| Author | Message | ||
| pjhbass
New Username: pjhbass Post Number: 1 Registered: 6-2011 |
Hi, I have just bought my first Alembis and it is awesome! The guy in the shop didn't know too much about it as it only arrived 3 days ago. It has a light body (burl?) and a dark (ebony?) neck. I would be grateful for any information you can provide - Thank you! | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2466 Registered: 6-2002 |
Welcome Pjhbass, if you can get round to posting some photo's we will give you lots of info about your bass. We love new photo's of Alembics. :-) Hope you enjoy it in the meantime. | ||
| pjhbass
New Username: pjhbass Post Number: 2 Registered: 6-2011 |
Thanks jazzyvee! Please find attached pics as requested. If you need more just ask. Much appreciated!    | ||
| mike1762
Senior Member Username: mike1762 Post Number: 912 Registered: 1-2008 |
Looks like a Burl Maple top (a nice one!!!) and a Maple/Purple Heart neck. I can't see the core wood, but they are usually Mahogany. The body shape is interesting: it looks sort-of like a 3/4 Standard Point... sans the point!!!! The control lay-out looks like Signature electronics, but there are a couple of extra switches (does it have LEDs?). If one of the switches changes your output from mono to stereo, you have Anniversary electronics (in which case you would also have separate volume controls for each PUP rather than a master volume and a pan). Can you give us a pic of the back and a "side" shot??? | ||
| pjhbass
New Username: pjhbass Post Number: 3 Registered: 6-2011 |
Hi Mike, thanks for your help. I have attached requested pics. Yes, it does have LEDs (3 settings: off, on permanently and increasing from the body depending on volume) and the two 'top' controls appear to be pick-up volumes. I'm not sure what the small toggle switch just above the jack socket (when playing) does, but when the 4 way selector switch is in the 2nd position (neck pickup only?) next to standby, moving that towards the vol controls cuts the output completey. Also the two other toggle switches beneath the vol controls, have only two settings and I'm not sure exactly what they do. I would be very grateful for any further info!   | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 1389 Registered: 11-2004 |
it looks like Anniversary electronics + a switch for the LEDS to me. IF you're struggling trying to figure out the electronics, go to the FAQ section and you'll find information on the Anniversary electronics package. The toggle just above the jack should be a stero/mono switch and the other 2 switches are going to be your Q switches for the two filters. Read through the FAQ section on Anniversary electronics and it should all start coming clear. The filter setup takes awhile to wrap your head around and you have stereo/mono to play with as well, so give it some time. Guarantee you'll love it once you start understanding how sensitive and versatile the filters are. Looks like a maple body to me- I bet that bass has some snap and sparkle to it! | ||
| wayne
Intermediate Member Username: wayne Post Number: 193 Registered: 5-2002 |
Nice bass! You've got a Maple core there as well - should be a very bright bass. Cool version of the surface mounted logo with shell behind it. Here's my take on the electronics: You've got Anniversary controls (I know they've been discussed in detail in another thread). The quick layout: 2 volumes, 2 low-pass filters, 2 Q-switches (quoting from memory: boosts the resonant frequency selected with the filter by +8dB when switched). The pick-up selector is Stand-by/Bridge only/Both/Neck only. The toggle above the jack is a stereo/mono switch. If you have a mono cable and put the bass in stereo, you'll only hear the bridge pick-up. On my Anniversary, stereo is flipped toward the neck, mono is toward the bridge. From your description, and from the fact that there's no additional battery compartment, the LEDs were probably installed by Sims after market. Best of luck finding "your" tone with that Burl Maple beauty! C-Ya..............wayne | ||
| pjhbass
New Username: pjhbass Post Number: 4 Registered: 6-2011 |
Thanks everyone - really, really helpful! I will spend many happy hours getting to grips with all its tonal possibilities. One final question - are there any guides anywhere on how much to insure them for? Thanks again..... | ||
| mike1762
Senior Member Username: mike1762 Post Number: 915 Registered: 1-2008 |
Paul The way I think of the "filter" electronics is NOT as "tone" controls per se. The low pass filter and Q switch allow you to emulate the frequency response range and resonant frequency of any number of other PUPs. As such, you are able to change the fundamental tone of your instrument as opposed to just adjusting the amount of bass or treble. For example... my Stingray sounds like a Stingray no matter what I do with the tone controls. However, I can get TONS of USABLE tones that have dramatically different characteristics by adjusting the filters and engaging/disengaging the Q switch. I have Anniversary electronics on my Brown Bass and I really love them (unless you run it stereo, be sure to keep it in "mono" or you will only get output from 1 PUP). You have a nice wood "recipe" on the bass... I'm sure you will enjoy exploring all the possibilities. Your bass is a nice specimen... I'd value it at around $3500 +/- $500 | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1001 Registered: 10-2006 |
And remember, most homeowner's policies don't cover instruments if they ever leave the house for pay; get a dedicated policy for your gear. Peter | ||
| pjhbass
New Username: pjhbass Post Number: 5 Registered: 6-2011 |
Many thanks Mike and Peter! I have just been experimenting and the possibilities are vast - and now I sort of understand why. Great tip on the 'mono' switch! And I think you are just about spot on with the valuation - I just want to ensure that with all the info I've been so generously given over the last 2 days, which I didn't know when I bought it, I insure it for its true value (which is pretty much exactly what I paid for it). And I will set-up a dedicated policy for all my gear... Many thanks Peter. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8654 Registered: 6-2000 |
Cool bass! Here's some details from the build record: top: Burl Maple body: Rock Maple back: Burl Maple body shape: Custom, 20th Anniversary with smooth bottom neck: Maple and Purpleheart scale: 34" long fingerboard: Ebony inlays: Pearloid (plastic) ovals pickups: AXY4 controls: "20th Anniversary" 2 vol, 2 filter, 2 Q-switch, pickup selector, stereo/mono output originally made for: Guitar Workshop, Norway birthday: not recorded, but likely late February or early March 1990 There was one previous registered owner from the UK in 2001. There are no notes about the logo or the LEDs, so I think those are likely added later, and probably by Sims, since the bass has lived in England for at least 14 years. |
