Just received my first Alembic. I fell in love with it on Reverb and was able to cut a deal with the second (previous) owner. It just came today, and I could not be happier.
Below is a picture, but I'll list the specs I have so far. I have a serial number request in on that part of the forum, but no word yet.
Alembic Distillate, custom order (evidently). 34" scale, serial number dates it, I think, to 1989, the penultimate production year. Standard Distillate controls, but the pickup rotary control is near all the other knobs, as opposed to on the lower horn.
I was not ready for just
how good this bass would sound. Crisp, bright highs and clear, bellowing lows. It puts every other bass I've played to shame. Even my beloved Rick 4003 when I run it through Rick-O-Sound. Its significantly heavier than the notorious Peavey T-40 I had, not that I mind.
I plan on using it in the band I'm in Alcove, out of NJ -
https://alcovebandnj.bandcamp.com/ Please forgive the low quality of that EP. We're currently recording our first LP, due out later this year. We usually play in NJ/NYC/PA.
A few questions for the all-knowing:
1. I believe the tuners are aftermarket - they say Made in Japan on the back.
2. The pickups have been raised all the way up. Bass still sounds fantastic, but is there a guide to lowering them safely? They do have a nice overdriven quality to them at this height, even if when plucking hard the string hits the pickup.
3. I was thinking of stringing it with a high C, and it seems like it would fit in the nut perfectly. Has anyone else tried this?
4. Is contact cleaner ok for scratchy pots/scratchy input jack? If not, what should I use?
Thank you!
