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Alembic Club » Alembic Basses & Guitars » Archive through November 22, 2013 » Why is my knob at an angle from the centre of my body? « Previous Next »

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jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 3570
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 - 3:02 am:   Edit Post

Just a random observation that got me thinking so I thought i'd share it. On the series basses the knobs and switches are aligned on lines that seems parallel to the centre line of the instrument, whereas on the signature instruments based on them have the knobs on lines that is angled away from the centre line of the instrument body.

It got me wondering what the practical reason was for the different approaches to knob layout. Also the brown basses seem to be parallel to body centre too but I guess that's to mimic the series brown basses Stanley used to have in the past.

As with all things Alembic, I'm sure there is a logic behind it.

Series 1
http://alembic.com/club/messages/16271/18483.html?1361485906

Series 2
http://alembic.com/club/messages/16271/41122.html?1182027166

Signature
http://alembic.com/club/messages/16271/16368.html?1320955206

Brown Bass
http://alembic.com/club/messages/16271/113006.html?1315948770

Any idea's, speculations, conspiracy theories or facts welcome.
jazzyvee

(Message edited by jazzyvee on August 14, 2013)
cje
Intermediate Member
Username: cje

Post Number: 138
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 - 7:25 am:   Edit Post

I'd think that it's what's attached to the knob inside the electronics cavity that might be dictating their position (at least a little), in addition to all the other stuffed crammed into the instrument that has no knob to show for it!

I know that determining the controls layout on my Further was one of the more laborious and stressful parts of my build. I had extremely detailed ideas, and Mica, Ron, and team artfully matched up my esthetic desires with the physical realities of putting a spaceship inside a guitar. This image doesn't even include the Roland guts, but you can see the amount of creative energy that went in to making it a reality.

DEJ Electronics
jalevinemd
Senior Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 864
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 - 10:02 am:   Edit Post

I've owned/own several vintage BC Rich guitars. Specs and such are all over the map. The saying was that it depended on how much tequila the boys had been drinking on any given day. Our Alembics are made in the herb friendly state of CA, so who knows.

Hahahahahahahaha....
cje
Intermediate Member
Username: cje

Post Number: 140
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 - 10:06 am:   Edit Post

With Alembic, you can be assured that it is a "precision decision."
jalevinemd
Senior Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 865
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 - 1:29 pm:   Edit Post

All kidding aside. I've got two custom Alembics, both with the same Darling electronics. Yet the knob layout is quite different. In fact, on the burl guitar you can see that the bottom right knob doesn't even line up quite right with the others. I honestly never noticed this before. Seeing it now doesn't bother me, but I can't postulate a reason for it other than "poetic license."

bigredbass
Senior Member
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 2020
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Thursday, August 15, 2013 - 11:19 pm:   Edit Post

Aha !

Now a parallel enigma to why aren't my strings centered' up with the neck inlays.

j o e y
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 3405
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Friday, August 16, 2013 - 1:20 am:   Edit Post

probably best not to mention misaligned tailpieces right now ;-)

Graeme
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 3573
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, August 16, 2013 - 1:57 am:   Edit Post

Before this thread diversifies, I would prefer if it didn't stray into a quality control thread. I wasn't implying misalignment or fault, merely wanted to find out if there was a practical ergonomic reason for the differences in placement of my knobs.

Jazzyvee
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 3406
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Friday, August 16, 2013 - 2:06 am:   Edit Post

Sorry V :-( There are quite a few F2C threads where folk have had custom layouts e.g. flax's 'scarlet' and hal's tomahawk so I don't suppose anything is set in stone as far as layout goes. probably what's easiest for the electronics but they can change .

graeme
pauldo
Senior Member
Username: pauldo

Post Number: 1038
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Friday, August 16, 2013 - 3:24 am:   Edit Post

Handmade instead of 'cookie-cutter' CNC production = beautiful.
jalevinemd
Senior Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 866
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Friday, August 16, 2013 - 7:43 am:   Edit Post

Jazzy,

Apologies. Guess I misunderstood the original thread.
that_sustain
Advanced Member
Username: that_sustain

Post Number: 236
Registered: 8-2012
Posted on Friday, August 16, 2013 - 3:10 pm:   Edit Post

With my palm wrapped around the curve of the bass..every knob variation fits all the fingers on my hand(including the multiple angles of the bass, treble..and Q switches). Medium scale bass for a medium size guy. I think Alembic has technique in mind with their placement of the knobs.
jzstephan
Intermediate Member
Username: jzstephan

Post Number: 165
Registered: 1-2012
Posted on Saturday, August 17, 2013 - 4:12 pm:   Edit Post



Here's how Mica did the layout for my knobs.
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 3407
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Monday, August 19, 2013 - 1:04 am:   Edit Post

I never tire of looking at your top wood John. Wasn't your layout skewed to account for the side mounted jack?

graeme
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 3577
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, August 19, 2013 - 1:51 am:   Edit Post

Now wouldn't it be cool to have a tailpiece that matched that dark wing shape.

jazzyvee
jzstephan
Intermediate Member
Username: jzstephan

Post Number: 166
Registered: 1-2012
Posted on Monday, August 19, 2013 - 3:08 pm:   Edit Post

Yes, side jacks xlr and 1/4". The wings are going to make the Skyway trem fly, Jazzy.


Me too, Graeme
that_sustain
Advanced Member
Username: that_sustain

Post Number: 239
Registered: 8-2012
Posted on Monday, August 19, 2013 - 4:57 pm:   Edit Post

You know it's a luxurious bass when the bridge hole has a burl laminate.

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