| Author | Message | ||
| the_8_string_king
Senior Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 791 Registered: 9-2005 |
Okay, I'm suffering over the long weekend, as I wait the (hopefully) final days out before my new custom 6-String bass arrives on (hopefully) this Wednesday... soon... I'll KNOW what Coco Bolo sounds like from actual personal experience. In the meantime, I'm curious to hear what other people think about it. Now I recently spoke with Mica, and she said I'll "hear the neck woods the most"... the official line... that neck woods are the biggest factor affecting/determining the sound in neck-through Alembic basses. Yet they refer to Coco Bolo as "the crown jewel of tone woods" and also refer to the Coco Bolo/Mahogany (body combo) as their "house recipe". So they obviously hold it in high regard, and obviously it is a significant tonal factor in the sound of the basses -not withstanding the "woods in the neck are the biggest factor" principal. So whadaya all think about Coco Bolo? I'd like to hear from people familier with the sound of Coco Bolo on Alembics... ideally from those who've played/owned several/many different Alembics, and who have that frame of reference for their perspective. How great does it sound, on a 1-10 scale? Just how great is it? Of course, it's difficult to describe stuff like this. I KNOW how great Ebony neck laminates sound; but ultimately, while I could give a good description, you've got to hear it for yourself. That said, I'd like to hear any testimonials... I'd like to hear what Coco Bolo Alembic owners think about it. Who is a "Coco Bolo fan" here? How do you describe the sound? How does it compare to the sound of Maple -which I'm very familar with? Thanks for your thoughts, in advance, gang. I'll share my impressions with y'all when I get this bass. I'm really looking forward to it. I've been playing the heck out of my custom 8-String recently, and marveling at how awesome it is... it's hard to imagine how anything could sound as good at it does, yet along better. But Mica tells me that it should actually have a more versatile sound than my Maple bodied/Ebony-neck-fortified custom Europa... that it should sound just as good, yet have a distinctly different sound. I can't wait to experience it for myself!!! | ||
| pierreyves
Intermediate Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 166 Registered: 11-2006 |
Hey Mark ... you wrote 791 post from 09.2005 ... if all your post are like this one (23 lines and I saw many bigger from you ;o)), I have just a question, but a really little question: are you alone in the dark, alone in the life, you have no friends, no pets, just ALEMBIC CLUB ??? Ok, I can receive you when you come to Switzerland, we will speak about this... smile = ;o) For example, now I'm working at night, it's 2.30 am, I work in a hospital and all the people are sleeping, I have time to spend... But never I will write 23 lines (I need one hour for this) at day!!! For anwer in 4 lines at your question: I have 2 cocobolo, but the body is made with mahogany and neck with maple, purpleheart laminate. The little quantity of plated cocobolo on the body seems to be insignifiant to modify sound ? I don't know. I know that ebony on the neck change the sound, I now that my MK5 34" have greater sound (more strong, precise, metallic, brillant, crital...) than my 30"1/4 SC. I suppose is the scale length ? When your bass come at your home, go to a specialist with or take a plane to the land of nowhere !!! Smile !! | ||
| the_8_string_king
Senior Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 792 Registered: 9-2005 |
My girlfriend and I have 3 cats and a chinchilla, and it doesn't take much time to type 23 lines if one is a good typist! | ||
| ajdover
Senior Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 570 Registered: 11-2003 |
Mark, All of my Alembics have a maple neck, and all are neck through. My SC Standard has a coco bolo top, as does my Dragon's Wing. My other Alembics have either Bird's Eye, Flame, or Quilted Maple tops. I don't notice too much of a difference in the high end all of them produce (my Spyder is especially trebly, though - maple neck and flame maple top does that I guess, in addition to the Anniversary electronics). I do notice more mids in my SC and my Essences (all have maple necks; the SC has walnut pinstripes); think more Jaco-esque tones. The DW is warmer, the Essence is quite bright, and the Spyder is downright "crispy" if you will. My take is if it has a maple-purpleheart neck, the tone will be bright, but no overly so. If it's all maple, it will be bright with a bunch of mids. I can't speak to ebony lams as I don't have a bass with that wood in the neck. Regardless, you're getting a beautiful bass - hope the wait doesn't kill you, and enjoy! Alan | ||
| pierreyves
Intermediate Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 169 Registered: 11-2006 |
