Madder and madder... ( not at alembic..)

[josh_emmons]

Hi guys! I just got my series 1, and now I am getting frusturated... No, not at the series 1, but at ALL my other basses. and mainly, the warwick thumb NT. It has a cool sound, but it has almost a different tone for each different string. And playing jazz, I cant get that meaty pop tone I want, only a weak, pop. while on my new alembic, it has such a rich sound on all the strings! Do any of you guys know what to do about the weak slap on the warwick, (they dont like me saying that about warwicks). or, should i sell it? BTW the Alembic makes me smile every time I play it! I cannot believe that an instrument could sound like that! Let alone me make those tones!! Thank you Alembic!
Also, Susan, you WHERE right... it makes ALL my basses seem like toys!
P.s., sorry if my post doesn't make sense... or is out of place...
 
(Message edited by josh_emmons on August 10, 2010)
 
(Message edited by josh_emmons on August 10, 2010)

[afrobeat_fool]

And so it begins......

[ajdover]

Josh - If you've discovered Alembics to be what you're looking for, then yes, sell the Warwick.  On the other hand, if you love the Warwick looks, feel, etc., but can't get the same tone as you can with your Series I, maybe you can Alembicise your Wick?  If your your Wick has J and  P bass style pickups you can get some Activators and go from there.  Just a suggestion.
 
Congrats on your Series I.
 
Alan

[josh_emmons]

Sorry, im not mad at you or anything, but what do you mean by that? =) sorry, just a little confused... =)

[elwoodblue]

Many of us have started collecting and loving Alembics after buying (or playing) one.
 I think Nick was observing that your Alembic addiction may have started...not a bad thing : )
...congrats on your new bass!

[josh_emmons]

you know, i might just keep the warwick... the reason, i like to have basses that can play any sound that i am looking for. but the alembic is just sooo versitle as far as sound!

[hb3]

I think Alan was suggesting you alter the electronics of your Warwick to improve the tone, ie, Alembicise it using Alembic circuitry.

[bigredbass]

If you've got one of the typical Warwicks, the dark African wood body with a similar neck, they can be quite spike-y sounding due to the dark hardness of the African woods that Warwick uses on a lot of their axes.  Even if it's a light wood instrument, I'd check your battery, then check your pickup clearances (the space between the top of the pickups and the bottom of the strings).  IF the pickups are not evenly spaced below the strings (say, they are a lot closer on one side then the other), even them up and see if that helps.  
 
NOTHING sounds like an Alembic Series bass, so don't be surprised if your previous faves start to sound suddenly lacking . . . .
 
J o e y

[harald_rost]

Josh, I have a Series 1 and a Thumb NT. Of course they sound very different - as my old Fender Precision does. But I like them all. Every instrument has his own character, playability and Sound. It might be not a good idea to choose the Thumb when playing Jazz. So you can use the bridge PU only and turn off the heights for trying to get the Jaco Sound. But there are other instruments which are better for that.
If you want to sell the thumb and if it is an older one let me know your price.  
 
Harald

[afrobeat_fool]

Yo, Josh. Elwoodblue got that right! I just got off my show and played my S1 for the last 2 hours. I don't even play my two essence basses anymore except for very specific pieces. Or my Warwick. Or my Fenders. Or my Gibson. Or my Armstrong. Etc.
 
Alan's idea is one I am working on with Alembic. Restoring a Hyak.
 
Enjoy your basses!
 
Nick

[benson_murrensun]

Going with a custom-gauged string set might help the tone of the Warwick sound more even from string to string.