Mark man your reports are makin me want mine even more! Can't wait to see your pictures. You've got a good candidate for featured custom there.

Hi Mark,
 
I haven't had much time to check in for a few days so I'd like to congradulate you again and am so happy for you! You sound tremendous!
 
Listen, rather than go back through alot of posts I'd like to ask you a couple of questions.
 
1. How are you tuning this bass? Is the low string an B string? What is the high string? Do you tune it like a guitar?
 
2. Do you have a low pass filter for each pick-up?
 
It's really beautiful. Ole Pierre' has a pretty good touch-up program don't he? Hahahah
 
So I am so glad you are happy with the arrangement, style, sound, etc.
 
I had chosen the balance K as you know and changed back as I just loved Michael's Raging Bass and couldn't resist. I am sure that I will probably pay for this decision in the long run as far as weight and balance goes but honestly I picture myself (due to my lower back problems anyway)mostly sitting on a stool playing this bass. Also I haven't heard a single complaint from Michael about his and I have been communicating with him through a few e-mails and did pose the question. He seems to be tickled blue with his bass.
 
So the only thing I really worry about is the neck dive which I think I will be OK with in part due to adding the infamous Pistol Grip.
 
Well, Aloha for now buddy and when, and only when you have enough time to take a minute and answer my questions I will await your response but don't take any valuable time out from the babe.
 
Mahalo, Paul-ee

Paul. There's absolutely no neck dive on my 5 string balance k so there'll be even less on your bigger balance body.
 
Graeme
 
p.s. Mark - we're still waiting to see the back;-)

Hi guys!  I'll get pictures as soon as I can... I'm dependent on my girlfriend for her camera and assistance, and her schedule's been hectic lately; tonight, for instance, she had to leave for a freelance gig shortly after my getting home... but I'll get some pictures up here and/or in Showcase as soon as I can... probably a couple of days, at least.
 
Paul, I wouldn't worry about neck dive; I think the model you're getting is only slightly less optimal than the Balance K... but since you're getting a pistol grip, it's probably about the same (as you postulated).  I can tell you I have no problems whatsoever with neck dive on this model -which is a welcome change from my top-heavy 8-string.
 
As far as your questions: (1) standard/traditional 6-string tuning (BEADGC); (2) Each pickup has it's own low-pass filter and a 3-position Q switch (0/6/9 dbs -like the Series I electronics) AND a master bass and master treble control -I REALLY like these, find them EXTREMELY useful, and would not be happy without them.  If money weren't an issue, I'd have gotton two separate sets... but the one set works great.  Hopefully you'll be happy without the bass & treble controls on your bass... but I wouldn't be.

Hi, Mark!
 
Not much I can say that hasn't already been said! Congratz and enjoy, and get some pics up as soon as the GF's schedule allows! (Don't feel bad, I can't do it either!)
 
Have fun, Mike  (the 'Ho)......

Hey Marky,
 
How'z it? I have a few more refined questions for ya when you get time to peel away.
 
First, I'm wondering how the lighter balance K body shape in your opinion affected the fundamental and or the low fatness/body on your b string? Do you think the Fatboy improved in this area? How do you now fare in the low bottom department with a lighter bass? Then connecting to the Ebony strip in your neck, did this add to fundamental or clarity? Did you increase sustain or clarity or low bottom? Are you getting those nice Piano like tones with this bass?
 
Or maybe I can ask this, how does this bass fare in the afore mentioned compared to your 8 String?
 
Do you think you gained or slightly gave back the balls with this balance K or is it holding it's own in the bottom end department? It seems with the combination of Ebony, Fatboy, and Filters you ought to be owning the World!!!
 
Easy buddy, see ya soon, Paul

Mark, your thread is dead, without pictures ?

Hi gang!  First, Pierre-Yves, I need my girlfriends help and camera to get pictures up, and it's just been bad timing; and she has two freelance gigs today, so it won't be today... I wanna get some pictures up to show off this beauty!  When I do, I'll post 'em here and/or in Showcase.
 
Paul: to answer your questions:
first, my new 6-string has a VERY different sound from my 8-string.  On Alembic neck-throughs, the woods in the neck have the greatest impact on the sound; and the neck recipes are very different between the two basses.  My 8-string has 13 neck laminates; 6 of them are Ebony, 3 are Purpleheart, 2 are Rock Maple, and the outer 2 are Flame Maple.  The Ebony completely dominates the sound -and subsumes the Purpleheart sound as well, since Purpleheart is similar-sounding, but outnumbered 2 to 1 by the Ebony.  Maple is the secondary sound -because after the 6 Ebony laminates, there are 4 (total) Maple laminates in the neck... AND the body is also Flame Maple.  Mica sez the Bocate (top wood) has virtually no noticable effect on the sound; my 8-string has a powerful Ebony/Maple sound... it's just HUGE, and really in your face.  It's an overwhelming and powerful sound, VERY smiley, with HUGH thundering lows and LOTS of brightness as well.  I've never heard another bass like it.  The 35 inche scale definitely helps the lows, too.
 
