Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Showcase => Series I Basses and Guitars => Topic started by: bracheen on January 25, 2008, 12:55:49 PM
-
George asked me to post these photos for him. He'll be along to fill in the details
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/48011.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/48012.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/48013.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/48014.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/48015.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/48016.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/48017.jpg)
-
pic 1 shows the rear and the beatiful zebrawood.
pic 2 shows the Padauk headstock. The logo must have come off at one time, and was re affixed the wrong way round! It is real sterling silver.
pic 3 shows the bass with zebrawood front and the maple and walnut pinstripes. This is the original case that came with the bass.
pic 4 shows the koa core.
pic 5 shows the front with the 5 pin cable plugged in. I have the original blue box as well.
pic 7 shows my trusty fender M80 home system, with an Aguilar 1 x 12 add on cab.
pic 8 shows the bass with my Cort curbow and the gaurdians if the guitars
Thanks Sam for posting the pics.
Hope you guys like them
G
-
I can't believe I live less than 20 miles from this bass and I've still not held her!
graeme
-
Nice pic's of a very nice bass George.
Olie
-
you can come and play her when I get new strings on her. Promise!!!
G
-
Thanks Olie!
I love my bass, but she is quite a handful when you're only 5ft 6
-
I'll bet George, my S-2 and MK 35 scale are a lot for me to handle at 6 ft.
Olie,
PS I'm still planning my trip over there next spring.
-
I'll gladly swap my very manageble ricky equiped precision george ;-)
Graeme
-
DONE!!!
Or at least one of us would be
G
-
Olie
You'll be welcome anytime
G
-
Nice pics! And the Zebrawood looks very nice!
-
The most beautiful core I have seen!
-
Thanks Dave!
And thanks Vann!
The core is like that all the way round.
Odd issues with her---------Some geek put a strap hole in the back of the neck at some point.
The neck pickup went open circuit and was replaced with an early 80's model. It is a PERFECT match for the bridge pickup. My buddy just loves the neck pickup!
The inlays on the neck are Abalone with silver surrounds, and look great under good light. This may have been standard or a custom option at the time.
I have the build record that Mica sent me, and it is a perfect match.
One other issue---She is fitted with a PF6B board!--I spoke to Ron a few years ago, and he assured me that this was the way to go!! More reliable etc.
Her sound is just something else. Even the size is not a problem compared to the sound. With new strings, there are harmonics at EVERY fret, and the smoothness of tone is just outstanding. I get enough top end to shave yourself!!
She is just wonderful! A joy to play, and a joy to hear. Jacko lives close by, and he wants to see/play her. He knows he is welcome anytime
-
Simply wonderful George,
An absolutely stunning bass - the stuff of my dreams since early adulthood!
It must be quite an experience to own such an instrument
P.s.your Curbow is a nice looking axe too!!!
John.
-
Thanks John,
She is wonderful, even with slight imperfections eg the logo put back on the wrong way round. Geez-who cares! It is the old original logo though.
I bought her over 7 years ago for my 47 th birthday and get quite scared to gig her in some of the more dubious places.
She can copy the sound of almost any bass I've heard. I am still in awe every time I plug her in!
The Curbow is great, and is the gigging workhorse for the lesser venues. It has a Bartolini MK1 with active bass middle and treble cut/boost. She also has a direct slap switch for a pre set slap tone, although I aint much of a slapper (although some folks would call me an old slapper anyway.
You're not too far away, so one day we can all get together and you and the boys can play her and the Series. Graeme is desparate to get his hands on her. Soon!!
-
Thats great George, definitely something to look forward to!
Slight imperfections wouldnt worry me about an instrument of this quality - sometimes its the imperfections that make something unique after all!!
I can fully understand your unwillingness to use your series at times (especially in some of our less classy scottish joints!) The biggest hurdle I would have, if I owned one, would be taking it out at all! Its a catch 22, it is a bass that should be played - but its a bass I would be incredibly scared to damage or lose!!!!
I wanted a series one for my 40th, but finances dictated otherwise (leaky roof etc, etc, etc) but maybe one day!
I bet the Curbow sounds great, Bartolini's are superb and usually deliver the goods!
Yes, I have noticed Graemes lust for your bass over the last few months! He is incredibly lucky to own three superb basses, I was lucky enough to get up close and personal to his gorgeous MK balance and Rogue at his Glasgow debut gig - they sounded great!
It sounds a little cliched but these instruments really are works of art!
-
Hi John
Have to agree with you aboutimperfections making a unique instrument. Even Ron said to me that I have a unique bass as it is slightly different from the stock issue.
When I said that some geek had added a screw hole for another strap button on the NECK, it is actually in the body section where the button on a short scale goes (behind what would be the 24th fret)-not anywhere near the neck. I may even try it one day---who knows, I may even prefer it!
I think the age of the woods have such a huge influence on its tone. She is so sweet and mellow, yet so forceful if required, and so powerful. I love the security of the big body, and the neck appears to be about the same width at the nut as at the 24 th fret---a joy to feel and play!
There are a couple of tiny dings on her-not bad for an old girl!, but you would have to search for them. Otherwise, I'm so happy with her, very big for me---yes, but a slight slide back of the body to enable me to reach a low F, and she is the business.
