| Author | Message | ||
| tcube
Junior Username: tcube Post Number: 15 Registered: 8-2007 |
I posted this topic about 6 months ago & didn't get results, but here goes again: I love the sound of Alembics and I basically traded an Essence 5 for an Essence 6, thinking an extra thing would be so much cooler. Unfortunately that 6th string just confuses me! So, hopefully, there is someone out there for whom a six is perfect!  | ||
| wookie
Junior Username: wookie Post Number: 15 Registered: 8-2010 |
how much? condition? | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1435 Registered: 5-2009 |
Very nice , is the scale 34" ? | ||
| tcube
Junior Username: tcube Post Number: 16 Registered: 8-2007 |
Hi Wookie, Condition wise: 9/10 because the previous owner (I'm #2) dinged the body (mic stand injury?) next to the lower strap button. The finish has been repaired professionally, so it's smooth & shiny. Price wise: I was hoping to trade it for a 5-string Alembic of some sort, so I hadn't really though of how much to sell it for. I'd have to do some research in order to quote a realistic price. I forgot to mention that it comes with its hardshell case which is also in excellent condition(no nicks or tears). I can send more pics to those interested. | ||
| tcube
Junior Username: tcube Post Number: 17 Registered: 8-2007 |
Sonicus, Thank you - ain't she a beauty? Alembic lists it as 34". (It's roughly 34.5" from the A-string saddle to the nut.) | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1437 Registered: 5-2009 |
Yes, tcube, I Love my 91, 4 string Maple Essence . Thanks for the info on scale length . | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9901 Registered: 5-2002 |
Terry; scale length is determined by measuring from the nut to the 12th fret then multiplying times two. So if it's 17" from the nut to the 12th fret then it's a 34" scale length. Very nice Bird's Eye top; beautiful bass! | ||
| crobbins
Senior Member Username: crobbins Post Number: 733 Registered: 6-2004 |
I still have this Orion 5, with Essence electronics I would consider trading.  | ||
| tcube
Junior Username: tcube Post Number: 18 Registered: 8-2007 |
Davehouck, Thank you for the post on how scale is determined. Your way sounds much more functional than mine, which was based on how they do it with uprights. Thank you also for your kind comments on my Essence. | ||
| tcube
Junior Username: tcube Post Number: 19 Registered: 8-2007 |
crobbins - Thanks for your trade offer - it's a beautiful Orion. I am interested. One of my concerns is that the Orion is set-neck whereas the Essence is neck through. In your experience (and those of others reading), is there a big difference in tonality between set necks and neck throughs *given* that they have the same pups and preamp? | ||
| afrobeat_fool
Advanced Member Username: afrobeat_fool Post Number: 272 Registered: 7-2009 |
Terry, I see you are in Eugene. I am in Portland and have a essence 5. Only thing is it's fretless. If you are interested we can meet. Here, there. Whatever. I am interested in a six. My bass originally had frets. But I have never played a six and would like to check one out first. I love playing guitar and the necks are so small. Has anyone set up a six bass like a guitar? E-E. Nick | ||
| tcube
Junior Username: tcube Post Number: 20 Registered: 8-2007 |
afrobeat - Cool, a fellow Oregonian. Thank you for your offer. I've got a fretless, so I'm after a fretted Alembic. Your Esseence would have been perfect had it been fretted. | ||
| crobbins
Senior Member Username: crobbins Post Number: 737 Registered: 6-2004 |
Terry, the only Alembic neck-through I've ever played was a Series I. They say you get more sustain from a neck-through, but that the body, and top wood contribute more to the tone on a set-neck. I guess there is a little trade off either way. It's to bad we dont live closer together so we tryout each others basses. Here is a link to what they had to say when I bought my bass.. http://alembic.stores.yahoo.net/orion54.html | ||
| tcube
Junior Username: tcube Post Number: 21 Registered: 8-2007 |
afrobeat_fool: Cool, a fellow Oregonian. Thank you for your offer. I've got a fretless, so I'm after a fretted Alembic. Your Esseence would have been perfect had it been fretted. | ||
| keurosix
Senior Member Username: keurosix Post Number: 421 Registered: 10-2005 |
Hi Terry, Very nice Essence 6 string. I have a fretted 6 string Europa (thru-neck) and a fretless 5 string Epic (set neck). Both have sustain for days. The Epic actually has a hotter output based on the same amp settings. Maybe pu height has something to do with it, but string height is about the same. I find the set neck Epic has a very "warm" mid-range tonality, while the Europa thru-neck is very bright, but this might have to do with the different woods: Epic has mahogany body with wenge top and maple / ebony neck, while Europa has mahogany body with quilted maple top, and maple purple heart lams /ebony neck. You should let your ears be the judge. Also, the set-neck Alembics may not have the bridge block which also contributes to sustain. Anyway, an Essence thru-neck should be a little more valuable than an Epic or Orion set neck model - you might want to negotiate trade plus cash? Happy playing. Keurosix | ||
