| Author | Message | ||
| bassman8416
Junior Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 41 Registered: 5-2012 |
A very cool guy has this for sale for $1400. Just wondered what you guys think...supposed to be like new and no issues whatsoever. I was told by a 61 yr old bass player that has been around the block that this bass won't work for me for my Blues and R&B projects. I though that was BS. Am i correct, I thought there were many tone options even with a Distillate. Thanks.  (Message edited by Bassman8416 on December 06, 2012) | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1178 Registered: 1-2005 |
I think you are right - the Alembic filter is so versatile. You may encounter some people that will judge an instrument on looks instead of what it actually sounds like, but that's their problem - most people will probably be stunned by the looks AND the sound! That is one beautiful bass - scoop it up! | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3246 Registered: 6-2002 |
That electronics package looks very similar to the Europa except for the Europa has a pickup blend instead of a pan pot. I have a bass with that package and I've used it in both of the genre's that you mention there plus reggae and funk and even though my bass is an Elan with all maple construction I can still get it to mellow down for a sweet mellow, punchy sound. I tend to keep the Q-switch off, the mid on cut then close down the filter to get that warmth. The maple in my bass tends to want to stay bright so i don't doubt that the mahogany in the bass you are looking at should give you a warmer bottom end sound. Plus as has been said before on the forum, the fingers are a big component in getting the sound you want. So some experimentation is called for Worse case scenario? If you bought it and it didn't suit your needs you may find it quite easy to sell on. Jazzyvee | ||
| flpete1uw
Intermediate Member Username: flpete1uw Post Number: 115 Registered: 11-2011 |
Craig, I have a Distillate and can say it's a wonderfully versatile Instrument. I concur with Jazzyvee with the initial settings and experiment on, you'll be surprised where it will take you. $1400 for that Beauty? Snag it now for ever hold your peace! Best wishes Pete | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1350 Registered: 10-2006 |
I suspect "That won't work for blues and R&B" probably translates to "I believe that a Precision is the only real bass". Let me guess; the person saying it is a guitarist, right? It's a great price for a beautiful, fine-playing instrument that can get a wide range of sounds; if at least one of those sounds works for you for R&B and blues, you're good. I, for one, am tried of blues bass going "thud". Peter | ||
| bassman8416
Junior Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 42 Registered: 5-2012 |
Great responses guys...I am going for it. I will keep you all posted....the seller seems really cool. he is actually taking a ferry over to Long Island from Connecticut to me meet me for the purchase. The 61 yr old cat is a bass player, nice guy but said that Alembics are amazingly well made basses, but with a lot of truss maintenance etc....he was saying that Xotic basses are where its at now....I play in a Female fronted Blues/R&B classic rock band, a Grateful Dead Tribute, a Little Feat tribute as well and a ton of subbing I think the Distillate will be fine for all the above and i will probably end up saving for a Series eventually. | ||
| flpete1uw
Intermediate Member Username: flpete1uw Post Number: 116 Registered: 11-2011 |
Lets see the Bassist for the Grateful Dead and Little Feat both used Alembics. Congrats on the pending Bass!!! You could probably turn around and get $2000 for it in short order. But my guess you'll keep it. Pete | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3247 Registered: 6-2002 |
A wise decision bassman. Jazzyvee | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Junior Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 41 Registered: 6-2012 |
Don't hesitate - BUY IT NOW! I agree with Jazzy - the controls are very versatile. After you get used to how they interact, you should be able to dial up any sound you want from muddy to piano-string bright. Due to the large amount of maple and the purpleheart neck lams, it will probably be a naturally bright, punchy bass. There's nothing wrong with that - always remember, you can't add high end that isn't there to begin with, but you can tame it as required with the filter controls. It also appears to have a mahogany body. If so, it will probably sound a lot like my Stanley Clark Signature Deluxe which has the same wood recipe. It is a tone that cuts through the mix even with the high end rolled off. | ||
| bassman8416
