Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Factory to Customer => Topic started by: mica on August 18, 2009, 07:18:24 PM
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Been collecting some pics for ya!
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/68903.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/68904.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/68905.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/68906.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/68907.jpg)
The wood already looks amazing, but wait until the sealer coats hit it!
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Ohhhh, very nice!
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Wow! What a cool bass!!!
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Looking sweet Will!! Is this the bass with the special electronics that we discussed on the phone?
Toby
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Is this a series I or series II?
Alan
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Alan-
I don't want to ruin Will's surprise (and I don't really remember the exact details), but this is going to be a seriously streamlined Series bass. From what I remember of our conversations, Will relies heavily on his rack for his tone shaping (can't remember if he uses F-1X, F-2B or SF-2 or some combination), so the controls on this bass will be somewhat minimal....
That's at least what I remember from our conversation and seeing the single back plate for the series bass makes me think I'm close to being right.
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Reason I'm asking is that this looks like it might be my next custom - an Essence body shape, with an extended upper horn, with Series II electronics. Or at least Signature Electronics ... ;-)
Alan
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Actually, it's neither Series I OR Series II! This bass will utilize Series pickups, a PF-6 card and a side-mounted 5-pin jack, but from that point, it strays WAY off the reservation! It's what it WON'T have that makes it rather unique. Namely, this bass won't have: 1. any on-board filters or Q controls (I'll be using a Superfilter for those duties instead; in conjunction with an F-1X and, of course, a DS-5 power supply), 2. any batteries (outboard powered exclusively), 3. any 1/4 jack, and 4. any pickup selector switch (or pan-pot, for that matter). What it WILL have for controls will be: 1. Master Volume, 2. Neck pickup volume, 3. Bridge pickup volume, and 4. Side LED fader control knob....and that's IT! Admittedly, not everyone's cup of tea, but it works for me! For over a year, I've been using a custom bass with Elan electronics (with the filter set full up to the 6Khz point, and the Q-switched off) through a Superfilter configured in Stereo mode and wired in Series (bass output to Channel A FRONT-panel input (Channel A in Hi-Pass mode); Channel A output to Channel B input (Channel B in Low-Pass mode); Channel B output to F-1X f/x return jack (yes, it works as a rear panel input); and F-1X XLR direct out to the Channel A Balanced input of a QSC power amp configured in Bridge mode with the channel inputs internally paralleled as well. In the paralleled inputs mode, the Channel B XLR Balanced input functions as a Balanced OUTPUT, so, when I need to send a signal to a Mixer, I use THAT for the job (and pad it down with a Shure in-line switchable attenuator as needed).
This new bass will simply be a refinement on the current arrangement. The DS-5R will be in Mono mode, and will feed to the Superfilter's REAR-panel Channel A input. The gain adjustments on the basses'PF-6 card will be goosed-up as needed for maximum s/n ratio for the entire system.
On those occasions when I need to utilize a more conventional amp setup, I'll simply use the bass with the Elan electronics, and set the filter/Q controls as needed to approximate the big setup. Obviously, neither of these basses/setups allows for individually filtering each pickup separately from the other; but that's something I personally neither need nor desire.
Now, I ask you - where else but Alembic can one achieve such a variety of possibilities...even something as different as THIS?!
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Thanks for the clarification Will- I knew it was something more than I was explaining above.
Stunning wood combinations BTW and I really like the elongated horn on the Essence (it IS elongated, right?).
Toby
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(jaw hits ground) woooooooooow, that is going to be insane
~Taylor Watterson
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It IS elongated - actually, it's the version used on the 6-string Essence body. With the exception of the woods used (for that inspiration, I'd like to give credit to Ezra Ardolino and his beautiful 5/08 COTM; though I went with 5A Quilt rather than Flame maple for the top) and, of course, the electronics, this bass is nearly identical to my other bass with the Elan electronics (see Will's Custom Bass - last entry on 10/26/08). Man, these things are more addictive than drugs! And it doesn't help things one bit being a dealer, having a bunch of 'em around giving you endless ideas and such....!
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Wow, that's impressive. I bet the sound is incredible.
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Love the neck laminations.
Graeme
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man thats a great concept!! i like the simplicity of less knobs. if it had one pick up and 6 strings, it would be an alembic anthony jackson contrabass guitar :-)
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Have to agree with Jacko here!!
