| Author | Message | ||
| jbybj
Intermediate Member Username: jbybj Post Number: 199 Registered: 6-2006 |
It will be my 12th electric bass, and my second Alembic. Three years ago I met an Epic, it seduced me. I'm still infatuated. I love the set neck sound and the B/T controls, but I soon came to realize that I wanted a neck through, with filter and Q to balance my Alembic chi. So for three years I have been researching, learning, searching, and waiting for the confluence of instrument and finances, and yesterday, I knew it immediately when I saw it. 1992 Europa, 5 string, redwood burl top, and my ideal for mono Alembic electronics, Vol, pan, Filter, Q, and B/T boost/cut switches. I don't know how I will sleep until it arrives safely. I'll breath deep, and say a little prayer. Peace, James  (Message edited by davehouck on April 24, 2009) | ||
| 57basstra
Senior Member Username: 57basstra Post Number: 837 Registered: 4-2005 |
Beautiful bass, James! Congrats. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7882 Registered: 5-2002 |
That's a great bass!! Congrats! | ||
| precarius
Advanced Member Username: precarius Post Number: 280 Registered: 11-2005 |
Congrats! I love that redwood burl top. | ||
| crobbins
Advanced Member Username: crobbins Post Number: 305 Registered: 6-2004 |
Very cool. Congrats... | ||
| jedisan
Member Username: jedisan Post Number: 64 Registered: 3-2008 |
Congrats James, very nice instrument. I have often said, "I just bought my last bass," and it really didn't turn out that way for me. I am still working on my "sickness." Very nice choice that I am sure you will enjoy. | ||
| 2400wattman
Senior Member Username: 2400wattman Post Number: 690 Registered: 11-2005 |
Thank you very much for buying this. My wife would've been very very upset. I have one request though if finances permit. Please send her in to upgrade the preamp to signature electronics and keep the bass & treble boost/cut switches. Get DOWN! | ||
| jbybj
Intermediate Member Username: jbybj Post Number: 200 Registered: 6-2006 |
"Congrats James, very nice instrument. I have often said, "I just bought my last bass," and it really didn't turn out that way for me. I am still working on my "sickness." Very nice choice that I am sure you will enjoy." My declaration was more wishful thinking than reality. And we are not sick, we are simply passionate. Signature electronics? Hmmmmmmm.......... | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2279 Registered: 3-2004 |
Saw that one listed, a beauty offered at a very fair price. Congrats! | ||
| alembicfan
Junior Username: alembicfan Post Number: 27 Registered: 10-2007 |
Wow,what a beautiful bass. Congrats | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 833 Registered: 5-2006 |
Awesome top, congrats! Be sure to post a lot of pics in the showcase when she's in your hands ;-) | ||
| mario_farufyno
Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 87 Registered: 9-2008 |
Nice Redwood Top! Someday I'll have one Alembic in Redwood, too... Love the look of it! | ||
| hendixclarke
Senior Member Username: hendixclarke Post Number: 553 Registered: 6-2007 |
Man, it is a work of art and quality of royalty. If your bass was inside a Rose Royce, my eyes would be locked on the bass, and request a better car wood interior to match. | ||
| dannobasso
Senior Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 1021 Registered: 3-2004 |
Beautiful in every aspect, but the last? | ||
| juggernaught
Advanced Member Username: juggernaught Post Number: 281 Registered: 3-2007 |
Heh, I bought my first last bass 2 basses ago... may you have many more last basses in your future! Maybe a MK 5 and then a SII? I was eying that beauty too. Nice catch! | ||
| glocke
Senior Member Username: glocke Post Number: 583 Registered: 9-2002 |
he-he..... I said that also when I bought my SI. Later, when I bought my SCSD and a SII, I told myself as I wrote the check for each one, that not only will this be my last, but I will sell other basses to help pay for the new additions..Its all lies. | ||
| pauldo
Intermediate Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 115 Registered: 6-2006 |
That top is certainly awesome. You can always tell a REALLY fine piece of wood, you see it and can't resist the urge to touch it. - thanks James - now I have finger prints on my monitor screen :-P | ||
| keurosix
Senior Member Username: keurosix Post Number: 401 Registered: 10-2005 |
Wow James, a stunning bass! Just one word FYI: Check the instrument cable jack. It looks like it is loose, and hanging out of the side of the body in the picture. This happened to my Europa jack, and was an easy fix. (If I remember correctly  You can tighten it from the outside, but will want to hold onto the jack from inside the control cavity so it doesn't rotate as you tighten. Being loose makes the sound cut in and out - tightened, and the problem goes away. Happy success with this beauty! Kris | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 1017 Registered: 11-2004 |
'I just bought my last bass' from a bass player's mouth is alot like a longtime smoker saying, 'I just smoked my last cigarette.' It does happen on occasion, but it's usually a messy, painful process trying to quit. I suggest you just give in to the temptation when that itch starts up the next time! Lovely bass- one of the prettiest tops I've seen. | ||
| jbybj
Advanced Member Username: jbybj Post Number: 201 Registered: 6-2006 |
"Just one word FYI: Check the instrument cable jack. It looks like it is loose" Thanks for the heads up, I will check it out. | ||
| altgrendel
Member Username: altgrendel Post Number: 62 Registered: 5-2008 |
I'd like one like that but with the curly redwood top. | ||
| smokinbear
New Username: smokinbear Post Number: 8 Registered: 11-2008 |
James you are one lucky guy. Saw that top and well lets just say I had to think of other things to calm myself down! Didn't think Redwood could be so pretty. Enjoy till you find another last bass to buy! Looks similar to some of the claro-walnut tops where the graft was kinda. | ||
| jbybj
Advanced Member Username: jbybj Post Number: 202 Registered: 6-2006 |
