Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Dreaming... for now => Topic started by: jazzyvee on August 24, 2008, 03:55:20 AM

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: jazzyvee on August 24, 2008, 03:55:20 AM

Yesterday afternoon I took a trip down the UK Alembic Dealer in Tonbridge.
 
Thankfully it was open and I managed to try out some of the higher end alembics they had.
 
First was a Series II MK shape bass through an Ampeg bass rig.
I was blown away at the clarity that bass had and it has made me desire one even more but in the SC body or Europa body shape.
 
Next was the dragons Wing. That bass has so much mid range crispness and not as much meat on the bottom end as the SII or the Orion bass which was astounding in sound. That Orion should have left the shop with me... considering it didn't have any filters on it, the sound was amazing. Much better than one I'd been to look at a few years ago as a second hand purchase.
 
 
I then tried the Lil Darling which again is pretty much what I expected and sounded very clean and sparling in sound and thankfully not thin and weedy. It does look quite tiny.
 
My decision not to take my credit card with me, was I think a very sensible idea.
 
if you get a chance to visit, it's worth it.
here is a link to their page.
 
http://ccgi.psstpsst.force9.co.uk/php/alebass.php (http://ccgi.psstpsst.force9.co.uk/php/alebass.php)

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: speicky on August 24, 2008, 11:07:36 AM

cool report, Jazzy, thanks a bunch... now, you're telling us that the maple DW is still up for sale in their shop ? man, I think Oliver (senmen) once posted a pic of the body closeup to this board. That was my pc wallpaper for eons. GAS... here it comes again !

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: senmen on August 24, 2008, 11:25:48 AM

Christian, Jazzy,
yes you are right. It is that particular DW and it is still for sale there as well as a Spyder.
 
Oliver (Spyderman)

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: jazzyvee on August 24, 2008, 05:00:34 PM

yep sure are, and beautiful they look too.to
The dw looked amazing in the flesh so to speak.
 
jazzyvee

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: jacko on August 26, 2008, 08:06:19 AM

I'd intended visiting the shop when I was on my way down to France a couple of years ago but by the time we'd negotiated greater London the shop would have been shut. Shame, as I ordered my rogue through Graham so I was keen to meet him.
 
Graeme

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: jazzyvee on August 27, 2008, 12:23:58 AM

Unfortunately Graham was not there, he'd been to USA and wasn't due back into the shop till Tuesday.
 
 
I got my SF-2 from him a few years back.
Jazzyvee

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: briant on August 29, 2008, 01:36:14 PM

I wish there was a store near me that had that many Alembics in stock - or any Alembics in stock for that matter.

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: jazzyvee on August 30, 2008, 12:33:22 PM

Here is a photo I took of part of the Alembic Collection in the shop.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/55361.jpg)
 
I had a blast on the Dragons wing, the Series II and the quilted maple fretted Orion far right.
 
To be  honest I want all of them excluding the fretless as I've never played fretless bass. I have enough problems with my fretless guitar hahaha.
 
Jazzyvee

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: David Houck on August 31, 2008, 12:34:50 PM

That's some inventory!
 
The fretless looks like a neck-through Orion with Spalted Maple (?) top and Essence electronics with Q switch.  Nice!

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: FC Bass on August 31, 2008, 02:23:17 PM

It looks like a C in the serial number, body and headstock are Europa shaped.
Very, very nice (http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/55411.gif)

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: jakebass on September 03, 2008, 08:09:54 AM

Hey Jazzy,
I too have visited that shop, it was there that I became convinced that Alembic was the way to go, although I eventually bought from Beaver in Bass Central. Dave the Fretless Orion is indeed a neck through and is a very lovely instrument.
Jake

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: FC Bass on March 03, 2009, 11:13:29 AM

I think she's on her way to Holland now :-) :-) :-)

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: David Houck on March 03, 2009, 01:19:29 PM

Now why would you be thinking that???

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: FC Bass on March 03, 2009, 01:59:33 PM

Mainly because of the $$$ written of my bank account and the adress I left at Bass World UK (my adress)  My first new (nos) Alembic! :-)  When she's in, I will post loads of pictures.  From the BW UK site:  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/62100.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/62101.jpg)
  Me is happy :-)  (Message edited by fc_spoiler on March 03, 2009)

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: olieoliver on March 03, 2009, 02:13:57 PM

Alright FLIP! Very cool.
 
