Brown Bass Woods.. Do they really reduce the top end?

[GrailBass]

HELLO!!

I am stuck... I`m in the hunt for an Alembic short scale (series I or II, SC deluxe, Brown Bass).. I love the never ending tonal palette of these basses and what the electronics can achieve mated to these gorgeous woods.. I worry that a Brown Bass may take me in a direction I may not want to go into with one of these basses to attain the sound im after. I want bright, punchy & percussive more attune to a bridge pickup on most basses.. Snarly growls like I hear with the series basses and the SC deluxe.. Or does it even make alot of difference with the amazing electronics package all of these basses come with? Can it still be dialed in with the filters?, or would I be better off with a mahogany body core/maple neck?

[edwardofhuncote]

My experience with the Brown Bass was that it was warmer and more mellow than its short-scale Series I counterpart. I actually preferred it, and were I to order another build, the wood makeup begins with the recipe' for the Brown Bass.

That said... there are quite a few variables here. I don't know if it's really a reduction in top end from the wood. Series electronics are a whole other bracket of available frequencies. BB's come with Anniversary electronics, which are darn-tootin' close. If you haven't tried them, definitely put it on the list. Some might consider the difference to be subtle. Some people couldn't be satisfied without that extra little bit of whatever it is that pleases your ear.

[GrailBass]

It also sucks that there are hardly no videos of anyone playing a BB (I can find) that isnt using a pick or is digging into it with their fingers like I like to play shorties..Making them bark using aggressive finger attack. And even some slapping or funk. And unfortunately I dont live anywhere close to where any im finding that are currently for sale.. there are 3 im looking at.. A new BB Beaver has... A 1980 series II zebrawood, and a`95 SC deluxe rosewood top.. all great basses... alas there can be only one.

[hammer]

Whatever Alembic you buy, the tonal potential will be significantly greater than any other bass you’ve played. One trade off to think about if you can’t find a series bass in your price range is picking up a used Superfilter (SF-1). Other than not being able to play in stereo mode with each PU going into a separate channel and cab. this will give you more tonal possibilities than you can dream of. The additional positives are that you’ll in all likelihood be able to afford a newer Alembic and will be carrying less weight on your shoulders.

[GrailBass]

Whatever Alembic you buy, the tonal potential will be significantly greater than any other bass you’ve played. One trade off to think about if you can’t find a series bass in your price range is picking up a used Superfilter (SF-1). Other than not being able to play in stereo mode with each PU going into a separate channel and cab. this will give you more tonal possibilities than you can dream of. The additional positives are that you’ll in all likelihood be able to afford a newer Alembic and will be carrying less weight on your shoulders.

Awesome.. But yeah. I cant go wrong anyway I go the stuff is all top notch. Im leaning towards a vintage series 2 especially since its their high end of basses of this class... I really dig the extra controls and something about an external power supply just intrigues me..

[rv_bass]

Series I basses are nice as well.  My short scale Series I has the warmest low end compared with my other basses (mahogany core with zebrawood top and back).  If you want brighter and punchier you might consider a maple core.

[keith_h]

I played a Brown Bass with Anniversary electronics as my main base for years. It was replaced with a Series I and over the years I have been able to compare it to Signature small bodies all with maple/purple heart necks and more active body cores. The BB definitely has a warmer tone where the high end is less prominent. I would also say tonally it is more even across the frequency ranges. I can still get the high end zing for slapping but it is with the filters wide open and Q-switches on full boost but even then it isn't to the degree of say my Series bass.

One other thing to keep in mind is the standard 2-position Q-switch on a BB has a 0 and 8db boost. On my Series I it is a 3-position with 0, 6 and 9 db boosts. I've found on my Series that I often prefer the 6db position over the 9 db position. Adriaan, one of our moderators, had one of his basses setup for 0, 3 and 6db if I remember correctly as he doesn't care for the sound of the 9db boost. Where I'm heading is you can buy a standard 0/6/9 3-position switch from the Alembic store or if you want less I suspect you could special order them in the value you prefer. All it would take is a quick call to Alembic to determine your options. 

