| Author | Message | ||
| janriviere
Junior Username: janriviere Post Number: 44 Registered: 5-2002 |
Does anyone in London ever noticed this monster in Royal College Street ? : http://www.thebassgallery.com/alembic6.html I really hope someone has some info about it. Cheers Jan | ||
| markus
Junior Username: markus Post Number: 30 Registered: 5-2002 |
Oh, yes! Been there for a loooooong time. Someone on the old Alembic Club had played it. Said it was real nice and REAL heavy. I sent them email way back then asking about scale and string spacing. Never got an answer. Markus | ||
| deehell
New Username: deehell Post Number: 3 Registered: 5-2003 |
I was in the Bass Gallery today - they have the most amazing selection of basses I've ever seen including what looked like, from memory, at least half a dozen different Alembics. And quite the friendliest service that a few London West End stores could well learn from. Doesn't matter if you're a rank, rusty amateur (ie me) or a seasoned pro, they give you lots of personal attention, let you play anything and give measured advice that doesn't seem to be driven by how much you have in your wallet, based on what I experienced and observed. My last email to them got a response within a few minutes. Markus, if you didn't get what you wanted, give them a bell or drop them another note. This is a resource to treasure...and one any Club members should drop by if they're in London. cheers d | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 457 Registered: 9-2002 |
Hup-hup Jan "pak de beestjes"!!! Jan ...go and get-it!!!! Paul the bad one BTW: it's a "Bonnie" style thing. I realize now that I have a 5 string with the dimensions of a "smaller" six string ...LOL | ||
| janriviere
Junior Username: janriviere Post Number: 45 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hi Deehell, I emailed them yesterday but dit not reveive any answers yet, so I will wait a little bit longer. Maybe if some of the London club members who often visit the Bass allery, could write down the serial number of this 6 string in this thread. If I have the number, I could already ask Mica for the exact specifications. Maybe Mica recognizes the 6 string by heart ? Thanks for the repies already, and Paul, take it easy brother. This is not something I would buy "between the soup and the patatoes" as we say in Belgium ;-) Cheers Jan | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 458 Registered: 9-2002 |
Hi brother Jan, sorry ...i didn't want to patronize. But (hopla) to be honest. IMO you never have to THINK a lot about buying an Alembic. There is NO intellectual reason why you should buy SUCH an Alembic, especially THAT one: it's one of the most "Marilyn-Monroe typed" basses I've ever seen: blonde, large, sexy, roaring and whispering and with an attitude to "excite"!! 'The trill is gone'?? You'll defintely bring it back with that baby!!! So, there is only an emotional reason and consequently it will be such an act. So I agree: it will not be "between the soup and the potatoes" .... but then it will be definitely "between the potatoes and the desert" or "between the desert and the coffee with a 'mellow-yellow' single malt push". Just my opinion. Whatever: I'll be completely behind you and welcoming Bonnies niece in her close (well yeah you can say that) neighbourhood! Paul the bad one I warned you I'm NOT a "reasonable" man I'm a more "heartly" man. It's why I can do such stupid things in the eyes of the "reasonable". | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 929 Registered: 6-2000 |
Sorry, I didn't recognize the bass enough to identify it. From the picture I can tell you that it is a Series II with a Quilted Maple top. The string spacing looks quite wide (it's certainly not the Classic taper that normally comes on a Series). If it's been at the Bass Gallery a loooong time it's probably used so I can't reference it by invoices to them as they only became the distributor in the last year or so. | ||
| janriviere
Junior Username: janriviere Post Number: 46 Registered: 5-2002 |
Thanks for the reply Mica. I guess I will have to wait until I receive an email reply from them. I should have added also this link : http://www.thebassgallery.com/alembic.html where they say it is a Series I? It got me confused when I saw the electronics. I thought it was a Series I with a Series II electronics upgrade. And Paul, no apologies needed brother ;-) I just like to think twice before making my move. I really must have my convincing arguments ready for the senior management ;-) If anyone else saw it in real life, please share your thoughts. Thanks! Peace Jan | ||
| janriviere
Junior Username: janriviere Post Number: 47 Registered: 5-2002 |
Mica, I've got a reply from the Bass Gallery. Could you please check if these specifications are correct and complete for serialnumber 959536 US ? -series II -classic spacing -no dimmer switch -quilt front and back 5A -scale lenght 34" -mahogany body -gold plated hardware -metal plates on the back -1 owner (they sell it on a commission sale basis) Thx Jan | ||
| stoney
Intermediate Member Username: stoney Post Number: 165 Registered: 7-2002 |
Is there something wrong with the website listed above? All I get is "page cannot be displayed" I've also tried www.thebassgallery.com and get nowhere... stoney | ||
| janriviere
Junior Username: janriviere Post Number: 49 Registered: 5-2002 |
Stoney, I also have the impression that the webserver where the thebassgallery.com is hosted, is not so stable. I also received a 'page cannot be displayed' a few times. This is the pic from the website  Peace Jan | ||
| stoney
Intermediate Member Username: stoney Post Number: 166 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hi Jan, thanks for posting the pic. Beautiful instrument, then again......if it's Alembic, what would you expect. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 938 Registered: 6-2000 |
You've got just about everything right with the specs, Jan. The only thing I can see in the file that differs is the string spacing is indeed the comfort taper. Also there's a Maple veneer at the center of the core. | ||