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Will,
I agree, Where else but Alembic incredibly cool. Enjoy!
Art
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Will-
Beautiful! And thanks for the inspirational credit. You're definitely gonna love both the warmth and clarity of tone this wood combination generates. It's really something else. Not to mention, in my opinion of course, it's superior visual appeal!
Best-
-Ezra
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Ezra -
You're more than welcome! I must admit, once I saw your guitar, I couldn't resist! The balance of colors, as well as the contrasts between light and dark that you'd arrived at simply blew me away! Wouldn't it be cool to see the two of 'em side by side?! And I just KNEW that the tonal effects of such a wood combination would be nothing short of fantastic as well! I can't wait to get it in my hot little hands!
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Some spray:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/69593.jpg)
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The ebony framing on the neck is just soooo cool.......
Peter
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Thanks for pointing that out Peter; that does look nice!
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Here's the picture of the peghead you asked for, Will:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/70844.jpg)
Hope you can see the bevel - I have to admit, as usual, my peghead picture is not so good!
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The more I notice about this bass, the cooler it gets!
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Agreed Dave. I love the color of the neck laminates.
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Will - I have the same neck wood combination on my fretless Europa (though with a mahogany body) and I absolutely love the tone - much more so than my all maple-neck'd Essence (not that it sounds bad by any means). The ebony adds that huge fundamental we all love and I think the vermillion in the neck really warms the tone up. You're going to love this bass!
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Thanks Dave (actually, BOTH of you!) for your thoughts and input. Admittedly, choosing this particular neck wood combination was something of a leap of faith (above & beyond it's good looks); but it IS good to hear that it truly DOES work well, and in the ways that I'd hoped for too. One thing's for certain: once I actually receive it, this bass WILL get put to regular and constant use....no lounging around for THIS beauty!
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Here's the picture of the back you requested:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/71105.jpg)
Sweet!
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I'm speachless. What nice red tone you got on that body wood. This Bass is really getting better all the time... Happy for you, this is already in my best list.
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anything here?
~Taylor
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Nothing new for now - according to Mica a few days ago, it's still in spray. Reminds me of watching the grass growing....
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Still in spray, but now with inlay logo:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/75446.jpg)
That black mother of pearl looks great in the cloud.
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Beautiful logo! I really like the mother of pearl in this one too.
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Also spied your hardware back from the chrome plater:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/75449.jpg)
Note the tailpiece is rounded as much as possible
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The chrome plated 5 pin plug housing is a nice touch .
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That black mother of peal looks awesome in the cloud... looks like a storm is brewin'. Beware of low end thunder!!
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Low End Thunder is right, Toby! I'd failed to mention earlier that this bass will be tuned B-E-A-D (a setup I've been using exclusively for the past 5 years with great success....well, for ME, at least!). Now I'm REALLY excited...as if I wasn't already!
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Will -
What gauge strings do you use for that tuning?
What scale length is your current Essence?
I recently joined a group that has me playing some tuba parts and they have a bunch of low C's B's and sometimes A's. . . I was thinking a 5 string would be the ticket but now you got me thinking.
(Maybe I should just go ahead and find me a Series II 5 string )
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Will,
The colors in/of the BMP Logo inlay are stunning! The rays add additional character and beauty. Really like the placement and how much it stands out against the hi-gloss black lacquer, (ebony), background too.
Rich
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Paul,
I use D'Addario XL Nickel Roundwounds; gauged .130 (B) - .095 (E) - .070 (A) - .055 (D). Those particular gauges are nearly identical in tension to each other on a 34-scale; which is what my current - and upcoming - basses both are. D'Addario's website features a VERY handy gauge/tuning/tension/scale computation chart which I used to arrive at this particular combination; and they feel VERY even in tension across the neck. If/how it would be at all applicable to other brands of strings is questionable; given the differing core/outer wrap ratios each manufacturer utilizes, among other details. I seriously contemplated utilizing a .145 (A) - .105 (D) - .080 (G) - .060 (C) setup, but chickened out at the last minute. Hey, if anyone out there is adventurous enough to try THAT idea out, I've got 2 full unused sets of THOSE strings layin' around (D'Addario XL's) that I'll let go CHEAP! Anyhow, I hope this helps.
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I LIKE the idea of the use of a 4 string Bass tuned to a lower register rather then a 5 string when notes lower then the low E are mandated in a musical arrangement. DAS IST KOOL !