[rv_bass]

The mahogany primary neck wood in the brown bass likely helps with a warmer tone.  Here is the description for myrtle as the body wood, which I believe is typical of brown basses:

The greenish color of Myrtle isn't the only distinction of this mighty wood from the Pacific northwest. On an Alembic bass, Myrtle keeps the extreme highs out of the picture and fills the bottom with solid lows. We compare it to the sound of Mahogany but with less on the top end and slightly less on the lows. Used mainly in Brown Basses and paired with a warm Mahogany neck, there is no shortage of bottom end.

http://alembic.com/info/wood_body.html

Oddly, I played a brown bass once and it was pretty bright, maybe the amp was set for that, I didn’t check the settings at the time. 

[adriaan]

Ironically, Keith, my Series II is kind of a BB as regards ye olde wood recipe (not counting the ebony and maple thrown in for good measure), and my ears react quite differently to the Q boosts on two filters on that, compared to the Q boost on the single filter Spoiler. Not getting much of the regular wah effect when spinning the filters with the Q wide open, but the CVQs do make a lot of difference to the tones I'm getting. All in all, I'd hazard a guess a BB is perhaps not the best starting point for the "bright and punchy" sounds that GrailBass is pursuing. It will be an excellent starting point nonetheless, but for ending up in other realms of dastardly groovy awesoneness.

[keith_h]

Adriaan,

I agree a BB would not be a bright and punchy bass. I was just trying to describe my experience with its tonal qualities.

As has been stated something with maple in the neck would be a better fit. I found with both iterations of my Series I bass the maple/purple heart neck and vermilion body core had more pronounced high and low ends. I would say there is a little bit of natural scooping in how they sound. However I even noticed a difference between the 1st and 2nd iteration of the basses. The first one was built with Eastern maple and has a more high end than the 2nd that was built with flamed Western maple which is a slightly softer wood. While I like a prominent high end I prefer the slightly less pronounced one of the Western maple.

It was the Series basses that gave me a greater appreciation for the 3-position Q-switch. On the BB the 2-position was ok as it's tonal qualities were such that the full boost isn't over powering. In fact I would frequently play with the neck pickup boost turned on for a fuller sound. With the Series there is enough natural high end I found the full 9db boost would often overpower the other frequency ranges whereas the 6db boost sounded just about right. In the end the full boost has become more of an effect for me than a standard setting.   

GrailBass doesn't list where he's located but it is possible even though he has no stocking dealers nearby there might be a member or two in his area that could help.

[GrailBass]

All awesome points guys. I think what I love most about the BB is it has series 2-ish controls (minus the master volume) and the woods.. I LOVE walnut.. I have a custom 32" walnut core/neck I had made by Ray Simonetti that I adore and is driving me towards getting a shorty Alembic. But its vastly different than an alembic tonally/electronically of course. I do love some pretty walnut but I dont think it`ll quite get the classsic Alembic sound im looking for.

[rv_bass]

Grailbass, as you can see, Alembics have a variety of sounds based on wood combinations, electronics configurations, pickup types, string types, whether or not there is a sustain block, and I’m assuming scale length.  For instance, I have a couple of Series basses with zebrawood tops and backs, but different core woods, and they all sound slightly different, but they all have a very distinct Alembic sound.   

Also, the Brown Bass has more of a Series I electronics configuration (but different pickup types and some different electronics components). The Series II has continuously variable Q dials (CVQ), where as the Series I and Brown Bass have 3 position Q switches.  I prefer the Series I configuration, but that’s just me.

[GrailBass]

Yeah there’s lots of variables but I don’t think I could go wrong or not be able to achieve the tone I’m seeking from an alembic. The Q whether variable pan vs switches doesn’t really matter I don’t think. Mainly I’d like the pickup selector option as a feature. Master volume would be nice but not essential.I usually play DR light rounds and i play through (mostly) a little Phil jones BG450 “stack”. . That’s what I have on my 32”. So I guess I should look at electronics and just pick one I like. Just wish I had more videos of a BB than what’s out there.

[rv_bass]

Here are a couple brown bass videos on google, they show a pretty wide range of tones…

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/2014-alembic-stanley-clarke-brown-bass-4-string-leds-and-video.1455906/

https://m.facebook.com/ChicagoMusicExchange/videos/1382710005087077/

[rv_bass]

Just a thought, you could ask the seller if they would give you a trial period during which time you could return it for a refund minus shipping costs. Any reasonable seller should be open to that I would think.