Anyone here care to share their opinion??

[muller1007]

Check out this discussion about Alembic basses:
 
http://www.level42webdigest.com/forum/showthread.php?p=130451#post130451
 
I gave it a shot. Anyone else?
 
Duncan

[lg71]

Well, I  am going to read to thread, but for now, I'd say that Alembic is NOT the poor man's instrument, it's like Rolex or Ferrari.
The nice thing is that Alembic sell PUs and Harness, so in a way the poor-man can get a taste of it. For me it was the way to go.
And talking about cars, my favorite is the Porsche 911 vintage, I don't have one, but I used to have a model I made... lol
 
Otherwise, I can tell you that I have spent an other night (yes, my thigh hurts, due to the heavy wood of my Aria...) playing by myself over various tracks, and I am so pleased that I haven't had time to feedle much with the knobs or Q-switch yet! That's right, I am sucked in, and in sound so good that I forget about what over tones I can get.  
 
A bit like the proverb: the grass is not always green on the over side of the fence...
 
The only little argument I had with Mica, was because I wanted some low-mid control, and cannot afford a Superfilter, but that's just me, I have learnt some engineering technique and fortunately, because I am ware of it, I want/need the control. In the way, I wish I didn't know, but on the other hand, it's nice when people ask you: how do you get the bass to cut through so well...? playing live is one thing, but recording a Bass and making it sound proper, it's a craft. There are hundred of threads out there, with the topic: how to track + post process the bass, to make in sound good... yet, there are many, many answers, such as what bass you are using, and what playing style as well as type of Music...
 
Anyway, we are talking about top of the range instruments with Alembic, everyone knows it and I wouldn't worry about what people say on other forums.  
 
BTW: I have ordered my baseball cap, hopefully I'll get it before my Birthday, and I'll be proud to wear it, because in a way I have the Alembic sound at home, and I'll support it. So, if you see someone wearing one in London, it will probably be me! I went for brown btw...

[jsaylor]

I wouldn't worry about it. The prices are alittle outrageous though. I guess supply and demand. If more and more people can't aford them, their prices will go down.
 
LG- Id get a baseball cap, but I HATE hats with a passion. Ill probably be ordering a shirt or something though. Atleast your lucky enough to be able to afford Alembic electronics.

[57basstra]

I have observed through the years the comparison at the top level of discussion in the never-ending bass wars is always (fill in the blank) vs Alembic. To me that tells the story. For years I wanted an Alembic, did not think I could justify buying one. I walked into a little out of the way Pawn Shop in the sticks and there is a wild looking '80s white with red striped Guild Burnside Lance offset Flying V bass with Alembic pickups at a bargain. I bought it and after playing it for a while I decided if a bass with Alembic pickups sounds like this -- close to the sound I had always wanted -- then an Alembic must be obtained. I got an Epic 6, then a Mark King 5 and then landed a Series 4. To each his (or her) own. I would say that many of the players who knock Alembics have never played Alembic, or played one extensively.
 
 Jordan, I'll wager you could swing an Epic with a bit of saving and I, among many I am sure, think they are very nice instruments.
 
(Message edited by 57basstra on November 16, 2006)

[the_8_string_king]

Hmmm.  Expensive?  Yeah, sure, that's definitely true; but I prefer the word PRICELESS -it's more accurate.
 
Yeah, the prices are high.  The charge for ebony neck laminates is a lot, and the charge for coco bolo is more than other manufacturers, to be sure.  But it really does come down to supply and demand.
 
There just isn't anyone else out there -at least that I know of- that produces instruments of the same calibre.  There are some makers that produce instruments that are close to Alembic quality; there are some that have produced INDIVIDUAL instruments that are comparable; but, overall, no one that I know of can match Alembic.
 
Most of the distinguished competition that DOES come close clearly seems to have in fact been the result OF Alembic.  And, hey, this is a good thing... more power to 'em, and to anyone who buys 'em.  By all means, get what you want/can afford.
 
