Ke(vi)n's Custom Orion

[kmh364]

Rory,
 
Thanks for the compliments. This is a To Me From Me 40th Birthday present that I ordered back in December '03 after falling in love with two Alembic Specials of the Month. I'm a figured wood freak, especially maple. Alembic, as usual, out-did themselves!

[bkbass]

Congatulations Dad!A fine birth for sure.See you worried for nothing!Yes it will look ten times better in person and the sound will be nothing like you've experienced before!Come by and I'll give you a free Q filter lesson.LOL I'm guessing that I'll be done sometime at the end of the month.Mine started back in Nov'03.One gets used to the wait after 5 or 6 right Rami?

[dannobasso]

I ordered my latest on 04/03 before the increase. Still knitting booties for the arrival! The waiting does not get much easier. Personally I spend lots of cash while I wait. Picked up a Ripper, a Ric 4003, Acme B4, Epi T115, Fender Esquire Celtic, Incase bag, PLX3402, Spare F1X, Korg DTR 2000, a few Levy's straps. I've waited for 6 out of 10 Alembics. But after you have it in your hands the pain goes away. It's about as close as we get to childbirth. Current gestation 14 months. Congratulations on your beautiful bass. Prepare for the onslaught of envy from Sadowsky guys!
Danno

[kmh364]

Barry, Danno:
 
Thanks for all the fine compliments. I can't wait to get this baby home to Daddy! The good things come to those who wait cliche' is certainly apropos here. I think both of your basses are not that far off...just waiting for the Alembic Wizards's magic to be consumated.
 
Danno:
 
I certainly know what you mean...I've had to consciously curb my GAS while waiting for this thing. I looked at other new/used Alembics, Laklands, Dingwalls, Elricks, Fenders to tide me over (I've resisted so far) SF-2's and FX-1's, envelope filters, bassballs, etc. (I've resisted so far). I did buy my Eden amp stack w/custom-fit LeCover padded 1000d cordura covers and every Alembic strap in existence (and one of every Moody strap in two sizes for all my other guitars)...ck those out...Levy's are very nice, Moody's and/or Alembic/Moody's are phenomenal!

[dannobasso]

Being a single male my will power has dwindeled as my salary has increased. I suggessted a bass like yours to a guy in a wedding band I do sound for. He spent about $3800 on a Sadowsky instead. Through the board in the cans it sounds like a much cheaper bass. You have a great crafted instrument there. (Not a Mr. Potato Head put together bass.) Your will power  is to be put up as an example for the rest of us. Oh well, off to GC for PA supplies!
Danno

[kmh364]

I'm in the same boat: I'm divorced and advanced now in my career. I was broke when I got divorced, but I'm not any longer. I have no bills to speak of, so my income is fairly disposable. Believe you me, I love to spend on toys...I just have to make sure my credit cards stay debt-free, LOL!

[kmh364]

Hi Mica,    
   
Any news yet? I haven't heard from Roger @ THG since I finalized the details, so I don't know if he's finished with the knobs yet.  
   
BTW: the new Alembic/Moody's straps are awesome. That new Amber wide job with the purple accent will probably look great with the new bass.  
   
Regards,  
   
Kevin  
 
(Message edited by kmh364 on July 03, 2004)

[kmh364]

Danno:  
 
That's shame about your buddy with the Sadowsky. They're nice, but are no Alembic. If he had been patient, and hooked up with an awesome dealer like Steve over @ Superbass.net who discounts heavily, he could have gotten one similar to this for around the same money (albeit with slightly less options than this has). I wanted the ultimate high-end Jazz-bass, and I think I was fairly sucessful at getting it (thanks to Alembic).  
 
(Message edited by kmh364 on July 03, 2004)

[bassman10096]

This is just a great looking bass!  I played a 4 string Orion the other day for the first time.  Very nice feel and touch.  Congratulations.
 
Bill

[kmh364]

Thanks, Bill. Not too shabby for a copy of the East Meets West special 'o month from last August, eh? Mica has a similar one in the Alembic store that's for sale. That one was an unfortunate first try boo-boo from when they originally started fabrication on this one. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with that bass! It is typical Alembic: superb build quality, spectacular looks, etc. It's just that both the body wood and pickup (activator) types were not as per my original specification. I wanted an Ash back and J-bass pick-ups versus a Mahogany back and MXY's. The boo-boo Custom Orion is an extremely nice piece nonetheless.
 