Junior Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 43 Registered: 5-2012 |
Man....this is an amazing site....its like family.....The Alembic family. I will be a proud member tomorrow at 3PM!!!!!! | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Junior Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 42 Registered: 6-2012 |
Congrats! That's why we hang here - NOBODY takes care of you like family! | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2727 Registered: 5-2009 |
You can play ANY style of music with that Bass ! If you don't want it ,I certainly would ____! | ||
| hammer
Advanced Member Username: hammer Post Number: 298 Registered: 9-2009 |
Grab it now or you'll regret it for the rest of your life. It's a beautiful bass at a great price. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 10958 Registered: 5-2002 |
Congrats! Looks like a great deal on a great bass. It's a Small Standard body rather than a Distillate body, so it may be a short scale. | ||
| bassman8416
Junior Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 44 Registered: 5-2012 |
Thank you so much. Yes it is a short scale. Which is what I always wanted. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1943 Registered: 9-2002 |
IF it's as clean as it looks in the posted pics, $1400 with the flite case (hauling it around in that will get old quick, but great to have), that's a DEAL ! Get it. Now. Maple over mahogany for me is the best 'do everything' wood recipe. The mahogany warmth accented by the maple (and the purpleheart lams) is very useable in a lot of situations. Later trade the AXY's for FatBoys. Nice and compact in short-scale, it will NOT sound like a short-scale axe. The biggest no-brainer I've seen in a long time . . . IF you like it. J o e y | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2728 Registered: 5-2009 |
Congratulations ! You have found a great deal _____It would be prudent to purchase this bass ____ | ||
| wylie_j
Junior Username: wylie_j Post Number: 12 Registered: 8-2005 |
I had the same bass but lost it in L.A. end of a tour I was heart broken for months till I got another one I always wondered where it went.....the case was like this big without wheels which im sure ur gonna have a lot of fun taking through airorts.....ha ha ha! | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 2027 Registered: 11-2004 |
Nice maple top and a bargain too. No good for blues and R'n' B...absolute bull and I heard a similar comment last night at my mates gig. Bass player had a Musicman..'Nice bass' I said. He replied..'The best ever' I had to comment..'Not as good as mine'...reply 'What have you got?' 'Alembic' I reply..his reply..'No way is it better than this bass..too busy!' Hmmm....his had four controls as well..maybe he didn't know how to use them! I guess it takes all | ||
| bassman8416
Junior Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 45 Registered: 5-2012 |
I picked the bass up today and love it. I am learning the tone controls etc....Want to put new strings on....any suggestions(string-wise) for the music mentioned above? Also how do you folks do the strap, I am having a little neck dive action. Thanks again for everything!!!! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 10961 Registered: 5-2002 |
I've never owned a small body short scale, but the standard suggestion as I recall is to rest your right arm on the body. I haven't read through it, but there's currently a discussion of short scale strings in the Misc section; and I imagine a board search would turn up a number of similar discussions as well. | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1180 Registered: 1-2005 |
Also, try a wide strap, suede or something like that. Like this?  Very psyched that you got the bass! Regarding strings, the Stanley in my pic is strung with D'Addario Chromes (flatwounds) - although a lot of the Alembic image is of Stanley Clarke and a very bright sound, actually Phil Lesh and Jack Casady were much earlier and they used flats (Pyramid strings) - might be fun to try. Chromes tend to be on the bright side as far as flats are concerned. TI Jazz Flats are renowned for their sound as well as their low tension. LaBellas are pretty traditional. Rotosound flats strike me as very high tension. I just put GHS flats on my Fender - it's long-scale, but they struck me as a bit lower tension than the Chromes that it came strung with. Definitely check the thread moderator Dave linked to - short scale strings may not cut it, depending on the brand. Also, rounds may well be fine - the mighty Alembic filter may well allow you to fit in to any situation! | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3249 Registered: 6-2002 |