OO

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: tbrannon on March 03, 2009, 03:50:25 PM

Awesome stuff Flip!!!

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: David Houck on March 03, 2009, 06:04:11 PM

Gorgeous!!!
 
Wow!  What a great bass!
Orion neck-throughs are cool!

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: alembicfan on March 03, 2009, 11:28:09 PM

Wow. Congratulation.

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: FC Bass on March 04, 2009, 11:07:56 AM

Thanx all! (http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/62137.gif)

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: keith_h on March 04, 2009, 12:11:04 PM

I like spalted maple fretless basses. ;-)  
 
Congrats on the new bass.  
 
Keith

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: olieoliver on March 04, 2009, 12:28:09 PM

I didn't even notice it's a fretless, WAY COOL.
Have you played fretless much Flip?
 
OO

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: FC Bass on March 04, 2009, 01:11:19 PM

I've had a Fretless Gibson The Ripper for a while and loved it, did some gigs with it but had to sell to get some cash for the Wall of deaf
 
Btw: this bass can also be seen in the Alembic movie on the Futures channel. (I think it's in the beginning, can't open it right now)
 
@ Keith: Spalted Maple fretless basses are tha bomb!  
I love your Orion, lost some keyboards watching yours :-)

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: adriaan on March 05, 2009, 12:13:59 AM

Flip - have you lost your mind, or just a fistful of dollars? I thought you were saving up for a custom. Ah well, this one sure is an eyecatcher - enjoy it!

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on March 05, 2009, 07:00:17 AM

I love the sleek shape and the top

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: pierreyves on March 05, 2009, 08:46:34 AM

Jazzy, your link does'nt work: file not found !
I try with www, or allbass, nothing...

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: FC Bass on March 05, 2009, 09:04:11 AM

The custom quote is on Mica's desk ;-)
 
I've been planning for a fretless and a 5 string, I did consider 2 customs for a while (when the Dollar was ultra low) but that's just too much right now.  
This one is a little over the budget, but hey... She's awesome!
 
I will open a topic in the showcase tonight. (tonight in Holland that will be)
 
Bass world site: http://www.americanguitarsuk.com/bassshop/alembicB.php (http://www.americanguitarsuk.com/bassshop/alembicB.php)
 
If Mica reads this: The Link on the Alembic main site is also broken ;-)

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: tbrannon on March 05, 2009, 09:27:46 AM

Flip,
 
What's the plans for the custom?!  inquiring minds want to know...

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: FC Bass on March 05, 2009, 09:59:24 AM

Newsted Elan 5 with either the JPJ + custom electronics or Anniversary, prepped for series (incl dummy hc) and the big must have: Ebony lams :-)

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: olieoliver on March 05, 2009, 10:05:35 AM

MAn Flip, what'd you do knock off a few 7-11's. LOL
 
I can vouch for the Ebony lams, they're smokin'.
 
OO

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: FC Bass on March 05, 2009, 10:26:05 AM

Almost right, you have the number 7 there :-)
 
I've saved up for the Custom for seven years now, that seems like a nice symbolic number of years to me so I decided I've waited long enough.

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: olieoliver on March 05, 2009, 10:29:01 AM

Good for you Bro! I look forward to watching this one in progress.
 
OO

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: tbrannon on March 05, 2009, 10:36:49 AM

Awesome Flip- you're gonna love those ebony neck lams.  Looking forward to watching this one happen (assuming you request a FTC thread).  
 
What body/top woods are you going with?

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: FC Bass on March 05, 2009, 10:50:50 AM

I love the attaque (:-)) of my Elan, so Maple + Flame Maple top it will be.
 
Custom electronics (for the JPJ option) will be: on/off switch and filter + 2 way Q-Switch for each pickup plus a master volume and mono output.
 
If I'll go for the Anniversary package, there will be a mastervolume added.

Title: UK Alembic Heaven
Post by: jazzyvee on March 08, 2009, 04:16:12 PM

Hi Pierreyves try this link, it is the same place.
 
http://www.americanguitarsuk.com/guitarshop/alembic.php (http://www.americanguitarsuk.com/guitarshop/alembic.php)
 
Jazzyvee