| Author | Message | ||
| lothartu
Junior Username: lothartu Post Number: 37 Registered: 8-2003 |
I love the feel of the neck on my '88 Series I. I'm getting ready to put an order in for a new Mark King Standard Balance K but I've never played one before. The Alembic site lists the neck width as being the same at the nut/body for both the MK and the Series I. What I'ld like to know is this... (1) Is the actual "cut" of the neck the same? My Series I wasn't a custom neck so it should be whatever cut/shape is "normal" for a Series I. I've played a couple of other Alembics (Essence, Epic) and their necks were more of a C cut where I consider my Series I neck to be more of a very flat D cut. I just want to make sure that I don't order a custom bass and not have the neck feeling the way I want it to. Also, for those folks with a Balance K body; I see that there is an option for a 3/4 Balance K. (2) Is this just a 3/4 size body? If you've got a regular non-3/4 Balance K body and you've played a Series I before, how wide is the regular Balance K body compared to a Series body? I also see that you can get a Balance K body with/without contours. (3) Exactly what are the "contours"? Does a regular Series I have these contours normally since they aren't listed as a Series option? The Balance K looks to be an extended upper horn version of a regular Series body so I'ld like to make sure that the new bass I order has it's body cut the same way as my Series I is. Be that contoured or non-contoured whatever the case may be. ty in advance. | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 531 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hello, to answer your questions: 1) the neck on MK is generally a 'standard taper' neck which is what we use on series instruments. Just mention it at the time you place your order. If you let us have the serial number of your 88 series I we can make sure we follow the same specifications. The Balance k is an adaptation of the balance point shape scaled down to roughly 3/4 size; it isn't like we have a regular Balance K AND a 3/4 Balance K. There is just the Balance K, which is sometimes referred to as "the 3/4 balance K". The contours are elbow and tummy cuts that are available for an extra 200$ each. They make playing more comfortable for some people and also make the instrument a bit lighter. A traditional Series bass does not have those contours. Valentino | ||
| lothartu
Junior Username: lothartu Post Number: 38 Registered: 8-2003 |
Thanks Valentino, That clears it up for me. btw, I noticed the option for a "K Crown" peghead which is apparently just a smaller version of the regular Crown. Have you guys make a bass yet with the K Crown? If so, are there any pictures anywhere? If no pictures are available then how does it compare to the regular Crown peghead? 75% the size of the regular? thanks | ||
| flaxattack
Intermediate Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 146 Registered: 4-2004 |
i have a mark king special k on order- it does come with the k crown to keep things in perpective size wise. one thing my friend val left out is that you can order the neck "shaved" at no charge. this is take about an eighth of an inch off the back of the neck. makes it similar to the ibanez in feel- imho i strongly recommend using superbass for your order- steve has the excellent prices AND he knows his stuff- i actually paid a tad higher choosing steve but trust me-i was real comfy with him- he's worth it my neck is totally custom btw 32 scale 1.75 nut .180 edges- space from outer string to edge of neck .500 spacing 2.50 at the 24th fret 1 ebony lam and 2 purple hearts there is rumor of a post to FTC soon. | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 509 Registered: 9-2003 |
I second that about Superbass Steve Frank! | ||
| lothartu
Junior Username: lothartu Post Number: 42 Registered: 8-2003 |
Great, I'll be keeping an eye out for the FTC thread. | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 652 Registered: 7-2003 |
Hey Flax: Thanks for mentioning Alembic's ability to customize neck feel (and it's a no charge option on many models!). Mica and I spent a fair amount of time talking about dimensions of different bass's necks before we settled on mine. We compromised between the feel of the Ibanez SGR 4s and some of the dimensions of my Spoiler's neck and used Stanley Clark's preferred neck dimensions as a reference point (kind of a reality check with something we both knew worked). Mica has a nifty little spreadsheet program that solves for missing mesurements and dimensions once you decide what you want. We managed to combine what I like about the 34" Ibanez necks and get the parts I do like and avoid those I don't about the old style "straight" (non-tapered) neck on my Spoiler. Plus translating all into a 32" scale! No small feat - and it only took about 10 minutes to work up the numbers. It worked like a charm!!! I love the feel of my new bass's neck. It truly combines all the things I was driving for. I think this is (yet another) something very special about what Alembic does for its customers when they order a bass to their specs. Bill (Message edited by bassman10096 on September 25, 2004) | ||
| bsee
Advanced Member Username: bsee Post Number: 292 Registered: 3-2004 |
Bill- That sounds like exactly what I am looking for. Can you post what you know of the dimensions? Thanks! | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 653 Registered: 7-2003 |
Sure. I'll try to find them. In any event the Alembicians have a record. Either way, we'll get em for you. Bill | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 657 Registered: 7-2003 |
Duh. I just measured ("I'll try and find them" - Sounds like a blond joke!). The neck width on my bass at the nut is 1 1/2". At the 24th, it's 2 3/16". So, that makes it 1/4" narrower than the Standard taper neck at the nut and just about the same width as the Standard taper at the 24th. Hope that helps. Bill | ||
| rraymond
Intermediate Member Username: rraymond Post Number: 125 Registered: 6-2002 |
