Author Topic: Please help out a noob (Read 585 times)

markthemuscleshark · « **on:** April 17, 2011, 02:57:02 AM »

I am a complete noob when it comes to Alembic.I have never touched, seen, or played an Alembic. I have heard many basses and heard a couple of guitars. I have been fascinated with Alembic instruments ever since I saw a couple of early Alembics in a guitar book lying around my dad's house. I think they are very beautiful, extremely well crafted, and they have versatile electronics. Now, all I can think of is Alembic instruments, specifically guitars. My main rig is a simple 40 watt Egnater combo and a Charvel San Dimas. I am looking to add an Alembic to my arsenal. I have decided that I don't want anything fancy (by Alembic's standards, of course)
So I have decided on a California Special. First of all, I play just about every genre of music. I mean EVERYTHING. I cannot stress this enough, I play jazz-rock, classic rock, Hendrix, thrash metal, jazz standards, progressive, djent, blues, latin, you name it. I have heard numerous things about Alembic's Activators. I aim for a very warm sound. When I play clean, I use a jazzy warm tone most of the time. When I use drive, I go for a smooth, legato sound like Allan Holdsworth (my idol). Even when I play metal, I don't like a super harsh sound. Think early Metallica, not that I like them, but I would compare their sound to my metal tone. Would a California Special, with the stock Activators, with a Kahler bridge, be able to pull off the sounds I am looking for, or am I looking at the wrong brand altogether? I want to know, since Alembics aren't the cheapest guitars around, and buying one would be a major investment for me. How much would a used California Special with a Kahler go for? I don't mind dings or extra holes, they add a certain je ne sais quoi, I just want an Alembic.

hb3 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 17, 2011, 10:27:19 AM »

I don't necessary have the answer, but I'd definitely suggest you play one first.

crobbins · « **Reply #2 on:** April 17, 2011, 10:39:14 AM »

A Skylark may not be a bad choice either. Although there is no whammy bar..It is setup kinda like a Gibson with humbucker style pickups. Maple top, mahogany body...But, with the quality, and craftmanship of an Alembic...

(Message edited by CRobbins on April 17, 2011)

pace · « **Reply #3 on:** April 17, 2011, 12:54:54 PM »

Welcome to the board, Mark!

Although activators come in many different shapes, they are all pretty much of the same hum-canceling construction. The default pickups on most California Specials is S-S-H with a 5 way switch, volume, and filter.... I think that a lot of guitarists used to passive or even EMG electronics are taken aback that the humbucker in the bridge doesn't contrast to single coils in the way that they're used to. The phase cancellation or comb filtering isn't there~ and that Activator humbucker is just as wide open as the single-coils. The only exception is that the humbucker has a slightly wider aperture. So with that said, any pre conceived notions about how an Alembic might sound just by the shape of the pickups should be thrown out.

From there, the next game changer is how the pickups react to each other. The typical 5-way switch on a Strat takes advantage of a reverse-wound-reverse-polarity middle pickup, also perhaps a coil tap in position 4... This isn't the case on a California Special. You're basically selecting an individual pup or summing neck/mid or mid/bridge. In my opinion, an Activator package with on/off pup toggles is a little more versatile. Some of the latest designs (Further/Tribute/Sylark) make use of a three way off/on/bright toggle for each pup! If you find a two pickup model in your quest, having a vol/vol or vol/pan configuration can go a long way in tweaking your tone too!

And the last thing to consider is the number of filters on the guitar. The Further/Tribute/Skylark models have a filter for each pickup.... this is very useful in dialing in different tones and EQ curves. Definitely try to check one out and get an idea as to how these electronics behave. They may or may not be your thing!

bigredbass · « **Reply #4 on:** April 17, 2011, 03:45:50 PM »

I second Pace's Welcome !

We ALL came here as 'noobs'. I remember I first saw a very early catalog in the late '70's, and was floored by that image of a Series bass. I often think this 'itch' is further aggravated by the fact these things are almost legends or whispered images since we rarely get a chance to play one. I walked into a music store in Nashville and found my first hanging on the wall as a consignment piece, and everything changed from then on.

