Author Topic: Alembic Test Drive (Read 467 times)

jalevinemd · « **on:** March 31, 2004, 08:13:47 PM »

Hello,

This is not my first post, but it's my pictorial debut. A little story about this beautful redwood burl Orion. I have been talking with Val about building a custom six string guitar. Suddenly, it occurs to me...I love the classic Alembic style, but I've never played one. Hell, I've never even heard one. I don't know anyone who has one and there are no dealers near me who have any. I've never heard what Alembic HG pickups sound like, or experienced the feel of one of their necks. One would hardly choose a wife or car based on looks alone (not likely). So why should a guitar be any different? While pondering this dilemma, this DEAD MINT (and I mean almost fresh from the factory condition) Orion came up for auction on ebay at a very reasonable price. I figured, at the very worst I'd have a guitar that I could either keep or re-sell and at best, it would help solidify my decision to have Alembic build me the guitar of my dreams. So that's it, in a nutshell. I love the Orion and Val and I are ironing out the details for my new baby. Keep your eyes open on the FTC pages.

Glad to be officially on board.

Jonathan

jalevinemd · « **Reply #1 on:** March 31, 2004, 08:49:37 PM »

Here's the Orion with its new family.

Jonathan

bob · « **Reply #2 on:** March 31, 2004, 10:14:18 PM »

Very nice photo debut, Jonathan - that wood is gorgeous, and everything really does appear to be mint.

Not that you're short on instruments to play, but especially when giong through the custom process, I think there's tremendous value in having an Alembic to play in the meantime. In hindsight, I really should have picked up a used one myself - it would have answered a lot of questions, eliminated doubts, and better prepared me to fully appreciate my custom.

How about a few hints of what your plans are?
-Bob

palembic · « **Reply #3 on:** April 01, 2004, 12:39:15 AM »

Hi Jonathan.

welcome!
Cute, very cute ...especially the Ibanez bass you were so smart to stuck away faaaaaaaaa-aaar in the back.
LOL

Paul TBO

bracheen · « **Reply #4 on:** April 01, 2004, 04:28:27 AM »

Hellow Jonathan, welcome to the club. Great collection. The wood on your Orion is indeed stunning! What about your amp? What are you playing through and do you have photos?

Sam

jalevinemd · « **Reply #5 on:** April 01, 2004, 09:15:24 AM »

Guys,

Thanks for the welcome. It's great to finally be here.

Bob - As for the design of my soon to be started guitar. If you go to the FTC section titled Brian's Custom 5 String... The first picture of the balanced omega is where we're starting. Val told me, however, that body was HUGE. So we're going to do a custom template that maintains the same proportions, but scales everytihng down a bit for a guitar.

Paul - That Ibanez was part of an aborted attempt about four years ago to teach myself bass. I keep it b/c every once in awhile I hear a song with a bass line that really grabs me, so I learn it. But it's clearly odd man out and if anyone was ever in the area and wanted to drop by and pick it up, it's theirs...gratis!

Sam - I currently play through a Marshall MG100HDFX head and slant cab. It's basically a more affordable setup for people who love the classic sound (and look) of a Marshall half-stack, but whose needs are much simpler. I'll post pictures tonight.

Thanks again...more later.

Jonathan

hollis · « **Reply #6 on:** April 01, 2004, 11:38:06 AM »

Welcome welcome welcome!
That's quite an assortment you've got there......

The wood is beautiful!

One thing........ How do you like the sound?

palembic · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2004, 11:45:01 AM »

Hmmmmmm ...a plane to the windy city ...I drop by Jonathans place and can pick up a free Ibanez?

Nei-ei-ei-eih!

PTBO

bassman10096 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 01, 2004, 03:05:54 PM »

Welcome Jonathan: Great pictorial debut!! I like your taste in guitars - particularly the Gibsons and Rics.

Don't let Paul the Bad One talk down your Ibanez bass. I have the 5 string of what I think is the same Ibanez model as yours (also in black). In my case, a semi-abortive attempt to learn to like 5 string. Dollar for dollar, it's actually amazing what Ibanez can build in those factories of theirs. I'd have no problem taking mine anywhere, as long as I was playing through a good rig. And for $160 used off Ebay, it sounds and plays GREAT!! (The seller was a pawnshop - so, I'm sure my bass has a long, sad story, if it could only talk!).

I'm looking forward to hearing more about your custom build. Valentino is a good partner in crime for that sort of thing. Whenever, I've called Valentino with a set of options I'm considering for my bass, I generally wind up taking his suggestion. So far, he's never been wrong.

Actually, it is rather strange that Chicago doesn't have a dealer who could show you a selection of Alembics. Uncle Bob's Music in Milwaukee generally has 3-5 Alembic basses on hand, and occasionally a Skylark. You might give them a call if you were interested and able to get up this way.

Anyway, welcome and don't be a stranger.

Bill

jalevinemd · « **Reply #9 on:** April 01, 2004, 05:10:38 PM »

Bill,

Thanks for the welcome. You'd think there'd be Alembic dealers all over in such a musical town as Chicago. Unfortunately, we have mostly Sam Ash and Guitar Center. Chicago Music Exchange has fantastic vintage guitars/basses and some new stuff, but no Alembics. In fact, I once gave them a business card and asked them to call if they ever got any Alembics in...never heard back.

Sam...here is a picture of my setup. Being in a very nice and quiet neighborhood, while the amp may go to 10, I've never gone much past 0.5! Perhaps one day.

Jonathan

bracheen · « **Reply #10 on:** April 01, 2004, 06:18:46 PM »

Nice!
That is odd that Chicago is so ill equiped while little Fern Park Florida has a dealer that sells around the world. In the age of technology location isn't what it used to be.

Sam

bassman10096 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 01, 2004, 09:23:45 PM »

Sam: It is! But New York is not a haven for Alembic dealers either (though the used market there is just as active for Alembics as every ofther make).

palembic · « **Reply #12 on:** April 01, 2004, 09:59:49 PM »

Oh ...huh ...Brother Bill,

I am the LEAST person on earth that wants to talk that Ibanez down, and certainly not that model ...and not AT ALL in black.
No ...I was trying to talk it out of his hand and into mine LOL.

Paul the bad one

jalevinemd · « **Reply #13 on:** April 01, 2004, 10:11:59 PM »

Hollis,

As far as the sound goes...I'm speechless. Running it through a clean amp with just a hint of reverb and delay gives me a sound I just couldn't get from either Gibson. And when I ran it dirty...let's just say I had to hose things down! I think the feature I'm most in love with, however, is the neck. Someone posted that Alembics make playing easier. I wasn't quite sure what was meant by that, but they really do. Somehow a lot of effort simply vanishes.

Jonathan

bob · « **Reply #14 on:** April 01, 2004, 10:49:36 PM »

(I knew brother Paul wasn't dumping on Ibanez - figured he'd probably already checked out the air fare and done some calculations...)