Author Topic: Used Alembic Essence 5 at Music Go Round (Read 981 times)

milkdudbass · « **on:** August 12, 2015, 01:41:03 PM »

Really beautiful Essence 5 at Music Go Round in Troy, Michigan. Looking good even after 22 years!

http://www.musicgoround.com/p/341217/used-alembic-essence-5-wcase

echo008 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 12, 2015, 02:03:06 PM »

Hi I sent payment for this today!
Cant wait to get it

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #2 on:** August 12, 2015, 05:08:05 PM »

Congratulations & Compliments! That's a very nice-looking Essence. Be sure to post pics in the Showcase section.

milkdudbass · « **Reply #3 on:** August 13, 2015, 05:46:47 PM »

Nice! I'm glad someone snagged so it would stopped tempting me.
Hope you enjoy it!

bsee · « **Reply #4 on:** August 13, 2015, 11:06:12 PM »

Pictures are gone, never got to see it.

echo008 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 14, 2015, 04:57:21 AM »

I'll direct you to an earlier thread about the bass. The first post has a link to pics.
http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/209833.html?1433173815

If yu read through that thread...the bass has been restored to factory specs, the original owner found the filter pot so I had Chris at misic go round reinstall. So the bass is back to volume pan and filter...He also threw in the bass and treble pots for me. I got the bass for such a great price there was no way to let it go. I'll post pics once I have it!
Thanks
T

(Message edited by echo008 on August 14, 2015)

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #6 on:** August 14, 2015, 05:17:42 AM »

Ahh, yes... I remember that one now, you and Dan (frankfive) were eyeing it a while back. Beautiful bass there - Congratulations!

Good that they put it back to standard with the filter, as that's a great simple circuit. I have that same V-P-F setup in my bass, but with an added 3-position Q. (my bass had an extra hole left over from an earlier hack job) Plus, (as pointed out in the older thread) with those Bass and Treble pots, you always have the option of doing an East-Meets-West conversion later.

echo008 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 14, 2015, 05:29:50 AM »

All good points, and thanks.
I've had an Essence 5 before and loved the simplicity of the controls
I may eventually end up sending it in for the EMW conversion
The bridge seems to be very tarnished I don't think flits I s going to help. A small complaint overall but I was also considering getting a bird bridge for it.
T

bsee · « **Reply #8 on:** August 14, 2015, 06:15:51 AM »

Nice bass - pretty wood! I have an all maple (Well, mostly maple, anyway) Essence five and I am having trouble getting my tone out of it. I think I need a fatter sounding body core, especially if there's no purple heart in the neck. Probably just need to find the right strings.

As far as swapping in a bird, I wouldn't want to add holes. I wonder if you could send the current tailpiece to Alembic, or maybe a trace of it, so they could make you something with the holes in the same positions.

echo008 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 14, 2015, 07:21:14 AM »

I wouldn't add holes either. Sending a tracing at the least sounds right.
T

FC Bass · « **Reply #10 on:** August 14, 2015, 07:37:36 AM »

There's a clearcoat over the tailpiece, you'll need to remove that before using Flitz.
If you put in a little effort with Scotch Brite it will clean up and look like new :-)

Most likely there will be an outline of the tailpiece in the finish of the bass, I think you will Always see that if you replace it with the bird style...

ed_zeppelin · « **Reply #11 on:** August 14, 2015, 08:02:14 AM »

Pardon me for protruding on your conversation, but as a repairman I am compelled to urge caution when it comes to Flitz or removing varnish from metal - especially On Alembics, the highest art in musical instruments.

Don't take steel wool to your Steinway or Kwik-strip to a prewar Martin, either. Good rules of thumb.

I would like to hear from one of the Alembic masters on this issue.

FC Bass · « **Reply #12 on:** August 14, 2015, 08:53:25 AM »

I did the tailpiece of my Orion a couple of days ago, this is only sanded down with Scotch Brite (removing finish and corrosion)

The clearcoat will eventually give in and has to be removed if you want things to shine again, here's the tailpiece of my (December) 2010 Elan:

You can see the corrosion starting at the edges, this one is next up to get the SB treatment. :-) I haven't used a polishing compound yet (I use Brasso)But I'm pretty sure that will get the mirror like finish back. (Message edited by fc_spoiler on August 14, 2015)

FC Bass · « **Reply #13 on:** August 14, 2015, 09:28:56 AM »

This is after Brasso ('83 Spoiler hardware)

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #14 on:** August 14, 2015, 10:10:23 AM »

Flitz seems to have the blessing of the Elves as an approved polish for the metal parts on Alembics...

http://www.alembic.com/prod/polish.html

I do agree with your general advice though, gotta' be careful with this stuff. I ruint (yeah, that's a word around here) the nickel plating on a Gibson banjo once with some kind of chrome polish.