Author Topic: E.T. (Read 4163 times)

lidon2001 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 07, 2006, 10:14:42 AM »

Thanks for everyone's comments.

Andy, you can email me at aol dot com. We'll discuss.

T

trekster · « **Reply #16 on:** June 07, 2006, 11:08:09 AM »

Nice to see someone else have a Essence with a joined-to-center top! I don't feel so alone anymore!

lidon2001 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 22, 2006, 03:09:59 PM »

Well, Jeff, technically, with this bass being a "C" code, you're still somewhat solo in the Essence bookmatch to center arena. But it's close enough. lol No email from Andy, but the base retail price was just a few hundred more than an Essence. Here's the missing pic from above + one more:

richbass939 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 28, 2006, 06:57:14 PM »

Beautiful! Those knobs are way cool.
Rich

roberto · « **Reply #19 on:** August 11, 2006, 07:12:58 PM »

Hi!
Great looking bass!I was wondering how does it sound,with an ash body?I mean compared with mahogany.
Does it have a solid low end?Cause I am to order a custom bass and am thinking of ash ,to get a lighter weight.
Thanks.

lidon2001 · « **Reply #20 on:** August 12, 2006, 09:55:05 AM »

Hello Roberto,

Thanks for your kind words. Since only my guitar has a Mahogany body, I can't really comment on sound of Mahogany in an Alembic bass. But the tone of this bass is big, solid, full, with more of a mid-range punch vs. my Mark King Deluxe with a Coco top and Vermilion body. It has more of a, dare I say, Fender type tone vs. my King, but is still has everything you would want and expect from a neck-through Alembic. My King Deluxe has a much more deep & complex tonal character, the Signature electronics provide a wider tone palette, and it remains the king of basses in the house. But it's a tough decision as to which one I pickup to play. They both are amazing. I recently swapped the neck FatBoy pickup with the King's AXY bridge pickup so now both basses have a FatBoy in the bridge position and a regular AXY at the neck.

You would want to speak with Susan, Mica, or Valentino about the weight issues as they would have more experience with wood density. This bass is somewhat lighter than my King Deluxe, but it is a very small bass and I don't think there would be much weight savings if I had built my King with an Ash body. If weight is an issue, you might want to consider having your bass chambered.

Hope this helps,

Tom

(Message edited by lidon2001 on August 12, 2006)

roberto · « **Reply #21 on:** August 17, 2006, 10:05:35 PM »

Hi Tom,
Thank you very much for the complete explanation regarding the body woods.
I am going to order a customised 7strings Essence,with a pair of Fatboys,just like your superb bass.Would you be kind enough to tell me why you switch the neck pickup?Cause I read in one thread regarding FATBOYS,that they tend to overload,and are too much, in the neck position.I dont really understand what that means.So If you could share your experience of having a pair of FATBOYZ compared to Fatboy+AXY, I would be very grateful.
By the way,the top wood look very,very,very nice!
thank you very much.
Regards
Roberto..

roberto · « **Reply #22 on:** August 17, 2006, 10:13:07 PM »

Tom,I forgot something:
What are those switches for?and does the dot marker cost cheaper than standard pearl inlays?If you dont mind,please email me.
My email is :robert_hotwani@yahoo.com
Thanks Tom!

keavin · « **Reply #23 on:** August 18, 2006, 09:37:57 AM »

Red LED's,(switch) Essence electronics with 3 way q swtich, and of course.

roberto · « **Reply #24 on:** August 21, 2006, 09:13:39 AM »

thanks!
Roberto

lidon2001 · « **Reply #25 on:** August 21, 2006, 10:05:13 AM »

Hello Roberto,

The dots were actually $0 on the retail quote I received from Alembic on this custom bass. But again, this being a C code bass, one can't really judge the price since it was a one off. I would assume if you were upgrading an Essence from no inlays to dots it would be the same as the regular ovals, or if the model you are choosing has ovals already it would be a no charge change.

Hope that helps, and thanks Keavin!

Tom

lidon2001 · « **Reply #26 on:** August 21, 2006, 11:03:33 AM »

I'm sorry Roberto, I didn't catch your first post about the FatBoys.

I would suggest NOT having a FatBoy in the neck pickup. My experience, like the others here, found it was too boomy, just too much, but I had to find out for myself. I was going for overkill, and I succeeded. Luckily, I was able to swap it with the bridge pickup of my MK, and so now both of my basses have the FatBoy at the bridge and a standard AXY at the neck. I like soloing the bridge pickup, and the FatBoy works very well in that position. The regular AXY gives much more definition on the neck pickup, and gives all the bottom end one really needs or could ever ask for. Ok, except for a real Series...

Moral of the story? The good folks' experience shared here is correct, and I should have heeded their wise insights. It worked out great for me since I had another bass to swap the pickup with and the cable was long enough to make the swap.

I look forward to seeing your bass. Alan, ajdover, recently put in a post about what to consider prior to your order or to at least bring up when working out the details with Alembic, and he gave great insight with regard to string gauge and other areas that will ensure you get the bass you want. The only thing I would then stress is the neck dimensions. Know the dimensions of what you want, including frets, and be sure to let them know. Mine were pretty easy. Stanley's, 1960 thin Les Paul with 6230, and 1.5 thin jazz bass with 6230 on this custom. I love Stanley's profile, and they carved the necks just how I wanted on the other two. I'll assume since this is a 7 string, that the neck dim's are high on your list.

roberto · « **Reply #27 on:** August 22, 2006, 06:52:57 AM »

Hi Tom.
Thank you very much for your detailed explanation.Actually I was thinking the same thing too about FATBOYS.At present I own 5 and 6 strings Persuaders.I plan to switch the neck pickup to one of them if I think it was too much for the the new bass.
Im still working the details of specs with Mica,cause I really want to be sure that it will be a killer axe,but at the same time I should be able to master it in my hands.
Its gonna be a medium scale with custon neck dimension.One thing I still am realy worried is he body width,cause smaller means comfortable for standing,but not for sitting down.
Im still trying to figure out he best body width of my future bass.
Thank you very much Tom.
Best regards.

adriaan · « **Reply #28 on:** August 22, 2006, 07:10:02 AM »

Roberto, have you considered the 3/4 size Spoiler body shape?

Check the picture on my profile to see the relative sizes of a Spoiler and an Epic. An Essence has an even smaller body than the Epic, so the difference might be too much for you.

--- I mentioned the Spoiler since most Persuaders have the same body shape.

(Message edited by adriaan on August 22, 2006)

lidon2001 · « **Reply #29 on:** August 22, 2006, 07:42:36 AM »

Moder Dave had a FatBoy installed in between the pickups on his now three pickup Essence. Maybe we can get an current review of his experience with his FatBoy placement.