Author Topic: Hi Alembic club from UK - Check out my Epic 5 fretless (Read 981 times)

georgie_boy · « **Reply #15 on:** November 23, 2006, 05:25:47 AM »

Hi Robbie
It's actually a 1976 Series 1 and yes, that is a zebrawoodtop and back, with a Koa core and birch accent laminates. The headstock is padauk, and the neck is maple with 2 walnut pinstripes. Fingerboard is of course ebony.The inlays are abalone with stering silver surrounds. The whole bass looks great under stage lights.
G

lbpesq · « **Reply #16 on:** November 23, 2006, 07:38:26 AM »

George:

Are you sure about the birch? My '76 Series 1 guitar has a neck made of walnut and beech. I don't think I've heard of an Alembic using birch - does birch work as a guitar wood?

Bill, tgo

olieoliver · « **Reply #17 on:** November 23, 2006, 08:05:10 AM »

I would think that as accents Birch would be OK as guitar wood. I used to have an old set Pearl drums that were Birch and they really barked.

I've heard though that Birch is a real Beech to work with.

OH Yea, Happy Turkey day everyone.

keurosix · « **Reply #18 on:** November 23, 2006, 09:56:21 AM »

Hey Robbie,
I love the acoustic sound of my Epic too. Lots of midrange warmth. Hey, the birthmark looks kinda like a crazy squirrel grabin' for the low B string! Wild!
Kris

robbiebassepic · « **Reply #19 on:** November 23, 2006, 11:15:01 AM »

Good call Kris, it does look like a little squirrel!, - its like staring at the clouds...you end up seeing many different images in the grain of the maple,lol
& Kris , as another player who clearly has both fretless and fretted instruments - do you consider yourself more one than the other? (more fretted than fretless or vice versa) or not?

Thanks for the lowdown george - she's amazing, Ill bet she's nice and light to hold aswell!

keurosix · « **Reply #20 on:** November 23, 2006, 11:53:00 AM »

Robbie,
I started on fretted for years then got the famous John Judge doubleneck and had to learn fretless. It was love at first bite. The way the fretless sings and moves is really not like fretted bass at all. I find myself playing my fretless Epic every day, and my fretted basses maybe once a week. So I must confess fretless has a special place in my heart. For gigging though, a fretted bass is a must, and the fretless is reduced to a bonus. I have not had the guts to gig fretless only yet. I guess it depends on the venue and type of music really.
Kris

(Message edited by keurosix on November 23, 2006)

robbiebassepic · « **Reply #21 on:** November 23, 2006, 04:57:54 PM »

Yep, Im glad I started early on the fretless ( by chance as the only alembic i could find at the time was fretless!)
But it still took me about 4 years until I was confident on the blank board...happy hours learning though!

Now Its kind of the fretted thats the party piece for me - when some fast slapping funk or primus riffs are required,
But I dont have a fretted Alembic so its not like my fender can out do the fretless at any tonal level.y'know, - if i had an alemic with frets things could change...
I tend to try compositions and riffs on both fretless and fretted to see which I can get the most out of,what bass siuts the thing best.
Do you still have that double neck K?

tbrannon · « **Reply #22 on:** November 23, 2006, 05:08:17 PM »

Robbie-
I'm pretty sure this is the doubleneck Kris used to own.

Beauty eh?

robbiebassepic · « **Reply #23 on:** November 23, 2006, 05:13:20 PM »

Unbelievable!, cool alembic logo on the body join, and amazing top! - I wonder how heavy it is?
That 4 fretless neck looks so slinky - luv it..

keurosix · « **Reply #24 on:** November 23, 2006, 10:52:23 PM »

Yup,
That's the one!
I weighed it and found it to be about 28 pounds U.S. if memory serves me right (Sorry, I don't have my converter in front of me for Kgs). It is really slinging 1 3/4 basses on at once, and series 2 basses at that!
Christian now owns her, and has named her peggy after a John Entwistle tune he is fond of. He would know the exact weight. It is an outstanding example of how beautiful and how custom an Alembic can really be. While the fretless sounded fantastic, it really shines on the octave neck where there are custom electronics - series parallel switch, and a special stereo blend position which separates bass pair strings from the treble pair strings to the pickups for true stereo separation. A real incredible sound to hear!
Kris

robbiebassepic · « **Reply #25 on:** November 23, 2006, 11:56:08 PM »

Yeah It must be individual and quite unique sounding on that 8str neck, & glad to hear it found a loving home, cant be many of those floating about! - Worth building up those muscles to play!lol

tbrannon · « **Reply #26 on:** November 24, 2006, 12:02:31 AM »

Robbie-

If you're interested in how they sound, check this doubleneck that a forum member recently won on eBay.

Cool sound clips and I love the bird tailpieces on that doubleneck.

robbiebassepic · « **Reply #27 on:** November 24, 2006, 12:31:03 AM »

Another Great double neck example toby, the curvey spikes on the upper horn are so cool! - If I ever scratch the beans required to get Mica&co to build me a bass I'd want a proper scroll horn on it! -

Kinda like that

georgie_boy · « **Reply #28 on:** November 24, 2006, 03:20:45 AM »

hi Robbie
Thanks for the compliment., but NO she is not light to hold, but I use a 4 STRAPP with her and she is not too bad.

Bill
I have the build card in front of me, and it says Koa and Birch core. If you like, I can scan it and send it to you
George

lbpesq · « **Reply #29 on:** November 24, 2006, 07:01:48 AM »

George:

Not necessary, I believe you. That's cool, I've heard of birch (bark) being used to make canoes, but not guitars. I like it!

Bill, tgo