| Author | Message | ||
| coop
Junior Username: coop Post Number: 16 Registered: 6-2014 |
I finally got the call from Mary to verify my street address for delivery. After 10 months, my custom Rogue is on its way. I set out to create my ultimate "go-to" bass, with features from various basses I've loved over the years - 32" scale, thin neck, twin pickup, contoured body ("coopered" in Alembic-speak, like a Warwick Thumb or a Spector), beautiful woods, not too heavy, LEDs, and some other goodies. I originally started my quest by trying to order a custom from my previous go-to, Warwick. After several months of trying to get the salesman to verify options and pricing on a custom Dolphin, I gave up. I then tried to get a custom Moses graphite neck for my Warwick Thumb, but the neck they delivered to me wasn't even close to my specs. It was only then they admitted they couldn't make one to my specs. Disillusioned by empty promises and inept service, I went to the builder I should have started with in the first place and called Alembic. I already had an Exploiter and an SCSD, and knew that Alembic would be able to fulfill any dream I had. I spent several hours talking with Susan about my design and relied on her knowledge, expertise, and artistic talent to guide me to the final specs. This was one of the most enjoyable design experiences I've ever participated in. Not only did she work to realize my vision, she led me to options I had never thought of. It's obvious that she was not only designing a bass for me, she was making it the best it could be since it is, after all, an Alembic. After we both signed off on the design, the order was placed in January. In mid May, I received some in-construction pics from Mica and asked for a couple of shots that showed the coopered back. Oops. That detail was missed when construction began. Mica called as soon as they realized the error and construction began immediately on another bass. The story of the orphan that was created has a very happy ending, with the bass being purchased by David Taylor (5a_quilt_top) who named her "Scarlet O'Hara". His story with the bass is told in another thread - "Almost Gone With The Wind" - a tale of Karma and renaming the "Rogue Rogue". The takeaway for me here was that Alembic not only makes the finest basses, they are the best at customer service. All the rest are amateurs. So now, "EL Jefe" - "the boss" - is on a truck somewhere heading for Florida. I'll post some pics when I get'em and reviews when I finally get to plug in. And then I'll start thinking about my next custom Alembic... | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8319 Registered: 6-2000 |
Let me know if you want some preview pictures. Even if you see them, I think you will still audibly *gasp* when you open the case, the pictures never approach what you see in person. | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Advanced Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 392 Registered: 6-2012 |
That's great news! Scarlet's fraternal twin is finally born! I'll be sure to tell her about her sibling when I get home tonight. | ||
| coop
Junior Username: coop Post Number: 17 Registered: 6-2014 |
Mica, I'll take whatever you've got. One can never have too many pics of one of your beautiful instruments. I agree on the comment on the pictures never doing justice to the real bass. My SCSD with the Macassar Ebony top and Purpleheart in the sandwich is almost impossible to photograph well, but is stunning in person. | ||
| coop
Junior Username: coop Post Number: 18 Registered: 6-2014 |
Here are a couple of construction pics.    | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8322 Registered: 6-2000 |
Here's a few to whet your whistle:    The hardware is not black! With all coopered body and angles, I had to struggle to get the lighting on the wood correct, and getting the hardware at the same time wasn't possible with my skills so far. I didn't want to make you wait more that I already had goofing around with pictures. | ||
| growlypants
Intermediate Member Username: growlypants Post Number: 107 Registered: 3-2011 |
Wow... just beautiful!! | ||
| pauldo
Senior Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 1331 Registered: 6-2006 |
curvy! | ||
| hifiguy
Senior Member Username: hifiguy Post Number: 426 Registered: 10-2006 |
The "coopering" was one of my favorite things about the Warwick I owned for a long while. That is one BEE-YOOOO-TI-FUL bass!! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 11559 Registered: 5-2002 |
I love the way the wood looks in the pictures; it looks like fire! | ||
| dead_head
Junior Username: dead_head Post Number: 50 Registered: 5-2014 |
+1 on the wood. Stunning!! | ||
| slawie
Senior Member Username: slawie Post Number: 689 Registered: 8-2002 |
The beveled headstock frames the laminate so wonderfully gives the whole thing depth. I like that. This is a class act all round very nice. Stunning! Congratulations Brad. The combined creative effort in the plan/build has certainly paid off. slawie | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 1076 Registered: 9-2008 |
looks like a real boss to me! | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 1651 Registered: 11-2004 |
Hot damn... that is beautiful. | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 1864 Registered: 5-2002 |
