Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Showcase => Series II Basses and Guitars => Topic started by: bassman10096 on August 24, 2004, 10:25:04 AM
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Delivered 8/13/04. 32 scale with custom neck width, K-style body with heart omega, abalone ovals, gold hardware, cont. wood backplates, green side LEDs (w/cut off switch):
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/12134.jpg)
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(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/12140.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/12141.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/12142.jpg)
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(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/12148.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/12149.jpg)
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(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/12155.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/12156.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/12157.jpg)
(Message edited by bassman10096 on August 24, 2004)
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Brother Bill,
bravo ...I saw it grwoing from close and really ...that's a beauty.
Please help me a bit with this BAG/ELF/INFRA thing.
Are you using the F1-X as crossover??? Or the ELF/INFRA?? Or is the ELF/INFRA only on the low side of the crossed-over signal from the F1-X. Is it AND the Bag-end AND the DR.Bass AND the Eden???
What is the equalizer doing on TOP of an SF-2??
How goes the signal chain???
Paul the bad one
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Truly a beautiful instrument, Bill.
Very sweet.
Mike
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Hey Paul: That was FAST! 3 minutes! Thank you very much! I'm thrilled with it.
I'm using the F1-X crossover (low and full range). The SF-2 is in the effect loop of the F1-X. Low goes through EQ channel 1, to the ELF integrator and out to channel 1 of power amp. Ch 1 output goes to the ELF sub (ELF requires a dedicated power amp channel). Full range out of the F1-X goes through EQ ch2 and into power amp Ch2 and out to the Dr. Bass and Eden cabs in parallel (I'm using a 15 in the same chain lately too).
The reason for the EQ is that the ELF sub's natural bass is so much stronger than the bass characteristics of the other cab's. I set the bass EQ on the F1-X at 1 or 2, set the SF-2 filters how I actually want the sound and use the EQ to take a little bass away from the ELF channel and add a little bass to the non-ELF cabs.
I also like to vary how deep I let the non-ELF bass go. If I use the EQ to surpress the non-ELF cabs between 25 and 95hz (the effective range of the ELF), it's a very different sound than when I allow the non-ELF's to duet with the ELF in the low range.
Hope that makes sense.
Bill
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So fine! Another masterpiece.
How do you like the abalone ovals? It's kinda hard to see them in the pictures.
I'm sure they're beautiful in person.
Enjoy
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Thanks Mike.
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Sorry Bill ...hard to follow. I will read it with more focus maybe tomorrowmorning.
Paul TBO
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Thanks. I love the bass and the abalone ovals.
The abalone did not photograph well. I think that's because their color is so easily influenced by changes in light and angle. Colors vary between blue green and pink. They look washed out in the pictures compared to how they appear in person. I love them and I'd order them again in a minute! They add a whimsical, kind of playful dimension to the rich, shiny appearance of the bass.
Bill
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Paul: I'll Email you a better description when I get home this evening.
Bill (TBO)
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Beautiful...I was waiting to see the finished product since your bass (and family) appeared in the factory-to-customer section.
How much does she weigh? My wife has promised to buy me a custom Alembic after she finishes college and gets a teaching job (with me working straight thru, supporting the family...), and I'm trying to figure out how to make a full-scale five-string jibe with my scoliosis.
Congratulations,
KFS
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Thanks. You know I haven't weighed it yet. It's relatively light and balances very nicely. Having the compact body does not hurt either. It makes manuevering much easier while the bass is strapped on. I'll weigh the bass tonight at home and let you know.
Maybe Kevin K can comment based on his full scale 5 string, but I think the K-style is similar in size to the Rogue. The reason I say this is that the last 4 string Rogue I played seemed very petite and so does my bass. I like that for appearance' sake as well as the reasons I mentioned.
Bill
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Thank you. The tentative plan is for a 32 cocobolo heart omega MK Deluxe with a fan peghead and prepped for S2 electronics. More likely than not, the full-sized body would have to be routed almost completely hollow for me to be able to play it comfortably, but that K-style body is growing on me...
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Bill - you said you were using the full range and low outputs of the F1X. In previous threads I thought there was discussion of the crossover outputs being out of phase with the full range out. Is this not the case with your F1X?
David B.
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David: I've been wondering the same thing. It definitely does not seem to be the case (in terms of any apparent bass cancellation).
Bill
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Hi KFS,
Via the bathroom scale method, the bass weighs 10 lbs 0 oz. with the Alembic strap. It is fully chambered (both sides) to accomodate the electronics. It carries very easily because it's so compact.
Bill
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Bill,
Been waiting for a long time to see close ups of this beauty. Well worth the wait. I guess you could say that my soon to arrive guitar is a smaller version of the K-style and, after seeing yours, I'm kicking myself for doing the standard omega and not the heart. What a perfect fit!!
Enjoy!
Jonathan
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Bill, it might be interesting to change the phase of the speakers on either the full or low channels and see what effect it has.
David B.
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David: Thinking the same thing. Won't have time this evening, but hope to tomorrow night. I'll let you know what the effect is.
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Bill
Great pics of a wonderful bass. I am sure you are just loving it. I am really looking forward to getting mine really soon. In the mean time I can always look at these photo's.
Rory
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beauty bass- i have the first 5 string with heart omega on order
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Truly Beautiful!!! Congratulations
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Thanks. It's a real joy to play and to listen to. I'm still learning the sonic capabilities (and will be for a long time), but I've found a couple of settings/sounds that send chills up my spine.
It's true what they say about Alembics - They make you play better. In this case, I can identify three reasons - two I expected and one I'd never have guessed.
First, the medium scale is just perfect for my fingers (which are on the short side). It's relaxing and effortless to ramble around the fingerboard. Much more of my attention goes to what I'm playing and less to the actual effort of playing it.
Second, Alembics are so accurate that your fingering mistakes do stand out much more than with another bass. I've focused far more on clean technique with this taskmaster on my back.
Finally, this bass produces tones and resonances I've always looked for and never been able to find in my other basses. I never realized how often I was distracted by my frustration when I knew what a note could play like, but the sound was disappointing or worse (It's hard to maintain focus when you are wincing!).
I spoke to Mica briefly the Monday after my bass was delivered to thank her for the great instrument. But I've been slow to send a proper thank you to all the folks at Alembic who were so helpful and willing to overcome adversity (Yea! Mary finally got her delivery of cases!) to bring me this delight of a bass. Sorry, guys. It's pretty distracting just to be in the same house with this sucker! I will say more about this when I gather a few more of my thoughts.
I'm really excited for all of you who just received or will soon receive your Alembics. It can be really special and I hope it is for you all.
Bill
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Congratulations Bill, on one knocked-out, gorgeous bass! And the stack ain't so bad, either! Have you blown the house off its foundation, yet? ;-)
Enjoy,
Reid