| kayo
Junior Username: kayo Post Number: 11 Registered: 10-2002 |
What is a comfort taper vs standard? | ||
| janriviere
Junior Username: janriviere Post Number: 50 Registered: 5-2002 |
Kayo , As I found on the Alembic Custom Quote page (http://www.alembic.com/cgi-bin/quote/quote), you have 3 possible string spacings : 1. Classic fingerboard taper (narrow) 2. Comfort fingerboard taper (wide) 3. Custom fingerboard taper Mica, is there a way to be sure, if it has the classic or the comfort taper ? How can I doublecheck this ? Thanks a lot ! Jan | ||
| bob
Member Username: bob Post Number: 53 Registered: 11-2002 |
The spacing specs are here: http://www.alembic.com/support/reference.html#necks The general idea is that "Classic", as used by default on Series and Signatures, has a somewhat straighter orientation: a tiny bit wider at the nut, but then it fans out much less by the time you get to the bridge. The "Comfort" spacing is intended to give you more room between the strings for your right hand (normal orientation), maybe to give you a bit more leeway when slapping or whatever. "Custom" of course, is just part of the Alembic culture - you can have it any way you like (though it might take a bit longer...). | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 939 Registered: 6-2000 |
You can measure the fingerboard to verify dimensions. Visually, I can assure you the bass pictured does not have a classic taper, it sure looks like a comfort taper to me, and the file indicates it as a comfort taper. Bob has directed you properly to the string spacing guide and his descriptions about the tapers is correct. We've had the same classic taper since the beginning, and added the comfort taper much later as slap playing become more common. It's interesting to note that Stanley Clarke uses even tighter spacing than the classic taper AND his neck pickup is almost smashed against the fingerboard. It completely opposite of what most players request that emulate his style of playing. Mark King uses the classic taper on his basses too. I personally feel that players should try and use the tightest string spacing they can tolerate - when the strings are closer together, you can move between them more quickly and it's less fatiguing (especially for the fretting hand). | ||
| janriviere
Member Username: janriviere Post Number: 51 Registered: 5-2002 |
Ok, thanks to you all for all the information. I guess nothing holds me now to plan a little visit to London in the first weeks / months. The only thing that still makes me worry, is the wider spacing, and the 34" length, especially because I already play 2 signatures with a 32" medium scale and classic spacing for a long time now. We’ll see …, I should give it a try I guess. Peace Jan | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 460 Registered: 9-2002 |
Hi Jan, if you like you can try the spacing on my bass. Please give me a call. We're playing the 4th of july in Leuven. "Bonnie" has "comfort" spacing on the bridge side. On the other hand (seems appropriate in both ways to say this) she is customized in a wider spacing at the nut. BTW: weren't the EVH-signatures designed with a wider e.a. "comfort" spacing? For your info: I mix playing between a Fender Jazz-bass and Bonnie. You get used to the switch. Question of scale: I agree on that, it could be some change. Are you tall? I'm about 1.90m and Bonnie don't look tall on me. Koen -a friend bassplayer- is 1.60m and he really can't handle her. Paul TBO | ||
| janriviere
Member Username: janriviere Post Number: 52 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hi Paul, I did not make it last time to your gig in Keerbergen, but this time I might do an extra effort ;-). Is that gig going to be in the Stapleton in the "Standonckstraat" ? Any idea already how late you might be there and when the gig starts ? I don't think my EVH sigs have the comfort spacing. I'll measure the fingerboard to verify the dimensions and let you know. My height is 1m87, so the scale shouldn't be a real problem I think, but I would really like to test it. Thx Jan | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 461 Registered: 9-2002 |
Hi Jan, about 22:30 I guess. It's "BeLeuvenissen" you know and we're playing indeed the Stapleton in the Standonckstraat. If I'm well informed Steven (De Prins - another Alembic-would-be-weirdo) is also going to try to be there. Unfortunately Brother Paul the fake one (Dino) will not make it being very busy being a father. Paul TBO BTW don't apologize, I know how things go. We'll come to Keerbregen again but with another band. Keep you posted. | ||
| bigbass
Junior Username: bigbass Post Number: 15 Registered: 6-2002 |
Thought I'd mention.....I was in that store in August '02 and I didn't see that bass at that time. | ||
| janriviere
Member Username: janriviere Post Number: 53 Registered: 5-2002 |
Thanks for the info, Bigbass. Peace Jan | ||
| janriviere
Member Username: janriviere Post Number: 56 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hi Paul, I'm coming to Leuven tomorrow. Are you guys still planning to start around 22h30 ? Or do you have a new schedule ? PS: Steven is also coming. CU Jan | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 491 Registered: 9-2002 |
Jan and Steven, yes we do! I THINK it's 22:30u but it can be 23:00 too. We're not in the official "After concerts". On the 11th of july we play also Beleuvenissen withe the band DRIVE and that IS in the official "after concerts" in Café Entreprise (Naamsestraat). Than we HAVE TO start at 23:30u. Anyway: welcome brothers. Bonnie will be there to, alas not yet in company with the "new" rack with the other Alembic stuff. We'll drink our drinks on the behalf of teh 4th of july and our American brothers and SIsters in this club will receive the bill! LOL Paul the bad one (and getting excited: the first meeting of the ABC) ABC???? Alembic Belgian Chapter of course!!! | ||
| dean_m
Intermediate Member Username: dean_m Post Number: 144 Registered: 7-2002 |
Oh Brother Paul, I wish I could be there!!!! We'll have to look at next year maybe!!! Happy 4th!!! Dino (bptfo/tafkad) |
