Author Topic: Alembic Europa 5-string (Read 536 times)

modulus93 · « **on:** January 18, 2006, 07:40:22 PM »

Hello everyone,

I recently purchased an Alembic Europa 5-string with a bocate top and it looks and sounds amazing. I used to own an Alembic Spoiler 4-string and it sounded great as well. I've always loved Alembic basses and feel like they are the best built and best sounding basses out there. I just wanted to say hello and what a great club this is.

I do have a question for other Europa owners. What type of guitar stand have you found to best fit the Europa? A regular stand fits OK, but the way the Europa body is contoured, it doesn't sit that well in any of the heavy duty frame stands. Any suggestions?

Thanks a bunch!!!

Ronnie

keurosix · « **Reply #1 on:** January 18, 2006, 08:25:34 PM »

Hello Ronnie,
Welcome to the club, and to Alembic ownership. I found out that once I started using an Alembic, it became an integral part of my sound. Nothing else does it for me. I just bought a $10 stand from Guitar Center for my Europa 6 string made by On Stage Stands model XCG4. It has a wide C shaped cradle at the bottom that holds the guitar firmly, and swivels in the middle to align with the non-horizontal contour of the Europa body. In basic black. Hey, post some pics of your guitar for us to see!
Kris

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 19, 2006, 05:00:32 AM »

Good Morning Ronnie,
and welcome to our little conversation pit. I'm sure you'll find useful info and some fun topics as well.
My two Epics don't like to sit comfortably on traditional stands, so I use Genesis 100 stands that hold my instruments by the neck, rather than brace at the bottom. And Kris hit the nail on the head...Pictures, please.
Mike

(Message edited by dadabass2001 on January 19, 2006)

kmh364 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 19, 2006, 06:20:03 AM »

Orion bodies are similar to that of the Europa's and I use the Ultimate Support Systems (USS) Genesis 200 stand. The difficulty lies with the angled bottom of the body. These stands do a decent job of cradling it (by the sides mostly) and the neck is locked into the neck rest by a strap...hopefully avoiding the fate of Steve Wood's custom Series w/Europa body. My Series I std. Point body also fits decently as well...and it's a BIG bass!

USS also sells a bottomless version (Genesis 100) that hangs the instrument by the headstock. This works for long instruments and/or or weird body shapes. Personally, I never liked the idea of hanging an instrument by it's headstock....and the tell-tale cradle marks that marr softer finishes, i.e., lacquer.

About $25-$30 each delivered on the net and/or available at GC or SA stores everywhere.

Oh yeah, whatever stand Steve used...don't!

http://ultimatesupport.com/genesis_guitar.html

David Houck · « **Reply #4 on:** January 19, 2006, 07:04:18 AM »

Hi Ronnie; welcome and congrats!!

the_8_string_king · « **Reply #5 on:** January 19, 2006, 05:10:33 PM »

Congratulations Ronnie, and welcome to the club! I also own a bocate Europa, and I've also always considered it self-evident that Alembics are the best built and best sounding -and best looking- basses out there. I love the Europa shape and contours -Fenderesque, yet modern/futuristic and distinct- and the quick change bass and treble boost/cut switches, added to their propriatary low-pass filter and q switch make for a simple, yet impressively versatile tone control arsenal. You made a great choice, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who would enjoy pictures. (Hint, hint)

As far as your question goes, call me a wuss if you will, but I'd never trust ANY instrument stand with my bass. It's either on me, or in the case. I just can't justify unnecessary risk, as it is unique and irreplaceable.

Anyway, as the owner of a bocate Europa and a quilted maple Elan with Europa electronics, I appreciate how awesome your new bass is, so again, congratulations!

modulus93 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 19, 2006, 06:07:55 PM »

Wow, I really thank all of you for your fast responses to my question and yes, I'll try to post some pictures as soon as possible. I just recently purchased a digital camera, so I'll try to get some pictures posted, because this bass is a beauty.

I forgot to mention that I bought the bass used, it's a 1993 model, but I bought it from the original owner...he bought it brand new back in 1993. Let me tell you, he took great care of this bass, because it looks like brand new. I gave him $1500 cash plus a blue 1991 model Peavey TL-5 bass that I had, which was in great shape. I was going to sell the Peavey for about $500 anyway, so he looked at my TL-5 and said, give me that bass and $1500 and the Alembic is yours, so I did. In reality, I gave him $2000, but I still feel like this was a pretty good deal plus the Europa came with it's original hard case.

The only thing that I did to the bass since I got it at the end of December was install a fresh set of DR High Beam 45-125 strings and polished up the bass with Alembic supreme polish and polished the brass with Flitz polish and now the bass really looks great. Heck, the guy even threw in a brand new bottle of the Alembic polish and Flitz brass cleaner with the deal. I've used the Alembic polish for years on my Spoiler as well as my other basses and it works great.

I'm really proud to own this bass and to be a part of this wonderful club and I know that all of you other Alembic owners out there feel the same way and treasure your instruments.

Thanks again and take care!!!

Ronnie

rklisme · « **Reply #7 on:** January 19, 2006, 06:58:07 PM »

Hi Ronnie

Sounds like another satisfied customer. Congratulations and welcome to the club.

Rory

modulus93 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 25, 2006, 09:47:21 AM »

Hello everyone, here is a photo of my bass.

Thanks,
Ronnie

811952 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 25, 2006, 11:46:44 AM »

Gorgeous!

precarius · « **Reply #10 on:** January 25, 2006, 12:10:51 PM »

Very nice bass!

David Houck · « **Reply #11 on:** January 25, 2006, 04:37:14 PM »

Beautiful bass!

the_8_string_king · « **Reply #12 on:** January 25, 2006, 05:27:26 PM »

Awesome figuring, as good as it gets! It's a Masterpiece all over, but I'm especially fond of the figuring of the upper horn and that side!

I'll bet you put in a lot of stare time with the case open, eh? Yeah, we ALL know about stare time, don't we? Heh heh.

jacko · « **Reply #13 on:** January 26, 2006, 01:10:40 AM »

Superb figuring on that wood ronnie. What an excellent way to introduce yourself to the club.

Graeme

smokin_dave · « **Reply #14 on:** January 26, 2006, 11:57:24 AM »

Damn that's a nice looking top.Congrats.