All I can say is that I'm glad I'm not the one waiting the arrival of the UPS truck. The anticipation would be unbearable! Lovely! Congrats! I have a custom bass made for me ca. 1986 which has a coopered body. Very comfortable. Sadly, it's one of the few redeeming features of a bass that suffers some serious flaws affecting playability. I really should have used my noggin and called Alembic. It's what I wanted.  | ||
| moonliner
Advanced Member Username: moonliner Post Number: 290 Registered: 12-2004 |
Congratulations on a beautiful bass and a speedy build! It really is a lovely bass. | ||
| coop
Junior Username: coop Post Number: 19 Registered: 6-2014 |
Finally got to open the box today. Mica was right, no picture can really do this instrument justice. The woods are sublime, the build, of course, flawless. The silver/MoP logo provides a beautiful glint of color where you don't expect it. Wonderful. Obviously, I haven't had too much time to plug and play, but the feel of the bass is amazing. The combination of the Rogue body and the 32" neck (made to SCSD dimensions) makes for an amazingly balanced bass, especially compared to my SCSD. The coopered back enhances the balance by allowing me to position the bass where it's most comfortable. Also, the wood composition resulted in an amazingly light Alembic, something I will appreciate after 3-1/2 sets. Susan, your suggestions and guidance were critical to the success of this build and I recommend to anyone who hasn't had the chance to let this woman take your imagination and make the bass of your dreams. To all the other wizards in Santa Rosa, kudos for another spectacular bass! | ||
| wfmandmusic
Intermediate Member Username: wfmandmusic Post Number: 128 Registered: 1-2012 |
Congratulations and nice bass! | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 2266 Registered: 9-2002 |
I have to second that Susan is virtually telepathic when it comes to taking your daydreams and making them real. My story . . . . . When I had the Elan Five built, I had it pretty much spec'd out . . . I thought. Susan had two suggestions: Sig electronics (!) and I wanted a tummy cut and a rollover on the top/front. I wanted a pinstripe lam around the top, and when I got it, it flares out (the revealed edge, so to speak) under the roundover. Exactly what I had in mind, but never mentioned in our conversation! But the real kicker: I told her I wanted a green see-thru finish, 'between Hunter Green and a BP sign' was what I told her. So Bob shot it, and they decided it wasn't what I had in mind. Bear in mind, I never knew any of this. So they started over, thought 'OK, that's it'. Remember, when I had mine built, I had not FTC thread, I never called and asked about it, nothing. I told her I'd see it when I got it, no point in wondering IF they could do it, that's just silly. So when I got it, I opened the case, and it was exactly what I had in mind, without one phone call or anxious EMail in a year. I always thought I should let her do her thing, and man oh man, was I right. Susan just KNOWS . . . . . the best ! J o e y | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1384 Registered: 2-2011 |
Your bass is stunning Brad! Congratulations! Is that Ruthenium hardware with Cosmo Black tuners? That is the combination I'm getting on my Europa. It looks great together! I have a similar neck recipe as yours too. | ||
| malthumb
Senior Member Username: malthumb Post Number: 570 Registered: 5-2002 |
That is just awesome! | ||
| dejan
Member Username: dejan Post Number: 55 Registered: 1-2006 |
I love the Rogue shape and this is a fantastic instrument!! Congratulations!!!! | ||
| eastcoastepic
Advanced Member Username: eastcoastepic Post Number: 272 Registered: 10-2003 |
Always loved the body style, and the wood chosen is spectacular; congrats, Brad. Hey, when you get a chance, could you post the weight? A 32" Rogue seems very appealing at my age....  Chris | ||
| coop
Junior Username: coop Post Number: 20 Registered: 6-2014 |
Rustyg, it's actually Ruthenium plated with chrome tuners - all silver vibe except for the control knobs. I'm not sure of the weight, but it certainly seems lighter than my SCSD and the balance is out of this world. The Rogue body shape along with a 32" neck made for an awesome balance, better than any bass I've played before. | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1407 Registered: 2-2011 |
Thanks for the info Coop, it looks great! | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1432 Registered: 1-2005 |
I think it's been said before in this thread, but that is a stunning instrument! Congrats! | ||
| moongerm
Member Username: moongerm Post Number: 52 Registered: 8-2013 |
Absolutely stunning! And a 32" scale neck, very cool. Congratulations! | ||
| coop
Junior Username: coop Post Number: 24 Registered: 6-2014 |
So far, awesome! Due to a rather unfortunately timed shoulder problem, I've not been able to play it out often enough to really break it in since it arrived. I've got a festival gig in a few weeks plus rehearsals, so that should be a great opportunity. Full report afterwards. The signature electronics on this bass give me a very wide palette of sounds, perfect for the blues and original indie rock I play. Fortunately, I've been playing a SCSD for several years and am quite accustomed to making subtle EQ changes live. The coopered back is also amazingly comfortable. For those of us whose high school jeans stopped fitting years ago, it makes a huge difference in playability, especially for long gigs. All in all, still the best bass I've owned. |
