Author Topic: My new Black Essence (Read 301 times)

palomorado · « **on:** November 08, 2004, 06:42:11 AM »

just picked up my 1995 Essence on Saturday and played it with the band all day yesterday.

this is my 1st Alembic and i must say WOW!!!!!!

everyone in the band loved it and even the singer was impressed. an amazing instrument and now i'm hooked! now i need a fretless!

anyway, this Essence is painted solid black. i have been looking around for pictures of solid color Alembics but they seem to be as rare as hen's teeth?

anyone have info on this? was it just something that they randomly did?

is it possible to find out what woods are used and is it a terrible idea to strip it to the bare wood?

thanks!

lbpesq · « **Reply #1 on:** November 08, 2004, 07:11:58 AM »

Hey Clifton!

Welcome to the club and congratulations on your new axe! You are correct, you don't see too many painted Alembics. If you want the lowdown on yours - woods used, build date, electronics, etc., just post the serial number with a request for info and Mica or Val will look it up and usually post the info within a day or two. You should also go to register you instrument and do so, if you haven't already.

http://alembic.com/cgi-bin/register.pl

One thing you will find that is quite surprising is that Alembic will support your used instrument and treat you just like you bought it brand new! Enjoy your bass.

Bill, the guitar one

David Houck · « **Reply #2 on:** November 08, 2004, 07:24:40 AM »

Welcome and congrats!

I have an Essence too; they are wonderful basses.

As far as stripping the paint. I think as a generalization, if the bass was originally painted solid black by Alembic, then chances are they did not choose once of their prettiest woods before doing so. However, if the bass was painted by someone else subsequent to purchase, then the underlying wood is probably very nice. If you do strip it, you will want to refinish it. Of course, it is highly recommended that you have Alembic do the work. However, it is not inexpensive. As Bill suggested, post the serial number and request the build info.

dnburgess · « **Reply #3 on:** November 08, 2004, 12:02:40 PM »

Here's another black Alembic:
http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/9374.html

rami · « **Reply #4 on:** November 08, 2004, 12:55:19 PM »

Congrats on your Essence - I've always loved them.
Superlight, perfect balance and amazing tone.
It would be a good idea to inquire about it's history. If it didn't originally start it's life as a solid color Bass, there may be a hidden treasure underneath!
I believe that painted Alembics are rare, as a major part of their appeal are the beautiful exotic woods that they're made from.

Good luck - and congrats on finding a great Bass.

Rami

godoze · « **Reply #5 on:** November 09, 2004, 10:55:29 AM »

Congrats ! I Recently bought an Epic and I absolutely love it. My q and filter just came in and i will install them tonight tho I cannot imagine the sound improving !

yeah, I'm hooked too !

Congrats again...

bassdr · « **Reply #6 on:** November 09, 2004, 11:25:07 AM »

It's an epidemic of new Essence owners! I recently bought 93K7816 and it has blown me away. It is 99% perfect and plays wonderfully. My poor old Rick 4001 feels neglected (1979). But it will always have a good home. It looks better now than it has for the 10+ years I've had it- I'm not smuging it up with my greasy mitts. Michael

basstard · « **Reply #7 on:** November 14, 2004, 08:15:48 AM »

Congratulations! And may I say, PICTURES! PICTURES! PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mint_bass · « **Reply #8 on:** November 15, 2004, 08:43:32 AM »

welcome to the club

you dont really see alot of solid colour Alembics but i cant wait to see the pictures of your bass the black paint would make the bass look so cool

andrew

palomorado · « **Reply #9 on:** November 18, 2004, 05:18:24 AM »

i will try and get pics up in the next week...i'm always on the road so i get to play it everynight but i never get a chance to photograph it...perhaps ai can get one of my roadies to zap a few stage shots...

i got the details from Alembic.
VERY cool instrument:

it is a Custom Essence from 95 with a mahogany core and cocobolo laminates, mapel/walnut neck, ebony board without inlays, brass cover plates, medium scale, and set up with a slightly larger string gauge. it was custom made for the bass player in the metal band Type O Negative.

it's small and light and sounds larger then any other bass i've heard. my band mates have named it NAPOLEAN.

mint_bass · « **Reply #10 on:** November 18, 2004, 05:24:19 AM »

wow type o negative bass

I was going to say earlier that the only other solid black Alembics i have seen are the singers from type o. Im sure someone says he buys them and paints them himself that is a cool story behind a great bass

enjoy
Andrew

palomorado · « **Reply #11 on:** November 18, 2004, 07:33:18 AM »

alembic says they did the paint job themself.

i don't know much about Type O, i love metal but usually the MUCH HEAVIER stuff.

rami · « **Reply #12 on:** November 18, 2004, 07:55:00 AM »

Coco Bolo is an incredibly beautiful wood. As well, it's quite an expensive upgrade on an order. It's a real shame that someone would paint over it. Perhaps you could work out something with the staff at Alembic to restore it to its natural beauty. It would certainly increase its resale value.

effclef · « **Reply #13 on:** November 18, 2004, 08:00:45 AM »

Not necessarily - to a Type O fan, if you could prove the lineage to Peter Steele, it might be worth more as-is. :-)

EffClef

xlrogue6 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 18, 2004, 08:49:55 AM »

Also, some cocobolo is actually kind of ho-hum in appearance, at least to those of us who are fans of the swirly grain and ebony-to-orange color shifts of the more spectacular pieces. On a cocobolo instrument ordered with a solid color finish, you're more than likely going to find the tame stuff underneath.