Elan 5 right around the corner from the Mothership

[xlrogue6]

Posted about this one back in March, noticed yesterday that much to my surprise it's still up for sale. If only I had a spare $2995, I'd be all over it. But I don't, so maybe someone else here can score this one.www.loudandclearmusic.com/shop/Bass-Guitars/p/ALEMBIC-ELAN-5-STRING-ELECTRIC-BASS-W-CASE-x62127741.htm

[adriaan]

Fixed the link for you.

[gearhed289]

I just happen to have a spare $2995. 😁 Not the scale I'm looking for, but it's nice enough that I'd consider a compromise. Hmm...

[BeenDown139]

those maple core elans are teh bomb, mate!  closest thing you're gonna get to series sound imho ymmv and all that rot.  others may not agree.  so sayeth the old geezer getting ready to fire the vaporizer up for the mornng eye opener.

whoooo!

<edit now that the rush has worn off a little>  this bass looks familar for some reason.

[jazzyvee]

I have two mainly maple alembics. A 4 string all maple Elan 4 which sounds a lot like a series bass when the elan has the filter is fully open though it can't get the subtleties of tone that two filter systems give you. I also have a 5 string Europa with anniversary electronics and an all maple body and maple and purpleheart neck. That too has some of the series flavour to it with the filters fully open but not as much as the 4 string Elan does. Maybe it is because of the P-style pickups in the 4 stringer,

If I was going for a custom alembic i'd certainly be considering a maple body core with a dark wood top.

[gearhed289]

I've always felt that a traditional Alembic should have a mahogany body, but now I'm wondering. I do love maple basses, and I bet the tone can get pretty aggressive, which I like.

I emailed them this morning with a few questions. 

[jazzyvee]

Not sure what agressive means unless you mean punchy, then yes. But it's also really smooth sounding, deep and crisp all at the same time.
Fully open, my 4 string gets close to that Entwhistle sound from Won't get fooled again.  i's love to play that on a gig. But not sure how that would fare in a Reggae or jazz funk context. :-)

[gearhed289]

Fully open, my 4 string gets close to that Entwhistle sound from Won't get fooled again.

That's what I'm talkin about! 

[gearhed289]

Hope to be closing the deal on this one today. I've been Alembic-less for 3-1/2 weeks, and I don't like it! 

[BeenDown139]

Congratulations on your acquisition.  A fine way to re-start a collection, pretty sure you won't be disappointed.

My first alembic after a 16-year hiatus was a maple core 5-string elan with a cocobolo top.  What a monster!

[gearhed289]

Congratulations on your acquisition.  A fine way to re-start a collection, pretty sure you won't be disappointed.

My first alembic after a 16-year hiatus was a maple core 5-string elan with a cocobolo top.  What a monster!

Awesome, good to hear! I've already got two cherry bursts with extra strings. I guess a third won't hurt. 

[welovecats]

Shades of Chris Squire. Love that 8 string.

[rv_bass]

Very nice, congratulations!  The Ric and Guild are pretty cool too.