Mica: inlaid graphite rods

[Derwin Moss (bassdude63)]

Mica, I've been reading about necks with graphite rods inlaid underneath the fingerboards on a few basses on the market. I know Alembic prefers multi-laminate neck construction to diminish dead- spots, but what's Alembic's opinion on this? I know Alembic pioneered the first bass with a graphite neck- how many were produced? Why did Alembic abandon making basses with graphite necks?
Thanks, D.M.

[mica]

Our informal check of the records indicates somewhere around 50 Alembic instruments were produced with graphite necks. We've been using pultruded graphite rods in our 6-string necks for many years. I found a supplier about 12 years ago when I first got interested in stunt kite flying and noticed how nice the graphite rods in the kites were.  
 
The graphite necks we purchased had limitations. If you want a custom neck dimension, you need to buy a new mold. With no truss rods, there is no way to change the relief in the neck to suit differing styles, or to adjust any movement (yes, the graphite moved). Of course you can still make height adjustments with the nut and bridge.

[Derwin Moss (bassdude63)]

Thanks Mica, I agree that a graphite neck has it's limitations. Besides being unadjustable(although I think Modulus is now installing truss rods in their newer necks)an all graphite neck is much too bright-sounding for my taste. Besides adding rigidity to your 6-string necks, do these rods alter the tone at all? Would the added rigidity benefit 4 & 5 string basses?

[mica]

The patent for the graphite necks was for a design without truss rods. I too noticed that Modulus started using truss rods.  
 
The last two sets of basses we made for Jimmy Johnson had one bass with and one bass without the graphite rods. He didn't want us to tell him which ones had the reinforcements so he could test and see if he could really detect any difference.  
 
So far, he hasn't noticed anything signifigant.
 
On the 6-strings basses, we sort of have the attitude of it doesn't hurt and that goes along with our general idea of overbuilding everything. We can add them to a 4- or 5-string bass neck on speical order, but have no plans to add them as a standard feature to these instruments.

[Derwin Moss (bassdude63)]

Thanks for the info, Mica.

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Hi MIca and Derwin,
 
if I'm well informed Status also started with graphite necks with adjustable rods.
So, graphite was not so rigid after all?
 
Paul

[Nick Brown (nick_bassman)]

Hi everyone
 
My understanding is that Status added adjustable rods to give the player some choice in the relief of the neck rather than because of an inherent lack of stiffness. I've had a couple of Statii (sic) over the years and have noticed no appreciable movement, certainly not on a par with a wood neck. As they say horses for courses I think both technologies have their place. Of course all the above is only my experience others may differ.
 
Mica, are you saying the graphite rods are standard in your six strings (of course I have a vested interest now !!) ?

[mica]

The original Modulus patent did not provide for a truss rod so any instrument made under that patent won't have one (including the Alembics). Our experience was that adjustments were required by players, and that is one of the reasons we stopped making instruments with graphite necks.  
 
The pultruded graphite rod is standard on the six-string basses.

[Dave Houck (davehouck)]

I tried a few Zons in a music store a few years back.  One had what I thought was a bit too much bow in the neck; and with no way to adjust it.
 
Dave

[Gerald E. Greene (flash)]

First of all, whats up alembicians. Im from dayton ohio area where slave was from.  Mark adams did use a series I early on but he sold it for other reasons...!? I have seen mark play and I have seen the bass but I've never seen them together. I saw the S-I in the mid 80's. It still had slave logo painted on it's anvil case and the bass had glue marks where the initials were stuck on the body. as far as doing work to the basses guts,i don't think he did it but he might of had a shop tech do it either here or in L.A. I do know that he didn't have his series I for very long. because when I did see it, it looked damn near new.  
 
peace!!
 
Flash