| Author | Message | ||
| modulus93
New Username: modulus93 Post Number: 1 Registered: 1-2006 |
Hello everyone, I recently purchased an Alembic Europa 5-string with a bocate top and it looks and sounds amazing. I used to own an Alembic Spoiler 4-string and it sounded great as well. I've always loved Alembic basses and feel like they are the best built and best sounding basses out there. I just wanted to say hello and what a great club this is. I do have a question for other Europa owners. What type of guitar stand have you found to best fit the Europa? A regular stand fits OK, but the way the Europa body is contoured, it doesn't sit that well in any of the heavy duty frame stands. Any suggestions? Thanks a bunch!!! Ronnie | ||
| keurosix
Junior Username: keurosix Post Number: 17 Registered: 10-2005 |
Hello Ronnie, Welcome to the club, and to Alembic ownership. I found out that once I started using an Alembic, it became an integral part of my sound. Nothing else does it for me. I just bought a $10 stand from Guitar Center for my Europa 6 string made by "On Stage Stands" model XCG4. It has a wide "C" shaped cradle at the bottom that holds the guitar firmly, and swivels in the middle to align with the non-horizontal contour of the Europa body. In basic black. Hey, post some pics of your guitar for us to see! Kris | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 518 Registered: 6-2002 |
Good Morning Ronnie, and welcome to our little conversation pit. I'm sure you'll find useful info and some fun topics as well. My two Epics don't like to sit comfortably on traditional stands, so I use Genesis 100 stands that hold my instruments by the neck, rather than brace at the bottom. And Kris hit the nail on the head..."Pictures, please". Mike (Message edited by dadabass2001 on January 19, 2006) | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1652 Registered: 9-2003 |
Orion bodies are similar to that of the Europa's and I use the Ultimate Support Systems (USS) Genesis 200 stand. The difficulty lies with the angled bottom of the body. These stands do a decent job of cradling it (by the sides mostly) and the neck is locked into the neck rest by a strap...hopefully avoiding the fate of Steve Wood's custom Series w/Europa body. My Series I std. Point body also fits decently as well...and it's a BIG bass! USS also sells a "bottomless" version (Genesis 100) that hangs the instrument by the headstock. This works for long instruments and/or or weird body shapes. Personally, I never liked the idea of hanging an instrument by it's headstock....and the tell-tale cradle marks that marr softer finishes, i.e., lacquer. About $25-$30 each delivered on the net and/or available at GC or SA stores everywhere. Oh yeah, whatever stand Steve used...don't! http://ultimatesupport.com/genesis_guitar.html | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3034 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hi Ronnie; welcome and congrats!! | ||
| the_8_string_king
Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 68 Registered: 9-2005 |
Congratulations Ronnie, and welcome to the club! I also own a bocate Europa, and I've also always considered it self-evident that Alembics are the best built and best sounding -and best looking- basses out there. I love the Europa shape and contours -Fenderesque, yet modern/futuristic and distinct- and the "quick change" bass and treble boost/cut switches, added to their propriatary low-pass filter and "q" switch make for a simple, yet impressively versatile tone control arsenal. You made a great choice, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who would enjoy pictures. (Hint, hint) As far as your question goes, call me a wuss if you will, but I'd never trust ANY instrument stand with my bass. It's either on me, or in the case. I just can't justify unnecessary risk, as it is unique and irreplaceable. Anyway, as the owner of a bocate Europa and a quilted maple Elan with Europa electronics, I appreciate how awesome your new bass is, so again, congratulations! | ||
| modulus93
New Username: modulus93 Post Number: 2 Registered: 1-2006 |
