Author Topic: Skylark and a Mesa or just a Further? (Read 321 times)

mikem13 · « **on:** May 29, 2005, 07:07:08 PM »

Hey,
I'm new to the alembic club and I am curious for some opinions about what I should do with fifty five hundred dollars. I might get a Skylark with LEDs and a mesa of some sort, or just a further. What do you guys think I should do: get the further or go for both the skylark and a mesa amp. thanks

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** May 29, 2005, 07:16:18 PM »

Hi Mike; welcome to the group. I'll let the guitar players address your question; though I'm wondering, what are you playing through now?

mikem13 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 29, 2005, 07:21:36 PM »

hey, thanks for the reply...
I'm playing an ovation to a 16 input allen & heath mixer then into a rackrider EQ then into two JBL 140 watt speakers.(The drummer from dispatch left this setup at my drummer's house)The only problem is this setup is at my drummers house. So, I wanted something for when I am not practicing over his house to play. I love alot of different genres of music. Ranging from Dave Matthews and Flecktones to early incubus. Thanks

mikem13 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 29, 2005, 07:24:04 PM »

At my house, I have a small VOX combo that I hate and a schecter that has a consistent metal tone that I dont like.

David Houck · « **Reply #4 on:** May 29, 2005, 07:35:31 PM »

Which Vox combo do you have? Maybe the problem with the Vox is the Schecter. My guitar player plays through a Vox Valvetronix amp and he has a really nice tone.

mikem13 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 29, 2005, 07:45:19 PM »

I have a really modest 15 watt amp its not part of the valvetronix series. I have not been playing very long at all, and I don't play that much electric to tell the truth. I love my ovation and play alot of dave matthews type stuff. My schecter is a T-1 in TV yellow and it was used so that might have somehting to do with it. But, I would like a really flexible electric to experiment into funk and jazz. I have been looking around for awhile now. I tried the Taylor T5, and a PRS Hollowbody II with a piezo. The T5 was nice, but it just did not seem to be worth the better part of three grand. I did not like the PRS at all. The frets were tiny and it was uncomfortable. So, after seeing Jerry Garica's wolf alembic and listening to Stanley Clarke and his use of alembic basses I realized that I should give alembic a try. I read a ton of reviews all amazing and practically worshipping these products (for their flexible tones, amazing bookmatching, and smooth action). I narrowed it down to a further or a skylark. Is the further that much better than a skylark? Sorry for the long explanation I just had to let it out.

jalevinemd · « **Reply #6 on:** May 29, 2005, 09:03:51 PM »

Mike,

As someone who went through a complete amp overhaul after buying my Alembic, I can tell you that you will not be able to fully appreciate your Alembic playing through a sub-standard rig. I'm sure the Further is a wonderful instrument, but I get all of the tones from my Little bear (Skylark electronics) that I could ever need. I say go for the complete package.

Regards,

Jonathan

grateful · « **Reply #7 on:** May 30, 2005, 02:48:29 AM »

Hi Mike,

The price differential between the Skylark and the Further is not just down to the electronics. The Further is a through-neck, hippy sandwich guitar, the Skylark isn't. I would imagine you could order a Skylark with Further electronics and it would be cheaper than a Further.

That said, there seems little point in buying a Further and having nothing to play it through, so I'd advise a Skylark and some valve/tube amplifier of your choice.

Good luck in your quest,

Mark

tom_z · « **Reply #8 on:** May 30, 2005, 12:30:30 PM »

Mike,

I am completely satisfied and amazed with my Skylark. I've written many times of the tonal variety possible with the Skylark electronics. I have always sought very clean rich tone and my Skylark delivers magnificently. I can get very clear, chimey bell-like tones with excellent definition (think Steve Kimock) but also serious crunch - beautifully overdriven tone. It is also capable of very dark, warm tone. Mine has a laminated top with vermilion, maple, and cocobolo which may very well add to the complexity of the Skylark tone, though never having played one with a single layer maple top, I can't make a fair comparison. I've put on a heavier gauge string than the 10s that it shipped with and I believe that the tone is even more focused (though I may have to do some filing of the nut to accommodate the heavier gauge on the E and A). If you use heavier strings I recommend having Alembic set up your nut and bridge saddles accordingly. I also opted for the longer scale 25.5? rather than the standard 24.75? length, which adds a bit more string tension. I play a Martin dreadnought a fair amount of the time so the heavier gauge and added tension are not a real issue for me, and the tonal advantages are more than worth it.

As for amplification, I am keeping my eyes open for a good price on either a Two Rock or a Mesa. I?m leaning toward the Two Rock, as the more I hear them the more I?m convinced a Reverb Signature would be a perfect companion to my Alembic. The price, even on used Two Rocks, is quite expensive. Right now I?m playing mostly through a Vox Valvetronix which offers additional tonal variety (I usually use the Dumble and Fender models), and is also a nice match for the Skylark.

I have never played a Further and can only imagine that it has an even greater color palette and the addition of the effects loop would certainly add versatility. There may be a Further somewhere in my future, but for now I?m still holding out for Alembic to develop an archtop hollow-body jazz box. (Valentino ? please continue to pester Susan and Mica on this front. )

Mike, whatever you decide, you can?t go wrong with an Alembic.

Tom

(Message edited by tom_z on May 30, 2005)

mikem13 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 30, 2005, 06:07:23 PM »

Thanks everyone for your input.

jalevinemd · « **Reply #10 on:** May 30, 2005, 07:12:59 PM »

Tom,

What do the Two Rock Reverb Signatures go for? Are they similar to the old Hiwatts?

David Houck · « **Reply #11 on:** May 30, 2005, 09:01:58 PM »

I found a retail price for a Two Rock Custom Reverb Signature of $7,000.

tom_z · « **Reply #12 on:** May 30, 2005, 09:32:50 PM »

The price Dave found is about right - which still beats the price of a Dumble by a long way (if you can even find one) - then you would want to configure a nice cab with maybe a couple of tone tubbys.

I have seen the slightly older Two Rock Custom Reverbs (non signature) on ebay in the $3000 -$3500 range. A friend of mine plays through an older Two Rock Emerald that he got used on ebay for around $2K - it sounds incredible.

If you're interested here's the Two Rock Owners discussion group - it's worth checking out.
http://www.dhenderson.com/TwoRock/

Tom

kmh364 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 31, 2005, 06:25:24 AM »

Mike:

You're on the right track. Play EVERYTHING and then make up your mind. For sure, get the best sounding, best playing, best feeling, best looking (if that's an issue) guitar you can afford. This way, you're not so tempted to ditch it in a fit of GAS and possibly lose money in the bargain. I don't think you can go wrong with ANY Alembic, as the quality is second to none, regardless of brand name. Then narrow your choices for an amp. There's lot of good used stuff out there, both mass-market and boutique...some of which is reasonably priced. Good luck in your quest.

Whew! Those Two-Rocks are out-of-sight pricewise...and I thought Mesa was extremely pricey! I guess you get what you pay for.

jalevinemd · « **Reply #14 on:** May 31, 2005, 06:54:04 AM »

I read that a Dumble, if you can find one that's for sale, goes for $12-18,000.

I didn't realize the Two-Rocks were so expensive. I guess my first clue should have been the fact that no dealer posts a price. I told my wife not to let me get another amp, as my Marshall isn't even six months old yet. But I'm feeling that dangerous build up of GAS. I always loved the old Hiwatts, but am suspect of the quality, of late. The Dan Reeves amps supposedly match the tone and quality of the classic Hiwatts - handwired point-point turret circuits, Partridge transformers, etc...They go for about 1/3 of the Two-Rocks.

Regards,

Jonathan