(Message edited by kmh364 on July 03, 2004)

[kmh364]

Bill:
 
I just realized that you're the one with the awesome cocobolo special. It was very gracious  (and modest) of you to compliment me on my (relatively) cheapo Custom when you're getting that gorgeous top-of-the-line Custom w/series electronics yourself. It looks like you'll get yours before I get mine, so congratulations to you and enjoy as well.

[kmh364]

Mica:
 
First and foremost: Happy Fourth of July to you and all the fine folks at Alembic. I hope you're all enjoying your time off and are enjoying plenty of barbeque picnic fare...Buon Appetito!
 
I just heard from Roger @ THG. My custom knobs are done and he expects to ship them early this week. They look awesome and should embellish this bad boy even more so than you've already done. Please keep an eye out for them. If you could please install them on the bass and take some pix before you ship, it would be greatly appreciated. I'll take the old knobs as well. If you could just put them in the flight case, that'd be fine.
 
Thanks again,
 
Regards,
 
Kevin

[bassman10096]

Hey, Kevin,
 
Thanks for tipping me that there was good news on my bass.  As for my compliment - no graciousness or modesty on my part...Your bass looks fantastic!  BTW, there are NO cheap Alembics (God only knows...).  
 
I'm very interested in how you like your electronics package.  I haven't decided exactly what I'm looking for in the 5 string I have planned.  But I don't want it to as challenging from a tweaking standpoint as the S2.
 
I really like the quilts on your basses top and the way the accent lam peeks out of the elbow cut.  The logo looks great, too.  Send pix and give us a review of the electronics when you recieve your new friend.
 
Bill

[kmh364]

Bill:  
 
Thanks again. Cheapo (i.e., in quotations) is a relative term, LOL! If I spent a little more, I could have just about gone Series. I did want a set neck versus a neck-through to try and limit the weight and keep the J-bass vibe (i.e., midrange punch).  
 
It seems East Meets West electronics are all the rage these days. I'm seeing a lot of queries about them lately on this site. Innocently enough, I just really wanted that damn original EMW, so I took that bass as a starting point and just started dressing it up and adding options. While this thing is certainly Spartan in absolute Alembic terms, it will certainly be the most complicated control layout I've ever used. I'm used to simple passive stuff (i.e., Stratocaster & Les Paul) and pseudo-active (i.e., Jackson with the passive master vol and tone with active mid-boost). Even though I'm an Electrical Engineer, I'm afraid I don't know what I'd do with all those knobs and switches on a series (I or II). I hope I made the right choice with the EMW electronics package. Bkbass tells me it was a good way to go, so given his Alembic experience/savvy and playing pedigree, I'll take his word for it until I can try it for myself. He volunteered to show me how to use the Q switch and filter knob...I just hope I can get it away from him when he tries it out, LOL!. I will certainly let everyone know how it sounds. I'm assuming it'll give me the versatility of several instruments as this is (currently) my only bass. With the cost of it, it may be an only child for some time, LOL! Du'oh! I still have to learn what all those knobs on my Eden WT-550 do, LOL!  
 
As is de rigeur, Mica and Co. conjured up their usual magic when it came to picking out the woods for this bad boy. I actuall wanted the top to match the original EMW (at a minimum) or the Almost Twins Specials (the ultimate!). I loved those rare huge symmetrical baloney curl quilts of the almost Twins. If you ck out the boo-boo EMWII in the Alembic Store, they matched the top on that one to the original EMW top quite closely. It turns out that the top they chose for this bass is relatively unique amongst quilt tops, and quite stunning...better than the EMW or the boo-boo EMWII IMHO. The thick Purpleheart accent lam and Louisville Slugger ash back were all Alembic as well. I didn't get to pick out any of the woods, but it turned out awesome despite me, LOL! Obviously, Alembic know what they are doing, so I should keep my eyes/ears/mind open, and my mouth shut!
 
(Message edited by kmh364 on July 05, 2004)

[jalevinemd]

Kevin,
 
I agree whole heartidly with Bill about how great that purpleheart looks beneath the quilt top. My Orion guitar (which I didn't design) has a similar purpleheart lam, sandwiched between a dark mahogany body and dark burl redwood top. It is completely lost except when viewed up close. What a waste! Love the logo as well.
 
Jonathan