Hi
So to answer your questions and to give a little bit of info based on these basses.
Both necks of both basses are made out of mahogany on the outer sides with 2 birch laminates with a walnut in the center stripe.
The headstock veneers on both basses are Macassar ebony front and back.
Both of the body woods are rosewood top and back . One is a myrtle core , the other is mahogany. There is no laminates in between . They are both 3 piece sandwiches
The laminates in the headstock are Purple Heart
So I decided to do series 2 electronics because I felt historically, it Encapsulates all of what Alembic has done since 1969, and why not express that sound and technology today. It still holds all the sounds and tones of the past, present, and future, imho. The idea was that you can recreate sounds of the past , the sounds of today, and sounds that have yet to be heard.
So both basses have an extra large brass sustain block . One has a solid brass tailpiece, the other has a ebony/brass tailpiece (like the ones in the 70’s)
Both have silver dots with red leds on the side of the neck. I also installed on both basses “dimmers” for the leds as so I can control the brightness of them . Works very well for me.
As far as the symmetric shape of the body, I specifically requested for that exact body shape. I was very adamant about that.
There was a lot of back and forth… but what I got was a body that was in the same vein, but ultimately a better body.an improved modern body based on years of experience.What I ended up was lighter more comfortable,ergonomic, and symmetric body that balanced better, had zero neck dive and felt better for my neck and back. A better modern updated version of 73-27. In the end these basses took on its own identity over my own endgame concept, more than I imagined from my own ideas. Alembic took it further. I love it. Pure Alchemy. I don’t ever regret it and Ill you why.
You see when you buy Alembic basses now, don’t forget you are also buying in and investing in all the knowledge and expertise they have accumulated for over the last 50 years. That has a lot of value when they make your basses NOW.
as opposed to buying something in the used market. It’s cool and probably more affordable , but in my opinion the older Alembic basses may lack some of the added experience and knowledge that they put in to the basses they make now.
When they make their basses now , they’ve taken into account all the things they have done in the past, whether it worked or it didn’t work ( and there were a lot of things they experimented that didn’t work so good) but there was a lot of things that were amazing. Its a process. It’s always been the Wickershams. It’s a family that cares. It’s all the distillation , after all, isn’t that what an Alembic is?
Which is why I think anyone who is interested in Alembic should always inquire with them first and see what they can build for you before you start looking in the used market. You’ll be very surprised at what they can come up for you.
J
