Wanted: Six String, 34", Classic Taper; purchase or trade

[David Houck]

My bass would like to go and visit with the folks in Santa Rosa for a while, but I'll need a backup while it's away.


The backup needs to be as close to my current bass as possible, which means it needs to have a 34" scale length and a classic neck taper.  Oh, and it's a six string.


And while getting close to my current tone is also important, I realize that this might not be as possible.  So I'm willing to consider any Alembic that meets the feel criteria.


If you're interested in a trade, I have several Alembics available; two Series I four string, one Essence four, and an Essence six.  I also have a Bag End Elf system available; however, I don't wish to ship that, so trade would require meeting in person.  (There's also a ton of other stuff around here too.)


I realize there's not too many six string 34" classic taper Alembics around, but I thought I should go ahead and post and see if it's possible.


Oh, and here's another idea.  I'm also open to a short-term swap if you have a bass that meets my criteria that you're not currently playing but don't wish to sell.


Thanks,


David

[jazzyvee]

Hi David, here is one in the UK, not sure if it's classic taper though.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALEMBIC-6-STRING-BASS-GUITAR/123103901660?hash=item1ca99077dc:g:2z0AAOSwkbpa2Ozl

[David Houck]

Thanks Jazzy; that's a nice looking Orion.  The default for Orion has always been Comfort taper, and this one looks like Comfort.  I'm thinking the most likely candidates are going to be Elans, Distillates, and Standard body Series basses, although I don't know what percentage of Elans and Distillates were 34".


Just ran a currency conversion.  Seems a bit high for an Orion, and that's before shipping across the pond.

[hammer]

Dave:

I don't know if this would work for you but I have a 1993 Europa 6-string
Body: Mahogany with Maple front laminate
Scale: 34
Neck: Maple with 5 Purple Heart Stringers

Europa's typically have the comfort neck but mine seems to be a bit of a custom.
Standard Europa 6-string Neck width at nut & 24th fret is 2.20 & 3.56 inches
My Europa at Nut & 24th fret:  2.43 & 3.43 (wider than typical at nut and a bit narrower at the 24th fret)
String spacing Averaged Center-to-Center across neck at nut: .4375

Willing to trade or sell

[jazzyvee]

Yep Dave, we unfortunately have to pay a premium for the rarity value. Something I have thought about if I decided to put any of mine up for sale in the future to fund a custom build. It would be too pricey for a USA buyer and with not many buyers for alembics in UK I may have problems selling. Anyway fingers crossed you find something suitable.

[David Houck]

Thanks Jazzy.

Brian; the Classic taper width at the 24th fret is 3".  So, wouldn't work.  Thanks for the suggestion.

[rv_bass]

David, hope you find the appropriate replace;  I dream of a six string Alembic....

[David Houck]

Thanks Rob.  My bass really wants to make the trip, and I'm sure Mica would love to see her again.

[FC Bass]

I'm a bit confused, You're talking about Karma? That looks like a Comfort taper tom me... 



Compared to:



That said...  I think this one might be still for sale: http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8270.0
I'm pretty sure its located in Belgium and will be pretty expensive, though I think you can Import without the extra VAT and import duties. (Mica will know)
Most recent for sale thread: http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=13211.0

[David Houck]

Flip; when I mentioned it to Mica, she looked at that picture and thought it was Comfort taper as well.  But I measured it, and it's 3"; which is what I requested when I ordered the bass.  I think it's the angle of the picture that makes it look wider than it is.

The bass you linked says at the top of the Showcase thread that it's a Comfort taper.  It's a beautiful bass though.  Thanks for the suggestion.

[FC Bass]

Looking at the reference pages: http://www.alembic.com/support/reference.html
The 6 string Classic indeed seems much more tapered than the 4/5 strings...
Maybe they changed the standard somewhere in the nineties and gave them slightly more string spacing?
(I am assuming the Spoiler posted above has the "Classic" classic taper, not 100% sure about that... )
IIrc Susan once said the classic taper doesn't work well for 5+ strings due to the string spacing at the bridge, so that would make sense :-)

...or I could be wrong and it's the angle of the pic :-)

[edwardofhuncote]

Just curious Dave, what's the neck profile on your Essence 6? (I take it, it must be too different to deal with...)


You'd be welcome to my Persuader 5, (if it was a 6) while I'm on this expected upcoming hiatus. Actually, you still are if something suitable doesn't turn up... it does have the Classic taper neck. 


*and that Spoiler 6 has a 5-pin and some extry knobs... suggesting it is Series-equipped... 

[David Houck]

Flip; the Spoiler pic looks like it's taken from above.  The nut is closer to the camera than the 24th fret is, thus there is an "angle of the pic" effect there too.  But that Spoiler does look tight.

Gregory; the Essence 6 is Comfort taper.  And I appreciate the offer, but I need all 6 strings.

[adriaan]

Classic taper has a wider spacing at the nut, and tighter bridge spacing, and therefore a narrower fretboard above the 12th fret, where Dave likes to do his chordal stuff.

I've dug up some measurements from my custom build, a 6 like Dave's. Just to confuse everyone, we kept the bridge spacing the same as on my Spoiler, so it matches that for the classic taper, which is 0.6"=15 mm edge-to-edge. At the nut it's 0.32"=8.2mm center-to-center on my Custom, whereas my Epic has 0.43"=11mm, but the Spoiler tops them all at 0.47"=12mm.

The neck width at the 24th fret for a classic taper 6 is 3", on my custom 6 it's 3.2". I think that's probably the best indicator for what Dave is looking for.

[David Houck]

Thanks Adriaan; and yes, I'm mostly playing chords with top line melody movement, and my fingers have a hard enough time landing in the proper place without suddenly moving the string spacing.