Dreams to Reality..Time to build the Custom

[mica]

I haven't really noticed any big difference in tone between neck throughs with bookmatched to center top or regular bookmatched tops.

[marco555]

Too much access to knowledge can be a dangerous undertaking. this is approaching the be careful what you wish for stage. OK then, I cannot think of an Alembic artist who is known for his/her playing that has a set neck. Am I wrong? If I'm not, then why is this? I'm seeing such a high percentage of custom basses as neck throughs, with not many distinguishing set neck customs. It can all be aesthetics? Perhaps they last better over time as a neck through construction?

[tmoney61092]

neck through is a matter of preference or a way to cut down on expenses. just because an artist doesn't use a seet neck doesn't mean they aren't good, or that only neck through basses are good, just look at the number of bolt on neck basses that companies make/artists use
 
~Taylor

[jazzyvee]

Here is something I found a good while back which may give  you and idea. They are Ken Smith basses and not alembic so there should be differences due the the differing construction between Alembic and Ken Smith basses, but it serves as a general example.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0quJTuSVmP0
 
Jazzyvee

[jazzyvee]

Here is something I found a good while back which may give  you and idea. It's a comparison between Ken Smith basses and since we can't do this test with  two alembic basses this serves as a general example of the differences between neck thru and bolt on bass sounds.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0quJTuSVmP0
 
Jazzyvee

[mike1762]

Interesting... I MUCH prefer the tone of the bolt-on.  However, the woods are not the same in the 2 basses (so I'm not sure how much that is playing in my preference).

[marco555]

Hi Tmoney; My reference is only to Alembic products. We can start with Jaco and go everywhere outside of the Alembic circle. While there may be a cost factor due to the wood question, there is a lot of labor involved. My second point/question refers to the longevity and durability of the products.
Jazzyvee; your link is awesome, it's even noticeable through cheap desktop speakers.
To me,it points out the sonic differences that can be had with construction, and the emphasis that it places on tone.

[cozmik_cowboy]

Interesting capos he's got there - WTF?
 
Peter

[marco555]

That's probably just to mute the sustain a bit. The strings are lively and he probably needs to mute it down. You can do it with your right hand, but that takes more technique.

[David Houck]

Marc; an Alembic set neck will be of the highest quality, so whether it will last better over time is not an issue.  Until the mid 90's, Alembic only made neck-throughs; so one reason more 'Alembic artists' play neck-throughs is that when they started playing Alembics, neck-throughs were the only choice.  But probably the main reason is that the even frequency response of the neck-through is part of the 'Alembic sound' in the same way that low pass filters are.  As a generalization, if you're a musician for whom money is no object and you want that Alembic sound, you'll order a neck-through.  On the other hand if you're a musician who's looking for a particular sound they hear in their head, then if the set neck gives them that sound, they order a set neck.  When you look through the Factory to Customer section, you'll see a few very nice customs that have set necks; for instance Jeff's beautiful bass Scarlet is a set neck.  Additionally, there have been some custom builds where the owners were after the ultimate Alembicized Jazz bass; so since Jazz basses are not neck throughs, they order set necks; set necks give you more of that Jazz bass sound.
 
Alembic started building set neck instruments because it gave folks a less expensive way to get in to owning Alembic instruments; the construction process is not as expensive as neck throughs.  But they are still of the highest quality.  Our fellow club member Rami has a number of set neck Excels because he loves the tone those instruments have; however, he also has a number of neck-through Alembics as well, because he loves that tone too.
 
Lots to think about!  Have fun with it.

[dadabass2001]

Trip Wamsley is an amazing player and uses both his Orion fretless and Epic models as well as his 8 string Rogue (a unique featured custom named Ocean Blue).
Mike

[jacko]

and Flea (of red hot chili pepper fame) used an epic on almost all of 'One hot minute'.
 
graeme

[tmoney61092]

Wow Graeme, didn't know that, thanks for that info
 
~Taylor

[otis]

Ok, guys- this might help.  In the following video, I'm playing old Thunderstick, my affectionate name for my Custom Epic 6 with 5 (yes, 5!) Ebony laminates a mahogany core, and a flame maple top.
 
Video 1:
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JLQrk2NhZM
 
 
 
The 2nd video is me playing my recently acquired Series II 6 with 5 purpleheart lams, an 11 piece walnut/maple/mahogany body(thanks again, kungfusheriff!!!)
 
Video 2:
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PCkO1Nf3CQ
 
Sorry, I really wanted it to be the same song, but I wasn't able to find my copy of Five Ton Mary with me playing the new bass that was just me & my drummer (we now have a guitar player and I wanted it to be as fair a comparison as possible- even playing ground, and all that).  But still, you'll really get the idea- the 1st was professionally recorded with 4 or 5 high end video cameras and multiple angles, while the 2nd was a single shot/angle camera of typical store bought quality.  The 2nd video is amazingly clear and crisp picture and audio-wise, so I think it's a pretty fair comparison.
 
You guys be the judge.  But Marc, you'll understand what I mean, when I called that Epic Thunderstick.  You really need to go with at least one ebony lam, no matter what you do, but I'd encourage 3 lams, whether you're getting all 3 ebony or all 3 purpleheart, or a combo of each.  There's magic in those extra laminates, coupled with the S1, S2 (especially S2) electronics.  I'd venture to say that you should go with at least a 3-5 piece body- all this stuff does make a difference- trust me, I've played S1 & S2, and the clarity of tone of a S2 is simply unmatched.  You know, because you heard it in person at Uncle Mike's a few weeks back!
 
Peace;)
 
Hope This Helps!
 
Frank