| Author | Message | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2040 Registered: 6-2002 |
I know there are a few like Dannobasso & FC, I think Rami has at least one and I guess I can count myself in that group now. But anyone got a black Alembic? Let's see it here. See through black is ok too. I'll start the ball rolling and will post some clearer pics once it arrives from Austria.   Jazzyvee | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9458 Registered: 5-2002 |
Congrats Jazzyvee!!!! That's a beautiful bass! | ||
| dannobasso
Senior Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 1277 Registered: 3-2004 |
Here go!  | ||
| tmoney61092
Senior Member Username: tmoney61092 Post Number: 404 Registered: 9-2008 |
Danno.....that's awesome!!!!!!!! ~Taylor | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2041 Registered: 6-2002 |
Thanks Dave, I'm a confirmed fan of naked wood on Alembics I have to say but I couldn't let the colour put me off buying a bass that in all other respects is just right up my street. I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on this bass very soon. Jazzyvee | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 922 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi Jazzyvee, I don't have any black (painted) Alembics. Mine are of the Macassar Ebony variety. Danno's Basses are beautiful, but it still seems a little sacrilegious to put a solid colour over an Alembic. But "to each his own". Cheers,  | ||
| charles_holmes
Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 51 Registered: 3-2009 |
Yo Danno, Book em baby! Slammin'!!!!!! | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1439 Registered: 9-2002 |
JazzyVee, cool bass. Lot to be said for piano black and gold. (Those action specs I sent you were for this axe) I have a five-string Elan like this, except with PJ Activators in see-thru green. You WILL like it! J o e y | ||
| harald_rost
Intermediate Member Username: harald_rost Post Number: 199 Registered: 6-2002 |
Looks like the new Featured Custom would fit this topic: http://www.alembic.com/info/featured_custom.html The reverse of "whiter shade of pale" ;-) Cheers Harald | ||
| dannobasso
Senior Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 1279 Registered: 3-2004 |
Praying in bed is "sack" religious. I should get a pic with all the black guitars in it as well. Or wait til the 10er arrives. This thread could go on until that happens I think.  | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2042 Registered: 6-2002 |
Is that an oversized sustain block you have on that bass? I'm sure they are usually have a slightly smaller face area than the bridge. Jazzyvee | ||
| dannobasso
Senior Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 1283 Registered: 3-2004 |
It appears so. This one is 31 scale with side leds. I had it refinished by Alembic. If I didn't have my 10 in the works I would have gone for yours. congrats, its a beauty. | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 805 Registered: 1-2005 |
Love the look of all these basses! I don't have an all-black Alembic, but I've got a couple of "jetglo with black trim" Rickenbackers:  | ||
| tmoney61092
Senior Member Username: tmoney61092 Post Number: 413 Registered: 9-2008 |
i'm loving that 8 string Ric! ~Taylor | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 456 Registered: 9-2008 |
Hey Danno, why those inclined PUs? | ||
| alembic83
Member Username: alembic83 Post Number: 59 Registered: 9-2004 |
Yes, my black Spoiler:  And not to veer too off topic, but I also have a thing for black Aria Pro basses - two of which have been Alembicized: http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd117/vintagejapanbass/Aria%20Pro%20II%20Black%20n%20Gold%20II/arialineup.jpg | ||
| dannobasso
Senior Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 1285 Registered: 3-2004 |
The bass came like that with the slant pups. It does have a deep sound for a smaller scale. A better blackness shot of Kay. | ||
| slammin
Member Username: slammin Post Number: 56 Registered: 10-2009 |
"Perfect Blossom" | ||
| clarkybass
Member Username: clarkybass Post Number: 68 Registered: 4-2010 |
I have an all black '88 Spoiler that looks identical in all respects to alembic83's. I have a couple of questions - first, mine weighs in at 11 pounds whereas my previous '82 flame maple Spoiler weighed 9.5 pounds - why such a big difference ( does the chrome hardware contribute)? And second, there are a fair few surface scratches on my bass above the playing area (I presume a previous owner wore a metal watch band on his right wrist) and I wondered if there's a way of removing or reducing these? To be clear, none are deep but there are so many it's slightly matte on that part of the bass. Thanks, as ever, for your thoughts | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 1157 Registered: 5-2006 |
Take a look at the truss rods cover (and I bet yours has the alembic script under the logo) ;-) Lots of differences :-) The newer Spoilers are thicker (at least the headstock is) than the older ones, hence the weight difference. Here are my Black beauties: '83 Spoiler, refinished by myself:  (Weight: 4,180 Kg, 9.2 lbs) And still under construction, Custom Elan 5:  | ||
| clarkybass
Member Username: clarkybass Post Number: 69 Registered: 4-2010 |
Mine has a bigger TRC but no Alembic script underneath compared with yours FC Spoiler. Guess it's just down to thickness of the wood as you say. Any ideas about removing fine scratches? I don't trust myself sanding but wondered if T- cut or a similar product would work here (and save me the exorbitant cost of a re -fin!) | ||
| clarkybass
Member Username: clarkybass Post Number: 70 Registered: 4-2010 |
Ps. Beautiful Elan 5 FC Spoiler. I saw that on your website when I was reading up about Cliff and Jason's Alembics (thanks!) I have an incoming Elan 5 in walnut which I am tempted to re-fin in black, although the wood fans will cry sacrilege! | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 509 Registered: 9-2008 |
I remember reading somewhere about using Polishing Car Wax to remove fine scratches on gloss finishes... | ||
