| Author | Message | ||
| navymike
New Username: navymike Post Number: 8 Registered: 5-2004 |
I am a basist on a budget. I sold my essence 5 string years ago thinking, "I just need he money now, I'll buy another one later." Well 2 kids and a pregnant wife means later is a very long time. I am not super picky, but I like natural wood, not so much painted finishes, and I realize I will have to find a bass that is very, "used." As long as it sounds good and is a solid player , looks can come later. What models should I be looking for? What kind of problems would make a rough bass not worth it? I wish I could get a permission slip for dada's 81 Distillate, but that's how it goes I guess. Thanks guys. | ||
| pasewark
Intermediate Member Username: pasewark Post Number: 191 Registered: 4-2003 |
You could always try a SF-2 Superfilters with a non-alembic bass. The superfilter sund great with my Guild Starfire. | ||
| afrobeat_fool
Senior Member Username: afrobeat_fool Post Number: 498 Registered: 7-2009 |
Or you could pick up some electronics and activators and put them in anything. Harry has had good results with his fenlebic. J/P basses are pretty cheap. and the swap out is easy. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2770 Registered: 5-2009 |
Yes! I think that's a good idea ! | ||
| wookie
Intermediate Member Username: wookie Post Number: 146 Registered: 8-2010 |
Yes, wise words indeed! BUT! There is a spoiler (one of my favorite sounding Alembics) on Talkbass.com classifieds for $850. I understand the "I'll get another later" thing. I love being married and being a dad (2 girls). But when my first daughter was on the way I thought, "wookie, you'd better think of something expensive that you've always wanted, and get it! because as soon as that baby is here, it's going to be a lot harder to get." ...... I hope it works out for you and most importantly CONGRATULATIONS! Being a dad is so awesome! I think as part of this forum we should have a kind of esupport group for navymike! For 1) protecting my (our) freedom. (I'm assuming from the "navy" part of the name) 2) for being a dad, it's hard, but awesome. And 3) liking Alembic! So keep us updated on baby stuff and at least I will keep my eye out for an Alembic for you, brotha! | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 565 Registered: 9-2004 |
Some may say "shoot me", but I would opt for a used Musicman Stingray for that price range. It worked for the Brothers Johnson back in the day and they sound great. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 11007 Registered: 5-2002 |
As a generalization, I think you can still get a used Epic four string for under $1K. And again as a generalization, the least expensive used Alembic with a filter will be a Persuader. If you liked your Essence, you may want to consider saving up a little longer and picking up another one; they are generally between the price of a Persuader and a Distillate. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2639 Registered: 3-2004 |
Weren't there some Aria basses made with Alembic guts? In non-Alembic basses, I would look at a Peavey TL-5 if five strings is your goal. These can be had for $500 or so and seem to have pretty good wood, a nice ebony board, and the 2nd generation has a reasonable electronics package. | ||
| navymike
New Username: navymike Post Number: 9 Registered: 5-2004 |
Thanks guys. I think I will probably wait and save a little longer. Though I hate waiting, but I don't want to just buy something and compare it to my old essence. I appreciate the help. | ||
| ojo
Member Username: ojo Post Number: 64 Registered: 3-2008 |
I've got a couple of alembicized basses (pickups/electronics), and they get close to the alembic tone. You'll hear the characteristic hi-fi and open E boom, but the meat isn't quite there when compared to a stock Alembic. So, what I'm saying is that the Alembic tone comes from the combination of wood and electronics (duh, right?). I'd bet that you could Alembicize the right instrument, and get close to what you're looking for on a budget. Otherwise, keep you eyes open for a deal on an Alembic. As a side note, I was talking to this dude, and he was all about the Peavey Cirrus as a close competitor to Alembic. I haven't played one, but his description made me interested in trying one. From what I saw, you could easily score one of those under a grand. Good luck. | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1390 Registered: 10-2006 |
And a Pinto is a close competitor to a Ferrari. Peter | ||
| ojo
Member Username: ojo Post Number: 67 Registered: 3-2008 |
Mmmmm, I wouldn't make that comparison. Admittedly, there is a difference between a fender style instrument (read: bolt on) and an Alembic. However, a hand made fender style verses a hand made Alembic can be of comparable quality. Alembics are quality instruments, and there are many other quality builders out there. | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1391 Registered: 10-2006 |
