| Author | Message | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Advanced Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 220 Registered: 6-2012 |
I said I wasn't going to do this, but...oh what the heck...  Just received formal notification this morning via emailed FEDEX tracking # from the mothership that THIS bad-A$$ tone machine is all finished - complete with cream-colored pickup covers and gold-plated hardware - and is currently on its merry way to my eager hands. The head elf christened it with the moniker "Royale" for obvious reasons. Should arrive just in time for the weekend! | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 3195 Registered: 5-2009 |
Congratulations , Beautiful ___ spelled with a capital "B" ! | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3812 Registered: 6-2002 |
OH my how superb is that!! Birdseye maple too is a nice touch. It should look amazing with the gold hardware and cream pickups. Looks like 2014 is gonna be a good year for europa basses. Jazzyvee | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Advanced Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 221 Registered: 6-2012 |
Offered up by none other than the "Europa King" himself! I hope to have pix of the finished piece ASAP - they might not be as nice as the pix of my others, but at least you'll get to see the finished piece. BTW: if I "pass my audition" tonight, it will be pressed into service immediately holding down the bottom end in a new project. 2014 is already looooookin' gooood. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8089 Registered: 6-2000 |
Hey David - You want that I should post a sofa-shot of Royale? | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Advanced Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 222 Registered: 6-2012 |
Yes, please - that would be very regal! It would be very fitting to use the famous Alembic sofa for a temporary throne! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8091 Registered: 6-2000 |
Well alrighty then....  These are the cream color pickups. They start aging pretty quickly, and the color mellows to a shade that looks even better with the Maple. The tan ones age a tad to the green which would be unappealing. These will look the nicest for the longest period of time. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3814 Registered: 6-2002 |
Mica, thats looks like its made of timber taken from mother natures private stock. That is such a fantastic looking bass and the wood reminds me of marble. Enjoy that bass David it's awesome. Jazzyvee | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Advanced Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 223 Registered: 6-2012 |
It's a cliche' with anything made by Alembic, but I'll say it anyway: I'm speechless... If that plays even one-tenth as awesome as it looks, it will be a religious experience. | ||
| eligilam
Senior Member Username: eligilam Post Number: 415 Registered: 2-2006 |
Sofa King good! | ||
| dlbydgtl
Intermediate Member Username: dlbydgtl Post Number: 148 Registered: 7-2008 |
Wow, Just Wow! I just love Europa basses. That wood is beautiful. Congrats! | ||
| pauldo
Senior Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 1105 Registered: 6-2006 |
Nice! Wonder what the back looks like . . . | ||
| susan
Moderator Username: susan Post Number: 110 Registered: 5-2002 |
The back is purple heart :-) | ||
| mtjam
Intermediate Member Username: mtjam Post Number: 128 Registered: 11-2011 |
We need pics of that back! : ) | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 1598 Registered: 11-2004 |
Oh wow. I love it. I really love cream colored pickups. I dream of a daphne blue Elan with cream color pickups and a maple board. Incredible looking instrument!!! | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3815 Registered: 6-2002 |
Now I know Susan doesn't comment on here that often so i think there must be something more than standard about the back.....!!!! :-) Jazzyvee | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Advanced Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 224 Registered: 6-2012 |
Trust me guys - I'm as curious as you are - !!! The only thing I know for sure about the back is there are continuous wood plates covering the electronics. Beyond that, it's a given that whatever else there is to see will be awesome. It is supposed to arrive today (pant, pant, pant), so I'll snap some cell phone pix of the back and post ASAP. BTW: I "passed the audition" the other night, so she's gonna see some heavy use very quickly. My task this weekend will be to ensure she's ready to hit the ground running. | ||
| artswork99
Moderator Username: artswork99 Post Number: 1938 Registered: 7-2007 |
