Author Topic: Info on my "new" custom Alembic bass (Read 219 times)

grok · « **on:** December 19, 2004, 01:28:51 PM »

Hi all. I'm new to the group, owing to the fact that I just recently picked up a used Alembic bass. I spoke to Mica on the phone before purchasing it, but I've managed to misplace the post-it note on which I'd written all the info. I'd love to get the details again. Here's the serial #: 95H9470. I understand it's a 1995, and the H would ordinarily refer to an Elan, but in this case it apparently refers to the Elan electronics, since the body is not an Elan. The neck is a Tobias neck, which starts at the nut as an ordinary neck, but then the treble side remains somewhat shallow as the bass side thickens towards the body. Quite unique. It's also a 35 scale length. Thanks for any more information!

Mark J. Rosen
mjr@grok.org

richbass939 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 19, 2004, 02:04:42 PM »

Mark, welcome to the club and congrats on your new bass. The neck really intrigues me. Does it have a single or double truss rod? If it is single I wonder what would happen when you try to adjust it. It seems that the bass side would be stiffer than the treble, thus not as responsive to changes. I don't know because I've never been around a bass with that kind of neck.
Rich

grok · « **Reply #2 on:** December 19, 2004, 06:18:04 PM »

Rich, it does have the usual two truss rods. It's hard to describe the neck, other than to say it's asymmetrical in cross section, but also with more pronounced asymmetry as you go from nut to body. The end result, though, is that it has to be the most comfortable neck I've ever played, guitar or bass. I'd never heard of, or seen it, before. I'll take some pictures and try to capture an angle that shows it well.

Mark

grok · « **Reply #3 on:** December 19, 2004, 06:38:29 PM »

OK, here's one photo of the bass itself, and two of the neck, but it's sort of hard to see the shape of the back of the neck.

David Houck · « **Reply #4 on:** December 19, 2004, 09:30:30 PM »

Nice bass!

palembic · « **Reply #5 on:** December 19, 2004, 11:17:24 PM »

Yep ...GREAT bodyshape. It is indeed not a Standard Elan body-shape.
Nice bass.
Tobias had those assymetrical necks. But also Carvin offers it as an option on certain high-end models.

Still wondering about that body ...really nice!!

Paul TBO

the_mule · « **Reply #6 on:** December 20, 2004, 11:29:07 AM »

Wow, great bass! And that's a fabulous piece of walnut! Not bad for a first Alembic, not bad at all...

Welcome to the club!

Wilfred

dgcarbu · « **Reply #7 on:** January 01, 2005, 06:56:15 PM »

Excellent find Mark. Welcome to the club.

Darrell

dragonslayer · « **Reply #8 on:** January 03, 2005, 10:58:45 AM »

Hi Mark the body and neck-thru remind me of my Aria-Pro SB Looks just like it along with the soap-bar pickups. Mine has one pick-up the standard black knobs are also similar. the only different is the head stock. I love my Alembic and would never trade it, but my Aria pro has to be the most comfortable bass I have ever played.

alembickoa · « **Reply #9 on:** January 03, 2005, 03:05:47 PM »

Great one, Mark...love your Alembic and it will always love you. All models are about magic.

Regards...
Steve

bsee · « **Reply #10 on:** January 03, 2005, 03:16:18 PM »

The more I look at this bass the more I like it. Looks like a narrow neck and very nicely balanced body, so it probably plays like a dream. Add to that the little bit of flame in the center laminate of the neck and the nice figuring on the top, and it looks great too.

grok · « **Reply #11 on:** January 07, 2005, 02:52:33 PM »

Thanks. I'm enjoying it more everyday, though my wife is giving me those leery looks when I come home with new equipment to get the most out of it. Like the F-1x I needed. Oh, and the QSC PLX2402 power amp. And the Bergantino cabinets. Oh, and ....

After looking over the Alembic site, I think it looks more Europa-like than Orion-like, except that the tail is less angled than the Europa. It does have the AXY pickups and Q switch, but not the two additional little toggles for bass and treble insta-boost. Oddly, it has no inlays, but I'm kinda digging its clean jet-black ebony. When I got it, it was in terrible shape from a setup point of view, and I've now adjusted the truss rod, the nut, the bridge height, saddles for intonation, pickup heights, and output trims, and it's really just unbelievable. The Tobias shaped neck is unlike anything I've ever played before, and it makes adventuring up and down the neck a breeze. If you can't already tell, I'm still just dumbstruck with how good this bass is. Now if only I had the skill of Phil, the mojo of Jaco, or ....

Mark

hollis · « **Reply #12 on:** January 07, 2005, 03:23:42 PM »

Hi Mark,
I was away for a while, and must have missed your thread....

First off, welcome. This is a very good group of folks. The depth of wisdom and knowledge in here is staggering. Not to mention the down right my face is hurting laughter that can be had here.

You bass is sweet! Its so cool that you've taken the time to bring it back to good health.

Enjoy