Here is my Excel

[David Willard (dreamer)]

Hi Rami-
I am writing about your Funky Cool Vermillion Excel 5.  But first I have to compliment your impressive collection of Excels and Europas.  You must feel like a proud father.
I am trying to get some ideas together for my Alembic dream.  I am looking for a bass with simple controls, but with a lot of tone variation.  It has been suggested to me to consider the Excel.  I noticed your Vermillion Excel with the Fat Boy pickup and the MXY.  I am curious how it has performed for you compared to the single pickup Excels and your Europas.  I have been skeptical of basses with only 1 pickup, but I don't really want to deal with 4 or 5 knobs and 2 or 3 switches to shape my sound.  Any feedback is appreciated.

[Rami Sourour (rami)]

Hi David,
 
Thanks for the compliment!  My other basses are Rogues and Essences - I don't own any Europas - YET!
 
As for the Vermillion Excel,  the controls are still pretty basic - Bass, Treble, Volume and Pan.  The sound as you can imagine is bit fuller than my standard Excels.  I can get a little more ringing harmonics on that bass, as well as a sweeter mellow tone when I lean on the front pickup.  I LOVE playing Jaco's Portrait of Tracy on that bass.  Great punchy tone, and harmonics that go on forever.  As much as I love the standard Excel, this one has that little extra dimension.  I found that bass by luck; just walked into my local music store and there it was!  I don't know if Alembic made many more like that, but it impresses the heck out of me each time I play it!
 
By the way: I traded a Music Man Stingray 5 in for that Excel.  One of the best moves I ever made.
 
Good luck,
 
Rami

[David Willard (dreamer)]

Rami-
Thanks for the reply.  I don't know why I said Europa, I was thinking Rogue.  I have looked at your pictures of Dark Prince and Evil Twin and read the Featured Custom section about 15 times.  I work at night and maybe my brain was too eager to go to bed when I was writing.
 
After seeing your Vermillion Excel, I am thinking about going with the Fatboy and MXY on an Excel.  I have never been too crazy about Pan controls, but I had a '72 Ric with the 3-way pickup selector that worked well for me.  For controls I am thinking about Volume, Bass/ Treble in a concentric knob, Pickup selector switch then a Q switch inline with the p/u selector.  Then I can use the Q on either or both pickups that are selected.
 
Two knobs, two switches.  Still simple, but with a lot of options.  Any feedback?

[Dave Houck (davehouck)]

David; as I understand it, the Q switch works in combination with the filter.  So to get the two knobs, two switches setup, perhaps you could go with Volume, Filter, Q switch, P/U selector.
 
Dave

[Michael Ichiyama (ichinumba9)]

Hey Rami, nice collection.  I had a question about the two pickup vermillion.  I was wondering how the fatboy sounds in the bridge position compared to the the regular position and how it compares to a MXY in the bridge?  I was also wondering if you think, in your own honest opinion, that a sustain block really works.

[David Willard (dreamer)]

Dave-
You are right about the Q switch.  Maybe I need to do some more homework on the filter to see if it works for me.  Does it just work similar to an EQ?

[Rami Sourour (rami)]

Hi David,
 
I'm not really a big fan of the pickup switch. I prefer to gradually roll on or off each pickup's volme.  How about a concentric Bass/Treble control and a concentric Pan/tone control?  Then just add a master volume and a 'Q' switch for each pickup.  That way, you'd only have two concentric controls, a volume and 2 switches.  
 
I have a pickup switch on my Series II.  I rarely use it.   It also has a master volume and a volume control for each pickup.  I just use the individual volume controls.
 
Take care,
 
Rami

[Rami Sourour (rami)]

Hi Michael,  
 
In the bridge position on its own,  the Fatboy still sounds great.  It has a wide aperture so it still really growls.  In fact, I credit it for the bass's great harmonics. The difference in tone between that bass and the other Excels is still rather subtle, because the pickups are so close together.  But it still has has that little something extra in its sound.  I also feel that any feature to increase a bass's sutain is always welcome.  One of my Essence's (a '93 with standard electronics) doesn't have the sustain block.  It let's me make a direct comparison in sound with my other Essences.  You can hear the contribution made by the sustain block.

[Michael Ichiyama (ichinumba9)]

Hey Rami,  what do you think of the balance of your Excels. I'm visiting Alembic on Monday and I'm trying to figure out what body will suit me.  I have an Epic and was thinking of ordering a custom Epic.  However, after doing a side by side comparison of my Epic and my Fender Jazz, the Jazz felt a little more where I liked it.  The jazz sits at about 1:00 to1:30.  Thanks for your help.

[Rami Sourour (rami)]

Hi Michael,
 
The Excel has GREAT balance.  The Excel and the Rogue both have these really long upper horns that give them balance.  Try standing with an Excel hanging from a strap over you're shoulder and you'll see what I mean.  
 
Take care,
 
Rami

[Paul Ellsworth (elzie)]

I have to agree about the great balance. Mine sits at about 2:30, but I have long arms  
 
I think you can position the Excel to where you want it and it will stay put.  
 
Have fun at Alembic!
 
Paul

[jaurigemma]

Hey guys, I have been reading along this thread, and wanted to tell you that I have an Excel with Epic (MXY) pickups in it.  Apparently, different dealers order their basses custom as well!  I love my Excel, it's got a totally different tone then my Epic.  I will post pictures if you would like when I get back home at the end of the week.
 
-Jeff

[rami]

Hi Jeff,
 
Welcome to the thread...
 
My Vermillion Excel 5 has an MXY (you can see it's picture further up the thread)  I recently bought a fretless version too.  The extra knob is for Pan.  An electronics upgrade ordered by my dealer.  I just happened to walk in the store one day and there it was!  Great sounding Bass.
 
Paul's Bass (The first picture in the thread) has signature electronics, along with two Fatboy's.  I can only imagine how great it must sound!
 
Rami

[elzie]

Yes, welcome to the Excel club Jeff!
 
Rami, I keep meaning to get you an mp3 of the sound, but every time I plug in my bass, I just have too much fun and you know the rest....

[elzie]

Ok Rami, I did it! I put a couple of very small tracks down on the computer while I was thinking of it.
 
I don't think my bass and computer have ever met before! This could become an easy habit!!