Series basses vs Signature basses?

[LMiwa]

Jazzyvee,
 
I don't think my comments are at odds with Mica's comments. In general, the electronics in Alembic instruments sound vastly different from non-Alembic instruments. And that difference completely overshadows the differences between woods within a particular Alembic model.
 
If you were asking about an instrument with a single filter and fixed Q versus a Series instrument, then I would have said the Series electronics were WAY more flexible. But you are asking about two instruments that both have dual filters with switchable Q. And while working with volume/blend is somewhat different from two volumes, I don't think that really affects the sound. So my comments about the wood making a big difference was within the very narrow confines of two instruments with very similar controls.
 
I had two Rogues with different top wood (Wenge vs Walnut) and all the rest of the wood was the same. With the controls set the same (Q off, filters open), there was a discernable difference between them. That difference was very obvious to me, but not to anyone else in my family. However, they could all tell the difference between them and my Fender P-bass! For me there's also a huge difference between the wenge Rogue and my coco bola Series II. On a good day some of my family could tell the difference...
 
And while there's a difference, I don't consider it a better/worse quality thing, but rather a difference in character - blue isn't a better color than yellow. So I would say my Series has a huge, round sound and the Wenge Rogue had a snappy, aggressive sound. My take on that is the ebony in the neck and coco bola body in the Series versus the all maple neck and Wenge body in the Rogue, not the difference in electronics.
 
That said, if someone offered me a free upgrade from Signature electronics to Series electronics, I most certainly would accept!  
 
Loch

[terryc]

Can we become obsessed with tone, the basses we use have loads of tone options,Series II being the ultimate at your fingertips without going to your amp.
All modern bass amps have so many parameters it is difficult to choose between them at times.
Then there is types of pick up, body woods, playing techniques.
I had racks loads of gear back in the 80/90's, I had a custom 22 band graphic for gods sake!, compressors, power amps etc, in the end I got sick of lugging it around and went back to basics and this was before I got my MK in 1998, I was using a P bass with Almebic activators and it was a Squier.
I think jimmyj quoted sometime ago about plugging his Alembic into a power amp and speakers only and using what you have got on the guitar, lets face it S2 controls with vari Q, filters and master volume is like having a mixing desk on your bass.
Sometimes less is more in many cases, in cooking anything more than 5 flavours then your palate becomes confused..maybe it is the same with your ears??

[sonicus]

terryc,
            Yes , I think that there is truth in your statement .I have to watch my self from getting   over processed in my approach as well.( that can be a challenge for me) I have tried My  Series II  through just a power amp and a pair of speaker cabinets and was delighted at the  results ; Thanks JImmy J , for that idea !

[mica]

I have witnessed many players who never look back after getting their Series I/II.  
 
It's a very difficult thing to put into words. I wear glasses all day. Once in a while it occurs to me to actually clean them (usually with Alembic polish (shameless plug and of course always on my desk)), and then it's like WHOA! suddenly I can see.  
 
When I compare Series instruments to other models we make, it's like I can suddenly hear. The other models aren't bad and certainly sound very, very good. But there is something about the Series I/II instruments that is like opening your eyes wide. You could see before, but now there are details revealed that were previously obscured.  
 
See how hard it is to talk about tone?

[David Houck]

I'll say this about Signature; Art came by the other day and brought his MK, plugged it into my F-1X, running into a Carver power amp and an Eden 210XLT.  It sounded great!

[otis]

Mica,
 
I totally agree.  I can't imagine having anything other than a Series I or II now that I have my Series II Six.  Nothing else compares, and I've played a lot of great Alembics!
 
They do all sound great, but there's just something magical about the Series instruments- why else would Stanley Clarke play only Series Basses?  There's a clue, right there- the tone is crystal clear and beautiful beyond words.  Nothing else comes close!
 
Peace All;)
 
Frank

[ajdover]

Mica is spot on if you ask me.  She's absolutely right in that all of Alembic's models are very well made, and sound/play great.  It's just that the Series instruments are all that and then some.
 
