Author Topic: Orphaned Twin 03 13095 (Read 7841 times)

jazzyvee · « **Reply #45 on:** January 04, 2012, 09:53:57 AM »

When we are dreaming alone it is only a dream. When we are dreaming with others, it is the beginning of reality.

- Dom Helder Camara

In so many ways I have seen these words come to life on this forum. I'm so pleased to be able to share my Alembic dreams with you guys, share in your Alembic dreams and to see them come true.

Jazzyvee

jazzyvee · « **Reply #46 on:** January 12, 2012, 11:09:56 PM »

The bass has arrived at the Mothership Connection.

Yeah

Jazzyvee

jazzyvee · « **Reply #47 on:** January 16, 2012, 05:28:14 AM »

S_wood do we have any pics of your series europas on the forum?

Jazzyvee

s_wood · « **Reply #48 on:** January 16, 2012, 06:41:59 AM »

We sure do!

http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/3335.html?1325829344

http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/25330.html?1171334713

http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/2889.html?1060212764

jazzyvee · « **Reply #49 on:** January 16, 2012, 11:18:41 AM »

I should have looked at your name more closely in the past as I've commented on the maple ones before .... doh and the cocobolo top on the last one is delicious.

Seems we are both fans of a single volume and pan. However my new bass will have a master volume and I hope to get on well with that arrangement.

jazzyvee · « **Reply #50 on:** January 22, 2012, 12:31:37 PM »

Look what Mica found hanging around HQ waiting for me to collect.

Jazzyvee

wishbass · « **Reply #51 on:** January 22, 2012, 01:14:05 PM »

Very cool Jazzy!

s_wood · « **Reply #52 on:** January 22, 2012, 02:07:40 PM »

Beautiful!

jazzyvee · « **Reply #53 on:** January 22, 2012, 05:13:29 PM »

I'm really looking forward to this new bass, I have to say though that my concerns at the moment about this bass are, will it render my other alembics obsolete?

At the moment I wouldn't say that any of my other alembic basses sound better than any other, they just sound fantastic and different so I use them based on how I want to sound on a gig or rehearsal or practice session or maybe just because I've played one more than another recently.

Should I expect a big bang overdose of sound ecstasy from a series bass compared to what i'm already getting from my Alembics? or is the difference going to be subtle such that the greatness of it appears over time with familiarity?

I know my first alembic (SC Deluxe) had me smiling for months and every time I play it now it pleases me the most. That said it did take a lot of time, frustration and a lot of reading and re-reading of the threads here to start to understand what the filters were doing and how to get back and forward between specific tones.

The Europa with standard electronics was the easiest to use because of its simplicity and now my maple Europa/Elan has it's own special piano like sound that is extremely bright and meaty. I did go through a phase where I thought I'd never feel at home with it as I couldn't find a sound with it that I thought would be useable in the musical contexts I work in. Now I love it but I still haven't really found my home setting on that bass yet but I'm getting there slowly.

Any advice from members with both Series basses and non series basses on the impact of getting hold of a series bass?

Jazzyvee

FC Bass · « **Reply #54 on:** January 23, 2012, 08:56:32 AM »

Great catch Jazzy! It doesn't get better than this, awesome quilts and ebony lams

s_wood · « **Reply #55 on:** January 23, 2012, 10:35:57 AM »

Jazzy, do I understand correctly that you were able to buy the Orphaned Twin! Damn, how did that sale get past me Congrats!

jazzyvee · « **Reply #56 on:** January 23, 2012, 04:39:53 PM »

Yeah I'm really pleased that Poor Nigel was happy for me to be the next owner of this amazing looking bass and one I've been interested in for a long time. I guess with this one and the Dragon Magic guitar, i've been fortunate to be able to acquire two instruments that are very close to what I would have wanted as a custom order.

I really don't know what to expect sound wise from this bass so it will be an interesting time. I think the only series II bass I've ever heard was being controlled by the masterful fingers of JJ when I saw him at a gig with Allan Holdsworth a few years back.

s_wood, i guess you bumped up this thread at the beginning of the year which drew my attention again. Poor_NIgel and myself have had correspondence over the past year regarding this bass and I think he kind of knew that the time was right when I posted a response to you bumping this thread on new years day. So I guess it's partly thanks to you I noticed it again and decided to buy.

Jazzyvee

poor_nigel · « **Reply #57 on:** January 23, 2012, 07:47:45 PM »

First shot at playing an SII - Put all three volumes at mid. Crank both chicken headed knobs to full on. Turn first Q all the way off. Turn second Q all the way on. Turn amp on 5. If you have a wimpy amp, hit an open A. If you have a great amp, hit an open B. You should feel it in the back of yer teeth. If not, continue until you do. Easy! After that, it is all experimental, as so many little things come into play to make each of us sound a bit different. I seriously doubt you will be at all disappointed in the bass in sight or sound qualities. It's 'feel' is just as good, too. It is a 'damn fine bass!'

BTW - Lucky for you I never took Steve's comments on this base to mean he would have actually wanted to own it, as he has so many fine basses. I have dealt with him in the past, and he is a pillar of integrity. In fact, I even owe him a favor. So . . .

edwin · « **Reply #58 on:** January 23, 2012, 10:26:50 PM »

Steve wasn't the only one. That's what I get for keeping my mouth shut. However, it's going to be in great hands!

So, I'm a little confused, though, aren't the chicken head knobs the Q knobs?

Series IIs do rock! It's amazing how you can change the voice of the instrument.

poor_nigel · « **Reply #59 on:** January 23, 2012, 11:40:25 PM »

My bad! Q knobs or frequency knobs, the chicken headed knobs are what they are. I never paid attention to the analytic aspect of the controls. Bob Novy was the master of that aspect, IMO. I sure hope he is doing alright these days. I miss his posts. I do get words and concepts backwards a lot these days. It is just the nature of the road I am on. Anyway - After a while of playing with the controls, you just get to know where they need to be to get the sound you want. This bass does not replace all your other basses, unless you needed to sell them to afford the beast. It never made me want to replace my other basses, Alembic of not-so Alembic ones. It was just a great playing, great sounding, great looking bass, that I could no longer play much any more, so it became a waste for me to be its custodian. On to a younger man to help him reach his potential, and just get a really good buzz from playing an excellent bass. This bass is all his now. I have no ownership rights to it at all anymore, and I am happy it stayed in the family. Who could ask for more?!