I was quite enamored with this http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=390040216167 for many months. Maybe it was my time spent living in Northern California, but the redwood just spoke to me. I don't own any MusicMan basses, like they way they sound, and I think this top is freakin spectacular. Everytime I'd see it I would want to buy it, but then in a few seconds reality would set in, and I'd remind myself, for that kind of money I could get a pretty spiffy Alembic. So I find it very interesting that my big splurge Alembic has a Redwood top, and I love that it's three different textures, flat, curly, and burly. It's on a truck........... | ||
| artswork99
Senior Member Username: artswork99 Post Number: 629 Registered: 7-2007 |
Congratulations James, Really nice! Breathing excercises now that it's on the way and ENJOY! Play it Healthy! Art | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 7883 Registered: 5-2002 |
Nice catch Kris! | ||
| keurosix
Senior Member Username: keurosix Post Number: 403 Registered: 10-2005 |
James, Here's a pic of the loose jack before I tightened it. You can see the rubber o-ring peeking out. After tightening, it is not visible. Good Luck and enjoy that stunning bass!  Kris | ||
| jbybj
Advanced Member Username: jbybj Post Number: 207 Registered: 6-2006 |
Well, the "Last Bass" arrived last Monday. UPS came by my work, didn't leave the bass, then sent me a notice that it had been delivered. The driver had left it on his truck and marked it as delivered! After a few phone calls and 4 long hours, it finally showed up. It has met my very high expectations. Some sweat induced finish checking on the back, but otherwise very clean for a 17 year old bass. The brass covers for the battery and control cavity still had the protective paper coating on them! At first I was somewhat mystified, thinking they were some odd composite replacement covers that the seller had forgot to mention. I had never seen covers like these on any Alembic. Underneath was brand new brass! It's been a busy week and I haven't had much continuous time to play it, until tonight. I was messing around with and old Roland bass pre, with really pungent compression built in, and exploring the filter and pan settings when it just leapt out at me, without any warning or hint. A very distinctive tone, that immediately made me think of the late, great, Mr. Entwhistle. I've never had a sound like that come from any instrument I've played, not even my Epic. I got goosebumps. I'm 50 years old, and I'm as giddy as a little school girl. So whether or not it holds true over time, this has been named, "Last Bass". Oh yeah, the output jack is snug and stable. It is an Alembic replacement, and seems to have a thick rubber washer on the outside of the body. Maybe the washer is supposed to be on the inside? Regardless there are no functional issues at all...... Here's a link to my photobucket. http://s312.photobucket.com/albums/ll349/jbybj/Europa/ and here are a few previews.     (Message edited by jbybj on April 23, 2009) (Message edited by davehouck on April 24, 2009) | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 658 Registered: 6-2002 |
I love those ripply flames emanating from the bridge.Congrats on your new baby! | ||
| jakebass
Member Username: jakebass Post Number: 71 Registered: 7-2007 |
I love that body shape, I'd like a fretless with sig or series electronics in that shape, I would like a narrower neck though. Beautiful bass!! | ||
| kungfusheriff
Senior Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 832 Registered: 8-2003 |
Such a pretty bass, and you got a good deal on it, too. Was tempted to buy it myself, but my house is starting to look like the Alembic showroom and I don't think my wife enjoys that as much as I do. I know exactly what you mean by that "oh my God" moment when you begin to understand what the bass is capable of. Wait until you get the chance to record with it, then sit back and listen passively instead of the way you listen actively as you play. That'll raise the hairs on the back of your neck. Play her in good health. | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 2314 Registered: 2-2006 |
Congrats James. That is an awesome top on that bass. OO | ||
| mario_farufyno
Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 94 Registered: 9-2008 |
James, I think the Rubber ring is in right place. The idea seems to be protecting wood finish at the Jack (as you could harm it while tightening the screw). Nice Top, I really dug the change in wood patern near the Bridge. It creates a 3-D illusion at Bass "bottom". | ||
| hendixclarke
Senior Member Username: hendixclarke Post Number: 638 Registered: 6-2007 |
James, I believe I found your bass when it was just a slab of wood.... You might find this very valuable over the years to see the origin. If this is not the wood, it sure looks like it... Click the link below and be amazed... http://alembic.com/club/messages/2344/2766.html?1040418241 | ||
| hendixclarke
Senior Member Username: hendixclarke Post Number: 639 Registered: 6-2007 |
 | ||
| jbybj
Advanced Member Username: jbybj Post Number: 208 Registered: 6-2006 |
Very cool indeed, and almost certainly from the same hunk of burl, but I don't think this could be the very same piece. Firstly, the dimensions are off a little, this piece doesn't have the same area of smooth that my Europa has. But the most telling clue is the date on Mica's post, 2002, and my Europa has a 1997 birthdate. | ||
| hendixclarke
Senior Member Username: hendixclarke Post Number: 640 Registered: 6-2007 |
Now that I think about this, WOW! you got your bass from Ebay right? What are the odd of having a picture like this? I really hope this is the original wood, because I believe this makes your bass, that much more special... Is this true? | ||
| hendixclarke
Senior Member Username: hendixclarke Post Number: 641 Registered: 6-2007 |
Remember, you can't go by the date because sometimes it takes years to create a dream. But maybe this is a start for you to ask Mica and see if she has more information. The pattern is very close, I am sure your bass came from that tree. This is exciting, please update us your findings. You have such a beautiful bass, it's worth the the research... What a discovery, if true. Being a club member has it's perks. |
