Author Topic: Poor Man's Alembic (Read 612 times)

essencetimestwo · « **on:** October 11, 2005, 06:46:29 PM »

Just looking through the new Carvin catalog and came across their new Elite Series bass. Has anyone else seen this yet? Front and back laminates on the body and headstock. No matter how much you try and make it look like an Alembic it is still a Carvin. I have become such an Alembic snob. Apologies in advance to any Carvin fans out there...

funkedupbass · « **Reply #1 on:** October 11, 2005, 10:29:52 PM »

I have a carvin and when I saw that catalog the poor man's Almebic is exactly what I thought. But then I realized that I just bought an Alembic (granted a used Distilate) for much less than the carvin elite bass. So even though on the grand scale of Alembics I don't have much bragging rights, I'll wager my new/used distilate against that carvin look-alike.
-eric

rami · « **Reply #2 on:** October 12, 2005, 06:08:41 AM »

When I got my first Alembic, I went through a period of looking down at everything else. Then I remembered how much I still enjoyed playing my other Basses, and why I can't bring myself to sell any of them. Each one of my instruments is an individual with its unique voice. It's about how it makes me feel when I play it rather than who made it and whose name or logo it wears. I never tried a Carvin, but I am impressed with what they offer and their prices. Besides, I've yet to read or hear of any Carvin that has ever had a bad review.

Rami

essencetimestwo · « **Reply #3 on:** October 12, 2005, 06:33:38 AM »

Many years ago I ordered a 6 string Carvin but the neck twisted during assembly. They were very nice about it but I just couldn't trust or follow through with starting over again and bailed out of it. I currently have a Carvin Vintage 16 for my guitar amp (yes they are a great value) but the first one they shipped me didn't work. I have, and am able to appreciate my other basses (Schecter P-Bass and Jay Turser Hollowbody). Maybe I just have a stigma attached when it comes to Carvin. But C'mon. laminated the back of the headstock with the same wood as the top? Imitaion is the best form of flatery. Just look at me. I play a Shecter P-Bass not a Fender.

lindoom · « **Reply #4 on:** October 12, 2005, 07:42:25 AM »

now this is the poor mans Alembic, you can dress it up but it is still a peice of crap 1985 Gibson bass

rami · « **Reply #5 on:** October 12, 2005, 09:56:45 AM »

I think Crap is a relative term. By today's standards, a 1960 Fender Jazz Bass should fall under this heading. But if you're lucky enough to find one, you'll pay more than the price of an Alembic Series II. Also, how many top professional players play Fenders compared to any other brand? Clearly, most of them can easily afford a custom made super exotic instrument.
I don't think it's fair to pass out labels. What works for some may not work for others.

Rami

lindoom · « **Reply #6 on:** October 12, 2005, 10:27:11 AM »

well I only said that because it's my bass. I don't think it would work for anyone I retopped it at first I had Alembic pj with spoiler electronics even with that it did not sound very good so I put emg's in it as to not waste my Alembic system but from the factory the thing was pretty bad I had to do a lot of work to it just to make it playable. it was a gift to me not dissin Gibson but I would not have bought this bass. it dosent resonate very well the open e just dies right after striking it, I'v changed the bridge to a badass still no change. I guess the wood it's made from just don't want to be a bass. oh well until I can dig up enough scratch for a Spyder it will have to do it's nice to look at though

tbrannon · « **Reply #7 on:** October 12, 2005, 12:16:46 PM »

I've played a few Carvins and own one of their 5 strings. They are what they are: well put together basses that have decent options for much cheaper than what you'd pay in GC for a similarly equipped Fender-Gibson-Ibanez-etc...

That being said, if I was currently in a position to shell out $1000+ for a bass, I'd just as soon get myself a used Alembic and KNOW that I was playing the best equipment my dollars could buy.

bracheen · « **Reply #8 on:** October 12, 2005, 12:28:50 PM »

Well said, Rami.

lbpesq · « **Reply #9 on:** October 12, 2005, 02:54:33 PM »

I have Carvin floor wedge monitors and a Carvin power amp for my P.A. I've had this stuff for at least 10 years now. No problems, (other than the guy I used to share the studio with borrowing the monitors without my knowledge or permission and bringing one back with the grill smashed in and the nut on one of the inputs missing - I don't share the studio with him anymore). Both the monitors and the power amp were excellent values for what I paid new. I've been eyeballing the Carvin DC400 guitar (neck-thru, Alembic style construction) for a while now. If I ever ran across one at a store or for a good price on eBay, I'd probably check it out. For the money they appear to be an excellent value with many options you'll never get with a Fenson or a Gibder. By the way, I looked for the Elite Series on the Carvin website and couldn't find it. Anyone know where it's hiding?