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A little out of order, but I had taken this one before the plating and thought you might like to see it:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/75625.jpg)
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Mica,
That's EXACTLY what I was hoping for - thank you!
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Hate to tell you, but there are going to be a BUNCH of orders that start with You know that _____ you did for Will Gunn's bass? Can I get that too?
There are just so many wonderful little details on this bass...
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So close, but not quite ready to fly:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/77374.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/77375.jpg)
Your knobs look good.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/77376.jpg)
The obligatory out of focus peghead shot.
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Wow! That's just an amazingly cool bass!
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This bass looks really nice!
The black headstock gives it a nice touch. And so do the custom knobs!
Beautiful.
Greg
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The Black headstock really sets that logo off nicely. The rest of the bass looks superb too of course ;-)
Graeme
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Yeah, awesome Bass!! Congrats
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Wow - ALL of my hopes and expectations have been exceeded beyond my wildest imagination! And hey, I'll actually get to PLAY it too! My dearest thanks to everyone at the shop for making this guy's dreams come true! May I - and my playing - be worthy of such a magnificent instrument!
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That's a very classy instrument. The logo inlay is just incredible.
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It does look sharp with the black headstock and inlaid logo.
Keith
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Beautiful stuff!!
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Will, simply outstanding! Those neck laminations look too cool!!!
Rich
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Will, your control design harkens back to Brother Paul's idea and description of a Simple Bass, (although with 3 volume controls rather than just 1) still an intriguing idea. May you enjoy it for many years to come.
Mike
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Great combination front and back Will. I can't stop staring at the back.
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Hey, uhh Will, can I come play your bass?
I need to back Will up on his idea here using the series p/ups with an Super Filter for tone shaping. You can realise this if you have a superfilter and a Series bass (this would work as well for other models but the series p/ups do imply their unique characteristics, which is why Will went in this direction).
Basically, what you need to do is set the filters, CVQ's(for series2) wide open or boost switches(for series 1 or signature) off.
Then you can hear what the super filter is really doing AND the frequency range is so much broader than what is available on the bass itself.
Will also informed me that if a bass was ordered this way it would take a great deal of money off the price of regular series electronics.
The sound is not that far off from having the filters on the bass and is probably closer than signature electronics in my opinion.
Thank you and Good Night!
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I feel the need to make one point as clear as possible: namely, I do NOT advocate or recommend the particular electronics setup I've chosen for this bass as a substitute or replacement for the standard Series I or II setups, period. This particular arrangement I'm employing simply addresses MY needs and priorities in the best overall manner; but - by it's very nature - IS far more constrained in MANY ways than a standard Series setup would be. One statement can be made that applies to ANY Alembic product without reservation: you most certainly DO get what you pay for. And conversely, you don't get what you DON'T pay for. As Adam had mentioned (and yes, feel free to drop by anytime you're in the neighborhood), in the areas of fidelity and overall tonality, the setup I'm utilizing falls somewhere between Series and Signature....which works for ME. All in all, I'm getting (and paying for) what I want & need; and not getting that which I don't have a desire & need for. No shortcuts intended or expected.
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do you have a longer horn than normal? looks longer than my essence.
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David,
The strap horn is the longer version typically used on the 6-string Essence body. It - along with a considerably longer, wider & deeper tummy contour - positions the bass perfectly for me, and with absolutely neutral balance.
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Will,
Very beautiful instrument...I've just ordered a Series 2, and I'm thinking about adding the rays to the logo like yours. Just beautiful...
Michael
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Will, I had a good look at your bass yesterday, it is beautiful!!!!! What a cool idea you have. The choice of the abolony they inlaid in the Logo is stunning. The hardware is perfect. Congratulations! Your knobs inspired me to put custom knobs on my Hyak!
Nick
(Message edited by afrobeat_fool on March 31, 2010)
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That is a very classy bass. I love the ebony headstock with the inlaid logo. Beautiful.
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Old thread..I just have to say this might be the nicest bass I've ever seen.
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Susan/Mica,
I just wanted to confirm that the 5-pin output jack will indeed be SIDE-mounted. It doesn't appear to be drilled yet; and not knowing at what point in the construction process that would be undertaken, I just wanted to be sure that this detail goes according to plan.
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Hi Will,
The work order is indeed marked as a side-mounted 5-pin output. It's not generally installed until the frets go in as it's part of the preset process.