The Essence of life

[rklisme]

let's try this again!  

 

 

[rklisme]

I give up!
 

[bassman10096]

I've had the same problem posting before.  I think I've got the hang of it now...
 
Great looking trio there!!  I like your Essence. The color goes well with the shape, plus I have a weakness for red basses. What are each of the controls/toggles?
 
Is the 6 topped in Bubinga?  If so, it's a nice piece of wood.
 
Glad you figured out the Alembic technology!
 
Bill

[mica]

Pics look great! I think you've got the original Essence shape on that one - it's a little longer overall from the ones we make now.

[rklisme]

Hey Bill
 
It only took me 6 or 7 tries to get it right but I think I have the hang of it now. The original pickups have been replaced for some that are really hot. I am not sure if they are standard now but at the time it really made a difference in the punch and the attack. When I compare it with one of my students who has the same year, mine is much more alive. As for the electronics, a que switch and bass and treble cut and boost switches were added. I don't know if I was one of the first to do this with this bass but I bet I was close. The Essence and Europa had not been out very long when I drove to Santa Rosa to have the work done. I remember working very closely with the tech at the time laying out the electronics and where they would be placed. I also remember Alembic the company was moving at the time and how excited Susan was to take me to see the new building. I am not sure if you have ever made the trip but I recommend it highly if only to meet some great people. Ron, Mica, Susan and all the Alembic family are great and that's my story and I am sticking to it!
 
Rory

[mica]

Can you take a picture of the electronics cavity? I'm curious if you have Europa electronics or if you have modifed Essence electronics.  
 
As for the difference between your bass and your student's bass, compare the pickup heights, and of course your student can also adjust the gain trimpot inside the bass to get more output.

[rklisme]

Mica
 
I was curious myself so I looked at my original receipts and found that I ordered and received
1.Alembic Europa electronics
2.Alembic Wide appeture pickups
 
The order was placed at Guitar Center in Berkeley,CA almost 10 years ago exactly and the original invoice from Alembic has order# 001116, invoice# 033467, and customer# 5608, sales person 00 01. I still have the original pickups and I will be glad to take a picture of the cavity to post in the future.

[bob]

Cool. Was this the inception of the FatBoys? For some reason, I had the impression they were more recent, more like five years or so.

[adriaan]

Nice collection!
 
Now I'm confused - I thought the FatBoys only came in the bigger AXY size, and these look like regular MXYs?
 
(Message edited by adriaan on May 19, 2004)

[mint_bass]

that is a nice collection i really like the red finish it ios individual congratualtions

[bassman10096]

Rory:
 
I visited the folks in Santa Rosa last month.  I couldn't agree more!
 
Bill

[mica]

No, Bob. The FatBoys originally were called Wide Aperture pickups and were created for a session player in LA in the AXY shell a good number of years ago (I don't exactly remember when). We started marketing them about 10 years ago I think.  
 
We attempted to get the largest coil possible in the MXY shell, and found that we could only increase the aperture by 25% with the size limitation. Putting a large coil in the 5-string size MXY was near to impossible, given that the casting material forms the cosmetic part of the pickup. We had a high percentage of cosmetic failures where the coils peeked thru the sides.

[bsee]

Mica,  
 
Is there any technical discussion of the types of pickups available and their relative characteristics?  
 
This question also prompts me to ask if maybe there should be a FAQ board with information pertinent to customizations?  Things like an accurate and succinct description of the differences between the various basic instrument models, the details of the electronics packages, a comprehensive list of body shapes with pictures drawn to scale, pictures representing the standard inlay and logo options, etc.  Another nice thing was that page of wood descriptions you posted a few days ago.  I assume you're working on this for the website and that it will all show up somewhere down the road.  
 
I tend to be a technical and analytical person, and there is just not enough information presented on the website for me to really understand what's going on.

[effclef]

Bsee, I was JUST ABOUT to start compiling a list of questions to suggest for an Alembic FAQ. Something similar exists for Rickenbackers and they post it to the newsgroup once in a while... I think it would be a great idea - but again, more work for Mica and others, and I am sure they'd rather be building and selling.
 
However, some great ideas for questions to go in it might be:
 
What is an Alembic?
When was the first one made?
What famous players have used them?
How many models are there?
Do they make guitars, too?
Where can I get one?  
How can I special-order one?
Do I pay the list price or is there a discount?
What are the different pickups?
What woods are available?
Why do the Series basses need a separate power supply?
How can I tell a fake?
Where are the serial numbers?
What are the scale lengths? How do I measure it?
What are classic and normal fingerboard tapers?
What fingerboards can I request? Why not maple?
What is the middle pickup on a Series for?
What are all the adjustment pots for?
What are the controls on [model x, y, z]
What makes an Alembic sound like an Alembic?
My Series bass hums. How can I fix it?
My Alembic doesn't sound like a Jazz Bass. What can I do about it?
Can I order a model that's not in current production?
Can I order a custom body shape?
Can I get electronics from some other manufacturer installed in my custom order?
I bought a used Alembic. Where can I get parts for it?  
Where can I get a 5-pin cable for my Series?
How do I adjust the bridge? Truss rod? Nut?
Should I oil the fingerboard? With what?
What is the sound difference between Alembic set-necks and neck-through instruments?
How heavy is [model x, y, z] normally?
What are deluxe neck laminates? What kind are available?
Can I get a color finish?
Can I get my old Alembic refinished? Repaired?
How many batteries does it take?
I don't want to bother people at Alembic, but who should I call or email to ask questions?
How many strings can I get? Can I supply my own?
Why aren't more than 5 strings shown in the custom quote generator?
Can I see other people's customs? Where?
How do I take care of my Alembic?
What do I do if my Alembic is stolen?
How can I get a value for my insurance?
Why doesn't Alembic make a bolt-on?
What are the Alembic rackmount units for?  
Can I get a manual online?
 
Etc etc. I think it would be a super idea. I have no idea how many phone calls Alembic gets to ask these exact kinds of questions, but I agree with Bsee, the hard-info is sometimes not on the site. However, in the Club, there's a huge amount of useful info, but you have to know what you are searching for to find it!
 
I think the info does exist and maybe the FAQ would just need to answer the questions by pointing to a link.  
 
An idea. Take it from there.
 
EffClef

[bob]

Sorry for the stupid question, Mica - I didn't actually *look* at the photo before asking (duh).