Looks great David! Congratulations on your bass and the audition, Play it Healthy! | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 5635 Registered: 7-2004 |
David: Congrats, & don't forget to breath while waiting for the delivery! Bill, tgo | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Advanced Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 228 Registered: 6-2012 |
PANT, PANT, PANT...according to FEDEX website, it's getting CLOSER: Date/Time Activity Location - 1/17/2014 - Friday 3:48 am On FedEx vehicle for delivery | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 1599 Registered: 11-2004 |
David, It'll be a looooooong day waiting for the delivery truck. Nothing you do will prepare you for the first time you open that case. The new bass/case smell from Alembic is 1000x better than the 'new car' smell! | ||
| jcdlc72
Advanced Member Username: jcdlc72 Post Number: 293 Registered: 11-2009 |
Iīll have to turn my face away from this... my drool can mar the finish! ;) Itīs gorgeous!!! | ||
| stout71
Intermediate Member Username: stout71 Post Number: 195 Registered: 7-2011 |
I'm a HUGE birdseye fan. That stuff almost looks like some kind of swirling alien soup. Really cool. Congrats! | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Advanced Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 229 Registered: 6-2012 |
It has arrived. OMG. Cell phone photos WILL NOT do it justice, but I'll try. I'm at work on lunch break, so difficult to really play it, but the small amount of playing I did reveals the expected sustain and piano-like tone. The open low "B" string is quite resonant, but the open low "E" and "D" strings are unbelievable. Slap is a piece of cake on this beast. Comfort taper 5-string neck string spacing is very accommodating for slap. Highly recommended. Set up is excellent, action is right where it should be and it's pretty much in tune(!) Bonus: it's very well-balanced and weighs less than my MusicMan Classic 5(!) REALLY crappy pix:     | ||
| jon_jackson
Intermediate Member Username: jon_jackson Post Number: 190 Registered: 12-2008 |
Gorgeous! | ||
| dead_head
Junior Username: dead_head Post Number: 16 Registered: 12-2013 |
David, congratulations! It's absolutely beautiful! Love the maple top, fretboard, and cream colored covers! It's sweeeeet!!! Play it in good health! Rob | ||
| tncaveman
Advanced Member Username: tncaveman Post Number: 220 Registered: 2-2011 |
WOW - that is pretty sweet looking. And yes, her backside is looking good! Stephen | ||
| jcdlc72
Advanced Member Username: jcdlc72 Post Number: 296 Registered: 11-2009 |
Gorgeous nonetheless | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1085 Registered: 2-2011 |
WOW David!! She is drop dead gorgeous! Congratulations on the new bass & new gig to showcase her in! I can't wait to join you in the ranks of Europa owners!! Rusty | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3821 Registered: 6-2002 |
Yeah that is some bass.... I'm so glad you let the neck show through on the back. Rusty I know how you feel but...... Good things come to those who wait. :-) You can't rush genius. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqQ1ROREP24 Jazzyvee | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1087 Registered: 2-2011 |
+1 on the neck showing on the back Jazzyvee! Mine is going to be painted, but the neck is going to be natural on the back. Rusty | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 11278 Registered: 5-2002 |
Congrats! That's a really nice fingerboard; I've been zooming in to get a good look at it. And of course the top is gorgeous. | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Advanced Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 230 Registered: 6-2012 |
All - Thanks for the kind words & feedback. It's a real joy to be able to share my excitement with others like you who appreciate the nuances of these amazing creations. Rusty - YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY, you have chosen wisely and it will be well worth the wait. The Europa body style and electronics package (+Fatboy in treble position) has more than exceeded my highest expectations. JV - agreed, IMO, it looks more "Alembic" to expose the neck lams on the backside. The bookmatch on the top was due to the quality of the wood. Dave - that bird's eye maple fingerboard is a story unto itself. It took as almost as much time to get it (and the finish on the rest of the neck to which it is laminated) "just exactly perfect" as it took to build the remainder of the bass. But, anything less than "just exactly perfect" can't leave the mothership - so it is worth every minute spent on it. To everyone - many apologies again for the poor quality of the photos. Cell phone camera + really poor lighting = what you (can't) see here. I promise