I love Alembic.  But, if there were another company out there that produced comparable instruments at a cheaper price, I'd buy THOSE.  I'd have to.  I'd be a fool not to.  But there isn't.  At least none that I know of.  (And, obviously, I don't know everything, so maybe there is such a company that I don't know of.  But I'm skeptical... I tend to think I would have most likely heard of them... unless they're either extremely new, or have a vested interested in keeping a low profile, and not acquiring a reputation...)
 
In my opinion, based on my experience, the Europa-Class and Rogue-Class instruments are equal or superior to anything else out there.  These are unsurpassed in quality -other than if you upgrade to Series...  I've seen a FEW isolated examples of non-Alembics that I'd say are comparable to the Europas and Rogues... a FEW.  That's all.  And even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while...

[the_8_string_king]

Hmmm.  Expensive?  Yeah, sure, that's definitely true; but I prefer the word PRICELESS -it's more accurate.
 
Yeah, the prices are high.  The charge for ebony neck laminates is a lot, and the charge for coco bolo is more than other manufacturers, to be sure.  But it really does come down to supply and demand.
 
There just isn't anyone else out there -at least that I know of- that produces instruments of the same calibre.  There are some makers that produce instruments that are close to Alembic quality; there are some that have produced INDIVIDUAL instruments that are comparable; but, overall, no one that I know of can match Alembic.
 
Most of the distinguished competition that DOES come close clearly seems to have in fact been the result OF Alembic.  And, hey, this is a good thing... more power to 'em, and to anyone who buys 'em.  By all means, get what you want/can afford.
 
I love Alembic.  But, if there were another company out there that produced comparable instruments at a cheaper price, I'd buy THOSE.  I'd have to.  I'd be a fool not to.  But there isn't.  At least none that I know of.  (And, obviously, I don't know everything, so maybe there is such a company that I don't know of.  But I'm skeptical... I tend to think I would have most likely heard of them... unless they're either extremely new, or have a vested interested in keeping a low profile, and not acquiring a reputation...)
 
In my opinion, based on my experience, the Europa-Class and Rogue-Class instruments are equal or superior to anything else out there.  These are unsurpassed in quality -other than if you upgrade to Series...  I've seen a FEW isolated examples of non-Alembics that I'd say are comparable to the Europas and Rogues... a FEW.  That's all.  But even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while...

[the_8_string_king]

Oops!

[the_8_string_king]

Oops!

[the_8_string_king]

Okay, double oops!  Or triple, I guess.
 
But one more thing.  In my experience, Alembic basher/detracters/skeptics/put-downers illustrate what is called an inversely proportional relationship.  The MORE they rag on Alembic, the less they know about Alembic.
 
I wanted to become a bass player when I heard Stanley Clarke playing his Alembic.  I didn't even know what Alembic was.  But I heard Stanley playing his Alembic, and I was sold.  I was in love.  I wanted to sound like that.
 
As a result, I gradually became educated about Alembics.  I remember going to Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center as a teenager, and persuading the sales people to let me play a few of their Series I basses once or twice.
 
But it took me a LONG time before I saved up and got an Alembic.
 
I was very happy with my previous (non-Alembic) bass for many years.  It was a VERY nice bass.  (The specifics don't matter).
 
But after I had my first Alembic for a few months... I let it go.  It was a little sad.  I'm a sappy sentimental guy in some ways.  The instrument was wonderful and had served me well for many years.
 
But it just didn't measure up.  After I got my Alembic... I just didn't have any use for it -other than to keep it for sentimental reasons.  And I'm not rich enough, nor do I have the space for that.  Better to sell it to someone else who would appreciate it, so at least it could be played -instead of sitting around gathering dust, which is exactly what happened as soon as I got my Alembic.
 
I couldn't afford an Alembic for MANY years.  When I finally got it, it took some saving... and then some time to pay off the balance.
 
I checked out a lot of basses before I got my first Alembic... and a lot of them were very nice.  But none of them measured up to Alembic.  Period.  If they had, I'd have saved up for one of them instead...

