Author Topic: Upper horn to 12th fret? (Read 227 times)

ojo · « **on:** July 19, 2011, 08:46:25 AM »

Hi all,

I've been thinking about something for awhile now, and want to put it to the crowd.

I've got an Epic that I love, but I tend not to play it because it sits differently than my #1, a fretless jazz bass (loaded with Alembic pickups). The upper horn stops at the 14th fret, while my jazz goes to the 12th fret. I've found that the extra inch really makes a difference, and prevents me from consistently reaching for the Epic.

I've got a Warmoth jazz with the East Meets West setup, but it isn't the same as the Epic. They are in the same ballpark, but the Epic sounds different and better (sorry, can't think of a good way to describe the sounds differences).

So, specifically:
- Has or will Alembic make a bass that ergonomically feels and plays like a Fender Jazz bass?
- Alternatively, does the Rogue fit the bill?

Thanks,

Joe

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 19, 2011, 08:57:58 AM »

i knew these were somewhere http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/95941.html?1297006322

~Taylor

ojo · « **Reply #2 on:** July 19, 2011, 09:59:10 AM »

I've lusted over the UK Elans for awhile now, but they seem to have the same problem as my Epic. The upper horn ends at the 14th fret. That means the reach is still an inch longer than a traditional Jazz.

I would buy one of these if I could get one with a upper horn at the 12th fret.

tbrannon · « **Reply #3 on:** July 19, 2011, 10:15:22 AM »

The Rogue body shape gets you to the 12th fret.

bonesrad · « **Reply #4 on:** July 19, 2011, 10:44:19 AM »

I think the Europa and Orion designs most closely mimic a jazz bass design. My Europa balances very well and I have no trouble reaching 1st postion. While I've never strapped on a Rogue, I would assume it would balance just fine too.

Bones

ojo · « **Reply #5 on:** July 19, 2011, 11:05:07 AM »

It's not so much the body shape, but rather the muscle memory.

Since I'm used to the physical layout of the jazz, I tend to be off when I pick up the Epic. For example, when I play the Epic, I put my hand where I think the E at the 7th fret should be (based on the Jazz Bass), and end up playing F# instead.

(Message edited by ojo on July 19, 2011)

David Houck · « **Reply #6 on:** July 19, 2011, 12:10:30 PM »

Joseph; I don't have a Fender Jazz bass, but I'm looking at a picture. Take a look again at the picture that Taylor linked to above. Notice which fret the lower cutaway is at, now look at your Fender. Now look at the picture of the Alembic again and notice where the bridge is located on the body, and then look at where the bridge is located on the Fender.

I would imagine you could order a bass from Alembic like the one in the picture, but with the bridge moved back toward the end of the body like on the Fender; that would get the horn to the 12th fret, but it would significantly cut back access to the upper frets just like the Fender. You would probably have to go with a bar tailpiece instead of the bird tailpiece, and it would probably be right at the edge of the body. But I'm guessing Alembic could build it for you.

ojo · « **Reply #7 on:** July 19, 2011, 01:58:09 PM »

Dave,

You have no idea how many times I've thought of that. I have had many dreams of moving the bridge on my Epic, and resetting the neck to match . . . hold your horses everyone, I'm not gonna hack up my Epic like that.

Anyhow, my feeling is that it was an intentional design choice by Alembic to allow full access all the way up to the 24th fret. Of course the trade off is that the neck tends to stick out a bit. This probably wouldn't bother me if I only played Alembics, but I don't.

So, has anyone had Alembic build a bass like this?

charles_holmes · « **Reply #8 on:** July 19, 2011, 02:27:38 PM »

You gotta play that Alembic. You have to get to know your bass it in order to effectively navagate and feel comfortable doing it. You have to get inside your Alembic. There's no way around that, period! Just embrace the differences and take the plunge. Try switching to the Doublebass from the electric bass guitar, when you have to play from the 12th fret on up so-to-speak, you have to use the thumb position There you'll have to build another callous on the outside of your thumb (it was painful indeed!!) But once past the barrier it is quite liberating indeed! I have seen electric bass guitar players use their thumb,index,middle and ring finger to play in the upper registers.

David Houck · « **Reply #9 on:** July 19, 2011, 02:37:22 PM »

I've seen very few Alembics with Fender style bodies; so my guess is, if anyone did have one, it would be rare.

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #10 on:** July 20, 2011, 08:24:23 AM »

What puts me away from Fenders is its string spacing (too wide for my taste). Isn't that a bigger issue than upper horn size to you?

And I think the extra scale range can be defying too, since this pushes our fingers far from neck (where it could easily be in a Fender). I rather play 24 fret basses, but miss the rounder tone we get when playing near 21st (thats why I play over the board some tunes).

That would be my main concerns if I were dreaming with a Fenderlembic.

palmann · « **Reply #11 on:** July 27, 2011, 11:15:55 AM »

After struggling with the same problem for a few years (I even had to put down the Alembic in a recording session, because I was not able to play a riff correctly), I finally recognized, that I have to play my Essence in a higher position and with another technique than my Precisions. I changed my right hand technique and I see that it makes me also play different on my Fenders (well not so much, but a little). I consider this a good thing but I also can understand that someone does not want to change his playing style.

Gruesse, Pablo

(Message edited by palmann on July 27, 2011)