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: sonicus on August 02, 2011, 08:36:50 PM: My single pickup Distillate is quite swell as well ! I took it to the 2011 Northern California Alembic Gathering and split the mono signal and processed it as Stereo into my SF-2 and F-2B preamp . The results were favorable as I was told by various individuals. I think that single pickup Alembics shine like no other single pickup Bass could ever wish to ! CYCLOPS POWER !
lol ______
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: elwoodblue on August 03, 2011, 10:03:54 AM: Wow, what a beautiful Excel !!
Did you buy it pinbacking?

That top must look 3 feet deep in person : )

cheers
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: sonicus on August 03, 2011, 10:09:32 AM: Yes , Congratulations !
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: pinbacking on August 03, 2011, 07:07:19 PM: Haha, ya! Confirmed purchase, now just waiting for the bank to catch up. :-)
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: rami on August 04, 2011, 01:14:21 PM: Congratulations, she's a beauty!

I think that when Alembic first produced the Excel, it was meant as an affordable and entry level Bass. Little did anyone realize that this simple no-frills Bass would be such a monster. I absolutely love it.
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: erixxst on August 06, 2011, 07:43:19 PM: I'm still selling this one ! It sure give mean tones!

anyone?

http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/97520.html?1312312158 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=14206)
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: briant on August 11, 2011, 02:40:30 PM: I've found Essence basses have a very aggressive/growly tone. My off the shelf and the custom I had made. They're both outstanding in that regard. And every other regard for that matter.

Both are maple necks with walnut streamers and maple bodies.
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: sonicus on August 11, 2011, 06:56:28 PM: Agreed , My little 91 all maple Essence has a big bellow of a bark like a 120LB Bouvier ! (http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/111093.jpg)
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: rami on August 11, 2011, 08:56:36 PM: My evaluation of the Essence is that it has a very bright, very clear sound with excellent sustain and rich harmonics. The classic Alembic sound. But... it's NOT an Excel. The Excel sound is LOUDER, fuller and rounder. It's truly a MEAN, GROWLY, BEASTLY sound that just simply unmatched by anything else.
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: pinbacking on August 16, 2011, 07:31:53 PM: My New Excel
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/111462.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/111463.jpg)
Havent had the chance to play it on my rig yet so I don't know how it sounds big, but playing it in my recording space its really just as beautifully playing as my Spoiler, but with a tighter midrange pop. I'll describe the sound better when I get to really open it up :-)
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: billostech on August 17, 2011, 04:33:33 AM: Nicely done Royce. Congrats!
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: elwoodblue on August 19, 2011, 02:51:48 AM: A beauty,
I'm here in the NW , hope to see it live and loud sometime ,

congrats
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: briant on August 19, 2011, 10:16:03 AM: Yeah totally. NW gathering?
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: eligilam on August 19, 2011, 12:37:39 PM: So, what's the verdict on that infamous Excel growl? If I were a betting man, I'd guess that one sounds pretty darn mean...
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: pinbacking on August 23, 2011, 07:10:56 PM: Well, after playing it on my amp, Ampeg SVT-3 with a SVT 6x10 HLF, I can say that it sounds great! As for mean, weeell, I guess I might have different thoughts on mean. I have a new set of Dean Markley Blue Steels on the bass and what I would describe the sound as is ROUND, or FULL, with a sort of fretless stretch. The sound takes up a lot of space, and is naturally warm and bassy.

Like, my spoiler is more articulate sounding, because the neck picks up a thump sound, and the bridge picks up a twang sound, and then puts them together and it seems like there's more tone in the note, whereas I can't hear myself as well playing the excel because it's fatter, and it fills the room more. I like it, its just really different for me. All of my basses have 2 PU's and I've never been much of a stingray guy. Perhaps I just need to find my place with it, when I wail on it it gives me great grit, nice and middy and mean, just like I want, but when I start playing with my fingers it becomes very warm despite that I have a pretty heavy right hand on notes, my other basses don't change tone nearly as dramatically between playing styles. I like it, I think I might add a tone filter to it like I did to a prior Epic, which is a sweet addition.

I've started recording a song with it and it really shines with a pick nicely, I usually dont play with one but it sounds GREAT with a pick

One thing I really like is looking at the fretboard when I play and you see the pau ferro and all the beauty in the wood as you're playing, ebony is awesome but its just one color ;-)

So, AwEsOmE! I have to play with it more :-)
Title: "Mean" sound
Post by: rami on August 25, 2011, 09:14:26 AM: Congratulations Royce,

It is THE meanest, growliest Alembic out there.
I find that due to wide aperture Fat Boy PU that it also captures great Harmonics - Portait of Tracy - No problem!!!

Many years of enjoyment,

Rami