;o)) I have a lot of lizzards, geckoes, dragons, frogs and toads and chameleons, but nobody is good typist!! ;o) I think the densitiy from wood make the difference. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 960 Registered: 6-2002 |
I have an SCDLX with a Coco Bola top and back and i love it's sound. There was an rare spotting of an SC in a local music shop for sale on commission so i took the opportunity to try it out. The difference in tone was very dramatic. This bass had a walnut top and walnut pinstripes in the neck. However the difference in tone between that and my SC was very dramatic. Mine seemed to have a livelier sound, heavier bass and crisper punch to the tone. I have to admit that hearing the difference made me really appreciate how much difference the wood makes to the sound. Before that I was kind of skeptical lol. Now I'm sold and would take some good advice before choosing wood If I was having a custom bass. Jazzyvee Ps: I Think That Is a bit more than twenty three lines. LOL | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1336 Registered: 10-2002 |
Ha! Nice one Jazzy ;-) Of my Alembics. the coco-bolo rogue is fretless and the mkdx is fretted with an ebony neck stringer and they have different electronics packages so they're like night and day. They do however share a certain 'warmth' that the set neck BTC maple Epic lacks (for want of a better word). Graeme p.s. off topic for Jazzy...will you be heading to London 5th/6th November to see Marcus? | ||
| pierreyves
Intermediate Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 171 Registered: 11-2006 |
mega LOL jazzyvee ... !!!!!! I don't know that was so big difference with wood ... thank's to learn me. | ||
| malthumb
Senior Member Username: malthumb Post Number: 411 Registered: 5-2002 |
I have a Series I (walnut / mahogany / walnut) and a Series II (coco / maple / mahogany /maple / coco). Both have maple neck and purple heart lams. The walnut Series I has a very clear, very tight, very defined piano like tone to it. Nice lows, very clear highs. Mids are mids. The coco bolo Series II has a very fat tone to it. The lows are massive and even sound like they're chorused. The highs are tight, but not as clear as the Series I and seem to also drive a little bit of a chorus type effect, though not as noticeable as with the lows. Mids are mids. The Series I has a "pretty" sound. The Series II has a "powerful presence" sound. Peace, James | ||
| the_8_string_king
Senior Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 794 Registered: 9-2005 |
Thanks for the feedback, all! | ||
| eligilam
Member Username: eligilam Post Number: 63 Registered: 2-2006 |
My cocobolo SC deluxe with sig electronics has a very complex tone. If it were a red wine, I would describe it as "bold" and "peppery" with a bit of bite on the mid-tongue. Even with wide-spanning tone control tweaks (from all-bridge pickup with torqued Q filter to all-neck pickup with fully untorqued Q), the underlying "boldness" of the cocobolo can be perceived. Cheers! | ||
| the_8_string_king
Senior Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 795 Registered: 9-2005 |
Thanks, Will, that's the kind of description/attempt I was looking for! Well, barring a problem, I'll know for myself in just a few days... till then, I'm dying of curiosity! | ||
| pierreyves
Intermediate Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 174 Registered: 11-2006 |
tomorrow is THE (independance!!) day ?? Alien Alembic wiil come from the clouds and destroy his futur owner ?? It will be your nightmare for this night ?? ;o)) | ||
| dannobasso
Senior Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 632 Registered: 3-2004 |
Not as bold as my koa 6 but less bright than my Maples. Vermillion is very close to the coco in appearance but a bit darker in tone.  | ||
| mele_aloha
Advanced Member Username: mele_aloha Post Number: 240 Registered: 1-2007 |
Good on Mark. Thanks for asking that question as that is what I am dying to here from also. I'll keep this short so maybe more will come in. I just hope I don't regret getting the Maple body for asthetics instead of the Vermillion or Mahogany. Most of all I hope I get the tones that James described as massive lows and clear tight highs. Good luck on delivery this week. Paul | ||
| mele_aloha
Advanced Member Username: mele_aloha Post Number: 241 Registered: 1-2007 |
Good on Mark. Thanks for asking that question as that is what I am dying to here from also. I'll keep this short so maybe more will come in. I just hope I don't regret getting the Maple body for asthetics instead of the Vermillion or Mahogany. Most of all I hope I get the tones that James described as massive lows and clear tight highs. Good luck on delivery this week. Thanks for the info on the knobs as well. Paul | ||
| bkbass
Intermediate Member Username: bkbass Post Number: 151 Registered: 11-2003 |