[inthelows]

In 1986 while picking up a 5 string Rickenbacker I ordered (not all that cheap at the time)I played a maple top spoiler that was hanging on the wall with a price tag of $999.99. The neck was great, smooth and fast. The sound was huge! If I hadn't just bought that Ric I would have walked out with the spoiler.  
All things being equal, I agree with David. I finally own a maple top spoiler. Why now? It was that first impression. All these years later the memory was clear as a bell. I've owned dozens of models on my quest for the right look, the right sound, or because of the band or music you had to have that certain bass or guitar. Although It may be considered pricey by some and not others, it still comes down to you. What do you want? The name Alembic has been associated with some of the most fantastic artists of our time. Some of which their sound was in part a true combination of raw talent and the instrument used to define their trademark and signature sounds. There is no arguement that you get what you pay for. Sure the competition and the price wars will always be there. Someone has to pay for overhead, stock, manhours, DOING IT RIGHT.  
Not everyone can change a fuel injection system and I'm quite certain you won't walk into a Hummer dealership and walk out with a H3 for $14.00. Like the song said You can't always get what you want, but sometimes you get what you need!
It still comes down to personal wants and tastes. If you want it bad enough you'll find a way. I personnally like the fact as a relatively new Alembic owner the people in the company answer questions and address issues themselves and do it quickly. I've been made to feel that I'm welcome, and one of the gang like they've known me from the begining of time. It's a nice feeling. If you look and watch like I did you might find something in your price range just like I did. You know something else, when hear talk, as in bad-mouthing anything it could be a simple green with envy. Let em talk.........
Let's not talk about some people who may have worked for Alembic and have branched off on their own............ Happy hunting.........  
and long live Alembic.......NLP
 
(Message edited by inthelows on November 16, 2006)

[lg71]

JSaylor, it's not that I am lucky really, I have been hunting like a wild man on the second hand market to get what I wanted, I had to sell things to afford other things... I had to choose, and I chose what sounded good to me. We are talking 9 months of extreme intense intensity!
And it's not finished...
 
Most importantly, I don't own the instruments you saw on the photos, that's right, they are NOT mine until I paid my debts. So it is not luck, it is choice!
That's what I chose, to borrow. At least I have the satisfaction to have experienced a nice feeling while playing through those instruments and the Alembic electronics/sound. As a result, at 35 (soon), I do not envy Stanley Clarke anymore, and I am happy with what I have.
 
To sum it, I cannot afford Alembic electronics and PUs, believe me, I shouldn't even be on this forum as a matter of fact, I don't deserve it. I mean, each his/her own budget and finances, and it was a bit foolish of me to join this forum and discuss things that I cannot afford, and I know that. I belong to some other forums, talking with people in my situation maybe.  
 
This is my theory and the way I see it, and I don't mean to offend anyone in a similar situation to mine.

[bigredbass]

To each his own, and it does take all kinds to make a world.  These arguments always remind me of the 'gee, my ZO6 Vette has all the performance of the Ferrari, and I saved $150,000.00!'  
 
After it's all said and done, a Mexican PBass would get the job done.  But there always has to be a king of the hill to guage the rest of the world by.  And until someone can demonstrate to me where anybody else has stepped up, there's no substitute at the top for Alembic.  Go play all the (fill in the blank with your boutique builder du jour, complete with a hardware and electronics partslist from Stew Mac) you want, and have a nice day.  Bring YOUR coco-topped, ebony thru-necked brand X to the gig, OK?  What an amazing tone from those Barts . . .
 
Besides, how often can you own a legend?
 
J o e y
 
(Message edited by bigredbass on November 16, 2006)

[jacko]

I can't access the original link. Can someone give a brief synopsis please?
 
Graeme

[jacko]

I can't access the original link. Can someone give a brief synopsis please?
 
Graeme

[bracheen]

Graeme, it's the usual sour grapes discussion about how expensive Alembics are and all the other basses in the World are just as good.  I find it amusing that this discussion even takes place.  If these guys don't like Alembic and wouldn't have one on a silver platter then why waste so much energy trying to make that point.  To me it sounds like I really want an Alembic but can't afford one so I'll trash them instead, so there!  I can just picture some of these people sticking their tongues out while typing.
 
Sam