Series 2 with graphite neck

[dela217]

Being a Series II, it has the bookmatched to center headstock veneers.
 

[David Houck]

I love the figuring on the Maple!  Beautiful bass!

[sonicus]

Oh yes ,  Beautiful.

[artswork99]

Thanks for the fabulous eye candy!

[JimmyJ]

Yeah Michael, real nice! That's a short scale?
Jimmy J

[dfung60]

Michael -  
 
Your Series is awesome!  What's the scale on this one? It's interesting that the battery plate isn't inlaid.  
 
Do you still have the black graphite too?
 
It's funny that you mention liking Slowounds.  I generally am not really crazy about D'Addario bass strings, but I loved those as well.  At the time the discontinued them, I remember the story was that they transitioned the XL production to use a similar technique, so the more expensive Slowounds didn't make sense.  But they XLs don't sound at all like the Slowounds to me.
 
When I had my graphite S2 built, I was trying to get everything done in the old way - class body shape and cutaways, matte finish.  But I think some change had been made where the bodies were slightly thinner and this necessitated the second circuit board on the top half of the body. I haven't been in there a while, but the regular cavity is pretty jam packed (at least 4 regular basses worth of wiring).  The upper cavity just has the preamp board mounted to the plate. Plenty of extra room for a future Series III upgrade, eh?
 
David Fung

[dfung60]

[Whoops, saw a typo, too slow on the cancel button.  Just disregard this! - DF]
 
(Message edited by dfung60 on May 26, 2010)

[dfung60]

Jimmy -  
 
Your description of your '80 neck profile is interesting.  Mine is very narrow and very thick with little increase in width toward the bridge.  Sort of starts out like an old EB-3 and stays that way up the neck.  It's weird but comfortable.  It looks like Michael's is pretty narrow too.
 
The necks are fabricated with a U profile, but the top is milled flat.  The amount that's milled affects the thickness of the neck.  I've seen a number of them where the area up to the 3rd fret ends up being solid.  I guess that's good since it increases the gluing area where the neck is most vulnerable.  If the monocoque neck shell is too thin, then there's not enough bonding face at the edges.  I've been told this is why early necks had more delamination failures.
 
At the risk of causing you to lock your bass in ta vault, I'm fairly certain that Geoff referred to your bass as being the very first 5-string electric bass with a low-B.  Maybe my memories are scrambled on this.  I can't really remember when I first started seeing 5-string basses with a low B.  My first 5-string was a Modulus in the late 80s.
 
David Fung
 
(Message edited by dfung60 on May 26, 2010)

[dela217]

By the way guys, my graphite bass has a hollow headstock.  
 
Are they all that way?  I removed a tuning key once to put on a D-Tuner when I noticed it.

[serialnumber12]

wow Hollow headstock? .......hey mike whats with your katrina basses (Hurricane) are they being worked on at this point & how many did you send to alembic for repairs?

[room037]

I'm in !
 
I mention several words about graphite neck.
 
  1: When the first graphite Alembic was made ?
 
 The Long Story said first 2 graphite were made for Stanly (black bass ?) and Mcvie at 1976.  
But J.Entwistle's 4 string Scorpion has No. 75' A043.
 
2: When the last graphite Alembic was delivered ?
 
  There is 89' graphite exploiter in the archive of Station Music.
  Hi David Fung, When your graphite was made ?
 
3: The sounds of Graphite neck.
 
  When I got my first graphite (ex' Michael's black 5 strings), I loved the clarity of sounds. The bass has maple (solid) body and replaced Mac. Ebony top and back.  
  But I know each Graphite instrument has different sounds when I got my next graphite.
  My shorty graphite is made of Koa and Mahogany wood and has fat midrange sounds.
  I am very interested Jimmy's relative comment the sound fit for fletless.
 
I also own Hyak (but guitar).
I can't speak about the sound relatively.
I only think the graphite layer is not effective than no truss rod.
 
By the way, the combination tailpiece of Jimmy's basses are effective for the sounds or not ?
 
4: My 5 strings Graphite
My 83' 5 strings has same head as Jimmy's, but neck is slightly wide on bridge side. (You can see the wider bridge)
I think the mold were different.
And the neck is very thin, because thinner or single layred fretboard. I don't know such fretboard on another graphite.
 
Hi Michael, The headstock of mine (not me! ha ha!) is hollowed.
 
Hi Jimmy,
Why you change the location of the upper horn strap pin ?
(Your preferable position is inside of the horn for a long time, isn't it ?)  
 
Eiji

[keith_h]

Wow Michael. When we talked about the characteristics of the graphite necks a couple of years back I didn't realize how nice yours looks (I was looking at a different bass at the time). It's a definite keeper but if you ever .....
 
Keith

[senmen]

Guys,
and really not to forget John Entwistles graphite neck 8string Spyder.......
 
Oliver (Spyderman)
 
(Message edited by senmen on May 27, 2010)

[gregduboc]

I love the feel and sound of a graphite neck. You guys have unbelievable beautiful basses. I just ordered a Status Graphite to suit my need for a bit of graphite in my life! I wish Alembic still made them...  Here are some shots I have saved of the bass Eiji mentioned:

 

 It is my dream bass. The best electronics, the best shape (for me!) and graphite! I wish it was for sale...  Greg

[JimmyJ]

Some real exotics here!  
Eiji, you have quite a collection of basses and may know more about Alembic's Industrial history than any of us.  To answer your two questions to me;  
#1, Yes, I imagine my bridge/tailpiece combo units must have an effect on the sound, not to mention the double blocks underneath.  So any generalizations I have made about graphite may be moot!  Ha!  
#2, I have had the strap button at the end of the horn for a long time but it may have been inside the horn on my '76 - that was before I knew about strap-locks...  As a curiosity, I also use the button nearest the 5-pin connector for the other end of the strap.  Not sure if that's normal or odd.
 
Jimmy J