They do, of course, make fabulous guitars. I don't play guitar but am quite taken by the Darlings. Since you live in Cali, I'm sure someone here will chime in, maybe you can meet up and go from there. If you're anywhere in NorCal, I'd urge you to go to the source: Visit Santa Rosa, meet the Wickershams, and see the axes in the flesh.

This is a small community of fanatics. The Wickershams have set a tone of welcome and customer service you will find nowhere else. I can not recommend the axes and the people highly enough, I don't have the words to express my fondness and appreciation for them that reflects the depth of how I truly feel about them, nor can I ever repay how good they have been to me. And anyone else here will tell you the same thing. Susan, Mica, and Mary have treated me like long lost family, and we've yet to meet face to face, though I hope to go some day.

Good to have you here, and best of luck on finding your Alembic !

j o e y

markthemuscleshark · « **Reply #5 on:** April 17, 2011, 11:34:42 PM »

Jeez, I REALLY wish I could visit Santa Rosa, becaue I live in California, but I live all the way in Orange County, so I'm hundreds of miles away. Driving here would not only be a hassle, I have a schedule from HELL, you might call me a workaholic, I barely have time to play guitar anymore. Maybe next time I visit family in Alameda, I'll drive a bit more and see what Alembic is all about.

ajdover · « **Reply #6 on:** April 18, 2011, 12:06:34 AM »

Mark - visit them. You will not be disappointed. I did so in 2006, and it was well worth it.

Alan

serialnumber12 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 18, 2011, 05:00:33 AM »

Back in 1983 my alembic guit working so i took it to alembic & Ron opened it up fixed it & didnt charge me a Damm Dime!

terryc · « **Reply #8 on:** April 18, 2011, 05:10:31 AM »

Mark..welcome to our world, I would definitely make the effort to go to Santa Rosa, I did and I live in the UK!
I too have never played an Alembic guitar but to me Alembic is all about the basses, they are truly the best in the world.

lbpesq · « **Reply #9 on:** April 18, 2011, 07:24:19 AM »

Mark:

Welcome to the club. I live in Alameda and have several Alembic guitars, both Series and non-Series, and a home studio. If you're in town visiting your parents and want to shoot over and take a few for a test spin, let me know. And once you're here, the hour drive up to Alembic is well worth the effort.

Bill, the guitar one

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #10 on:** April 20, 2011, 07:28:34 AM »

They are beautiful instruments. One thing to keep in mind, is that the impedance of the electronics is different from that of a passive guitar. If you are getting your overdrive and distortion straight from your amp, you should be all set. If you use any number of pedals for this purpose, you're going to want to have them along to try out with the guitars as well. It can sometimes make a big impact (especially with germanium fuzzes). I know a number of people have worked around it, but it was a sticking point for me. Best of luck.

briant · « **Reply #11 on:** April 20, 2011, 08:02:59 AM »

Have any of you who own an Alembic guitar tried using a volume pedal with a 250K pot to try and simulate/fool the tempermental pedals into thinking the instrument is passive?

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #12 on:** April 20, 2011, 09:01:37 AM »

Yep, and I also tried adjusting the internal trim pots to bring the levels down to roughly that of a passive guitar. No dice, at least for me. I once saw an effect box that claimed it could transmute low impedance to high impedance (for lack of a better term), but if I recall correctly the company went out of business shortly thereafter.

crobbins · « **Reply #13 on:** April 20, 2011, 11:49:27 AM »

All of my Boss pedals seem to work just fine with my Tribute. I run all the pedals through the fx loop on my Boogie amp, and plug the guitar straight in. Works great, no noise, or pops at all..

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #14 on:** April 20, 2011, 12:27:45 PM »

I suspect that they do. My DOD pedals worked fine with my Skylark and my Orion. My collection of boutique effects (which to be fair, are optimized for traditional passive electronics). . . shot craps. I'm also willing to bet that you rely on the Boogey for distortion primarily (which is where I thought things were lacking most). I don't consider myself a gear snob (if it works, then use it), but running a super fidelity guitar through a $60 dollar pedal is a bit of a blasphemy to me, and those effects seem to be very accommodating (but not particularly unique in their sound). I'd still like to own another Alembic some day with a two pick-up Vol/Pan/Filter setup, but I would also like a middle passive pick up to get the sound I like.