'99 Orion 5 fretless

[FC Bass]

There will always be another :-)
 
Just picked up (no more will pick this up asap threads)  this baby  
The other one 1998 Orion 5 fretless:  
 


 
 


 
 
Together with her Elite Orion fretless sister:


 
 
Together with her 5 string sister and granny in the back :-)


 
 
More and better pics will come asap.
 
Fun fact: Though I got my first Alembic 16 years ago and have taken custody of 5 others after that,  
I never ever played a set neck Alembic with the bass/treble setup until I got this one in my hands :-)
Come to think of it I only played two other Alembics in my life:  
The best bass I ever had in my hands Blondie ('83 shortscale Series I)  
and Alembicclubber Marcky's (Vanderkley amps/cabs, shameless plug) awesome '77 Series I

[FC Bass]

Tried for some better pics this afternoon, thes babies are hard to capture! :-)  

 

 

   

 

   

  The Alembic family:  

[jazzyvee]

A superb collection.

[pauldo]

That Orion fretless truly is sexy.
What is the story on the neck?
Doesn't look like it goes all the way through the body - Is that a 'set neck' and how do the wizards at Alembic configure the setting (seating) of the neck?

[FC Bass]

Thanx Jazzy and Paul!
 
The Epic, excel and Orion are set neck instruments. It looks like the neck runs as far as the truss rods cover goes:

[edwardofhuncote]

I always wondered how that set neck worked. So, this is a glue joint only... no dovetail or mortise?

[FC Bass]

Here's a better view of the joint, I have no idea how it looks on the inside...  
 

[FC Bass]

This one now has the EMW electronics package (East meet west, added Filter + Q switch)
Works great and sounds awesome! Best of both worlds, thanx Mica and crew! :-)

[FC Bass]

And also a huge thank you for Gregory of course! :-)  Snapshot:  

 

[edwardofhuncote]

Ahh... the East-Meets-West-Meets-Europe electronics package!  
 
Nice job with the sardines FC! That's a 3-position Q, yes?

[FC Bass]

:-)
 
It's a 2 way switch, I was afraid 3 way wouldn't fit (though it now looks like it does, maybe I'll try it someday) :-)

[keith_h]

It is a nice electronics package for a fretless isn't it.  
 
Keith
 

[edwardofhuncote]

Indeed! ^^^
 
Keith's Orion Nebula is a lot of the reason I went this way on my fretless, though the controls will be arranged a little bit different than your basses are here.

[FC Bass]

Got a proper case for this one, I bought back the case of the sold Elan. Fits perfectly :-)

[FC Bass]

The electronics are awesome indeed!

I find the bass and treble control very useful for fretless, when soloing the bridgepickup you can add lots of bottom while remaining that awesome "mwwhaaa"tone".
With the filter further toneshaping is a bit more intuitive for me, great combination!