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bob
Advanced Member
Username: bob

Post Number: 244
Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Tuesday, June 08, 2004 - 11:05 pm:   Edit Post

What a beauty!

Please don't take any of these comments to be the least bit negative - I just want you all to understand how overwhelmed I was by this instrument, in person.

- I generally don't like spalted wood, but all the little details in this are just exquisite, especially with the ebony accents. No pictures could possibly do this justice. I know we hear that a lot, but it's really true.

- For my own tastes (hard to explain), I'm just not as excited about Series pickups for a bass as many/most of you seem to be. But for a guitar, they strike me as perfect.

- I have a hard time even thinking about strings this small anymore, and swear I'll never go back to guitar, and for that matter I reeallly don't need another instrument of any sort. But seeing this thing in person, I spent several minutes seriously thinking I might have to order one very much like this (aside from the virtual impossibility of finding comparable pieces of wood).

One other note. I saw this on a vist to Alembic about two months ago. I think it was at least a couple weeks before that, when I mentioned in the FTC thread that I'd like to see a picture of the wood on the fretboard, because it was so special. Well, I walked into the shop, and this instrument was resting on the couch - Susan and/or Mica came out and said they knew I wanted to see the neck, so they pulled it out for me!

Sheesh, these people are just too much. Anyway, congratulations Paul (the quiet one???) on a beautiful instrument. I can't tell you just how much it wanted to be played (I resisted, barely), but hopefully you know that by now.

-Bob
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 1375
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 12:17 am:   Edit Post

Paul the quite one,

please stay quite.
I know I would when getting this.
Mon dieu!!!!

Paul TBO
88persuader
Member
Username: 88persuader

Post Number: 51
Registered: 5-2004
Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 1:54 am:   Edit Post

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enjoy ... she's a beauty!!!!!
effclef
Intermediate Member
Username: effclef

Post Number: 187
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 5:16 am:   Edit Post

VERY nice feature: side mounted five pin jack!

http://www3.alembic.com/img/13220_5-pin.jpg

I am really happy to hear Alembic can do that for us!

EffClef
davehouck
Senior Member
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 634
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 6:52 am:   Edit Post

A beautiful instrument!

I do have a question. Instead of slots, the trim controls on the back appear to have little knobs. I've never noticed these before. Is this a new feature, or a special request, or are they standard and just removed by most people?
dela217
Advanced Member
Username: dela217

Post Number: 393
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 8:40 am:   Edit Post

effclef - I liked the side mounted five pin too! It looks similar to the 5 Pin on my Hyak. I like it on the side, it makes for a cleaner top. I liked the pic of the side mounted jack so much, that I made it my wallpaper!
effclef
Intermediate Member
Username: effclef

Post Number: 192
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 12:20 pm:   Edit Post

Michael, that is real "dedication," there!

I am happy to hear this, though. Now I am wondering about my "Essence body with Series Pickups and just the humcanceller/preamp" custom idea in another thread - with a side mounted 5 pin jack, I don't need batteries in the bass and a 1/4" jack, either, to have a nice expanse of top wood showing.

Sorry to get off-topic for this thread - the June custom IS a beauty. I hated spalted woods when I first saw them, but the combination of Alembic finish quality and ...well...the ARTISTRY with which they cut the wood and position it so the grain "works" with the body shapes, is just so appealing.

EffClef
mik
Junior
Username: mik

Post Number: 18
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 9:22 am:   Edit Post

Well, I AM a fan of spalted woods. Not exactly premier tonewoods (ahem!) but as an outer lam on a neck-thru design they can add a fantastic aesthetic to an instrument.

This one is no exception. Just beautiful. The sweet Gabon ebony board sits wonderfully against the maple too. One of the most beautiful guitars I think I've ever seen. I think Bob's "exquisite" simply says it all.

Congratulations to those that built, and those that bought!

Mik
hollis
Advanced Member
Username: hollis

Post Number: 229
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 11:57 am:   Edit Post

Ditto!
zappahead
Member
Username: zappahead

Post Number: 72
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 12:01 pm:   Edit Post

That guitar is probably my favorite of all the Alembics Ive browsed online. I love the Spectrum body shape for a guitar, its just a real great improvement on a classic shape. For some reason it also really looks great with the Series electronics. This is one of the few instruments Ive looked at where I just agree with every single thing the guy did who ordered it. I cant think of anything I would do to improve that instrument. Its the exact kind of thing that I think of what I would do if I were to order the "ultimate" Alembic with no price limit in mind.

It easily has the nicest and most interesting spalted top Ive ever seen. I like spalted tops, but before I saw this one Id probably never have thought much about picking it as the top for the "ultimate" Alembic, but really that is possibly the nicest top Ive seen outside of the quilted coco bolo and really I might even like it better than that.

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