| mavnet
New Username: mavnet Post Number: 6 Registered: 2-2003 |
Had this made in 77. Rick Turner told me back then that the ebony was from the same log as one of Stanley Clarke's basses they'd just made.   (Message edited by mavnet on September 14, 2010) (Message edited by davehouck on September 14, 2010) (Message edited by mavnet on September 14, 2010) | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 1085 Registered: 6-2002 |
Wow, that's some dark wood. I can only imagine how good she sounds, | ||
| serialnumber12
Senior Member Username: serialnumber12 Post Number: 819 Registered: 12-2004 |
Wow beautiful SC bass,whats with the toggle switches? | ||
| mavnet
New Username: mavnet Post Number: 7 Registered: 2-2003 |
The rotary switch by the master volume chooses pickup - neck to one preamp and bridge to the other, reverses which pickup goes to which preamp, both neck, or both bridge. The toggle closest to neck is switchable hi/band/lo pass for one of the preamps (the other is just low pass, and small rotary between the volume and freq on each preamp is a variable Q), next switch puts the preamps in series for some interesting tone shaping, third takes the filter out of the second preamp, and the last one flips between stereo or mono (summed) out. I've got a fretted bass also made at the same time, same small scale body, long scale neck, but very different body woods. They both sound great. Recently using black nylon wrapped flatwounds on the fretted, and am going to try them on the fretless, which will increase the "black factor" (and also sound different). | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9597 Registered: 5-2002 |
Very cool electronics on a beautiful bass! | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 841 Registered: 1-2005 |
Wow - very cool! I've thought myself that a high pass filter on the bridge pickup would be very cool. Are the electronics original by Alembic or did you have them altered later? | ||
| mavnet
New Username: mavnet Post Number: 8 Registered: 2-2003 |
It's a very special instrument (at least to me). Ron asked what I wanted and suggested this config based on that. In hindsight, I probably should have asked for each preamp to be switchable hi/band/notch/low, and then all the other modded stuff, but I opted for the low-pass only on the 2nd pre. So they're original, and still working and sounding great (although I wonder what it'd sound like with new capacitors; some things don't necessarily age well). The basses probably could use a tuneup and lube - if I could figure out how to set up a service visit, I'd do it. Can't find that info online. Might have to, gasp, make a phone call | ||
| artswork99
Moderator Username: artswork99 Post Number: 1284 Registered: 7-2007 |
Very unique bass Mark! Beautiful! A lot of beauties here... Nice thread! (Message edited by artswork99 on September 14, 2010) | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 6936 Registered: 6-2000 |
Mark, you can email or call me to discuss servicing your lovely bass. I ran across an old file of my dad's a couple of weeks ago with a letter from you dated 1979 about some possible interface changes to the bass. | ||
| darkstar01
Advanced Member Username: darkstar01 Post Number: 272 Registered: 6-2005 |
wow. that may be my new all time favorite alembic, Mark. that is just..... wow. want. | ||
| peoplechipper
Advanced Member Username: peoplechipper Post Number: 216 Registered: 2-2009 |
Wow, I've been away from the site for a bit and forget how many pretty basses there are here; even prettier than mine, and I'm biased...really, as much as the wood is always awesome, black shows the form so well...kinda like women... The Ricky 8-string reminded me of something; I used to work at NJAMS in Vancouver (sadly demised) and they had a Hagstrom 8-string bass...alas when I played it I wasn't playing bass at the time, but I do now...I am quite intrigued by the idea of bass/rhythmn at the same time(especially since my guitar player is a noodle king...) so I wasn't trying to hijack this thread, but I really need some input as it could entail some serious cash outlay in the future...Tony | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1352 Registered: 11-2004 |
mavnet..how come you haven't joined us before?? especially with such a wonderful unique Alembic that you have. We are glad you have joined us with that history of your bass... so welcome! It reminds me of Stan's bass on the front of 'I Wanna Play For You' which has the Bigsby unit attached. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1284 Registered: 5-2009 |
mavnet, WOW ______Your bass is really incredible . | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2132 Registered: 6-2002 |
Yeah it's a really beautiful bass. I can only imagine how it sounds. Jazzyvee | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 774 Registered: 10-2006 |
If you hang around motorcycle street-racing types at all, you're guaranteed to hear the phrase "It's basically stock; I just (list replacement or modification of every part on the bike)". I get that feeling around here a lot - "It's basically a Series II, but...." The variety of these instruments never ceases to amaze me. Welcome, Mark, and in case you haven't noticed, that's a really sweet bass! Peter | ||
| mavnet
New Username: mavnet Post Number: 9 Registered: 2-2003 |
Glad to be here - I did post something back in 2003, I think, when I first joined, put a few pictures up. I check in from time to time when I want to be inspired. Yeah, it's a sweet sounding and playing bass - I don't play it as much as I should, mostly using the fretted, but after posting this the other day I've been really enjoying fretless again cowboy - I agree, I think the variety of "basically a..." instruments speaks to one of the reasons we all chose Alembic - not just an amazing instrument, but something we co-create. And that's really special. Mica - thanks for the invite, I sent you an email. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9775 Registered: 5-2002 |
Jazzyvee has posted some action shots of his black bass in the gigs section. |