I find myself reaching for my SII more than my other Alembics (a SC Sig Std, a Dragon's Wing with Sig electronics, an Essence and an Epic).  It is just ... it's hard to describe as Mica notes.  To me, it's just more warm, defined, deep, etc.  
 
If I had to define a Series instrument vice another Alembic without Series electronics, I'd simply say this - the tone is pure.  There's nothing there that could possibly mask the tone - it's clean, unadulterated, crisp, defined.  Once one plays a Series instrument, one really gets a feel for what tone really means.  Well, I did anyway, after I got my Series II.
 
I'm just glad the Alembic company exists, and brings so much joy to those of us who own and play these instruments.
 
Alan

[pierreyves]

Jazzy... when you will turn on series instrument, never come back... my koa bass is simply the best bass I never had.

[jazzyvee]

I have to thank you guys for responding because I really understand how subjective tone is and how difficult it is to describe. But there is something in all of your descriptions that i can relate to easily when comparing my alembic to another non alembic bass. Mica your description of tone clarity is just how I felt when I bought my first Alembic.  
 
I doubt if I would ever convince myself to stump up the cost of a brand new series bass but a used one depending configuration and cost would be an option I could consider.
 
However of all my alembic instruments which includes a series I electric guitar, I prefer the sound of my SC deluxe signature bass overall and if for some reason I had to sell them all bar one, I would be happy with the tone I would be left with.
 
Although I'm primarily a guitarist, on that bass I feel I have found  my voice on a stringed instrument and the versatility and clarity of tone is incredible. I don't use any effects etc and just have a signal line of F1-x, SF-2,  QSC and Mesa boogie cabs.  
I can't find any fault with the tone I can achieve using that and my fingers. I have two other basses with europa electronics and although they sound great, I often find myself reaching for another filter which isn't there so I firmly believe the additional filter does make a huge noticeable difference to the sound that is produced from the instrument.  
 
I think one of my main concerns about having a series I bass is what I find with my series guitar. I'm a master volume control type of guy and all my guitars bar the series I guitar have single volumes which allows me to easily drop the volume without affecting the pickup balance between bridge and  neck. Whereas the series has two pots and trying to adjust them and keep the same balance is frustrating for me and would be one of the reasons that would put me off getting one.
 
 
But I would still relish the opportunity for a side by side session to at least give my head some clarity on the pro's and cons.
 
In the meantime I keep my eyes open here and on Ebay for the right bass to come along.
 
 
 
Jazzyvee

[tbrannon]

Jazzy,
 
I'm with you on the master volume control.  I chose the signature setup on my Elan for that reason.   However, there have been several series basses built with a master volume included in the control layout.  I'm sure that the circuitry could be added to a Series I bass if you bought one used.  
 
A series bass is somewhere in my future- and when it happens, I'll be looking to add a master volume.

[pierreyves]

the most intelligent could be to replace vol neck and volume bridge imn series I & II by balance (neck/bridge) control and master volume as signature series no ? Not need to add another control !

[jazzyvee]

Yes Pierreyves, I think that would be ok also. I do find that setup quicker and more intuitive when using my signature bass.
 
tbrannon, I have read of a basss like that on the forum some time in the past. I think there was a long interesting thread somewhere about the pro's and cons of individual volume controls versus pan and master. Maybe I will have a look for that and have another read.
 
Jazzyvee

[tbrannon]

Pierre,
If removing the two individual volumes and inserting a pan and master volume could be done simply it would be ideal for my preferences.

[tbrannon]

Jazzy,
 
Here are two of the threads discussing master volume +pan vs dual volume controls
 
http://www.alembic.com/club/messages/402/26700.html?1150007109
 
http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/12728.html

[edwin]

My impending Series I will have a blend and master volume setup. It requires special pots to maintain the stereo signal. I guess there's one of us here that's fond of that setup, so they keep a few on hand. I'm looking forward to being able to check that out!