Author Topic: My mahogany-topped Excel. (Read 1145 times)

sig · « **on:** January 16, 2005, 04:40:37 AM »

I was surprised to find one of these here in Norway. Compared to the default specs on the alembic site, it seems to be quite a one-off, with its figured mahogany top, 2-piece ash body (opposed to the default 3-piece) and a satin finish.

BTW, the serial number is 00X12285 USA.

palembic · « **Reply #1 on:** January 16, 2005, 05:18:51 AM »

Welcome H?kon,

nice bass. I love the match between the fingerboard and the top of the body. It cannot be that also the fingerboard is mahogany?? Now THAT would be unusual.

Paul the bad one

sig · « **Reply #2 on:** January 16, 2005, 06:14:57 AM »

Thanks.

I have played some other Excels and the fingerboard was was very similar both in colour and texture. Mine had a much nicer grain-pattern, though. A mahogany fretboard would sure be unusual, but I don't know what practical advantages it would offer.

BTW, it's strung with Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats and tuned E A D G C (tenor?).

David Houck · « **Reply #3 on:** January 16, 2005, 07:49:09 AM »

Sig; I did not know that you could get a five string E to C set. Did you buy a six string set and use just the higher five strings?

Paul; that is indeed an unusual and nice looking fretboard. Since Sig says he's played other Excels with similar boards, it's probably Pau Ferro; though it looks too reddish in the picutres for Pau Ferro. It could be Coco Bolo. I'm thinking it looks like Vermilion, but I haven't heard of that being used as a fretboard wood.

(Message edited by davehouck on January 16, 2005)

rami · « **Reply #4 on:** January 16, 2005, 08:12:33 AM »

That's a really cool Excel!
Unusual pickup placement, but I've seen it before on fretless Excels. I believe the standard finish is still the Satin. I also believe that fingerboard is Pau Ferro. I think it's the lighting in the picture giving it that slightly red-ish appearance.

It's a real beauty.

Congrats,

Rami

alemboid · « **Reply #5 on:** January 16, 2005, 08:59:34 AM »

Beautiful!!!!!!!!

How does it sound with the pickup placed so far back? What would you liken the tone to?

Alemboid

sig · « **Reply #6 on:** January 16, 2005, 01:03:38 PM »

Thanks for your replies!

I did not know that you could get a five string E to C set. Did you buy a six string set and use just the higher five strings?

Yes. Thomastic Infelds are not commonly available over here, so I ordered them from bassemporium.com.

Regarding the pickup, I really like the sound I get out of it. Compared to the other Excels, this one was growlier and punchier. When I first saw it, I expected that it would sound somewhat thin and harsh, but that wasn't the case at all.

As a fretless, it also seems to have more mwaah than others.

sig · « **Reply #7 on:** January 18, 2005, 07:01:25 AM »

By the way, sig isn't a real norwegian name, but a nickname I acquired after smoking some cigars with some friends (cigar = sigar in norwegian).

mica · « **Reply #8 on:** January 18, 2005, 10:08:34 AM »

I suspected this wasn't a Mahogany top (I dont remember us making one), so I checked the file for this bass. It is in fact Walnut. The picture of the peghead looks fairly typical of Walnut, but the body is a special piece. It's called feather flame figure, and it's from the crotch of the tree (where the stem starts to branch out). There's a small amount of this special figure between the truss rod cover and the pickup.

The Pau Ferro and the set neck joint really emphazises the mwah sound. You can get this from Ebony fingerboard/neck through Alembics too, but it takes a lot more technique and practice, on this one, it's automatic.

sig · « **Reply #9 on:** January 20, 2005, 06:00:26 AM »

Really?

Thanks for letting me know!

sig · « **Reply #10 on:** January 20, 2005, 10:34:57 AM »

By the way, do you know what year it was made in?

sig · « **Reply #11 on:** January 20, 2005, 10:36:50 AM »

BTW, do you know what year it was made in?

(possibly a bit silly question)

hollis · « **Reply #12 on:** January 20, 2005, 10:45:50 AM »

The first two serial #'s are the ticket. It was born in the year 2000.

BTW, Welcome to the group!

1stbass · « **Reply #13 on:** January 21, 2005, 04:05:18 AM »

Sig,

That is a sweet bass. I don't know if it is the lighting, but i love the way the top and the finger board are about the same color. very smart looking. The Excel body is growing on me more and more.
LOL
Doug