The Original and the Beast

[harald_rost]

Last weekend I was invited into a bass-project. I knew that the founder of this project has a famous Alembic Series 2 copy: the Fernandes FAB 180. So I brought my 1976 Series 1 with and we could compare A/B the two basses. From optical comparisan there was no difference and I was amazed about the quality of work and the well done 1 : 1 copy. Even the Zebrawood of the Fernandes seems to look a bit nicer then the Lacewood on mine.  
 
BUT: While playing over a big bass riff (EBS preamp, carvin poweramp and SWR cabs) there was a signifikant difference in sound. My Series 1 has much more output and a clearer tone. Probably the result of an Ebony fretboard (Alembic) versus Rosewood (Fernandes) and the electronic. Also the owner of the Fernandes mentioned that the Alembic has a better definition of the tone, the sound would come more direct [i think now my english is too poor to describe all the subtleties we heard].
 
All in all it was a nice experience to compare the two basses and to see that the original is not reached. I don't know if anybody out there did the same in the past and has similar observations? Just curious.
 
Harald  

[dela217]

Owning both, I of course made those comparisons too.  I found the Alembic to be much livelier.  It seemed to me that the Fernandez was sort of dead.  Even with new strings, the neck on it was like one big dead spot.  The Alembic would just ring as the Fernandez would drop off.  I guess that is one of the reasons I don't have the copy any more.