Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Showcase => Essence Basses => Topic started by: mica on May 30, 2002, 05:13:36 PM

Title: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: mica on May 30, 2002, 05:13:36 PM: This is my bass 99K12118. It's got a Kingwood top (a type of Rosewood) and a Cherry body. The Cherry was over 40 years old, stored in my fiance's grandfather's barn in Wisconsin aging for 30 of those years.

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/535.jpg)

As far as I know, this is the only Kingwood top on an Alembic bass.
Title: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: Ernie Jackson (jamsire) on May 31, 2002, 07:13:10 AM: But Mica!!!! What about those of us who own Orion GUITARS?

We are not represented!!!

Tears stroll down my cheeks.
Title: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: mica on May 31, 2002, 08:30:55 AM: There, there, Ernoir. All is right in the Universe now.
Title: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: David Willard (dreamer) on January 28, 2003, 05:24:24 AM: Mica-
How much heavier is cherry than maple? I came across the density, etc and they seemed pretty close, but I'm sure there is a real world difference that doesn't come out on paper.

The bass I have now is between 11-12lbs. I don't want to go much heavier, but I am trying to get away from maple.

Thanks.
Title: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: mica on January 28, 2003, 08:45:09 AM: I've found the cherry we've used to be a little heavier than the maple we use. Both woods vary a bit in density, I suppose it really depends on the piece.

With its Kingwood top, Cherry core and Purpleheart lams in the neck mine weighs almsot 11 pounds, while a typical 4-string Essence is about 8.5 pounds. It's not so heavy to even really notice, until you pick up a standard Essence
Title: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: David Willard (dreamer) on January 31, 2003, 05:09:18 AM: Thanks. I was kind of wondering how much a standard Essence weighed also. I like to know numbers when making a comparison.
Title: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: scrub on July 30, 2003, 08:29:48 PM: I'm comparing your bass to the Essence I registered with you yesterday, and notice that your electronics are different.

So c'mon, what're the neat tricks you've got in there?
Title: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: David Houck on May 31, 2004, 11:51:41 AM: Hmm; I was perusing pictures and saw that nobody noticed the question about the electronics. I would imagine that she has Europa electronics; and it looks like she has blackened hardware as well.
Title: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: basstard on June 01, 2004, 02:29:28 AM: I think it rather has chrome hardware - with the light at the right angle it looks almost black, but some chromy features are still visible.

Anyway, a very beautiful bass! How does it sound compared to mahogany and maple ones?
Title: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: mica on June 01, 2004, 12:26:03 PM: Yeah, I missed this one! It's got Europa electronics, no neat ricks except for they are arranged in my favorite happy face configuration. The hardware is chrome plated, and I opted for the fancy curved rail concealed hardware bridge.

I guess I better post an updated picture soon. It's aged a bit, and the purple color is more muted now.
Title: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: David Houck on June 01, 2004, 02:05:05 PM: Please do!
Title: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: trekster on June 01, 2005, 05:20:17 AM: Yes, please do! Particularly a closeup of the body -- the grain pattern is stunning!
Title: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: mica on June 02, 2005, 06:15:03 PM: A quick snapshot:

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/18926.jpg)

Lighting is not great, but you should be able to see the grain pattern well.
Title: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: grateful on June 03, 2005, 02:12:54 AM: Beautiful Mica, you could get lost in that grain. It's much less red than the first pic: is that age or lighting?

Mark
Title: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: David Houck on June 03, 2005, 07:45:48 AM: I agree; beautiful!
Title: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: jacko on June 03, 2005, 03:15:19 PM: Me too, a truly gorgeous bass. It really suits the chrome hardware aswell. How does it sound?

graeme
Title: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: sonicus on June 01, 2010, 08:21:38 PM: A very nice Essence. Perhaps an Ultimate Essence .It appears to have a sustain block as well. Is it possible to rout carefully and add a sustain block to an Essence that doe not have one ?
Title: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: David Houck on July 04, 2010, 11:48:46 AM: Wolf; yes, I had the shop add a sustain block to my Essence (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8854).
Title: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: sonicus on July 04, 2010, 12:24:51 PM: Dave; Thanks for the reply. I have a 91 Essence that I am considering to have that done as well.
Title: Re: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: mica on October 28, 2022, 01:06:10 PM: My baby is missing at the moment, see the post in News/Announcements (https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=27482.0). UPS says the investigation will be open until November 3, but I consider it stolen now. Please keep an eye out for him!
Title: Re: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: KR on October 28, 2022, 01:39:07 PM: Mica, That's gotta hurt. A drag.
Title: Re: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: edwardofhuncote on October 28, 2022, 01:50:04 PM: Oh, no...! Find it fast!
Title: Re: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: senmen on October 28, 2022, 02:13:13 PM: Oh Mica,
I am very sorry to hear that.
Hope it shows up again.
A truly unique bass.
Greetz
Oliver (Spyderman)
Title: Re: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: rv_bass on October 28, 2022, 03:14:32 PM: Mica, vary sorry to hear that! My buddy owns an ups store. If you want to send me the tracking number via email I can see if he can help locate it. -Rob
Title: Re: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: StephenR on October 28, 2022, 03:17:43 PM: Hey Mica… fingers crossed that your bass will be found and you will soon be reunited!
Title: Re: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: kilowatt on October 28, 2022, 05:00:22 PM: Mica,
So sorry to hear this. Hopefully the people at UPS can find your bass.

Regards,
Pete
Title: Re: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: xlrogue6 on October 28, 2022, 05:03:46 PM: Oh damn--hope it turns up soon!
Title: Re: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: pauldo on October 28, 2022, 05:47:23 PM: Best wishes with this. I would encourage you to see if Rob’s contact can reveal more information. Having a vested set of eyes and ears could make a favorable difference.
Title: Re: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: jazzyvee on October 29, 2022, 12:17:56 AM: Ouch, i am really sorry to hear that Mica. Let's hope is shows up safe and sound.
Title: Re: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: gearhed289 on October 29, 2022, 08:37:28 AM: Fingers crossed. Hopefully it's just misplaced or temporarily lost in the system.
Title: Re: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: mica on November 04, 2022, 11:16:38 PM: Recovered! Karen at UPS worked like a champ and didn't give up. She found my bass at a different UPS center and we get to pick it up on Monday. I admit I was losing faith after all this time passed.
Title: Re: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: StephenR on November 04, 2022, 11:38:01 PM: Yay, great news!
Title: Re: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: edwardofhuncote on November 05, 2022, 01:04:14 AM: Excellent. :)
Title: Re: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: senmen on November 05, 2022, 01:22:23 AM: Mica,
now THAT is fantastic!!!
Many congrats!!!
Greetz from Germany
Oliver (Spyderman)
Title: Re: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: hammer on November 06, 2022, 07:42:31 PM: That cinches it. When Stanley asks to borrow one of my basses for recording I’ll have to politely say no. ;D

More seriously, good to hear your bass was found. Now I’m waiting to hear that all 11 Station Music basses have been recovered and the thieves apprehended.
Title: Re: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: rv_bass on November 07, 2022, 03:31:57 AM: Congratulations, that’s fantastic! :)
Title: Re: Kingwood 4-string Essence
Post by: gearhed289 on November 07, 2022, 08:32:57 AM: Great news!