Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Showcase => Orion Basses and Guitars => Topic started by: Reid Raymond (rraymond) on June 20, 2002, 10:48:39 AM

Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: Reid Raymond (rraymond) on June 20, 2002, 10:48:39 AM: '98 Orion 5 string with Standard Point body, bubinga top, wenge accent, cone headstock, Essence electronics - big sound!

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/889.jpg)

(Message edited by rraymond on May 03, 2004)

(Message edited by rraymond on May 03, 2004)
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: rraymond on May 02, 2004, 09:50:13 AM: I had some upgrades done to The Big "K" by the good folks down in Santa Rosa. He's back and absolutely smokin'! My thanks again to everybody at Alembic!
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/9901.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/9902.jpg)
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: palembic on May 02, 2004, 10:05:27 AM: Cool ...the logo after the bridge!!!
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: rraymond on May 02, 2004, 10:28:36 AM: Thanks Paul TBO, I do have to admit that like musicians will do, I stole the idea! Check Keavin's old #12. Now I have to steal some country riffs for a rehearsal this afternoon, check ya'll later!
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: bassman10096 on May 02, 2004, 05:26:56 PM: Looks cool either way!
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: hollis on May 03, 2004, 02:42:17 PM: Are the ovals MOP, or are they abalone? It looks great! Are those fat boys? How's it sounding?
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: rraymond on May 03, 2004, 04:19:09 PM: Thanks to all for the compliments. The inlays are MOP and the pups are Fatboys. I also had a sustain block installed under the bridge and added a Q switch. As far as sound, well it always sounded great, it is an Alembic, but now it is simply awesome. I couldn't get the grin off my face at rehearsal yesterday afternoon. My bandmates couldn't quit looking at it, either. It has become an amazing piece of ear and eye candy. Yet again, credit goes to Alembic!
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: David Houck on May 03, 2004, 06:35:29 PM: The fatboys look good on that body with the five string neck.
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: keavin on May 04, 2004, 04:55:17 AM: hey!!!
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: keavin on May 04, 2004, 05:02:52 AM: lets admit 'logos'do look good down there by the tail,,,, but, that bass looks like it will kick your ass! (mean!!!)
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: rraymond on May 20, 2004, 09:43:55 PM: Hey Keavin, this bass absolutely kicks MY butt, anyway! The Big K is a 13 pounder, and it feels and definitely sounds HEAVY! I don't know why having the logo down between the tail-piece and point intrigues the heck out of me like it does, but it does, and obviously I am not alone! Now I'm thinkin', Logo with shell inlay and an LED underneath, and you got tail-lights! I'm out of here before I start thinkin' too much.

(Message edited by rraymond on May 20, 2004)
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: bracheen on May 21, 2004, 04:45:44 AM: You have a beautiful bass. It sounds amazing I'm sure. I agree the logo does look cool at that end.
13 pounds? Wow, I can't imagine. I'm getting to the age where my 8 pounder starts to hurt after a while. Maybe with the taillights you can have a beeper for when you back up. Sorry, it's early.

Sam
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: keavin on May 22, 2004, 06:02:17 AM: boy! if i was a termite alembics would be my main meal!.
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: rraymond on May 22, 2004, 07:38:46 AM: Alrighty then, the termite gourmet says Alembic = 5 Star Restaurant, Fender = McDonald's! Would you like that Supersized today, sir? We're throwing in a Mustang with every Precision purchased. No thanks, I'm going across the street for a heapin' helping of bubinga, purpleheart, and macassar ebony with a quilted maple chaser!
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: keavin on May 22, 2004, 07:51:48 AM: man i'm laffin my ass off!
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: alemboid on May 22, 2004, 09:10:15 AM: RRaymond,

The big Kahuna was attractive in its original form. After the inlays and pickups, the big kahuna is absolutely beautiful. Congrats!

I have a balance point bass that weighs just over 14 lbs. I know how you feel!

Bryant
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: marcm on January 17, 2005, 02:47:21 PM: hi reid

the big kahuna is really beautiful! the btc figured bubinga is striking, the logo by the tailpiece is very cool, and your choice of mods is right after my own heart: my almost-completed bass started out as an essence, customized with fatboys, three-position q switches, and a bridge block. i probably should've stopped right there, but one thing led to another . . .

i haven't seen many bubinga-topped alembics, and i don't know anything about it as a tone wood. does it have a characteristic effect on the sound of the instrument, as maple or cocobolo or vermilion would?

regards

marc

(Message edited by marcm on January 18, 2005)
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: rraymond on January 20, 2005, 06:24:33 PM: Hi Marc:

The Big Kahuna does have a unique tone. I used to have a Bocate topped 5 string Orion and a Bird's Eye Maple topped 5 string Epic, all with the same Essence tone controls. Basically, all three basses were the same, except for their body size differences and their tone woods. As big as the Big K is, you wouldn't believe how trebly it is! It is very brilliant, has super clarity, but is mid-rangy to trebly overall. I can compensate via controls on my amp to get more bass, so I'm basically very happy with the results. Even playing it unplugged, it is super bright sounding - very Stanley-ish. Thanks for the compliments, BTW!

Reid
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: dgcarbu on January 20, 2005, 06:44:48 PM: Hi Reid,

Nice upgrades, Congratulations! The ovals came out great.

Peace,
Darrell
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: marcm on January 20, 2005, 08:19:13 PM: hi reid

thanks for the insight! after i posted my message to you, i asked a friend, an experienced woodworker and cabinetmaker, what he knew about bubinga. the first thing he told me was that it's pronounced boo BING ah, not byu BING ah; his subsequent comments suggested that it might be a bright, trebly tone wood, but his experience doesn't extend to musical instruments

as a first-time alembic owner (i've only played one just once, 23 years ago), i have a lot to learn from experienced owners and from playing my own alembic when it is completed

i wish you all the best with the big k. it's a beautiful bass

marc
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: lbpesq on January 20, 2005, 09:24:51 PM: My Mesa/boogie Mark III and the matching Thiele cabinet are bubinga. Beautiful wood. I've had the amp almost 20 years, it still looks great. As far as a tone wood, I can honestly say that I love the boogie's tone, though I don't know if the wood really has much to do with it. LOL

Bill, tgo
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: marcm on January 20, 2005, 10:20:05 PM: hi bill

this is off-topic for reid's 'big kahuna' thread, so please excuse, but was your theile cab made by the company of the same name (without the final 'e', i thought) who make excellent home-audio loudspeakers?

thanks

marc
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: lbpesq on January 20, 2005, 11:21:48 PM: Marc:

No, not the same as the speaker company. It is a closed back single 12 with a port - designed by a guy named Thiele, I believe, - made by Mesa. Great low end and directional projection.

Bill, tgo
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: csissom on November 25, 2005, 03:53:31 AM: Well, this beautiful bass has a new home now. Mine! It is my first Alembic and my first 5 string, so I am pretty excited. I thought I would mark the occasion by posting a new pic of the Big Kahuna in her new home.

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/22721.jpg)
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: 5stringfreak on June 12, 2010, 02:45:15 PM: I just bought this bass. 6/11/10. LOVE IT! I'm upgrading the neck w/ some LEDs. Alembic = happy.(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/81430.jpg)
Title: The Big Kahuna
Post by: artswork99 on June 12, 2010, 04:06:36 PM: Cool! Welcome Rich enjoy that Alembic. Play it Healthy! Art