Wjay do you think of this?

[jazzyvee]

I think i am right in saying Alembic are not interested in making bolt-on, headless or single cut basses. But i just saw this on TB as someone’s dream custom.
I personally don’t like the aesthetic look of most single cuts.

[jacko]

It does nothing for me (although I do like the bigsby - had one on a hofner semi-acoustic one time).  However, I'd imagine, given the right incentive, Alembic would make a fine job of this - after all they made Hal's tomahawk bass some years ago.

Graeme

[edwardofhuncote]

There's an obvious parenthetical to this, and it involves the required deposit to begin a Custom Build... but generally; If you can dream it, they can build it. 

[cozmik_cowboy]

Extreme single cutaways such as that leave me cold.

Peter

[gearhed289]

Add me to the "not a fan of single cuts" list.

[adriaan]

I knew it looked familiar - see http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=6832.msg72984#msg72984 - this goes back to 2003.

[jazzyvee]

Ok it’s been around the net for well over a decade.
Oops

[chrisalembic]

Im a big fan of headless basses and think it would be amazing if Alembic had a go at a headless design. Its not simply about aesthetics. But if done right it eliminates neck dive, has better weight distribution (no shoulder pain and numb limbs something you will value as you get older or have had injuries), and its more compact. Also no broken headstocks which is something you see especially with the older Alembics.
I think people too often write off headless basses as some sort of 80s gimmick without actually having tried a good one and appreciate the benefits. Imagine a headless bridge/tuning system of the same quality as the usual Alembic stuff. The best sounding basses in the world with ergonomics to match.

[cozmik_cowboy]

Im a big fan of headless basses and think it would be amazing if Alembic had a go at a headless design. Its not simply about aesthetics. But if done right it eliminates neck dive, has better weight distribution (no shoulder pain and numb limbs something you will value as you get older or have had injuries), and its more compact. Also no broken headstocks which is something you see especially with the older Alembics.
I think people too often write off headless basses as some sort of 80s gimmick without actually having tried a good one and appreciate the benefits. Imagine a headless bridge/tuning system of the same quality as the usual Alembic stuff. The best sounding basses in the world with ergonomics to match.

Maybe - but just tain't natural!

Peter

[gtrguy]

I would personally die for an Alembic made like a vintage Koa Mockingbird!

[BeenDown139]

I think people too often write off headless basses as some sort of 80s gimmick without actually having tried a good one...

having played many gigs with a steinberger XL-2 strapped on me, i can say that headless basses are the bomb for dinky, crowded stages.  the one i owned was a svelte 7 lbs. and change.  plus it was a freaking tone monster.  it traveled well, i could fit it into an overhead compartment on an airplane.  it got x-rayed so many times it probably glowed in the dark.  not sure i'd wanna travel worrying about one of my high $, full sized basses in an airplane luggage hold, even in a flight case.

i know a few guit@rists and singers who've gigged with me over the years that probably still have headstock/tuner dents on the backs of their heads from straying into my space on non-steinberger nights.  i never poked anyone's eye out with one of my pointy basses, though...

[terryc]

Status basses are the the ones to look at, Rob Green has got them down to a fine art

[chrisalembic]

Yes Status basses are very nice basses and of great quality. That graphite neck is a thing of beauty as well. For me they cant touch Alembics sonically though. But then again what bass can.

[bigredbass]

Single-cuts became a thing when in the continuous evolution of Anthony Jackson's work with Fodera chasing the optimum 6-string design.  He felt he could hear something better in the deep end (as if a 36" scale wasn't enough  . . . . .) from that added 'shoulder' on the bass side.  So in the 'me too' side of the instrument business, you now see this, even down to Corts and an Ibanez Bass Workshop axe.  Personally it seems ungainly, and one more way to add more weight to a fairly stout already instrument.  But I'd never second guess Anthony Jackson,  I'd just say it probably wouldn't be for me.