| tcube
Junior Username: tcube Post Number: 22 Registered: 8-2007 |
crobbins: I talked to Alembic this afternoon, and got the impression that the PUs and preamp are the biggest factors in the Alembic sound. Neck type and wood combinations play a much subtler role. Since our basses have Essence electronics, they may actually sound quite similar. Which makes me wish we were located closer too! If you'd like to email me directly: terry@uoregon.edu | ||
| tcube
Junior Username: tcube Post Number: 23 Registered: 8-2007 |
keurosix, Thanks for your advice. No matter how much research one does, nothing is better than actually playing and comparing - not always a practical thing. At this point, I'm contemplating selling it and buying a fiver (Alembic, of course). I had hoped to avoid selling/buying by offering a trade, but finding something comparable is difficult. | ||
| tcube
Junior Username: tcube Post Number: 24 Registered: 8-2007 |
keurosix, by the way, what is a "bridge block"? | ||
| keurosix
Senior Member Username: keurosix Post Number: 422 Registered: 10-2005 |
Hi Terry, Also called a "sustain" block, it's a brass block recessed in the body directly under the bridge. The 2 screws that hold the bridge down screw into this block. (Not sure about other companies, but Alembic is known for this design)It is very easy to see in person, but most blocks are hard to see in pictures behind the bridge and strings. I have one on my Europa, and I know the Signature and Series basses have them too, but I cannot find a reliable reference as to which other models have them. I know if you order a custom and specify one, you can get it on any model, and you can also get one added later. Also a block of other materials than brass can be had, and some basses have been made with a variety of different materials to swap out for experimental sounds: aluminum, ebony, etc. If you want, I can post a pic of the block on my Europa for you. Keurosix | ||
| tcube
Junior Username: tcube Post Number: 25 Registered: 8-2007 |
Keurosix, Thank you! I wonder if my Ess-6 has one. I'll look. | ||
| tcube
Junior Username: tcube Post Number: 26 Registered: 8-2007 |
keurosix - I think my Ess-6 has the sustain block. The bridge is crewed into a brass plate or block. | ||
| keurosix
Senior Member Username: keurosix Post Number: 423 Registered: 10-2005 |
Terry, then your bass does have one! The block is brass and maybe weighs around 2 pounds. It sits flush to the top of the guitar, but most of it is hidden inside the body. If you were to remove the strings and unscrew the bridge, you could then see and remove the block. It screws to the body with one screw in the middle. I wouldn't do this unless you are already removing the bridge for a complete cleaning. If you are like me who must see and know everything on my Alembics, you will take it apart some day, if you keep the bass. Of course, before you actually do this, take some measurements first, and some pictures of the bridge and how it goes together. I've had to learn the hard way that once it's all apart and now time to reassemble it, the parts don't fall right back into place. I always take a measurement of the heights of the 2 bridge screws, and you can even count the number of full turns out, and write it down. I also measure the distance to the front inside edge of the bridge to the front edge of each bridge saddle using a vernier dial caliper, and again write this down, so when I reassemble the bridge I can set the intonation and string height to a fraction of where it was before. This alone will save hours of set-up time. Good luck in your hunt for a trade. I know there is a perfect match out there. Once I went to six strings I really didn't want to go back to 5, certainly not 4! Maybe it is out of your comfort zone. I find the 6th string (high C) is really usefull for upper chord voicings and adding triple stops where I could only get double stops on my 5. That might be a different style of playing you haven't explored yet. My toughest transition was to the 5 from the 4. My thumb kept resting on the B so my hands sometimes weren't in sync. Keurosix | ||
| thumbsup
Intermediate Member Username: thumbsup Post Number: 147 Registered: 7-2008 |
e mail sent | ||
| thumbsup
Intermediate Member Username: thumbsup Post Number: 154 Registered: 7-2008 |
I purchased this essence...recieved it Dec 31st...Happy New Year To Me! Thank You Terry its in near mint and I'm in love with this one! Thanks Kris for the advise and help. Happy New Years All! Steve | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 10019 Registered: 5-2002 |
Congrats Steve!! | ||
| tcube
Junior Username: tcube Post Number: 49 Registered: 8-2007 |
Thank you Steve - Had this been an eBay transaction, I would have said "very smooth transaction, great communication". Enjoy! |