Yes, there are many high-end builders making superb instruments. Peavy ain't one of them; quoth Hartley his own self, "I make gear for the picker working down at Sadie's Bar and Grill". Decent, solid, instrument? Quite possibly. Close competition to Alembic - or any other top-end maker? Not by a long shot. Peter | ||
| adriaan
Moderator Username: adriaan Post Number: 3015 Registered: 6-2002 |
Yamaha makes some very decent budget instruments that would make a good candidate for an upgrade. But I'd say at least half the joy of playing an Alembic is in the responsiveness that is rooted in the design and the build quality, which unfortunately are not available as an after-market upgrade. :-) | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 569 Registered: 9-2004 |
The Yamaha TRB-P neck-throughs are fine instruments and the higher end BBs and the mysterious BX-1 can be. | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1214 Registered: 1-2005 |
I'd say this Alembicized Fender sounds pretty good, though the player has a lot to do with it! ;) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_T2h00DR5Q | ||
| that_sustain
Member Username: that_sustain Post Number: 99 Registered: 8-2012 |
If you want an Alembic..you won't be happy with anything else. I learned this the hard way after letting go of my first. 20 years(and a few basses later), and I'm back in tone heaven. Other boutique basses are nice..but they don't have the electronics that come with Alembic. | ||
| that_sustain
Member Username: that_sustain Post Number: 100 Registered: 8-2012 |
...and if you can, hold out for one with the brass sustain block. Whole lotta clarity and zing. | ||
| slawie
Senior Member Username: slawie Post Number: 470 Registered: 8-2002 |
If you pick up a "Washburn Taurus T24 Neck-Thru Electric Bass Guitar Natural Mahogany" for around $450 new and then throw in a set of Alembic Jbass activators you will probably get the closest resemblance of what you may be striving to acheive. Believe me there is no substitute for the original instrument but this may be a way of getting "close" (probably around 15 gigaparsec off target) slawie | ||
| musashi
Intermediate Member Username: musashi Post Number: 177 Registered: 5-2004 |
Superfilter. For real. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2640 Registered: 3-2004 |
Those of us commenting on alternatives are familiar with all the products involved. I have owned five different Alembics and still own a couple. When I tell you the Peavey TL-5 I own is close to an Alembic in build, I am not deceived. The tone isn't there because it doesn't have Alembic guts. The beauty isn't there because it doesn't have Alembic's hand-picked and carefully finished wood. The rest is there. These basses are well-glued neck through instruments that are cut to reasonable neck dimensions. The neck is five pieces and the top is flame maple. The ebony board is thick, and that makes a difference as well. This bass is as solid as any of the "lesser" models Alembic made in the same time frame. It isn't an Alembic, but if you never looked at the bass and went purely on feel in your hands, you might think it was a Europa. I am confident that dropping a set of East Meets West guts and a pair of Activators in this bass would have it stand up favorably to any Alembic you could buy on the used market for $2K or so. The only other thing that would make a difference is a sustain block, but that's a matter of preference in terms of tone anyway. | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 1420 Registered: 5-2002 |
I'm not saying you aren't right, but do you feel that acoustically it is the equivalent of an Alembic? Just curious because if that were so, then an electronics transfusion would certainly be worthwhile. I've played other basses that had similar construction, but somehow they still didn't have the vibrancy of Alembics I've owned and played. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2641 Registered: 3-2004 |
It is better than some, not as good as others. I would say that it has better sustain than most of the basses with a maple-only neck recipe. If anything, it's maybe a little bit naturally bassy. I was wrong about the wood recipe, by the way, the wings are solid flamed maple (mine is less figured than others I have seen). It looks like a five piece neck of maple with a couple walnut stringers. The body also has a pair of similarly sized pieces of walnut separating the neck from the wings. I can practice with songs coming from laptop speakers unamplified. The bass can be heard in the next room when played without an amp. Not loud, but you can identify the notes. Also, I have the 2nd generation model which only has four knob electronics. The originals had five. I guess this model doesn't get EMW, it would have to settle for Spoiler or Orion guts. Or maybe some sort of hybrid Signature without Q switches. |
