2014 Europa 5-String "Royale"

[5a_quilt_top]

As promised, here are some better photos of this very regal 5-string. These were taken in my backyard located just north of Phoenix, AZ.  The top is bird's eye maple, bookmatched to center. The back is purple heart. Continuous wood truss rod cover (front) and electronics covers (back). Bird's eye maple fingerboard with oval abalone inlays. Gold plated hardware and cream pickup covers. Purple LED's with amber at 12th & 24th fret.  Enjoy!  FRONT:  

  BACK:  

 

  BACK 3/4 VIEW:  

  NECK VIEW:  

  FINGERBOARD DETAIL:  

  HEADSTOCK DETAIL:  

[mtjam]

Fantastic pics! Cool to see your new axe in an outdoor setting. I'm still partial to your Crown of Creation bass, but your Europa is awesome as well! You have quite the Alembic arsenal to choose from. Enjoy them!

[5a_quilt_top]

Thanks Rob. Wish the pix were larger - maybe I can figure out a way to do that & re-post them.
 
FYI: COC will be receiving a set of flatwound strings shortly. Now that Royale has arrived - it will become the more flashy pop/slap contemporary tone machine.
 
COC will be allowed to go in the direction it really wanted to go all along - a visual and tonal homage to Alembic's formative years when Jack Casady and Phil Lesh worked with them to develop their landmark bass tones.
 
It is my understanding through reading on this forum that flatwound strings were at the heart of those tones and I look forward to being able to experience something similar with COC.
 
On the other hand, Royale is everything I'd hoped she would be in the contemporary 5-string tone department. Bright, ringing, well-defined notes all the way dawn to the low open B and string spacing that accommodates my rudimentary pop/slap technique.
 
Long live variety!

[mtjam]

I frequently use flats on my basses. My EVH came with rounds on, and I like how they sound so I left them on. I may eventually put some TI flats on when the rounds wear out.