1994 Souped-up Spoiler

[Jonathan Johnstone (stoney)]

Greetings!  Here's a pic of my first custome job from Alembic.  I had Mica and the crew add a 5 piece laminated neck, sustain block, red side LED's, custom cut neck (close to a 61 Jazz bass),  burl maple top and SC signature electronics.  This medium scale beauty is in mint condition and it's for sale (check out the Swap page)
 
Stoney
 

[Reinier Ringelink (reinier)]

stoney,
 
stunning upgrading! although you might have parted with this beauty in the mean time, would you remember whether Alembic had to enlarge the cavity to allow for the signature electronics?I've come across a 5-string Spoiler but part of my buying decision is how much of a hassle it would be to soup up the electronics to signature; don't want to end up finding out I'd better order a signature right away...thx, reinier

[Tracey Gholson (fretted4)]

Awsome bass, is it still for sale??? i hope???  

[Jonathan Johnstone (stoney)]

Hi Reinier,
Thanks for the post. I really don't know about enlarging the cavity.  I presume they did as it was ordered with Sig Elec. I had a 5 string off the rack Spolier at one point but don't remember the size of the cavity.  I still have the bass and it's still for sale, for the right person.
 
Stoney

[Reinier Ringelink (reinier)]

Stoney,
 
Thx for the info & I guess I owe you an apology for bothering you in the 1st place. I totally misread the souped-up part in the title: I thought you bought her as a standard Spoiler and then had Alembic refurbish her completely. OK, a little far-fetched perhaps, but that's what you get when a Dutchman starts interpreting English without a dictionary at hand ;-) Thx again & I hope you find that right person to own her soon (being a 22-yr long fan of Flim Johnson and his incredible Alembic sound, I think I owe it to myself to at least buy a 5-string as long as the SII price tag remains to be too high a hurdle to take in one leap. Don't know if it's wise to spend half that amount on an A with humcanceling PU's, for they sound totally different I hear, but hey, before you know it I'll be over 40 and still don't have one!). Reinier

[Jonathan Johnstone (stoney)]

Reinier,
 
Hey man, your English is much better than my Dutch, as I discovered while in Amsterdam last October.  If you have the Euros, make the investment in the Alembic. It's something you will never regret.
Best wishes.
Stoney

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Hallo Reinier groeten uit Belgi? ...and welcome in the club.  
 
Listen...there ARE differences in the PU. If you wander around in the different departments of this site you will find a lot of info on this.  
The best thing you can do is go at Hilversum and try out the differences at Edwin's Bass-connection.  
I played/owned a standard Spoiler (very shortly) which I changed for a MK-deluxe and have a S2 5str. now (check the Showcase for Bonnie). I agree: I bought here in a time I could spend that amount of money (what's not the case right now anymore). Now I have to work with long saving-programs before getting any gear at all, even a set of strings. But the S2 was (still IS) worth every penny I saved for it!  
 
Hou je goed!  
 
Paul  
 
PS: Hey Stoney, I remember you coming to Amsterdam. When will be the next trip?
 
(Message edited by palembic on January 14, 2003)

[Jonathan Johnstone (stoney)]

Hey Paul,
 
Well, another trip in the immediate future is not on the books. I'll have to find a pathology congress to attend.  I enjoyed the Netherlands, what I was able to see, but I really miss Europe. I need to get back to Italy, soon, to visit my family.
 
cheers.
stoney

[Reinier Ringelink (reinier)]

Gents,
 
Thx for your kind words & advice. Let's wait and see what the taxman has to offer this spring: he still owes me big time over 2002, he just doesn't know yet ;-).
 
Beste Paul: I check Edwin's site on a regular basis but for some time now he hasn't had much in the upper segment apart from a 4-str MK Standard. For some 12 yrs now, I own a frtlss 6-str (Dutch luthier-built) with Sign PUs & electr. so I don't expect a world of sonic difference compared to a MK, correct? Our German friends do seem to build up a nice collection of S I's and II's (some oldies at very attractive prices yet all 4-str) but their shop is a mere 7-hour drive from here so for now I'd better comfort myself thinking that dreamin' is half the fun. RR

[Reinier Ringelink (reinier)]

Gents,
 
Thx for your kind words & advice. Let's wait and see what the taxman has to offer this spring: he still owes me big time over 2002, he just doesn't know yet ;-).
 
Beste Paul: I check Edwin's site on a regular basis but for some time now he hasn't had much in the upper segment apart from a 4-str MK Standard. For some 12 yrs now, I own a frtlss 6-str (Dutch luthier-built) with Sign PUs & electr. so I don't expect a world of sonic difference compared to a MK, correct? Our German friends do seem to build up a nice collection of S I's and II's (some oldies at very attractive prices yet all 4-str) but their shop is a mere 7-hour drive from here so for now I'd better comfort myself thinking that dreamin' is half the fun. RR

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

HI Reinier,
 
I gave the advice to check at Edwin's place maybe the difference between the Single coil pick-ups used on the S-series and the Humbucking type on the other Alembics. Anyway, my story made the point that I changed once because of the sound difference.
I agree on your attitude agaisnt your Dutch-build bass. I believe firmly that good-build instruments by serious luthiers can compete with the Alembics. Athough: never on the electronic side. The start of the whole Alembic story was electronics so ...the experience buil up is uncomparable.
 
Tale good care Renier, hou je goed!

[stoney]

THIS BASS WAS SOLD TO PHILLIP CONTI
             APRIL 17, 2003
 
      ENJOY HER PHILLIP, SHE'S A GREAT BASS !!

[palembic]

Simple by LOOKING at her I agree with Stoney.
Can you imagine how she sounds!!!
Enjoy Phillip!
 
Paul (TBO)