Yeah I like the coco b. Among my other Alembics I have the two Rogues with series 2 packages. The fretted four string is coco,maple,mahogany,maple,coco.It has a maple neck with three purple heart lams in it. It is very well balanced tone wise I can dial in anything and make it sound like anything.The other is the Feb 2005 custom of the month "Jelly". It has coco,walnut,purple heart,walnut,coco with a purple heart neck with walnut lams. The sound is nearly identical to her fretted brother but the lows are slightly darker. I'm certain I'll have coco bolo on the next one as well but I will most likely change out the center core to walnut or vermillon for variety's sake.Coco bolo is the way to fly.Alternatives might be bocate, bubinga or rosewood,as they are all in the rosewood family have oils in the wood cells etc. I never get tired of listening or looking at colo bolo. Frankly,I'm mapled out. | ||
| the_8_string_king
Senior Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 806 Registered: 9-2005 |
Thanks again, all, for the feedback. Special thanks to Danno for posting pictures of his awesome 7-String Spoiler... boy, you don't mess around, Danno! Between your 7-String Vermillion Spoiler (I thought it was Coco Bolo, ya fooled me!) and your Maple 6-String with the Dragon inlay... you've probably got the two most awesome Spoilers Alembic has ever made!!! And Barry, I love your 2 Series Alembics... "Barry Jelly" is awesome, but I like the Rogue even better... one of my favorite examples of Coco Bolo figuring... and one of the models I listed as a reference for what I wanted with my new custom. Paul... I wouldn't worry about the Maple body on your new custom... it's sound great, and really bright. I don't believe Mahogany or Vermillion bodys sound any better than Maple... just different!!! And, with your Series II electronics, you should be able to get it to sound just about any way you like!!! | ||
| pierreyves
Intermediate Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 176 Registered: 11-2006 |
sorry, but with 1 line: what woods Clarkee bass is made ? Vermilion (for top and back) ? | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1345 Registered: 10-2002 |
Stanley's brown bass is a myrtle core with walnut front and back. heres a link to the alembic page showing them building one. Graeme | ||
| pierreyves
Intermediate Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 178 Registered: 11-2006 |
Thanx, it's very different of ours... and the red tenor wich hes playing actually ? | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1610 Registered: 6-2002 |
Check the Featured Custom page on Dragon's Breath - "We've made several basses for Stanley with a Vermilion body." | ||
| pierreyves
Intermediate Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 179 Registered: 11-2006 |
I know this page, I now that body is vermillon, but I don't know what is exactly woods used for this one:  | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1346 Registered: 10-2002 |
From what I understood of the Dragon's Breath, it was an identical copy of the one pictured above apart from the inlay - and the fact he didn't pay for the DB ;-) It looks to be the one he played in London this April..  graeme | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1611 Registered: 6-2002 |
If they say "body", they mean the core of the body, not the top wood. The top that Graeme posted could be anything from vermillion to rosewood to cocobolo. | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1347 Registered: 10-2002 |
Coco-bolo top and vermillion core is my understanding, graeme | ||
| pierreyves
Intermediate Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 180 Registered: 11-2006 |
vermilion core we are ok, but top and back I'm not sure.... and the dragon's have top and back QUILTED COCO BOLO | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1348 Registered: 10-2002 |
That's because the dragon's breath was a special one off to present to stanley after 30 years of using Alembics. The top in my photo is coco-bolo, I was close enough to touch it;-) Graeme | ||
| lidon2001
Advanced Member Username: lidon2001 Post Number: 336 Registered: 4-2005 |
I spoke with Susan about Stanley's bass and the top, back, core, and neck stringers are vermilion on the "red" bass pictured above. | ||
| pierreyves
Intermediate Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 181 Registered: 11-2006 |
;o)) It was looking like ... thanx!! I'm thinking about future bass, sort of Stanley replica, but at place of vermillon, some ebony ...? I think sound will be different, more of the best of cocobolo. | ||
| dannobasso
Senior Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 637 Registered: 3-2004 |
It is coco. Sorry my wording wasn't complete. I have a vermillion Essence 5 that is very close in appearence to the coco. Someday I'll get busy and put up pictures of all of them. I'm still series 1 and 2 deficient. Maybe the next cd release will help out in that area.  |
