Rami's New Fretless

[bkbass]

Awesome as usual Rami. I know that there is a ton of fine details that bear closer appreciation. Pehaps after the honeymoon you could share some of those with us. My eyes just glide over the whole instrument effortlessly. Even on my own babies I stop here and there and say to myself I shoulda,woulda,coulda and oh well... on the next one I'll do this or that. So for me this new bass of yours not only represents who you are the incredible craftsmanship of our extended family but also the years of enjoying and building and changing and learning that makes this one so special and so complete. I hold Val's Batman meets Alembic and the Sterling Anniversary model on the catalog cover as two of the most ultimate I've even seen in terms of detail/workmanship. And now I have a third, yours. Good luck and God bless.BK.

[keavin]

Damn Ram!!!...

[rami]

Thanks for the kind words Barry.  Building this Bass has been quite a journey that started back in 2002.  Many highs and lows - in fact the Bass was completed last October!  The whole year delay was for the case - a VERY big low.  I'm just glad to see a light at the end of the tunnel.  I'm hoping to share it with you all as a featured custom with Mica's sharp photography and detailed description.  It's a heck of a Bass that took a heck of a long time, but I guess you can't rush fine art - which is what it really is.
 
Peace,
 
Rami

[rami]

Thanks again Mica, Ron, Susan, Mary, Val and all the talented Alembic artists who made this a reality.  It's everything I dreamed it would be.  It combines the best elements of Dark Prince, ET and my Series II.  We designed it to be the culmination of the greatest Alembics ever built and it delivers.  There are no adequate words to describe it's sound, it's sustain, definition and articulation.  It is the greatest Alembic ever.  I cannot imagine topping this one.  It is perfection.  I promise to treat it with the care and respect it is due.  I'm forever grateful.
 
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Rami
 
(Message edited by rami on December 02, 2006)

[David Houck]

I think he likes it!

[bigbadbill]

I'm not surprised!!!! Double wow!!!!

[rami]

I also like the way it arrived.  The weather was unseasonably warm for Nov. 30th.  It was a clear and dry day.  It even intimidated mother nature into showing respect!  
     
It's my Excalibur.
 
(Message edited by rami on December 04, 2006)

[inthelows]

Absolutely STUNNING !!
NLP

[the_8_string_king]

Rami, it looks like you're once again the proud owner of yet another of MY all-time favorite Alembics!
 
Although I'm getting Coco Bolo on my next custom -for the sound- I'm with you... Ebony is my favorite wood for top and back, appearance-wise!  It's just stunning!

[bassjigga]

Hey Rami, your basses never cease to wow. What a collection. I think there should be a thread in the showcase called Rami Basses. I've been goin over ideas for a custom fretless and I was wondering if you'd be kind enough to share your experience with the tones of configurations like the twins vs. something like your fretless Excels. Set neck vs. neck-through. Neck lams etc. You can email me if that's better. I've talked a bit with Susan too but always nice to get multiple perspectives.
 
Dave

[rami]

Thanks for the comments guys.  My goal for sound was to pick the most dense, heaviest woods and combined with the increased string tension of the 36 scale.  True, Coco Bolo is a bit heavier than Ebony, but not enough to make any significant difference in sound.  I guess it's just a personal preference - Macassar Ebony has that dark, mysterious quality and beauty that really turns me on.
Making a direct comparison between all my fretless basses is a bit complicated because I don't want to imply that one is inferior to another.  
The Excel, with it's set neck construction, Ash body and Pau Ferro fingerboard, has alot of punch and natural growl. The neck-through Basses have more sustain and low end fundamental.  ET and Black Byrd have much more of this, along with natural overtones and a wonderful, glorious chorus.  I can swear they're living beings  that sing.  I highly recommend as many Ebony laminates in the neck as you can get; it's SUCH a unique sound, it's hard to believe there's no chorus or sustain pedals between the Bass and the amplifier.  There's also the differences in sound between ET and Black Byrd due to the other body woods and electronics.  ET's body  has a Mahogany core with Purplerheart laminates under th Mac Ebony top and back. It's neck is Maple with Ebony laminates.  Black Byrd is 100% Ebony and Purpleheart.  ET has a bit of a softer edge than Black Bryd, which has a more powerful, deeper sound.  Also, ET has standard Rogue electronics versus Black Byrd's Series II electronics.  
I really love the sound of all my Basses. They all have distinctive voices, which is why I can't part with any of them.

[keavin]

Hey rami, sounds like you should submit some sound clips?

[bassjigga]

Thanks for the info Rami. Yeah sound clips would be awesome!

[the_8_string_king]

Yeah, ebony laminates in the neck are freaking awesome.  My 8-String Europa has 6 ebony laminates in the neck -and the ebony sound is overwhelmingly obvious and out-of-this-world!!!
 
Mica tells me that a mere 1 laminate will supply 60-80% of the sound while being cheaper and lighter than having more.
 
So my next custom, in the pipeline will have just 1 central ebony laminate, flanked by vermillion, and then purpleheart, maple, and mahogany -sandwiched between coco bolo... should be sweet!
 
Anyway, YOUR bass looks awesome, and I'm SURE the sound matches!!!  I hope (and am optimistically confident) that my bass will look as awesome as yours... even if it only looks half as good, I'd be a very happy camper!!!

[lbpesq]

Rami:
 
Whatabass!  I'm going to miss visiting her at the showroom.  Enjoy and make lots of great music for many years to come.
 
Bill, tgo