Author Topic: "Almost Gone With The Wind" - a tale of Karma and renaming the "Rogue Rogue" (Read 1259 times)

5a_quilt_top · « **on:** June 10, 2014, 12:26:51 PM »

A few weeks ago, I made my second pilgrimage to the mothership. As was the case with my first visit last August, a good time was had by all, relaxing in the late afternoon, swapping stories and admiring various instruments in progress - each one breathtaking in its own unique way. In the midst of all of this merriment, the elves introduced me to THIS fair 4-string damsel:

with the explanation that she had recently become an orphan due to a rare specification miscommunication. Needless to say, as I gazed deeply into the burled beauty of her redwood top and backside and admired the flawless craftsmanship of her purple heart and ebony neck laminates, I fell under her spell and was compelled to lend to her whatever assistance that might be required to ease her plight. Over the next several days, I imagined what it would be like to give her a new home where she would be surrounded by other 4, 5 and (soon to be) 6-string siblings from the same place of birth. Fortunately, as luck or karma, or... ? would have it, the head elf worked her magic and we figured out a way to make it possible and she will soon be finished and on her way to me. Epilog: she has been renamed "Scarlet O'Hara" - because of her fiery redwood exterior coupled with the fact that she was almost "gone with the wind". Moral: there are no mistakes in life, only paths that lead in unexpected directions. Opportunities will sometimes present themselves when you least expect them - try to be flexible as possible to be able to take advantage of the possibilities. (Message edited by davehouck on June 10, 2014)

mtjam · « **Reply #1 on:** June 10, 2014, 03:28:25 PM »

Nice! I know you're looking forward to welcoming your new addition at home!

David Houck · « **Reply #2 on:** June 10, 2014, 04:21:33 PM »

Congrats! Will it have Europa controls?

moongerm · « **Reply #3 on:** June 10, 2014, 04:29:49 PM »

Sweet!

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #4 on:** June 10, 2014, 04:47:22 PM »

Thanks guys.

Re: controls - yes it will have the standard Europa / Rogue electronics. The original build sheet spec'd Signature electronics and although I like that package (I have it on both a Stanley Sig Deluxe and on the Crown of Creation custom), IMO the Europa / Rogue package is a little more performance-friendly. Since this will primarily be a live bass, I opted for simplicity.

Good thing the holes weren't drilled (!)

I also spec'd a Fatboy in the treble position. I have that on my Europa 5 and I love it.

sonicus · « **Reply #5 on:** June 10, 2014, 05:25:49 PM »

My ___ Congratulations ,

She be almost as darling as Vivien Leigh her self !

artswork99 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 11, 2014, 07:40:54 AM »

Congratulations!

edwin · « **Reply #7 on:** June 11, 2014, 05:39:25 PM »

Frankly, my dear, I?. Oh, never mind.

Very lovely!

dead_head · « **Reply #8 on:** June 11, 2014, 07:45:27 PM »

Congratulations! Love the burled redwood. Best of luck with it.

growlypants · « **Reply #9 on:** June 12, 2014, 06:58:08 AM »

Very Nice! Congrats on the rescue! I just can't imagine anyone not just loving that configuration... By the way - why the Fat Boy selection in the treble position? In other words, why do you prefer the Fat Boy to the other?

(Message edited by growlypants on June 12, 2014)

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #10 on:** June 12, 2014, 09:02:53 AM »

Thanks to all for the additional kind words (very funny edwin...).

Hey growly - Re: Fatboy in treble position - it adds a little more girth for want of another word. It makes that pickup stand out a little more in a live band mix. Maybe due to more mid-range - ?

Some have commented that the standard treble pickup is a little more high fidelity but slightly less punchy - maybe better in a studio setting. The difference is subtle. Others have remarked that a Fatboy in the bass position, depending upon the instrument, may be slightly overwhelming.

Since I have no problem coaxing low end out of any of my Alembics, I like the standard bass pickup. But in a live mix, I sometimes have a challenge cutting through when using the treble position.

I plan to use this bass primarily for live classic and contemporary rock, some R&B and funk and possibly some contemporary country, so I wanted a little more punch in the treble position.

One additional comment re: wood recipe on this one - the redwood / mahogany core body is very light, so overall, this bass will be fairly light by Alembic standards. This coupled with a 32 scale length and the inherent balance of the ergonomic Rogue body shape will make it very comfortable to play standing for extended periods of time.

growlypants · « **Reply #11 on:** June 12, 2014, 09:27:32 AM »

I appreciate your thoughts, 5a. I know that, in the past, J-o-e-y has expressed his preferences for that particular pick-up as well, and being a relative novice to the finer points of Alembic-ness,(!) I was curious. I'm not involved in recording due to a lot of things (age, talent...) but I try to know the reasons for specific choices. Thanks, again!

bigredbass · « **Reply #12 on:** June 13, 2014, 10:25:42 AM »

Dan, I originally had AXY's in my BigRedBass. They were just fine, but exceptionally transparent. I rolled the dice and changed out to FatBoys (thanks to Mica and Bob Novy). It's not a night+day difference, but I prefer the FatBoys for me. If it still had the AXY's, I'd be just fine, but since I had a choice, I went with the FatBoys. Since Alembic tends to put the bridge pickup right next to the bridge, using a FatBoy only at the bridge works for some guys to buy a little thicker sound from a thinner spot.

My best analogy would be that the AXY's sound like very good reference studio monitors or a very good studio mic, whereas the FatBoys are still very accurate, but with just a bit more coloration, as if you're now listening to the playback on exceptionally good home speakers, or mic'd up with an SM57.

J o e y

eastcoastepic · « **Reply #13 on:** June 13, 2014, 06:28:48 PM »

Stunning top wood figuration, like two dozen flickering candle flames; almost a 'mutant' redwood, as she seemingly melts away from the neck to the bridge. Basses like this are my favorites...absolutely nothing 'typical' about the wood, a true 'one of a kind' wood selection makes this priceless.
As the bumper stickers say...who rescued who? :-)

Fantastic find & acquisition; salute'!
Chris

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #14 on:** June 16, 2014, 12:19:56 PM »

Thanks Chris.

The wood had the same effect on me the first time I saw it. The pix, although very nice, do not completely convey the impact of the wood in person. It's absolutely mesmerizing.

Susan told me she chose it for this project because it looked like flames coming from the bottom of the bass (this bass is on fire).

She then told me that the front and back are successive slices - which further compounds the awesomeness.

And, like the cherry on top, there are also matching front and back headstock veneers.

How could I refuse the lure of this burly, flame-y redwood feast!

who rescued who - INDEED!