Author Topic: NEWS FLASH - Orphaned Series II 5-String Finds New Home (Read 1604 times)

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #15 on:** January 20, 2015, 03:43:30 PM »

34 scale.

Self-indulgence - ? Possibly...maybe...a little...but after all that's what decadent desserts are all about!

I'll be honest, prior to last week, a Series II bass was not on the radar - I've actually been saving for a Spectrum Guitar - but, when opportunity presents itself, I've been know to recalibrate and change course quickly.

It's been said that we don't choose instruments, they choose us and I've found this to be very true for my favorite pieces.

edwin · « **Reply #16 on:** January 20, 2015, 03:46:08 PM »

Wow! If it were a 6 it would be my dream Alembic. Somehow I think it's going to end up in Pierreyves' stable....

pierreyves · « **Reply #17 on:** January 20, 2015, 11:06:26 PM »

for sale

??

jazzyvee · « **Reply #18 on:** January 21, 2015, 02:18:08 AM »

The coco bolo on that guitar is superb. Like you, David, I'd love to own a Spectrum Guitar but I can't recall any appearing on the used market so I guess they are extremely rare guitars or they are keepers. When I have my sensible hat on I tell myself I'm not playing enough guitar to add a custom built one to my collection but should any of the COTM spectrums come on the market. I will be twitching. I wonder what the elves would charge me to add another pickup, blade switch and spectrum electronics into my Orion guitar. Hmmm, time to email Mica with my thoughts.

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #19 on:** January 21, 2015, 10:31:13 AM »

Pierre - she's not for sale, but I'll certainly offer you first refusal should my personal circumstances change for the worse. From what I've seen of your collection, she'd fit right in. You have some incredible instruments!

Jazzy - re: Spectrum guitar - I couldn't find one either, so my idle mind concocted a custom concept and Alembic created a quote. She was basically going to be a mini version of Royale, my 5-string Europa and I was planning to have a Skyway trem installed. This dream isn't dead by any means, but due to this unexpected opportunity, I've had to postpone it until my finances recover.

Too many ideas - too little $$$ syndrome.

I'm sure that no one else here can relate to THAT...

edwin · « **Reply #20 on:** January 24, 2015, 03:11:16 PM »

I was kind of joking because so many of the really nice ones along these lines seem to end up in your collection! Every now and then, I miss my SI a little bit....

rustyg61 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 25, 2015, 11:20:02 AM »

Wow David! Out with the old, in with the new! Whether it was Obi-Wan using the Force to put into your head that This IS the bass you are looking for! (These are not the droids you are looking for) or if you were just in the right place at the right time, congratulations on your new adoption! That wood is spectacular!

zomnius · « **Reply #22 on:** January 25, 2015, 11:23:53 AM »

Yum, series!

zomnius · « **Reply #23 on:** January 25, 2015, 11:24:06 AM »

Yum, series!

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #24 on:** January 26, 2015, 07:19:35 AM »

Hey Rusty - thanks for the comments. To answer your question: right place / right time.

The Spyder had been sold (but not yet sent) prior to the elves revealing this opportunity. The $$ from that sale was originally intended for the Spectrum Guitar Fund.

When I saw the specs and the pix they sent, well the Force took over and I was powerless to resist and the Spectrum project was temporarily placed on hold.

If you don't mind, I was going to ask you and some of the other Series owners here for advice as this will be a whole new world for me.

I have decided in favor of the small portable DS-5 power supply to allow flexibility with a variety of amps & PA's.

Which brings up my first question - can I plug directly into a PA or powered monitor from the DS-5 and go ampless? Anyone have any advice or any experience - good / bad when doing this?

StephenR · « **Reply #25 on:** January 26, 2015, 09:52:18 AM »

The Series basses have enough gain to drive a power amp if you crank the gain on the pickups high enough so you should have no problem running into a powered monitor. Also no reason you can't run the DS-5 into a PA using a direct box that does not also connect to a bass amp. You could listen to yourself through the stage monitor feed.

Looks like it will be a beautiful bass...

jazzyvee · « **Reply #26 on:** January 26, 2015, 09:59:14 AM »

If you get a decent Stereo DI box you can go from DS-5 into that then into PA then get a feed to your monitor. JJ does that and there are some threads about his approach somewhere on the forum. I've not tried a powered monitor personally but I can't see why it wouldn't work either in mono or a two monitor setup for stereo.

rustyg61 · « **Reply #27 on:** January 26, 2015, 12:36:32 PM »

David, I like my DS-5R rack mount power supply because I also have a SF-2 & tuner & power conditioner in my rack, but I'm already wanting to buy a DS-5 to keep at home so I don't have to set up my rack for my practice amp, & also to make it easy to take with my bass if I go to a music store to try stuff out or play somewhere that has an amp where I wouldn't need my rack.

Here's what Jimmy had to say about his bass output

Yes Graeme, the bass was refinished at the end of last year and we added these little triangular inlays as preset level marks for (Rusty) the master volume control.

I set the preamp output levels high on my basses and warn the engineer that it's coming at them around line level. If they say oh, I wanted to run you through this preamp then I'll set the master to the lower mark and send them mic level. As we know adjusting the output level of our basses doesn't effect the tone as it would on a passive instrument. My high mark is also not at the top of the pot's travel. I like having a bit of extra headroom in case for example I need to swell a note at the end of a song. This lets me go past 0 - to eleven if you will!

Here's a picture of the markers on his bass that he mentions -

http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/190152.html?1387168750`

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #28 on:** January 29, 2015, 11:03:13 AM »

Excellent!

Thanks for all of the tips, guys.

I know there will be a bit of a learning curve, but I anticipate that navigating it will be half the fun.

I've also been advised that in the same way non-Series Alembic basses make other basses seem like toys, Series basses make their non-Series Alembic counterparts seem like toys.

In preparation for this, I've been devoting a larger portion of my rehearsal time to working on my technique - I want to be sure I'm worthy to play her when she arrives.

jazzyvee · « **Reply #29 on:** January 29, 2015, 11:11:52 AM »

Hmm... I haven't found that comparison between series and non series basses to be true personally. They just give you the ability to craft your sound more precisely than the signature basses. I find my non series basses have a characteristic tone to themselves that allow me to choose them specifically for that tone. For example I get sounds on my Elan bass that I can't emulate on any other bass series or signature. It's good to have a mix if you can... and you sure do so no doubt you will find your own view on that advice.