Orphaned Twin 03 13095

[poor_nigel]

I am posting this bass in the Europa section, as it is a Europa bass, no ifs, ands, or buts.  So here she is, where she wants to be.  There is not much sense posting a lot of pictures, as she is a fairly well documented instrument.
 
http://www.alembic.com/info/fc_ktwins.html
 
So I will just put a couple 'updated' pictures here.  Full shot of the bass.  I did not want to use a full-sized knob on the LED dimmer, so she is waiting for a small knob to match the larger ones to be made by David King, who made these ebony and gold replacement knobs.
 

[poor_nigel]

David did a great job on these knobs.  The look exactly like the old hat knobs, except they feel better and I like the gold line down the side much better.  They keep the look of the originals, which I do like, but are a bit classier.  They even have the same fluted side as the originals.  The LED dimmer is perfect at its lowest setting, so waiting for a new knob is easy enough.
 

[poor_nigel]

She has a Europa II body, which makes her look like a pregnant guppy on the bottom curve.  So I took off her back plate to check out if the extra space was really needed.  The stacked pot with the ribbon cable around it actually cuts in a bit to the lip of the back plate mounting.  The side jacks take up all the extra space behind that pot.  And they were not joking about them being gold plated, as they are gold plated inside and out.  I was happy to see the LED dimmer was factory installed, as it was not in place when they shot the pictures for posting on her Featured Custom page.  
 

[sonicus]

Very desirable to say the least !

[poor_nigel]

 
OK, getting to redundant shots now.  The more I play this bass, the more I like it.  I think the Balance K's turned some people's heads away from Europas, and probably rightly so.  They are spiffy basses, but so are Europas.  I have always liked Europas and Elans.  I always wanted a maxed out Elan, but this orphaned bass is sleek enough.

[the_jester]

Thomas,  
 
Your bass is a bass of royals. The silk and the wood blends so divinely with grace.  
 
However, I strong recommend you picking up that bass, and perform what #12 say's for all of us to do...
 
Beat the living ______ out of them.

[chrisalembic]

Great looking bass! I have to agree, the Europa body style is very appealing. I also like how the knobs turned out. David King made them? Is it David King the luthier from Oregon? Kingbasses? Is he still building instruments? Always loved his stuff.

[pierreyves]

WAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

[gregduboc]

Congratulations!
That is an amazing looking bass, and I bet the sound matches it's appearance!!
Have fun.
 
Greg

[rjmsteel]

Very cool inlaid logo too; just have love the side mounted 5-pin connector.

[chalieholmes]

pretty,I just don't have the cash now

[poor_nigel]

Hi Chris.  Yes, it turned out that it was David the bass maker who made my knobs.  However, I did not know it until after the knobs were made that the knob maker on this site:
 
http://dknob.com/knurlindex.html
 
Was actually the bass maker on this site:
 
http://www.kingbass.com/
 
I remember King Basses from the old Bunny Bass site, and I do really like his designs.  No wonder he makes such great knobs!  They are flawless in materials, design, and workmanship.
 
There is seldom a day where I do not play an Alembic bass.  I ignorantly went through a period without one, and I do not plan on that happening again.  
 
Thank you for the compliments on the bass.  It is much prettier in person than in pictures.  Quilted maple, or any quilted wood, must be held to be appreciated fully, it is so three dimensional.

[alembicfan]

Congratulations. Beautiful bass.

[David Houck]

Wonderful bass!

[edwin]

I have to agree with the assessment of David's skills. I first met him when my old band, Shockra, was opening for Phish in Northampton MA in 1991. He grew up in Amherst (son of a UMass prof) and he showed up to show Mike some basses and whatnot. Of course, we got talking and stayed in touch and a year or so later, he started work on a 5 string fretless for me. I think it was King bass #15 or so. Great instrument and great guy. He is ingenious with everything, the kinda guy that could repair a timing belt by the side of the road with chewing gum and a tooth brush and have it work better and look better than new.