I've found the arm rest on the body as the best solution and now don't even notice the neck dive. I think after a while the correction for it becomes automatic. Straps with suede on the inside I have found still neck dive but drag your shirt as well so becomes more uncomfortable. I use plain leather now. Jazzyvee | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 1821 Registered: 2-2005 |
As far as the neck dive I have found that my small bodies naturally settle with the neck around 3 o'clock. To keep the neck at a more natural feeling 1-2 o'clock I have found playing the bass higher up on the body helps. I play mine a little higher on the body than what Harry shows in the picture above. This tucks the body under my arm. I also use a wide strap. For strings I use Alembic CX3 short scale strings but those appear to be hard to find at the moment. Keith | ||
| bassman8416
Junior Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 46 Registered: 5-2012 |
I took the bass on a gig last night. I do have a wide strap etc, rested the arm. It was just a struggle all night. I am going to continue to work on it. Its such a beautiful bass, visually and tonally. I simply does not feel comfortable when standing and playing. I got the bass hoping it would be a main gigging instrument. The jury is still out but I may not have done enough research on shortscale Alembics. I guess the other alternative may be getting a Rogue...or a longer scale Alembic. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2730 Registered: 5-2009 |
HI bassman8416 , I think that there might be a few Small Standard Bodies floating around with Medium Scale necks & Long scale. Are you sure your newly acquired beauty is short scale ? Measure from the string nut to the bridge saddle on the E string OR string nut to the 12th fret X2. | ||
| pauldo
Senior Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 897 Registered: 6-2006 |
Contact Rich; THIS will help solve your neck dive problem. | ||
| bassman8416
Junior Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 47 Registered: 5-2012 |
It measures out to be a little under 31". | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 1822 Registered: 2-2005 |
Craig, A short scale would be 30.75 inches which is what you have. If you are coming from a Fender or similar bass it will take a little bit to get used to a small standard body as they have different playing positions. With Fender style basses the bass and neck are more or less parallel (i.e. flat against) to your body. With the small body the playing position is at an angle to your body. Trying to play a small body with the same angle as you a Fender style bass will feel uncomfortable and even with the short scale the first position will feel out of reach. To repeat what I said above, playing the bass higher up on your chest will help a lot with the neck dive and getting a better playing angle. Keith | ||
| mike1762
Senior Member Username: mike1762 Post Number: 971 Registered: 1-2008 |
Craig: with more playing time you will adapt to the bass, but I feel your frustration. I have a SC that has some pretty serious neck dive and a BB that is not quite as bad (the body is thicker and thus heavier). The trade-off of the challenging ergonomics for the Alembic tone is worth it for me. However, I had to get rid of my Series I Standard point because it was simply unplayable (for me). Not only did it have neck dive, but I could barely reach the first position. The Small bodies and the Standard Point styles have a very short upper horn, so the strap attachment points are fairly close together. The further up the neck the strap button is located, the better it will hang and it will tend to “pull” the first position toward you. If you look at the hardware on most Alembics you'll see that there is a fair amount of real estate between the bridge and the "butt" of the bass. While that translates to better access to the higher frets, the end of the neck will be that much further out. The Balance K design remedied this ergonomic quandary nicely. | ||
| that_sustain
Member Username: that_sustain Post Number: 78 Registered: 8-2012 |
If you play any slap bass you should reconsider selling a small bodied funk machine. You can literally wrap you upper arm around the left lower body curve of the bass. Makes it real easy to slap. Many 80's bassist played this way..just for example. This position has many advantages for technique. You can't really do this as well with the usual bass, including other Alembic's. just saying. | ||
| bassman8416
Junior Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 50 Registered: 5-2012 |
Well folks, I sold it, there was so many folks that wanted it that I let her go. Back to the drawing board. | ||
| 1983_distillate
New Username: 1983_distillate Post Number: 8 Registered: 2-2007 |
Wow, what a beauty. Your price was quite low! |
