Prior to getting my first Alembic this summer, my main instrument for the past twenty-odd years has been an Elias. I think they're interesting instruments, so I thought I'd share a couple of photos using my new (to-me) sixteen-year old koa Essence for comparison. They were made by Peter Elias in Canada for a brief period of time in the 80's. As far as I know, he made less than 200 instruments in a few different models, and then moved to Switzerland where he continues to make custom double basses. It's a full-scale, neck-through 24 fret bass, but very compact and light. It's made entirely of padauk with an oil finish. Gotoh tuners, Badass bridge and EMG active electronics were standard. Mine is completely original; I bought it new in the mid eighties. It's serial number 096. I also have 015, a more standard sized fretless neck-through, more in the Alembic style, with a maple/walnut laminate neck, and J-style pickups. It's in the shop right now getting some work done, so I don't have any photos. It's such a lovely instrument to play that despite my two recent Alembic purchases, I just couldn't let it go, even though I've encountered some rather insistent begging from more than a few friends; so I've strung it as a tenor, and am now exploring that whole thing... gives it a whole new voice! Anyway, I post this mainly to let the group know that if they stumble across one of these, check it out, and certainly let me know! You never know; I may need another one, if for no other reason than to get my friends off my back!
(Message edited by bungalowbill on September 27, 2009)