The neck of the 6-string is a VERY different recipe of FIVE different woods.  The large outer neck laminates are Mahogany; Mica considers it the dominant wood of the neck -presumably because they're the biggest laminates.  Vermillion is said to have a similar sound (but warmer and more brilliant, with a little more bottom) so these woods blend together; Purpleheart is the next most dominant wood -with 4 laminates- adding stiffness, sustain, and low-end definition -although the 1 Ebony laminate in the middle contributes noticably to this sound; Ebony sound similar to Purpleheart, but has MUCH MORE of these attributes, and a VERY NOTICABLE effect on both sustain in general, and sustain of the lower partials in particular.  Though the effect is MUCH LESS than on my 8-string... it's still very -and surprisingly- noticable.  But since there's only one laminate, it doesn't totally dominate the sound like on my 8-string; it blends in, and allows the sound of the other woods to be heard.  With only 2 Maple neck lams, the neck is less bright than my 8-string; but I can still get plenty of brightness from the filters with the Qs -and/or the treble boost.
 
Now that I've given a detailed general comparison, I'll try to answer your questions more specifically:
(1)  I don't think the Balance K body -the lightness- has effected the fundamental at all.  It's NOT nearly as powerful as my 8-string... but I think that's because of the 34 vs. 35 inch scale, and more importantly, the overwhelming impact of the 6 Ebony neck laminates in the 8-string.  That said, the B string sounds great, and is full of bottom end, very fat-sounding.  For some reason, the sustain seems less on certain frets(on the B string specifically)... I'm not sure why this is.  It seems to fade quicker on the 7th and 8th frets.  I may ask Alembic about it.  The sustain on the EADG strings is VERY noticably superior to other basses -even Alembics- clearly due to the Ebony neck lam, but also due to the Coco Bolo that I have BTCered on both the front and back.  There's no missing the Coco Bolo sound -and it also clearly contributes a lot to the low end.  I've got to say it's a killer combination -Coco Bolo with an Ebony neck laminate.
(2) As far as I can tell, the Fatboy does add a lot of fatness and low end to the sound; it's more powerful sounding than the neck pickup (usually the other way around) and I may have to open up the back and monkey with the trimpots to balance out the sound a bit.  But both pickups sound great, and deliver lots of bottom end.
(3) The Ebony neck lam clearly adds both lots of clarity and bottom -so does the Coco Bolo.  There's no missing it
(4) I've already answered much of this above; but a different/shorter answer would be that the Balance K has a more neutral/centered sound as it's starting point.  What I mean by that, is that the 8-string has a very extreme sound to begin with; if I set all the e.q. controls to flat, and turn the filters off, it still has an incredible knock your socks off low/high sound... the Ebony sound from the 6 neck laminates is overwhelming, and it's also very bright from the Maple.  Imagine notes from a normal bass as being cannonballs shot through a wall... my 8-string fires I-beams!  When I use my electronics, it gets even MORE extreme!  If I further boost the bass with the bass control... WHOA!  You've got to hear it.
 
The 6-string sounds incredible, but it doesn't have such an extreme sound.  In some ways, this makes it more versatile.  I think perhaps there is a greater range of usefulness to the electronics.  While extremely elaborate, I rarely use the full capacity of my electronics on my 8-string; it's already so bright and boomy to begin with that I rarely use the maximum bass and/or the maximum treble and/or the maximum Q.  On the other hand, since my 6-string ISN'T so/as bright and boomy to begin with, it's more conducive to using the full range of the filters and e.q. controls without being completely overwhelming.
(5) Yes, I'm most definitely getting nice piano-like tones with this bass; the 8-string gets them too... but the sound is very different.
 
The 6-string has an overall richer and more complex sound; it's hard to describe, but it's very likable.  It just makes you like it.
 
The 8-string is sort of like the Hulk... very big, strong, powerful... almost intimidating; the 6-string is more like Spider-Man... not as strong, but still very strong, but also very light, fast, and agile... full of finesse.
 
(6) The bottom end is very satisfying.  Nothing compares to my 8-string (at least nothing I've ever heard); but, that said, the 6-string has noticable and superior bottom end to start with (with all controls flat); and I can get PLENTY of bottom by using the filters & Qs and/or the bass boost.
 
I've got to say I'm extremely happy that I got the electronics package I did.  I wouldn't have been happy without both the filters & Qs AND the bass & treble controls.  They complete the package, and make it possible to quickly and easily get any sound I want.  The 2 filters and the blend allow considerable control over the tone... but being able to just have more or less bass and/or treble by turning one or both knobs makes it perfect, and allows a degree of tone control you can't get with just the filters.  The filter & Q setup is great... but they're NOT e.q. controls.  Sometimes you want more bass, and the only way to get it is if you have a bass boost control.
 
I find that I like to use all the tone controls on my bass, and generally use them all.  I'm finding I generally use a little of BOTH the bass and treble controls... about 1/2way, sometimes a little more with the bass -if/when I really want a booming low end.
 
