Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Showcase => Orion Basses and Guitars => Topic started by: the_mule on January 27, 2004, 11:26:46 PM

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: the_mule on January 27, 2004, 11:26:46 PM

1999 4 string Long Scale Orion bass  
California 'grafted' walnut top  
Maple accent laminate  
Mahogany body  
Ebony fretboard  
3 piece maple neck with walnut pinstripes 34
Europa 4 peghead
2 MXY pickups
Epic electronics
Brass hardware  
Bird tailpiece
Alembic Gotoh gold tuners  
Clear satin polyester finish
Bronze logo  
 
Completed 08/27/99
 
(Message edited by the_mule on May 22, 2004)

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: the_mule on January 28, 2004, 07:57:39 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/7949.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/7950.jpg)
  The (first) pictures, more to come after I've got my hands on a digicam!

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: the_mule on February 06, 2004, 07:09:47 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/8094.jpg)
 
Isn't she lovely..?

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: the_mule on February 06, 2004, 07:13:45 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/8097.jpg)
 
Between friends...

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: bracheen on February 06, 2004, 07:46:05 AM

The contrasts on your walnut really show up well in these photos.  Very nice.
The Guild is one funky looking bass.  I love it.
 
Sam

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: the_mule on April 04, 2004, 07:41:43 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/9213.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/9214.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/9215.jpg)
  Been playin' with my new digicam...

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: keavin on April 04, 2004, 08:14:10 AM

hey man, that (de'armond) is exactly like mine but mine is white.(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/9219.jpg)

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: the_mule on April 04, 2004, 08:35:06 AM

Hello Keavin. This was my first bass, bought it new for a ridiculously low price just before Fender killed the DeArmond brand (and the whole line of Pilot basses with it). It's in a different league than my Orion off course, but those DeArmonds sure are nice 'budget' basses, aren't they?

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: keavin on April 04, 2004, 08:41:44 AM

oh hell yeah,!! got mine for only $225.00, (new!)

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: the_mule on November 16, 2004, 08:44:42 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/14362.jpg)
 
With new strings, DR Black Beauties, they really add to that fabulous 'understated gothic' look I love so much about this bass.
 
Wilfred

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: the_mule on November 16, 2004, 09:03:15 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/14365.jpg)
 
Man, I really love this bass...
 
Wilfred

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: David Houck on November 16, 2004, 09:37:29 AM

I like that last picture; it really highlights the beauty of the top wood.
 
Oh, and I like the carpet too!

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: the_mule on November 16, 2004, 09:41:57 AM

Thanks! The carpet is Turkish, and a bit dusty too I'm afraid: the downside of high res. pics ;-)
 
Wilfred

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: tom_z on November 16, 2004, 01:59:38 PM

Beautiful, Wilfred - I have always loved the look of your Orion and the Black Beauties look excellent on it.  
 
Tom
 
(Message edited by tom_z on November 16, 2004)

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: the_mule on December 04, 2004, 03:38:26 AM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/14870.jpg)
 
Another family picture...
 
Wilfred

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: andrewknight on December 04, 2004, 07:44:51 AM

Wilfred,
 
I know that if I saw that set up prior to a band coming on stage, that I'd be having fun before the music ever started. Looks great!
Andrew

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: the_mule on December 05, 2004, 02:53:05 AM

Thanks Andrew, it took me some years to discover what I really want, but there might be a 'long strange trip' ahead of me with this setup. I really love the endless amount of sonic possibilities.
 
Wilfred

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: David Houck on December 07, 2004, 07:18:41 AM

Wilfred; you may want to consider investing in a second guitar stand .

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: the_mule on December 07, 2004, 09:51:29 AM

LOL! Dave, you're absolutely right, but I assure you that the original EVH body shape is one of the best shapes for doing the notorious #1 'thing you shouldn't do with your bass'. In the brilliant book 'American basses' I've actually read that the original standard point body shape was designed especially to force people to place the bass in a stand (!) because of the huge amount of broken headstocks of (other brand) instruments Alembic was offered for repair in the early days. You'll be glad to know that normally the EVH and the Orion aren't even on the guitar stand, but in a case and gigbag respectively and that this setup was for photographic purposes only. I really wouldn't want anyone to think that I'm cheap (we Dutch strangely enough have that reputation, especially with our Belgian neighbours - are you there Paul TBO?) Thank you very much for your concern and the first really good laugh of the day!
 
Wilfred

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: the_mule on December 17, 2004, 12:22:53 AM

After some Photoshopping...
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/15184.jpg)

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: hydrargyrum on December 17, 2004, 09:30:54 AM

Hmm... I always thought the dutch had a reputation for being among the most free-thinking highly cultured groups of people in the world.  Oh yeah, that and semi-legal cannabis.  Either way, its all good.  

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: adriaan on December 17, 2004, 12:59:48 PM

Kevin,
 
I take it you haven't met too many of us Dutchies in person, have you?

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: the_mule on January 24, 2005, 02:53:36 AM

Orion in the snow...  Wilfred  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/15998.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/15999.jpg)

Title: Orion 4 California 'grafted' walnut
Post by: hollis on January 24, 2005, 11:59:36 AM

I love this bass Wilfred.  Thanks for the added weathered pics!