Author Topic: (x) 98W11747 USA (Read 377 times)

rustyg61 · « **on:** June 13, 2013, 08:11:17 PM »

I found this Epic 5 string in a pawn shop & was wanting to see if you have any info on it. Thanks!

mikedm · « **Reply #1 on:** June 14, 2013, 06:24:30 AM »

Rusty...what are you doing?

rustyg61 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 14, 2013, 09:00:33 AM »

Just checking Mike! My guitar player sent me a Craigslist ad for this bass, so I went after work & checked it out. I don't really want a 5 string, but if I can get a great deal on it I might. It needs some work, the neck is bowed & strings are about 1/4 high so it doesn't play well. but it's an Alembic so I'm sure that is fixable! I told my wife that I felt like I just went to a pet store & saw this sad little puppy begging me to rescue him & take him home & love him! LOL!

mikedm · « **Reply #3 on:** June 14, 2013, 12:51:08 PM »

Testing the limits of the Alembic Monogamy Theory already?

rustyg61 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 14, 2013, 12:58:00 PM »

Apparently the Dallas bunch was a bad influence on me! :-)

sonicus · « **Reply #5 on:** June 14, 2013, 03:29:05 PM »

My confession ;

Resistance was Futile , I have been Assimilated . I accept it . I have complied. { Rationale = Not such a bad thing }

jazzyvee · « **Reply #6 on:** June 15, 2013, 05:30:19 AM »

Don't fight the urge within if you really want that bass. However from my own experience, if what you ultimately want is a series bass, this route you are taking will not quench that thirst and you will end up with a progressive collection that increases the desire for as a series bass but when it comes to selling from your collection to get one, man that is so hard to do. There is subliminal psychology present in every bass as a no cost feature and I agree with sonicus resistance is futile :-)

Jazzyvee

(Message edited by jazzyvee on June 15, 2013)

mike1762 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 15, 2013, 11:17:26 AM »

I have an Orion with that electronic package. It sounds like a really good Fender... nothing like the packages with filters and certainly nothing like a Series.

mike1762 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 15, 2013, 12:29:31 PM »

BTW... how does an Alembic wind-up in a freakin' pawn shop??? That has to be a desperate situation.

rustyg61 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 16, 2013, 09:39:18 PM »

OK, here's the Epic update...I went back to the pawn shop, tool kit in my hand & talked the owner into letting me tweak the Epic to see if I could get it playing like an Alembic should. He agreed & after about 20 minutes I had the neck straight & the sitar sounding G string was gone! I had the low B at .090 (3/32) on the Stew Mac gauge, & the G string at .080 (5/64). I also replaced the battery & brought the pickups up to a respectable level which really brought out the punch in the bass. My only concern now is that I noticed a rattle up by the headstock which sounds like the truss rod is loose inside the neck. Both truss nuts turned easily with the right amount of resistance you would expect & I didn't have to bottom them out to get the neck straight, So I don't think the truss rod is broke, but something is rattling inside the neck when I played a low B. Any thought on the rattle? I didn't buy the bass yet but told the owner I just saved him $100 on a setup! The intonation is perfect, even with the extremely dead strings, I did 2 string octaves on all the strings all the way up the neck & it was perfectly in tune.

espresto · « **Reply #10 on:** July 03, 2013, 09:42:08 PM »

I am about to buy this bass (sight unseen), and had no idea about the rattle. Any thoughts on this?

rustyg61 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 03, 2013, 11:06:46 PM »

Hey Michael, I went back to the pawn shop a few days after adjusting the truss rod & brought a Schecter 5 string with me to have something to compare the Epic to before I decided if I wanted to buy it. The Schecter had a similar rattle on the low B so I think it may just be the string vibrating when you play it open. I didn't hear the rattle on the Epic when I played it through my amp. I have never owned a 5 string so that may be normal. I only heard the rattle when I played an open B without the bass plugged in to an amp. It's not a loud rattle, I had to put my ear on the headstock to hear it well. After hearing the similar rattle on the Schecter, I was not concerned with the rattle on the Epic, that is why I didn't mention it in the for sale post. The only reason I didn't buy the Epic is that it was more than I had to spend & John was unwilling to come down on the price. I think that you will be very happy with this bass & blown away with the quality & craftsmanship of your first Alembic!

espresto · « **Reply #12 on:** July 03, 2013, 11:42:44 PM »

Alright, thanks for being forthright. I never thought it was dishonesty, I just was wondering why it wasn't in the other post. I'm sure this bass will be everything I expect and more.

rustyg61 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 05, 2013, 02:38:28 PM »

Be sure to post some pictures of you with the bass when you get it!

that_sustain · « **Reply #14 on:** July 05, 2013, 03:34:42 PM »

I think that rattle will settle. The neck just went through a big adjustment, right? It could be the tuners..or a loose nut screw. It could even be that the A string wasn't wrapped around the tuning peg correctly(try muting the A at the headstock). Alembic truss rods don't strip out like all the rest of the bass manufacturer's do.

My advice is to just take it slower with neck adjustments.