Let me just say one thing,--The Series instruments are wonderful, but maybe not to everyone's taste, due to size weight, and even sound, due to single coil p/ups etc---Me-I love singles. My bass is dead quiet no silly noises (that I've ever noticed). My mate in Birmingham has a Spoiler which he brings up from time to time. It's real good, but I prefer the S1------and so does he. If you look close at the pic of mine in the case, you can see the Birch sandwich between the beautiful Koa core, and the Zebra top and back,
The Curbow is a REALLY underestimated little bass for the dosh-----clear, deep, powerful, and very clean and trebly.
I've met Graeme on numerous occasions: a great guy and a great player--------and owns 3 Alembics!
I've played his Rogue and his Epic; Superb instruments. I suppose his MK is wonderful----maybe even better than a Series FOR HIM! or indeed others, cause as I said, the Series basses are top of the range, but DONT suit everyone.
Take care
George
-
George,
The series are the pinnacle for me - the MK Graeme owns is, for me, the next best thing - but its all about taste I guess! Indeed, Graemes Rogue sounded INCREDIBLE when I saw Big tuna in action..amazing punch and growl for a fretless!
I played fretless for a time but sounded rubbish! My sound always vanished in the mix
Having said that it was an Ibanez musician - good enough but hardly in the same league as Alembic!
I agree about the weight and size issue - I always feel safer with a big bass! My Persuader is medium scale and plays superbly - the first medium scale for me though!
The bottom line is, I suppose, that I wont ever be happy until I have a series
John.
-
Hey, George!
BEAUTIFUL Basssooon! And wonderful shape. An instrument with Character, history and CLASS! And YOU have Series =)!
Enjoy her!!
Have Fun, Mike, tho =]
-
Thanks Mike.
Yeah, she's got everything a guy could want--well almost.
-
I'll try posting a pic of the rear of the headstock. This is my first attempt, so please bear with me.
-
Rear of headstock.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/48240.jpg)
-
WOOOHOOO!
I managed it!
Now just got to learn how to post links
-
Lol,
Another techno-phobe.........just like me!
John.
-
Attaboy George! I knew you had it in you! Well done.
Sam
-
Hey John
I ain't no techno-phobe-I've got a post grad in I. T. Ishould cope with a;; this easily. It's just that I don't read the instructions too often, and try to do it all myself.
What a Geek!!
G
-
Thanks Sam!!
It's your good tuition that has helped me.
Cheers ol' buddy!
G
-
If you look closely at the body and core, you can see the darker coloured Birch laminates between the sandwiches
G
-
She will be at the Scottish Alembic gathering on 5th April in Denny.
Just hope she isn't totally out shadowed by all the other stars
G
-
That's pretty unlikely George, unless someone sneaks in a series 2 while we're not looking. Like I've said before, I'm really looking forward to playing her. (and the other basses coming along). It's funny but, there's kind of a 'family' feel to my three so it'll be interesting to see how the rest compare.
Graeme
-
Hi Graeme,
I REALLY want to know (and try out) the EDEN Navigator
It seems the best pre amp available to me, but I will need your expert guidance here, with prices and where you bought her.
If it's OK, I want to bring along my latest purchase for your appraisal. It's a Cort Curbow 4 Fretless. An HONEST opinion would be great. I know it's not a Rogue, but for what I'm doing at the moment, it should hopefully do the job.
If it's total crap, then just tell me. At the moment, it's got roundwound strings on, but I've ordered a set of Chrome flats. I think for the dosh, it already MWAH's away to her heart's content, so I'm reasonably happy with her. She also looka dead cool IMHO
G
-
Also Graeme,
Does the floor control come with the package??
G
-
George,
As I sure you are aware I am not Graeme (not as tall nor as much hair on my head). I have an Eden Navigator and like it so think you will be well served by trying out Graeme's. To answer for Graeme, yes the switch controller in included with the Navigator.
I noticed you said you have ordered a set of D'Addario Chromes. I use those strings on me fretless also but I have noticed that it takes a week or two for the strings to relax and settle in. In other words it is the opposite of round wounds where the tone decreases once you start playing them.
Keith
-
Thanks Keith!
I've just put them on 5 minutes ago, and they seem ok at the moment
I have however a truss rod adjustment to do, an intonation to do, then a string hight to do. After that lot, I re do everything.
So far, the Chromes are great!
-
Just a question??
WHAT makes the Navigator so GOOD??
It seems to me that it is even better than a FX1, or F2B
When I heard Graeme's, it was superp. I will run her through a new Peavey CS 800s, at 1200 watts
Superb power amp-----------------after the Navigator, I just need 2 good cabs to go with this, just to make a Pro Rig.
All advice appreciated
George
-
Sorry for the delay replying George. I bought my Nav 2nd hand from the bass gallery in Camden. If you recall, there was a problem with it the time you heard it in falkirk but the gallery repaired it free of charge. They pop up from time to time on ebay and at most of the bass shops in the UK. You ought to be able to pick one up in decent nick for around ?300-400. As Keith has already pointed out, it should come with the footswitch.
What makes it so good? versatility springs to mind. The tone circuit is pretty easy to get to grips with and it has outputs for every occasion. We'll have plenty time next week for you to faff to your hearts content. You should also be able to compare it to Mikes F1X. See you then.
Graeme