I have an Epic 5str fretless QMT - Great sounding bass with huge dynamic range - from Double bass to fine electric tone instantly! Aged about 10-13 years and it sings!
Anyway - Im jamming with friends at my best friends birthday party ,and some friends of friends arrived , One guy,whome Id never met had a bass case with him. - Wondering what he was packing I struck up some bass talk with him.
Jeff ,his name was, complimented my Epic, as he'd never played any Alembic & wanted to test drive it a little. He seemed like an experienced player, older than me by 5 years - so Im curious as to what he has ,and ask him what he is playing...
He pulls out a Carl Thompson 4str fretted! - never thought Id see one (im huge Claypool fan & love some CT designs,but not others.)
Anyway
Jeff's Bass was actually quite plain looking, dark mahogany body with maple stripes in the thu-neck & only one pickup - slim with the CT scroll & an amazing figured wing on the top. It sounded amazing - v.diff from Alembic , but good and warm tone with sharp response on the slap ( fastest neck & action Ive ever played). It was light to hold and felt really good for the player - Great balance
We played each others basses ( both quite acomplished players) and admired what each other was up to, - Jeff said he'd love a fretless, and after playing my Epic claimed only Alembic would do - looking for that clean contra bass that only Alembic offers.
And for my part I told him to give me 1st refusal if he evr sold his CT ( although I think he'll get buried with it! as he had waited over 2 & half years for CT to build it!)
But given the choice - my Epic is so much more versatile!! The CT is out of this world for slapping funk/fusion and for fast,fast.fast playin but finger style sounds a bit empty and the sustain is sometimes too short - Alembics can make a note ring& resonate exactly as long as you need it to!
so Overall Id prefer My Epic - a bass so versatile
that you can play any style you want. Even If it is too heavy for my long suffering shoulders! lol
Just thought Id share this encounter with Alembic Club - Never thought Id play or even see A CT
bass! Still keepin touch with Jeff & his band - Illegal Tender.
Alembic or CT?
