Hi gang! First, Pierre-Yves, I need my girlfriends help and camera to get pictures up, and it's just been bad timing; and she has two freelance gigs today, so it won't be today... I wanna get some pictures up to show off this beauty! When I do, I'll post 'em here and/or in Showcase.
Paul: to answer your questions:
first, my new 6-string has a VERY different sound from my 8-string. On Alembic neck-throughs, the woods in the neck have the greatest impact on the sound; and the neck recipes are very different between the two basses. My 8-string has 13 neck laminates; 6 of them are Ebony, 3 are Purpleheart, 2 are Rock Maple, and the outer 2 are Flame Maple. The Ebony completely dominates the sound -and subsumes the Purpleheart sound as well, since Purpleheart is similar-sounding, but outnumbered 2 to 1 by the Ebony. Maple is the secondary sound -because after the 6 Ebony laminates, there are 4 (total) Maple laminates in the neck... AND the body is also Flame Maple. Mica sez the Bocate (top wood) has virtually no noticable effect on the sound; my 8-string has a powerful Ebony/Maple sound... it's just HUGE, and really in your face. It's an overwhelming and powerful sound, VERY smiley, with HUGH thundering lows and LOTS of brightness as well. I've never heard another bass like it. The 35 inche scale definitely helps the lows, too.
The neck of the 6-string is a VERY different recipe of FIVE different woods. The large outer neck laminates are Mahogany; Mica considers it the dominant wood of the neck -presumably because they're the biggest laminates. Vermillion is said to have a similar sound (but warmer and more brilliant, with a little more bottom) so these woods blend together; Purpleheart is the next most dominant wood -with 4 laminates- adding stiffness, sustain, and low-end definition -although the 1 Ebony laminate in the middle contributes noticably to this sound; Ebony sound similar to Purpleheart, but has MUCH MORE of these attributes, and a VERY NOTICABLE effect on both sustain in general, and sustain of the lower partials in particular. Though the effect is MUCH LESS than on my 8-string... it's still very -and surprisingly- noticable. But since there's only one laminate, it doesn't totally dominate the sound like on my 8-string; it blends in, and allows the sound of the other woods to be heard. With only 2 Maple neck lams, the neck is less bright than my 8-string; but I can still get plenty of brightness from the filters with the Qs -and/or the treble boost.
Now that I've given a detailed general comparison, I'll try to answer your questions more specifically:
(1) I don't think the Balance K body -the lightness- has effected the fundamental at all. It's NOT nearly as powerful as my 8-string... but I think that's because of the 34 vs. 35 inch scale, and more importantly, the overwhelming impact of the 6 Ebony neck laminates in the 8-string. That said, the B string sounds great, and is full of bottom end, very fat-sounding. For some reason, the sustain seems less on certain frets(on the B string specifically)... I'm not sure why this is. It seems to fade quicker on the 7th and 8th frets. I may ask Alembic about it. The sustain on the EADG strings is VERY noticably superior to other basses -even Alembics- clearly due to the Ebony neck lam, but also due to the Coco Bolo that I have BTCered on both the front and back. There's no missing the Coco Bolo sound -and it also clearly contributes a lot to the low end. I've got to say it's a killer combination -Coco Bolo with an Ebony neck laminate.
(2) As far as I can tell, the Fatboy does add a lot of fatness and low end to the sound; it's more powerful sounding than the neck pickup (usually the other way around) and I may have to open up the back and monkey with the trimpots to balance out the sound a bit. But both pickups sound great, and deliver lots of bottom end.
(3) The Ebony neck lam clearly adds both lots of clarity and bottom -so does the Coco Bolo. There's no missing it
(4) I've already answered much of this above; but a different/shorter answer would be that the Balance K has a more neutral/centered sound as it's starting point. What I mean by that, is that the 8-string has a very extreme sound to begin with; if I set all the e.q. controls to flat, and turn the filters off, it still has an incredible knock your socks off low/high sound... the Ebony sound from the 6 neck laminates is overwhelming, and it's also very bright from the Maple. Imagine notes from a normal bass as being cannonballs shot through a wall... my 8-string fires I-beams! When I use my electronics, it gets even MORE extreme! If I further boost the bass with the bass control... WHOA! You've got to hear it.
The 6-string sounds incredible, but it doesn't have such an extreme sound. In some ways, this makes it more versatile. I think perhaps there is a greater range of usefulness to the electronics. While extremely elaborate, I rarely use the full capacity of my electronics on my 8-string; it's already so bright and boomy to begin with that I rarely use the maximum bass and/or the maximum treble and/or the maximum Q. On the other hand, since my 6-string ISN'T so/as bright and boomy to begin with, it's more conducive to using the full range of the filters and e.q. controls without being completely overwhelming.
(5) Yes, I'm most definitely getting nice piano-like tones with this bass; the 8-string gets them too... but the sound is very different.
The 6-string has an overall richer and more complex sound; it's hard to describe, but it's very likable. It just makes you like it.
The 8-string is sort of like the Hulk... very big, strong, powerful... almost intimidating; the 6-string is more like Spider-Man... not as strong, but still very strong, but also very light, fast, and agile... full of finesse.
(6) The bottom end is very satisfying. Nothing compares to my 8-string (at least nothing I've ever heard); but, that said, the 6-string has noticable and superior bottom end to start with (with all controls flat); and I can get PLENTY of bottom by using the filters & Qs and/or the bass boost.
I've got to say I'm extremely happy that I got the electronics package I did. I wouldn't have been happy without both the filters & Qs AND the bass & treble controls. They complete the package, and make it possible to quickly and easily get any sound I want. The 2 filters and the blend allow considerable control over the tone... but being able to just have more or less bass and/or treble by turning one or both knobs makes it perfect, and allows a degree of tone control you can't get with just the filters. The filter & Q setup is great... but they're NOT e.q. controls. Sometimes you want more bass, and the only way to get it is if you have a bass boost control.
I find that I like to use all the tone controls on my bass, and generally use them all. I'm finding I generally use a little of BOTH the bass and treble controls... about 1/2way, sometimes a little more with the bass -if/when I really want a booming low end.
I'm guessing your bass will sound sort of halfway between the two. With 3 Ebony neck laminates, the Ebony will likely dominate your sound; and then, since Maple is the next most plentiful neck wood, coupled with the fact that your body is also Maple -this should be the next biggest influence. I'd expect the Vermillion neck laminates and the Coco Bolo to have (relatively) the least impact on your sound; but hopefully they'll still contribute noticably at least a little. Since you've got Coco on both sides, it seems like it should... but the Ebony WILL dominate. Don't worry, this is a good thing. And with Series II electronics, you'll have considerable tonal control. I still think you'd be happier with the e.q. controls -but of course, that's your decision, and you should follow your best judgment, not mine.
I'm guessing there'll be an update soon on your beauty, I'll look forward to seeing it. With your unique custom neck and Quilted Coco Bolo, it'll be a unique and stunnng beauty!
Again, I respectfully suggest you get it insured at least for a 1/2 year -just in case there's any problem with shipping, so you don't get whored!
Take care, Mark