I'm guessing your bass will sound sort of halfway between the two.  With 3 Ebony neck laminates, the Ebony will likely dominate your sound; and then, since Maple is the next most plentiful neck wood, coupled with the fact that your body is also Maple -this should be the next biggest influence.  I'd expect the Vermillion neck laminates and the Coco Bolo to have (relatively) the least impact on your sound; but hopefully they'll still contribute noticably at least a little.  Since you've got Coco on both sides, it seems like it should... but the Ebony WILL dominate.  Don't worry, this is a good thing.  And with Series II electronics, you'll have considerable tonal control.  I still think you'd be happier with the e.q. controls -but of course, that's your decision, and you should follow your best judgment, not mine.
 
I'm guessing there'll be an update soon on your beauty, I'll look forward to seeing it.  With your unique custom neck and Quilted Coco Bolo, it'll be a unique and stunnng beauty!
 
Again, I respectfully suggest you get it insured at least for a 1/2 year -just in case there's any problem with shipping, so you don't get whored!
 
Take care, Mark

Crazy Mark ... 2365 lines
;o))
no picture ?
;o)

Hey, gang, I finally got some pictures posted over in Showcase... here's the link:https://club.alembicguitars.com/Images/411/44656.html?1191190210

Hey, Mark!!
 
Just a quick question: You just have a single Master Bass/Treble (with standard single pair of 1 Bass/1 treble Boost/cut control knobs) control circuit that covers both P/U's, right? Not 2 separate pairs, one for each P/U?
Just wanted to make sure.  
Thanks for the info! Now return to plucking!!
 
BCOOOOL, Mike    (the'Ho).....

Yep, that's right, Mike, just one set/pair of bass & treble knobs for both pickups... that's why my bass has two extra knobs -6 total instead of the usual 4 for Signature electronics.
 
I works REALLY well... it just makes sense.  The individual filters & Qs let you get the sound you want from each pickup; then you mix the two pickups with the blend control; and then, if you want more (or less) bass and/or more (or less) treble... you just turn the knob(s).  It's awesome!  I use them both constantly... I use all the controls constantly.  I love boosting the bass anywhere from halfway to all the way; and I use the treble sometimes to brighten up the sound if I'm using the filters in a lower (non-trebly) position.
 
You have to experience it to appreciate it... but I give it the highest possible recommendation.  If I'd had more money, I'd have got the knobs for the neck pickup, and a pair of toggles for the bridge pickup... but I have to say the master set works great!  Get a pair for your Signature... you won't be sorry!!!

Thanxxx, Mark! Sounds like  yer set-up has ya kinda tickled!! 'Preciate the advice, and mebbe keep an eye on the old FTC of mine for some possible enhancements to the electronics package....
Have a great weekend! TTy, Mike    (the'Ho)
P.S. Wherz those sound bytes???

Oh Hello Mark,
 
Howz things going? Remember me your ole friend Paul? I'm one of the guys still waiting for my bass like some of the rest of your ole friends like Bradley and cowsmilk and pierreves and Jimmy and 5string and Jacko and Jakebass and bassjigga and flaxstacks and mgreen and Olie and tbrannon and artswork99 and bkbass and jtussing and grateful and crgston and deano and fcspoiler and jlpicard and lbpesque and 83daion and Mele_Alo-oh no, wait a minute, that's me. But anyway these are just a few off the top of my head of whom which are still waiting for our rigs.
 
I'm sure you are really busy with work and all and playing that baby now and everything but uh ya know, that was sure a heck of a lot of writting that sure dwiddled down to nothin.
 
Now things have been aweful quiet around here and usually when someone gets their rig they kinda come back in here and give us a little sound byte or a stroke on the back and a little hope you all get yours soon now and dis and dat.
 
Now I don't mean to be causin in kinda disterbance

Don't worry, Paul, just be patient.  The thing is, they're going to do your bass RIGHT, just the way you want it...
 
Obviously, you'd prefer it sooner rather than later; but, if they have to choose between getting it to you sooner and falling short on the quality (or on meeting their responsabilities to other customers) vs. taking longer and getting it to you right...
 
well, you know what their choice'll be.  And let's face it, we wouldn't want it any other way.
 
My friend has this chart/graph with THREE THINGS: cheap; quality; fast.  You just won't get all three.  You can realitically get any one of these things; sometimes you can get two out of three; but only rarely will you get all three at the same time -and certainly NOT with Alembic.
 
Be patient, your time will come -and probably not much longer.  It WILL be worth it.  I speak from experience... twice now.  So accept the word of one who knows.
 
As far as the sound bytes go... I'm really busy trying to get a new job right now... it's occupying all my spare time.  Once that's done with, and I can try and get some help from my very busy girlfriend, I do intend to try to load some sound samples from my two basses.  But it'll be a learning experience.  Hopefully I/we'll be able to do it... but it'll take some time, and won't be in the next couple of days, in any event.
 
Take care, best wishes, and be patient.  It won't be long, and it'll be worth the wait.  You're gonna have a BAD ASS bass!!!