Wow, I really thank all of you for your fast responses to my question and yes, I'll try to post some pictures as soon as possible. I just recently purchased a digital camera, so I'll try to get some pictures posted, because this bass is a beauty. I forgot to mention that I bought the bass used, it's a 1993 model, but I bought it from the original owner...he bought it brand new back in 1993. Let me tell you, he took great care of this bass, because it looks like brand new. I gave him $1500 cash plus a blue 1991 model Peavey TL-5 bass that I had, which was in great shape. I was going to sell the Peavey for about $500 anyway, so he looked at my TL-5 and said, give me that bass and $1500 and the Alembic is yours, so I did. In reality, I gave him $2000, but I still feel like this was a pretty good deal plus the Europa came with it's original hard case. The only thing that I did to the bass since I got it at the end of December was install a fresh set of DR High Beam 45-125 strings and polished up the bass with Alembic supreme polish and polished the brass with Flitz polish and now the bass really looks great. Heck, the guy even threw in a brand new bottle of the Alembic polish and Flitz brass cleaner with the deal. I've used the Alembic polish for years on my Spoiler as well as my other basses and it works great. I'm really proud to own this bass and to be a part of this wonderful club and I know that all of you other Alembic owners out there feel the same way and treasure your instruments. Thanks again and take care!!! Ronnie | ||
| rklisme
Advanced Member Username: rklisme Post Number: 282 Registered: 5-2004 |
Hi Ronnie Sounds like another satisfied customer. Congratulations and welcome to the club. Rory | ||
| modulus93
New Username: modulus93 Post Number: 3 Registered: 1-2006 |
Hello everyone, here is a photo of my bass. Thanks, Ronnie  | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 636 Registered: 10-2003 |
Gorgeous! | ||
| precarius
Junior Username: precarius Post Number: 38 Registered: 11-2005 |
Very nice bass! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3068 Registered: 5-2002 |
Beautiful bass! | ||
| the_8_string_king
Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 72 Registered: 9-2005 |
Awesome figuring, as good as it gets! It's a Masterpiece all over, but I'm especially fond of the figuring of the upper horn and that side! I'll bet you put in a lot of "stare time" with the case open, eh? Yeah, we ALL know about stare time, don't we? Heh heh. | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 491 Registered: 10-2002 |
Superb figuring on that wood ronnie. What an excellent way to introduce yourself to the club. Graeme | ||
| smokin_dave
Advanced Member Username: smokin_dave Post Number: 260 Registered: 10-2002 |
Damn that's a nice looking top.Congrats. | ||
| byoung
Intermediate Member Username: byoung Post Number: 187 Registered: 12-2004 |
That bocate is fab-u-lous. Brad | ||
| modulus93
New Username: modulus93 Post Number: 4 Registered: 1-2006 |
Thanks to all of you for your very nice compliments!!! I'm very proud to own this beautiful Alembic Europa 5-string. Yes, I have to admit...I do put in a lot of "stare time" with the case open ...it's a work of art!!! Thanks again and take care!!! Ronnie | ||
| jazzyvee
Advanced Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 334 Registered: 6-2002 |
I'm also the owner of an Europa5 with Bocate top. I agree with all the previous comments from owners. Its a fantastic instrument in many respects, sound, balance, flexibility, weight quality. A fantastic instrument. I also have a problem with my existing guitar stand which makes the bass sit kind of uncomfortably. I do prefer also to keep my instruments in their cases when not around my neck especially in small venues. If you have to keep it on a stage, on a stand or otherwise, the best thing is to make sure you unplug the lead and move it away from you r instrument. Its so easy for people walking on stage to trip over your cable and send your beloved bass crashing to the floor. Jazzyvee | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 334 Registered: 7-2002 |
I'm usually not a big fan of Bocote, but thats a really nice top, probably the nicest Bocote that I've ever seen. Mike | ||
| keurosix
Junior Username: keurosix Post Number: 25 Registered: 10-2005 |
Wow! That Bocate is top rate! Don't feel bad, stare all you want. She's a beauty! Kris | ||
| modulus93
New Username: modulus93 Post Number: 5 Registered: 1-2006 |
