Author Topic: Swamp Ash Balance K Fretless (Read 254 times)

jetbass79 · « **on:** May 13, 2005, 01:34:43 AM »

So I just finished practicing an hour or so on my new set neck balance K point with Europa electronics. I have had this thing for two days and I feel like Stanley Clarke in 1973 -- as if a new bass player was born. Seriously. I knew I would have to have another Alembic even before I got this first one but the second one has to be fretless. Until now, I have never had a bass that actually improved my playing and hearing. Money well spent.

So here's what I am thinking: Swamp ash balance K point with contours on front and back but with a 1/4 stripe of purpleheart running down the middle with no top laminate. I like the look and sound with ash so there is no going back there. I really like Alembic's set neck on the balance K with standard maple/walnut construction and Europa peghead because I like inline pegheads (though with my current Alembic I opted for the crown because it's classic). I like the Europa electronics so I think I will stick with those.

The dilemma I am having is with pickups. My current fretted Alembic has AXY pickups and it sounds killer. I'm tempted to go with Jazz pickups as I am totally fond of fretless Jazz Basses (I own one already but it's a Frankenbass though cool in its own right). But my understanding is these pickups are rather wimpy compared to the P type (and AXY/MXY/Fatboy etc) Alembic offers. And then again the AXY pickups would totally work well for a very fat fretless sound (I can totally imagine my current Alembic as a fretless). I do not care for the visuals of MXY pickups, and it was cool that back in March when I talked to the Alembic people they included AXY pickups on my currrent Alembic. Any suggestions?

Then there is hardware. I gotta have the bird tailpiece. But to sustain block or not to sustain block? That is the question. I'm normally not a fan of all that brass because of the overtones associated with it. But on a fretless this extra metal might enhance the bass' singing characteristics (which is what makes a fretless bass sound so cool). Again, suggestions?

Then to go find money...or make money...with a counterfeit money machine though I would probably end up in jail...and I guess robbing a bank isn't so good either...

dubalbal · « **Reply #1 on:** May 13, 2005, 04:45:23 AM »

Hi John ,

Congratulations for your new bass and your future one ! If you like fretless , did you ever see Valentino's one : bal k , coco bolo , fretless , special body shape...terrific ! I must say that Val has this incredible sense of developping new shapes or concepts...If i had the chance to have an other alembic than mine ( in construction ) , i would probably turn to that precise shape he made for his fretless.

ALAIN

kmh364 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 13, 2005, 12:27:19 PM »

John,

There's nothing wimpy about Alembic's Jazz-Bass pickups (activators). You CAN get that J-bass look/tone/vibe AND still get the thunder with Alembic's active package. The EMW electronics package w/Jazz's on my custom Swamp Ash-bodied Orion kick *ss in a way that passive J p/u's couldn't hope for in a million years. Just my two cents.

Cheers,

Kevin

jetbass79 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 14, 2005, 02:29:10 AM »

I didn't mean to make it seem that the Alembic J pckups were wimpy...though I recall reading somewhere that the Alembic J pickups were the least powerful pickups that Alembic made...and there are limitations with pickup geometry for example...anyway...I can picture a J pickup loaded Alembic to have all the growl and more. I particularly like the Europa electronics which are similar to the East Meets West, and had I known the availability of this option before my order in December I may have opted for that package.

I'm still wondering about the sustain block, and I notice they omit this feature on the set necks as a means of offering a lower price but I still wonder if it contributes to a fretless' singing characteristics.

keith_h · « **Reply #4 on:** May 14, 2005, 05:09:45 AM »

I'd be interested too, as I am considering ordering a fretless later this year.

kmh364 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 16, 2005, 12:11:50 PM »

It may be true about the output with regards to aperture size as compared to other Alembic activators, but the active electronics don't make you feel like you're giving anything up. In fact, this thing'll overdrive the hell out my Eden WT-550's pre-amp section if I'm not cautious with the gain.

I can't answer about the sustain block because I don't have one on my bass. That's one of those options I probably would have gotten if I realized I could have it just because I could and it looks cool. I imagine it has a definite impact on the sound, but excepting the additional cost, you probably wouldn't hurt anything by adding one.

The MAIN problem with Alembic's are that they give you TOO MANY damn choices, LOL!

gare · « **Reply #6 on:** May 17, 2005, 06:14:30 AM »

John
Have you considered a Fatboy at the bridge position and an AXY at the neck ? Seems I read somewhere on the list that someone was running that setup.
And Kevin brings up a good point,the pre-amps in these beauties make it very easy to overdrive an amp if you're not careful..unless of course that's the sound you're going for.
Gary

jetbass79 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 18, 2005, 12:11:29 PM »

You know, the bridge AXY in my current bass is really powerful -- it will fuzz just about any amp if you play with the right amount of attack. So I would say its plenty powerful, but the Fatboy in the bridge is an interesting idea.

I actually don't mind having an angry bass tone...I plugged my Alembic into my SVT last night at practice in my crappy (read crappy meant meat and potatoes) rock band and it yielded a very ballsy (I run the master all the way up and the gain at 11 o'clock) tone that had more balance than my old Fenders and it worked well. In my other band they won't let me play anything but the Alembic.

pace · « **Reply #8 on:** May 19, 2005, 05:31:36 AM »

Is it possible for a set neck Alembic to have no top laminiate?!? I always thought that the laminate sat right on top of the wedge joint.... anyone know?!?

David Houck · « **Reply #9 on:** May 19, 2005, 06:48:51 AM »

Does this help?

mica · « **Reply #10 on:** May 19, 2005, 11:59:28 AM »

Sure you can have a solid body set neck without any body laminates. The pocket for the neck is cut through the top wood, so the joint doesn't depend on the top laminate for any strength.

Here's an example of an Ash Orion we made last year for our distributor in Korea:

I think it's rather handsome - but I'm a fan of plain things.

palembic · « **Reply #11 on:** May 19, 2005, 01:42:28 PM »

Yep ...a hippie not sandwiched!
Great!

PTBO

jetbass79 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 19, 2005, 08:15:39 PM »

It does look rather tasty...

gare · « **Reply #13 on:** May 20, 2005, 06:09:18 AM »

I think the plain ash looks really good.

'I think it's rather handsome - but I'm a fan of plain things.'
Totally agree,plain done well can be quite eloquent.
I think I'd have gone with a brass truss cover..but that's just me.

Gary

basstard · « **Reply #14 on:** July 04, 2005, 12:08:59 PM »

Very pretty.