Author Topic: London calling .... (Read 804 times)

Jan R · « **on:** May 27, 2003, 11:16:58 AM »

Does anyone in London ever noticed this monster in Royal College Street ? : http://www.thebassgallery.com/alembic6.html

I really hope someone has some info about it.

Cheers
Jan

markus · « **Reply #1 on:** May 27, 2003, 02:54:52 PM »

Oh, yes! Been there for a loooooong time. Someone on the old Alembic Club had played it. Said it was real nice and REAL heavy.

I sent them email way back then asking about scale and string spacing. Never got an answer.

Markus

deehell · « **Reply #2 on:** May 27, 2003, 03:33:01 PM »

I was in the Bass Gallery today - they have the most amazing selection of basses I've ever seen including what looked like, from memory, at least half a dozen different Alembics. And quite the friendliest service that a few London West End stores could well learn from. Doesn't matter if you're a rank, rusty amateur (ie me) or a seasoned pro, they give you lots of personal attention, let you play anything and give measured advice that doesn't seem to be driven by how much you have in your wallet, based on what I experienced and observed. My last email to them got a response within a few minutes. Markus, if you didn't get what you wanted, give them a bell or drop them another note. This is a resource to treasure...and one any Club members should drop by if they're in London.
cheers
d

palembic · « **Reply #3 on:** May 27, 2003, 11:39:41 PM »

Hup-hup Jan

pak de beestjes!!!
Jan ...go and get-it!!!!

Paul the bad one

BTW: it's a Bonnie style thing. I realize now that I have a 5 string with the dimensions of a smaller six string ...LOL

Jan R · « **Reply #4 on:** May 28, 2003, 01:14:28 AM »

Hi Deehell,

I emailed them yesterday but dit not reveive any answers yet, so I will wait a little bit longer.

Maybe if some of the London club members who often visit the Bass allery, could write down the serial number of this 6 string in this thread.

If I have the number, I could already ask Mica for the exact specifications. Maybe Mica recognizes the 6 string by heart ?

Thanks for the repies already, and Paul, take it easy brother. This is not something I would buy between the soup and the patatoes as we say in Belgium ;-)

Cheers
Jan

palembic · « **Reply #5 on:** May 28, 2003, 02:25:49 AM »

Hi brother Jan,
sorry ...i didn't want to patronize.
But (hopla) to be honest.
IMO you never have to THINK a lot about buying an Alembic. There is NO intellectual reason why you should buy SUCH an Alembic, especially THAT one: it's one of the most Marilyn-Monroe typed basses I've ever seen: blonde, large, sexy, roaring and whispering and with an attitude to excite!! 'The trill is gone'?? You'll defintely bring it back with that baby!!!
So, there is only an emotional reason and consequently it will be such an act.
So I agree: it will not be between the soup and the potatoes ....
but then it will be definitely between the potatoes and the desert or between the desert and the coffee with a 'mellow-yellow' single malt push.
Just my opinion.
Whatever: I'll be completely behind you and welcoming Bonnies niece in her close (well yeah you can say that) neighbourhood!

Paul the bad one

I warned you I'm NOT a reasonable man I'm a more heartly man. It's why I can do such stupid things in the eyes of the reasonable.

mica · « **Reply #6 on:** May 28, 2003, 07:49:40 AM »

Sorry, I didn't recognize the bass enough to identify it. From the picture I can tell you that it is a Series II with a Quilted Maple top. The string spacing looks quite wide (it's certainly not the Classic taper that normally comes on a Series).

If it's been at the Bass Gallery a loooong time it's probably used so I can't reference it by invoices to them as they only became the distributor in the last year or so.

Jan R · « **Reply #7 on:** May 28, 2003, 10:53:50 AM »

Thanks for the reply Mica. I guess I will have to wait until I receive an email reply from them. I should have added also this link : http://www.thebassgallery.com/alembic.html where they say it is a Series I? It got me confused when I saw the electronics. I thought it was a Series I with a Series II electronics upgrade.

And Paul, no apologies needed brother ;-) I just like to think twice before making my move. I really must have my convincing arguments ready for the senior management ;-)

If anyone else saw it in real life, please share your thoughts. Thanks!

Peace
Jan

Jan R · « **Reply #8 on:** May 30, 2003, 07:17:40 AM »

Mica,

I've got a reply from the Bass Gallery. Could you please check if these specifications are correct and complete for serialnumber 959536 US ?

-series II
-classic spacing
-no dimmer switch
-quilt front and back 5A
-scale lenght 34
-mahogany body
-gold plated hardware
-metal plates on the back
-1 owner (they sell it on a commission sale basis)

Thx
Jan

stoney · « **Reply #9 on:** May 30, 2003, 08:28:28 AM »

Is there something wrong with the website listed above? All I get is page cannot be displayed I've also tried www.thebassgallery.com and get nowhere...
stoney

Jan R · « **Reply #10 on:** May 31, 2003, 02:06:56 AM »

Stoney, I also have the impression that the webserver where the thebassgallery.com is hosted, is not so stable. I also received a 'page cannot be displayed' a few times.

This is the pic from the website

Peace
Jan

stoney · « **Reply #11 on:** June 03, 2003, 11:33:13 AM »

Hi Jan, thanks for posting the pic. Beautiful instrument, then again......if it's Alembic, what would you expect.

mica · « **Reply #12 on:** June 03, 2003, 04:39:02 PM »

You've got just about everything right with the specs, Jan. The only thing I can see in the file that differs is the string spacing is indeed the comfort taper. Also there's a Maple veneer at the center of the core.

kayo · « **Reply #13 on:** June 03, 2003, 04:44:07 PM »

What is a comfort taper vs standard?

Jan R · « **Reply #14 on:** June 03, 2003, 11:26:33 PM »

Kayo ,

As I found on the Alembic Custom Quote page (http://www.alembic.com/cgi-bin/quote/quote), you have 3 possible string spacings :

1. Classic fingerboard taper (narrow)
2. Comfort fingerboard taper (wide)
3. Custom fingerboard taper

Mica, is there a way to be sure, if it has the classic or the comfort taper ? How can I doublecheck this ?

Thanks a lot !
Jan