Bill, tgo

glocke · « **Reply #10 on:** October 12, 2005, 03:15:57 PM »

I have a friend that has a carvin electric....Dont know the model number, but it is nice looking and sounding guitar...

As fo comparing vintage fenders to Alembic, is it fair to do that? They seem to be two different animals. I have a Series I bass, a 72 jazz, and a 64 jazz...The SI is my favorite...but the fenders sound and feel great, although I am not sure what it is that makes them worth over $2000.00 a piece....at least...

rockbassist · « **Reply #11 on:** October 12, 2005, 09:09:22 PM »

Eric, you are making the same mistake I made when I bought my first Epic in July of this year. I was actually apologizing for not buying a Series or some other high end Alembic. This is what you have done in your mention of your Distilate. What I found is that everyone who posts on this site doesn't care if you are playing an Epic, Essence, Distilate, Series or anything else. You are part of the Alembic family and that's what matters. I love my first Epic so much that I bought another one 2 weeks after I bought my first. I also own a 1976 Fender Precision, a 1978 Fender Jazz and a Musicman Stingray that I love but I rarely play anything but the Epics. Alembic makes a great instrument. Do not apologize for owning one. I have realized that not only is the customer service outstanding but the support from other players is second to none. Congratulations on owning an Alembic. You made a great choice.

kmh364 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 13, 2005, 05:18:54 AM »

I couldn't find the Elite Series on the Carvin site either. I get their catalogue but can't put my hands on it at the moment.

As an aside, I was (finally) watching my Eagles Farewell I: Live I Melbourne DVD that I bought as a pre-order months ago. Joe Walsh was playing another one of his 8 million guitars, one that appeared to be a PRS. It turned out to be a Carvin California Carved Top with a nice double-stained Quilt Top. Nice guitar for a decent price ($100 off this month only, LOL!), but everything is an option. At least the options are not ridiculously priced. I've heard reasonably good things about their stuff, but buying sight-unseen can be dicey and I've heard their Customer service is not on par with what we've all come to expect as normal from Alembic.

FWIW, Timothy B. still has a Carvin signature bass, but he's not playing Carvin's these days, at least live that is. After Hell Freezes Over, I wanted that Carvin fretless he plays on In A NY Minute, even though I can't play fretless, LOL! He's now playing a Pedulla Buzz fretless on the Pino Palladino parts during Henley's solo songs and getting a great MWAH as well).

My luthier thinks Carvin is great bang for the buck, but also mentioned the Customer Service can be problematic. He prefers Warmoth...you can get just about anything you want the way you want it. You just have to put it together and set it up.

buckminster · « **Reply #13 on:** October 13, 2005, 10:58:20 AM »

I have owned several Carvins and the quality has been sporadic. Some have been exceptional and some have been average, at best. I still regret getting rid of my anniversary series 5-string.
But the Elite series is something I'm very skeptical about. There is a new Carvin store opening in West Sacramento soon, so if they have any in stock, I might try one out.
But there are several high-end basses available at the same price (Rob Allen, Elrick, Pedulla, etc.) all with much better electronics. Still don't make enough to realistically afford an Alembic ...
I'd really like an Essence 6-string in burl redwood.

beelee · « **Reply #14 on:** October 13, 2005, 04:14:56 PM »

I used to have a Carvin MX-1644 mixing console that I bought brand new, it was a great unit never a problem ( it had built in Hammond spring reverb) only sold it cause I needed more than 16 channels....and I picked up 4 used Carvin monitors that had JBL E-120's in them and a pair of Carvin horns that had 1 inch JBL drivers they sounded nice also.

HOWEVER....

Some years ago I picked up a used Carvin doubleneck guitar on top, bass on bottom and it had a crack in the bass neck either from shipping damage or the person who sold it to me BS'd me ( a whole other story).

So I contacted Carvin and asked them if I could send them the neck and have a new matching one made, the person I spoke with was very unhelpful and told me they couldn't/wouldn't do it, I also spoke to someone else on another day to get some information about the Doubleneck, emailed him pictures, gave him the serial # and he was absolutely useless, couldn't tell me what model it was or what year it was made.

So now I am anti-Carvin because of that experience, since then I had a local luthier repair the neck, he did a great job and you almost can't even see where it was damaged, and I saw another one up on Ebay a while back, the seller had ALL the information in his description Carvin was unable to provide me with.

I have 2 real nice Carvin double necks, but unfortunatly doubt I will use anymore of their products, I've gotten better support from Peavey, Ibanez and of course Alembic ;o)

B.