A blonde joke! Now you're talking! What do you call two blondes in a Volkswagen? Farfromthinkin! How about a guitar player joke? Yeah! How many guitar players does it take to cover a Stevie Ray Vaughn song? Apparently, ALL of them! Sorry for the outburst, I'll return to my normal lurking, now! ;-) | ||
| rraymond
Intermediate Member Username: rraymond Post Number: 126 Registered: 6-2002 |
Uhm, I'm unlurking again, just long enough to post these bass player jokes, lest anyone think I'm insensitive! :-0 How do you make a bass player turn down? Put sheet music in front of him! How do you put an insomniac to sleep? Play a bass solo! Back to lurking, have fun all! | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 658 Registered: 7-2003 |
That, my friends, was a drive-by unlurking! | ||
| dadabass2001
Advanced Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 249 Registered: 6-2002 |
He lurks....he strikes.... he lurks again. It's Reid...the known comic...er...poster. OK, a guitarist, a bass player and a drummer are sitting in a bar....  Mike | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1627 Registered: 9-2002 |
Hoi-hoi ...jokes!! Wasn't there a thread around here were we can tell jokes? OK my turn! How one can one see that the stage is not perfectly horizontal?? When the drool dribbles out of only 1 corner of the drummers' mouth. hehehe! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrufl And now over to Brother Mike ladies and gentle people!!! Paul TBO rats ...I don't | ||
| lbpesq
Junior Username: lbpesq Post Number: 31 Registered: 7-2004 |
I have to jump in on this one. What do you call someone who's tone deaf and likes to hang out with musicians? A drummer What do you call a guitar player who breaks up with his girlfriend? homeless Bill, the guitar one | ||
| tom_z
Junior Username: tom_z Post Number: 33 Registered: 7-2004 |
Not in keeping with the musical theme but here goes: What do you get when you cross an insomniac, an agnostic and a dyslexic? Someone who stays up all night wondering if there's a Dog. Wow - serious thread derailment. | ||
| bigbadbill
Intermediate Member Username: bigbadbill Post Number: 118 Registered: 10-2003 |
Guys For various reasons (so much to do, so little time)I haven't posted here in a while and have only visited briefly; now I remember why I love this place. It is SOOOOOO good to be back!!!!!  | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1646 Registered: 9-2002 |
HURRRAH!!!! Bro's and sis's ..come over here and give him a big hand. Bigbadbill is back and is "Sweet William now..." (yeah ....I know ....it's an old one). So good to have you back Bill. Beware ...the place is now LOADED with Bill's! Bills from the bar, from the refurnisher, from Susan's new staircase, Bills from the pizzeria, Bills from Bob's boat overhoal, we only missing the Bill of Rami's new fretless who is still not finished (but nobody wants to see that bill anyway ...OTOH we are all anxiously waiting to see the bass), we have lots of bills from different bars from all over the world ...but ...well ...the Bigbadbill ...we missed!!!! Paul the bad one | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 127 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ummm....Paul, you did know that "bigbadbill's" name is actually Shaun, right? Ok, I'm just checking. You knew that. Welcome back, Shaun, and how is your walnut Triple-O sounding now that you've plugged it in? :-) Ken (TEO) | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1648 Registered: 9-2002 |
O-o I've never been good at billing .... well ...we knew THAT already. PTBO | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 128 Registered: 10-2003 |
Paul, That's ok...I just wind up PAYING them. :-) Ken (TEO) | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1649 Registered: 9-2002 |
Hey Brother Ken ...where's your elfish gone. Lack practicing? I can wabble elfishlike but an insult for those who REALLY get into that laguage. So ...feel free ... the scene is all yours!! Darn ...am I off topic again???? PTBO | ||
| bigbadbill
Intermediate Member Username: bigbadbill Post Number: 120 Registered: 10-2003 |
Well I'm up to my old tricks again;fashionably late as usual (even later than ever in fact)! Hi Paul and Ken and thanks for the kind words! BTW Paul, I've certainly missed your sense of humour! And how are you Ken? How's the lovely Erin-Oromion now you've had her for a while? The Triple O is staggering. You should see people's faces when I pull it out of the case; and that's before I plug it in. I wish you could see the wood "in the flesh", so to speak, as the pictures don't begin to do it justice. As soon as I can beg, borrow or buy a digital camera I'll post some more pictures. It truly is the best bass I've ever owned by far(best I've played in fact), and sounds incredible. BTW Hi to club members old and new (of which there seem to be quite a few), and hi to those wonderful people who make it all happen (they should be renamed Elflembic...ok maybe not ); when I inevitably win the lottery you're going to have more orders than you can shake a stick at.....can anyone hear the Everly Brothers or is it just me? BTW Ken, decided to call the bass "Eagle Wing", and then couldn't find the whole phrase in Quenya! Talk about irritating...so if you can help, I'd be grateful ("my powers are weak; soon you will be the master". Oops, sorry, wrong film...and back to front!!) | ||
| bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 605 Registered: 11-2003 |
Shaun Try http://www.yourdictionary.com/library/tolkien.html Maybe you can find what you're looking for there. Sam | ||
| bigbadbill
Intermediate Member Username: bigbadbill Post Number: 121 Registered: 10-2003 |
Hi Sam How are you??? And thanks!!! You are a star! I've obviously been looking in all the wrong places! Well it seems that the bass is called...*drum roll*..."Sorne-Raama". Now I just have to perfect the pronunciation! Looks like it's out with the books again... | ||
| kenbass4
Intermediate Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 132 Registered: 10-2003 |
We should probably move this to another thread guys :-) I believe it would be "Sornay Rahmah", rolling the "R", accenting the second syllable in the first, first in the second (due to the vowels) Ken (TEO) P.S. Check the Factory to customer section, we can continue there. |
