Author Topic: The Stralembic (Read 921 times)

kitworld · « **on:** June 08, 2010, 01:45:07 AM »

Hi guys & gals. It?s my first time posting, so I hope I am putting this in the right category. The below project could not have been completed without thanking all the fine folks at Alembic for helping us figure out the wiring on the pickups and selling us a bridge, and Mike Lull in Seattle for the general build and Plek to the neck. They all helped make this dream come true.

For your comments, The Stralembic.

Body: Figured Alder. Paint by Wilkins Guitars
Neck: Made in Japan 62 reissue with matching blue headstock
Bridge: Alembic Brass
Pickups: Alembic
Electronics: Stratoblaster Installed. Active Alembic electronics. Battery compartment on the back of the guitar.
Tailpiece: Alembic Brass
Other Brass Parts: Rear Brass control plate. Brass Dunlop straplocks. Brass neck plate. Brass toggle and switch surround. Brass Vintage schecter Nut.

MORE DETAILED PICTURES AT http://www.bandpasses.com/AlembicWEb7.jpg

bluplirst · « **Reply #1 on:** June 08, 2010, 02:35:33 AM »

Comment:

I want it.

slawie · « **Reply #2 on:** June 08, 2010, 02:51:33 AM »

How does it sound? Because it looks sweet!
Congratulations on getting it finished so quickly.

slawie

jazzyvee · « **Reply #3 on:** June 08, 2010, 05:39:33 AM »

A very interesting project. The bridge and tailpiece seem to go nicely with the deep blue colour.
Am i reading this correct, you have alembic electronics... and a stratoblaster as well?

You are making me lovesick for my alembicised stratocaster which is being refurbished by Jaydee and all being well should be finished within the next couple of months.

Play it heartily alembic activators in strats sound fantastic.

Jazzyvee

terryc · « **Reply #4 on:** June 08, 2010, 06:00:34 AM »

I bet that blows a few Standards into the weeds!!
Get a EH Big Muff and Small Stone on it, Hendrix/Ernie Isley eat your heart out.

(Message edited by TerryC on June 08, 2010)

(Message edited by TerryC on June 08, 2010)

ojo · « **Reply #5 on:** June 08, 2010, 09:45:20 AM »

That is super cool, and love the color scheme. So, what do the knobs do?

Reminds me that I should post pics of my Walembic (or is it Warmblic?) when I get it back from the shop.

Joe

kitworld · « **Reply #6 on:** June 08, 2010, 10:20:03 AM »

Thanks for all the input and comments. I got excited about the way it turned out, and stoked to see others are into projects like this as well. Please post pictures of your Frank (insteins) as well. Would love to see other weirdness.

It ended up sounding very Alembic. Really clear bell-like tones. Obviously no noise or hum. Quiet as a mouse. The guitar overdrives nicely with a Fulltone OCD, and even with the built in effects of a line 6 Amp I have, but it really excels and you can tell the difference in tone when playing clean. Not sure that I appreciated the TONE of Alembic pickups before completing this guitar.

The first pot is master volume. The 2nd pot is master tone and is so Active and has such a wide range of tone that you can emulate a nice wha-wha sound. The first toggle switch is
Up: neck and center pickup
Center: all three pickups
Down: bridge pickup

The 2nd toggle switch is a 2-way switch for in and out of phase.

The Active electronics and the stratoblaster give it a ton of tonal variations, but I am using the blaster mostly for a 6 DB boost for soloing.

(Message edited by Kitworld on June 08, 2010)

hieronymous · « **Reply #7 on:** June 08, 2010, 11:54:06 AM »

Looks like it would get along great with my Telembic! Looks great with the Alembic bridge and tailpiece.

lbpesq · « **Reply #8 on:** June 08, 2010, 01:17:06 PM »

Very cool guitar! Is there a way you can play with just the neck pickup? Is the tone control an Alembic low-pass filter? Here's my Ferlembic. I also have a Fretlight Tele with Alembic guts.

Bill, the guitar one

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #9 on:** June 08, 2010, 01:37:51 PM »

That Gold-against-Blue is simply gorgeous!

eligilam · « **Reply #10 on:** June 08, 2010, 02:54:08 PM »

That's awesome. All the cool Alembic parts on the front really class up the look.

[@ojo: Walembic? Warmoth, Washburn, Wal, or Wishbass? Do tell, perhaps in a new thread...]

ojo · « **Reply #11 on:** June 08, 2010, 03:13:34 PM »

Mwa ha ha ha ha ha . . .

I'm going to leave you in suspense until I get it back. I've had the bass for about a year, and finally decided to have some work done on the neck now that I'm using it in one of my bands.

Next week I'll start a new thread with all the gory details.

Joe

slawie · « **Reply #12 on:** June 08, 2010, 04:02:40 PM »

Here is a picture of my Jalembic.
1977 Jazz bass with Hipshot d-tuner and Badass bridge
with - of course - Alembic pickups

slawie

jazzyvee · « **Reply #13 on:** June 08, 2010, 04:57:04 PM »

Here is what's happening to my stralembic.
http://web.mac.com/jazzyvee/iWeb/Delano%20Mills/Wailers%20Tribute%20Guitar.html

Jazzyvee

kitworld · « **Reply #14 on:** June 09, 2010, 12:00:55 AM »

Wow. The tele bass is rad. Like that you kept the Fender engraved logo pickup on it. Those Fernandes?s gave me an appreciation of how good the Japanese guitars can be. The Marley tribute looks like it will turn out nice as well. As I am sure others will tell me?nothing can beat a complete hand built guitar that is ALL alembic, but so cool to see other people?s customs and variations.

There is a new-ish magazine called Guitar Aficionado that has a picture of David Crosby?s Gibson 335 that has been modified with a special brass tailpiece and electronics that was done by Alembic. Absolutely stunning. I would post a pic, but can?t fine one online at all. I guess that was the first guitar ever with LEDs installed, or so says the article. Ron designed an onboard stereo preamp for it as well.