| Author | Message | ||
| pennyball
Junior Username: pennyball Post Number: 14 Registered: 5-2007 |
Hi everybody, I've just received this beauty in MINT condition but I've never seen one like this before: details much appreciated! Do not know what MW stands for!!  | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1242 Registered: 10-2002 |
Are you sure ther's an 'M' in there andrea? it looks like an Epic/orion electronic package and my Epic is 96W**** Graeme | ||
| elwoodblue
Intermediate Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 153 Registered: 6-2002 |
MW... ...way cool initials  Congrats on your purchase. I bet she sounds oh so nice... That side laminate looks lava red from here, any more pics? elwood | ||
| pennyball
Junior Username: pennyball Post Number: 15 Registered: 5-2007 |
Hi again. My other Mark King standard has MJ on the serial, I thought that MW could be a different scale length. I'll post more pictures soon. Thanks everybody! | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1669 Registered: 3-2004 |
Well, the electronics look Epic/Orion and W is the serial number indicator for an Epic. I would guess this is a Mark King/Epic cross. It's probably neck through, though they've done some faux neck-throughs in the past. Can't tell for sure from the front. Scale length wouldn't warrant an odd serial number. As far as the side lamination goes, it could be mahogany showing up that way in the light, but I'd guess it's a vermilion body core. -bob | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 799 Registered: 2-2005 |
The little bit I can see looks like mahogany to me. Purple heart is a pretty common accent with mahogany and maple. If you look at the bottom near the point it looks purple. I am curious about the neck. The serial indicates an Epic but it looks like a neck through. Keith | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 5214 Registered: 5-2002 |
Here is the Ebay listing. Definitely Epic electronics. Giving the seller the benefit of the doubt, it may have been ordered as a Mark King Standard with Epic electronics. Quilted Maple top, Mahogany body, and what is probably a Purpleheart accent. Interestingly, if my eyes don't deceive me, the pickups are MXY's. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1672 Registered: 3-2004 |
Yep, I concur after seeing the ebay pictures, mahogany core and purpleheart accent. On the initial pic here, I just didn't see the color line between the accent and core so it all looked one color to me. Vermilion was a more likely core than ph, though neither is all that likely on a "bargain" MK model. In any case, seems a fair price for a neck-through version of an Epic with a nice body style and wood selections. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 5217 Registered: 5-2002 |
Yes, I thought so too. | ||
| pennyball
Junior Username: pennyball Post Number: 16 Registered: 5-2007 |
You are all very nice, now I know all there is to know about it. Thing is these thinner pickups give tremendous character to its sound, though the background hiss is more prominent: I could not see any hum cancelling trimmer inside, only one gain trimmer. Have a good day | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1245 Registered: 10-2002 |
There shouldn't be any hiss atall. That sounds like there's something wrong. have you tried it through other amps or with different cables or perhaps even changed the battery. Epic electronics don't have a humcanceller as they don't need it. I've never had a problem with mine. Graeme | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 5224 Registered: 5-2002 |
The only electronics packages with hum cancelling trimmers are the Series I and II (your 76 SI), since as Graeme said, the others don't need it. And you are right, the Epic package only has one gain trimmer, while your other Alembics all have two, one for each pickup. The thin MXY pickup actually sounds no different from an AXY pickup; the only difference is the size of the shell. The "character" may be the contribution of the Maple top, or just the overall combination of woods. And as Graeme mentioned, the hiss is probably something other than the pickups. Check inside the control cavity to see if there is a ferrite bead. The pickup leads should be looped through it. Compare with your other non-Series basses. While your in there, glace at the shielding to make sure it's all still there and that none of the componants are touching it. Make sure the four knobs and the 1/4" jack are snug. The electronics are grounded by being fastened securely to the top shielding. | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 555 Registered: 5-2006 |
The Epic is/was available with Standard Point body and Crown peghead shape: click here (there's no link on the Alembic site anymore) Cool bass, congrats!  | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1675 Registered: 3-2004 |
Flip, any bass has/is been available with almost any peghead or body shape. The one exception that I recall was that the Essence body shape is too small to handle Series electronics. I know they've stuffed Signature into at least one of them, though. There are other restrictions with regard to options, but none that I know of with regard to shapes. In this case, it's more than just a shape change. This is a neck-through bass. An Epic with crown and standard point would still have a set neck. | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1246 Registered: 10-2002 |
Station music in Germany has an interesting custom build with epic electronics..  Graeme | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1542 Registered: 6-2002 |
The other famous no-no is a Small Standard with any scale longer than 30.75", and I seem to recall they won't do a neck-through with the Epic body shape. |