Wow!!! I really appreciate all of your nice compliments. I agree with all of you...it's the nicest bocate top that I've ever seen as well. When I first got the bass, I had no idea what the top wood was, so I called Alembic, gave them my serial# and they told me what the top wood was as well as the date the bass was built, etc...great folks at Alembic!!! I originally thought that the top wood was maybe cocobolo, etc, but Alembic told me that it was bocate. I couldn't believe it, because most of the Alembic basses that I've seen with a bocate top were still beautiful, but looked a little different than mine. I even looked in some old Alembic catalogs that I still have and the bocate wood looks different in those pictures. Anyhow, Alembic sent me a copy of the original work order when my bass was built and it clearly says...bocate top!!! Heck, maybe I have a rare piece of bocate or I just hope that the work order is 100% correct according to my serial#. What type of wood does it look like to all of you other Alembic owners out there??? I'm just curious as to all of your thoughts on the wood and heck, I may even double check with Alembic. Either way, it's one beautiful bass guitar and I'm really proud to be an Alembic owner and to be part of this wonderful club!!! Thank you and take care out there!!! Ronnie | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 3035 Registered: 6-2000 |
I'd say the top is Bocate, even if I wasn't given a clue. Of course, I've seen alot of Bocate! The funny thing about wood, is that it can look like anything. In the USA, we're all used to Red Oak furniture, and it almost always looks the same. But that's not true of most woods. For instance, I have some Coco Bolo in stock that is so dark, it almost looks like Macassar Ebony. On the other hand, I have some Coco Bolo that is almost lacking in the dark grain patterns, and you'd swear it was Vermilion. The top on your bass is exceptionally nice, I especially like the way the builder lined up the figuring around the bridge, like the sound it's radiating from it an influencing the figure. | ||
| george_wright
Member Username: george_wright Post Number: 65 Registered: 3-2005 |
Some pictures of the bocate-topped Spoiler I bought from Michael Pallas are available here. And I have to agree with Mica. The person who did the layout did a terrific job of matching grain to contour. | ||
| the_8_string_king
Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 75 Registered: 9-2005 |
Ronnie, there's NO DOUBT that your bass is bocate; but it's an exceptional and IMO unsurpassed specimen. Bocate actually varies tremendously; some pieces are mainly plain, others are mainly liney, and others are mainly swirly; but more commonly bocate has combinations of these things. Yours -and mine- are examples of this. Again, congrats, it looks absolutely fantastic, and I know it sounds every bit as good! By the way, George, your spoiler also looks awesome, and... Jazzyvee, I'd love to see your beauty. How 'bout it, folks, lets have a bocate-fest! | ||
| modulus93
New Username: modulus93 Post Number: 6 Registered: 1-2006 |
Thanks again for everyone's help and for the very nice compliments about my Alembic Europa 5-string. After reading all of your wonderful responses to my question about the wood top and after talking to Mica at Alembic yesterday, I'm rest assured that my Europa has a bocate top. What a great club this is and I'm very thankful to be a part of it as well as being a proud owner of an Alembic bass guitar!!! Take care out there!!! Ronnie | ||
| jazzyvee
Advanced Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 341 Registered: 6-2002 |
there are a few pics on the site of my Europa. Here is a link to one. This was posted by a previous owner of it. I bought it from a guy in London at the end of summer last year. http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/3658.html?1127562453 | ||
| oujeebass
Member Username: oujeebass Post Number: 71 Registered: 10-2002 |
Bocate topped epic-http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/2940.jpg Mine has a very mid ranged sound how does yours sound? | ||
| modulus93
New Username: modulus93 Post Number: 8 Registered: 1-2006 |
Hello Wade (oujeebass), My Alembic Europa with a bocate top sounds great!!! The Europa has very versatile electronics...great lows, mids, and highs, and everything in between!!! Take care, Ronnie | ||
| diederick
New Username: diederick Post Number: 4 Registered: 8-2006 |
Gee Ronnie, your bass (wood) is really really nice. I'm no expert about woods but I onw a Europe 5 as well (Walnut). I really light the definition and colours of the wood on your bass !!! Congrats & enjoy ! Diederick (The Netherlands) | ||
| modulus93
New Username: modulus93 Post Number: 10 Registered: 1-2006 |
Thank you very much Diederick for your nice compliments. I also like the definition and color of the wood. My keyboard player is always staring at my bass and he's always telling me that the bass is almost too pretty to be playing it. I then decided to pull a joke on him...I didn't bring the Alembic to the next gig and brought another bass. He asked me where it was and I said that it is now hanging on the wall in my house. He then almost begged me to please bring it back to the next gig, because he missed the looks and the sounds of my Alembic!!! Take care, Ronnie |
