Author Topic: How do I get started dealing with Alembic? (Read 300 times)

dtrice · « **on:** November 15, 2006, 08:40:12 AM »

Hey, I'm a new fan of Alembic. I came to be one through mainly the work of John Paul Jones and later John Entwistle. I am planning on having an Alembic bass built for me, this will be my first. I do NOT plan on actually placing the build order now, but I want to start discussing it with someone in the company about what exactly I would like built (like body, woods, electronics, layout,etc.) and just generally find out what I'd be getting myself into. If anyone has any information on who I can contact to start talking about building a bass it would be extremely helpful.

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** November 15, 2006, 10:09:59 AM »

Hi Daniel; if you know that you will be placing an order, you might try giving Val a call. Contact info for Alembic is here. However, if you're in the mulling it over stage, there are a number of folks here in this forum that can be of help, and this thread right here would be a great place to get suggestions and feedback on ideas. I suppose you've already checked out the quote generator. Good luck with your project!

bigredbass · « **Reply #2 on:** November 16, 2006, 10:40:45 PM »

Daniel, IF you have the time, this Club is a terrific resource you can use at your own pace.

There are LOTS of instruments in the various styles in the Showcase section. The monthly featured customs are jaw-droppers, and some are WAY off the beaten path. The list of Alembic dealers and their websites often show lots of models as well. With reading our various discussions, after a while you'll being to develop a sense of these instruments.

They really are like snowflakes, all similar in some ways but never identical. I've come to this site every day for six or seven years, and rarely a week goes by that I don't run across one more 'wow, I'd would have never thought of THAT' moment.

Welcome!

J o e y

haddimudd · « **Reply #3 on:** November 24, 2006, 01:56:48 AM »

Also, a good experience for me was when talking to Mica for the first time, she directed me to a variety of retailers who in turn were able to give me a better price than the original retail price, which appears to be the common concept. So if you don't know a good retailer Alembic will be able to find the right one for you.

So as a rule of thumb: Never let yourself put down by the retail price before you discussed it with a retailer. It rarely displays what you will end up paying for real, which is usually a lot less.

Hartmut

dtrice · « **Reply #4 on:** December 04, 2006, 07:10:56 PM »

I am really interested in getting a John Entwistle Exploiter/Spyder. I found a 4 string for sale, with the Flying V headstock like JE's first Exploiters which I prefer to the Dean tuning fork design. The issue is I would prefer Series electronics over the signature already in it. I also would really want to have a hum canceller added. It comes with LED's in the neck, which I honestly don't care about but would paying for. Does anyone think it would be better to get this Spyder and send it back to the Mothership for refit or would be better to have one built from the ground up? Can anyone tell me if there what kind of difference in ready-to-play time between the two options. What kind of financial difference would the two options present? Which do you think would be obviously cheaper?

valvil · « **Reply #5 on:** December 07, 2006, 02:18:50 PM »

Hi Daniel

Just the series II upgrade and the necessary re-finish would be over 6000$; I'd say it's definitely better to start new. You can take advantage of the special and not spend the extra money on something like LEDs which you don't care for. Also time-wise, new instruments have precedence over repairs, so you wouldn 't save any time, since routing, refinishing & upgrading the electronics on the old instrument takes about as much as it takes to build a new one.

Feel free to call me or e-mail me at valentino@alembic.com if you'd like to talk about your ideas.

Valentino

Bradley Young · « **Reply #6 on:** December 07, 2006, 03:36:18 PM »

Valentino neglected to mention that Series instruments are thicker, and therefore Series electronics may not fit in said instrument. It all adds up to the same thing-- find the instrument you want. This likely means calling the factory, since there aren't too many Series II Exploiters running around.

Bradley

valvil · « **Reply #7 on:** December 07, 2006, 04:00:20 PM »

Hi Brad

The reason I did not mention anything about the thickness it that the Spyders (but NOT the Exploiters)are actually thick enough to accomodate series electronics.

Valentino

Bradley Young · « **Reply #8 on:** December 08, 2006, 02:45:55 PM »

That's what I get for trying to look smart!

In my defense, this is an issue with most (all?) of the other body styles.

Bradley

David Houck · « **Reply #9 on:** December 08, 2006, 04:01:23 PM »

Bradley, I believe you are generally correct. The Brown Bass is thick enough, but I believe most of the others are not, unless custom ordered to be so. I wasn't aware that the Spyder was also thick enough; so I learned something new today as well!

dtrice · « **Reply #10 on:** December 12, 2006, 02:35:04 PM »

Hey, guys reading this thread and others in the club I went ahead and made a decision. I have indeed pulled the trigger. My First Alembic, the SPYDER 4 will arrive before this weekend! Soon I too may be able to give advice about these instruments. Oh yeah, I'm ordering a nice 4'' Moody Strap through Alembic.com to hold it. I can't wait.

olieoliver · « **Reply #11 on:** December 12, 2006, 02:48:03 PM »

Very cool Daniel. You will not be disappointed.