Orion Guitar

[triodecr]

Here is my new Orion guitar.  It is my first Alembic and the best guitar I have ever owned or played.  It is Mahogany/Maple accent/Vermillion with gloss finish and matte neck.  The Vermillion/Maple/Walnut veneers on both sides of the headstock complete the look.  It reminds me of the American Beauty custom guitar, sans series electronics and incredible burl top.
 

 
I was kind of skeptical of the active electronics and onboard eq as my past experiences were not good with active pickups.  I was hoping Alembic would be different.  I was suprised at the tone and versatility through my amp - A 30 watt class A amp I designed and built based on several Matchless, Bad Cat, Dr Z and Top Hat amps.  This guitar really can do everything from bright clean funk to thrash.  The clean with a little tube finesse is outstanding, very John Frusciante-esque and the overdrive is robust with detail.  Fabuloso!!!  

[mikedm]

welcome to the club,
 
and wow, the vermillion top is stunning, I love that body shape.
 
Alembic means everything it say's about it's electronics and then some. enjoy!
 
Mike

[triodecr]

I added a bass filter to my guitar and it is super versatile now!  It really completes the guitar.  Incredible!!

[elzie]

That is a really great looking guitar Clint!
 
I can't believe I didn't see this post earlier.... I have often wondered what a six string Alembic sounds like, but I can imagine it is really good, especially if yours sounds like it looks  
 
 
Paul II

[jazzyvee]

hi triodecr, I'm considering getting an orion at the moment. A few questions about it if you don't mind. Does it sound crisper than a strat?  
Does it have a mellow tone for stuff like Jazz or that santana type overdrive when using a pedal.
 
 Is the guitar totally dependent on battery power?
 
Is it susceptable to noise interference.  
I'm considering getting one to take on the road next year and just want to know if its the right choice.
Also will it fit into a flight case made for a strat?
 
Jazzy vee

[jalevinemd]

Jazzy Vee,
 
I have a Strat and an Orion. Bear in mind that I am not a professional musician. My wife's a stay-at-home mom and I'm a play-at-home dad. For me, going on tour means taking one of my guitars and heading from my den to the basement. But here's my two cents.
 
The Orion sounds nothing like the Strat...I don't think anything really does. Sure, run a guitar through enough pedals and any one will sound pretty much like another...but out of the box and through the amp...no way. The Orion does, however, deliver wonderfully crisp tones through a clean amp. Turn the bass up a bit and the treble down and you get a nice, warm and full sound. Through an overdriven/distorted amp, the Orion rocks just as hard as my Les Paul and PRS...so don't worry about that Santana tone. You will not go wrong with the Orion being your Jack of all Trades!
 
It is dependent on the 9v battery, but the active pickups are hardly a drain on the power so they seem to last forever. I don't play the Orion all the time, but it's been at least a year...I think...since the last battery change.
 
Never had a problem with noise interference.
 
Because of the extended upper horn, the Orion will not fit into a case that is cut specifically for the Strat.  
 
Hope this helps,
 
Jonathan

[jazzyvee]

Thanks for your comments, I got the orion and everything you say is true.
 
I haven't tried it with effects yet.
I do notice that I does  have a sound that feels like there is just a smidgen of chorus on it. Makes me wonder if that is something to do with out of phase pickups.
 
If this is how good the guitar sounds at the cheap end of the alembic range, I can't imagine fantastic how the upper end of the range sounds.  
 
I'm sure this won't be my last Alembic.
 
Jazzyvee