to take some better pix soon. Had planned to do so this weekend, but wound up spending my limited time playing her instead. Speaking of that, I got an unexpected chance to A/B her to Crown of Creation during an impromptu jam last night - first public appearance for both of them. Brought them over to a friend's house (with no bass rig) just to open the cases and do a little "show & tell" and wound up getting talked into plugging directly into a PA mixer (!) despite my protests. "Aw com'on man, how bad could it sound? Here, just plug in & we'll play a little". It actually sounded pretty d*mn good... In this context, Royale, with her brighter, punchier and more focused tonality had the upper hand. The nuances of COC's darker, thicker and more complex tonality did not translate as well when plugged directly into the PA. Side note: the stock Europa electronics package is a total breeze to navigate when playing live or in an uncontrolled jam setting. It's very simple, intuitive and effective. Very easy to switch between a spanky slap tone and a deep, authoritative heavy tone. I'll plug the Fatboy again here - it really adds punch and girth to the treble position and allows the bass to stand out a bit in the mix. | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1204 Registered: 2-2011 |
Hey David, have you stopped playing Royale enough to take more pictures yet? :-) | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Advanced Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 290 Registered: 6-2012 |
If you look in the June Vintage Guitar mag (on sale now) she's featured in the Alembic ad and I posted some pretty crummy pix in the "Showcase" section. But - as luck would have it, she's here at work with me today (rehearsal tonight), so I'll try to snag a camera and get some better pix during lunch. Shameless plug: I have to say that she's the best bass I own. All of my basses (the Alembics in particular) are very resonant, but Royale tops them all. The whole bass vibrates with every note and she stays in tune amazingly well. I've been doing a lot of 4-string gigs lately, so Royale has been on vacation in her case for the last two weeks. I pulled her out this morning to prep her for tonight and the D and low B strings were slightly flat. All of the others were right on. Also, I've never adjusted the truss rods or messed with the bridge. Neck is perfect and hasn't budged one bit since she arrived three months ago. You will love this body style, Rusty. Very comfortable and balanced seated or standing. | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1207 Registered: 2-2011 |
That's something else you & I have in common, my bass was featured in the 2nd Vintage Guitar ad from February 2012. Did you know Mica was going to use Royale in the ad or were you surprised like me? Glad you are getting some playing time on this gorgeous Europa! I can't wait to get mine!!  http://www.alembic.com/vg | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Advanced Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 292 Registered: 6-2012 |
Rusty - Yes, I had a little preview of the ad prior to it appearing, but it didn't diminish the thrill of seeing it. Wish it was more playing time for Royale, but I gotta show th' love to the rest of my posse and sometimes a 4-string is the correct tool for the job. Rehearsal last night was interesting. The guitar player's son, a bass player, was present and his eyes 'bout popped outa' his head when he saw Royale. This naturally prompted explanation about what is special about Alembics in general and Royale in particular. Needless to say, the young lad learned a lot about high-end bass construction and technology and a good time was had by all. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3974 Registered: 6-2002 |
Maybe he will persuade his dad to get him one. :-) Jazzyvee | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1211 Registered: 2-2011 |
My ad caught me completely by surprise! I had no idea Mica was going to use my bass until she posted the ad here on the forum! Funny story, I showed the ad to a drummer friend & told him it was my bass & showed him a pictures of my bass too & he thought it was just the same model as my bass, not my actual bass, & he said "Wow, they are really consistent with their wood patterns aren't they?!" I had to explain that this wasn't just the same model as my bass, it was my actual bass! Glad you were able to enlighten a new devotee to the magic of Alembic! | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Advanced Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 293 Registered: 6-2012 |
Guys -believe me, his dad can afford it. And I've also planted the "they make guitars, too" hint in HIS head. We'll see where all of this goes... |
