Custom bas(s)ed on the Orion or other 'budget' models?

[the_mule]

Not really on-topic here, but these are the lyrics to the Jethro Tull song that's in my head alot lately!
 
JETHRO TULL - ORION
 
Orion, won't you give me your star sign
Orion, get up on the sky-line
I'm high on my hill and I feel fine
Orion, let's sip the heaven's heady wine
 
Orion, light your lights:
come guard the open spaces
from the black horizon to the pillow where I lie.
Your faithful dog shines brighter than its lord and master
Your jewelled sword twinkles as the world rolls by.
So come up singing above the cloudy cover
Stare through at people who toss fitful in their sleep.
I know you're watching as the old gent by the station
scuffs his toes on old fag packets lying in the street
And silver shadows flick across the closing bistro.
Sweet waiters link their arms and patter down the street,
their words lost blowing on cold winds in darkest Chelsea.
Prime years fly fading with each young heart's beat
 
Orion, won't you make me a star sign
Orion, get up on the sky-line
I'm high on your love and I feel fine
Orion, let's sip the heaven's heady wine
 
And young girls shiver as they wait by lonely bus-stops
after sad parties: no-one to take them home
to greasy bed-sitters and make a late-night play
for lost virginity a thousand miles away.

[kmh364]

Mule:
 
I understand completely. While I've wanted an Alembic forever, I was totally unprepared for the pricing and discount structure of Alembic ownership. When I first saw the East Meets West, and it's relatively low MSRP of $4299 (old Alembic price structure ca. pre-3/03), I figured I could get it for the $2,000-2,500 range. Boy, was I wrong! When the best discounted price I could get was $3,400 (subsequently lowered to $3,200 + S&H), I decided to have a similar one built. Much to my chagrin, the price had risen to $5,200 or so! I found a dealer who would discount heavily and I waited for the homerun Alembic monthly special before I ordered. By that time, I had a chance to peruse other customs, and I wanted to add further options. It got to the point that Susan had to reign me in so that the thing would get completed, LOL! Needless to say, my budjet Alembic, while nowhere near the price of most of the Customs you see here on this site, doubled in list price over the original. Thank God for Steve over at Superbass.net for his awesome discount! He made the thing affordable. I think that with the exception of the 5A top, Ash body, ebony FB and custom electronics with JZ activators, there isn't one area of this bass that I haven't tweeked. It should be (for me at least) the ultimate set-neck!  
 
BTW, the Tull reference was not only cool but apropos as well!

[mikedm]

Wilfred,
 
Dreaming it all up is the easy part, I like your ideas.
I was lucky to find this one off the rack, this was a dealer order, they had for about a year before I bought it. Seemed like a good starting point for me, I wasn't ready to get away from a traditional looking bass.
Orion 5, crown peg head
Bird's Eye Top, some subtle flame and buryle too!
side LEDs and Europa electronics.
I've wondered what this would be like with purple heart pinstripes in place of walnut, not the thicker neck lams. I think the pinstripes are somewhat more elegant.
 

 
showcase link, not better pictures, but bigger
http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/4492.html?1080442173
 
Kevin,
 
I bought mine from the same dealer that has East Meets West. I did get to play it, it's is a really nice bass, but it was pricey, even the eventual discount they offered to you was more than I paid for mine. Timing is everything, who knows what they'd be willing to do if it's still on the wall for another six months...
 
Mike

[kmh364]

Mike:
 
A couple of guys played that thing...all said it was nice. Unfortunately, Marcus Morgan didn't wanna deal on it. With the discount I'm getting on the new bass, If my dealer had it I would have gotten an awesome deal as East Meets West had the old pricing. Oh well, coulda shoulda woulda. It did disappear off the site after they had it a year. I don't know if they sold it, or just took it off the site. It really is a mixed blessing...even though I'm paying more, I'm getting a much tricker bass.  
 
Kevin

[the_mule]

Well, my custom adventure will have to be postponed for a while I guess. I just closed a deal for an EVH Signature 4-string! This will be my second Alembic, but *deo volente* not my last, so...
 
I'll start a new thread in the more appropriate forum 'owning an Alembic' soon!

[mikedm]

Wilfred,
 
Ah, decisions. decisions...buying an EVH is probably a lot easier to do than finalizing a custom order, can't wait to see what you're bringing home, congratulations.
 
Kevin,
 
I haven't been by the shop in months, most of their Alembics dropped off of the website. Remember the huge MK D'lux 5 string? It was ebay last Fall for a rediculous buy now price of less than $4k. Wonder where it went to...
Anyway, it's all about what feels right and no regrets afterwards. I can't help but imagining diferent versions of a MK on a weekly basis - pun intended.
 
adios,
Mike

[kmh364]

Mule:
 
Pix...post 'em when you got 'em, LOL!
 
Mike:
 
I'd be interested in what the EMW sold for, if indeed it sold at all. Marcus was adamant about waiting for his price. He refused to deal...I guess he thought the thing would command a high price because it was a Special O' Month. Ultimately, he did me a favor. My bass does cost more, but it will be the way I spec'd it, not the way some music store wanted it.

[dean_m]

Hey Mule,
 
Alembic built this custom Orion for me.  It's pretty standard outside of the Elan electronics that I had them do.  Bubinga top with a maple stripe, mahogany body.  Whatever you decide to do, for fretless, the filter is a must!!!
I leave the truss rod cover off for last minute adjustments when needed.
 
Peace,
Dino
 

[the_mule]

Dino, that certainly is a nice Orion. I'll keep your suggestion in mind when I place my custom order, which will definitely be a fretless. As I said, it will take a while, first I'm going to enjoy the EvH Signature (only two days away)...