| Author | Message | ||
| mikem13
New Username: mikem13 Post Number: 1 Registered: 5-2005 |
Hey, I'm new to the alembic club and I am curious for some opinions about what I should do with fifty five hundred dollars. I might get a Skylark with LEDs and a mesa of some sort, or just a further. What do you guys think I should do: get the further or go for both the skylark and a mesa amp. thanks | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 1828 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hi Mike; welcome to the group. I'll let the guitar players address your question; though I'm wondering, what are you playing through now? | ||
| mikem13
New Username: mikem13 Post Number: 2 Registered: 5-2005 |
hey, thanks for the reply... I'm playing an ovation to a 16 input allen & heath mixer then into a rackrider EQ then into two JBL 140 watt speakers.(The drummer from dispatch left this setup at my drummer's house)The only problem is this setup is at my drummers house. So, I wanted something for when I am not practicing over his house to play. I love alot of different genres of music. Ranging from Dave Matthews and Flecktones to early incubus. Thanks | ||
| mikem13
New Username: mikem13 Post Number: 3 Registered: 5-2005 |
At my house, I have a small VOX combo that I hate and a schecter that has a consistent metal tone that I dont like. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 1829 Registered: 5-2002 |
Which Vox combo do you have? Maybe the problem with the Vox is the Schecter. My guitar player plays through a Vox Valvetronix amp and he has a really nice tone. | ||
| mikem13
New Username: mikem13 Post Number: 4 Registered: 5-2005 |
I have a really modest 15 watt amp its not part of the valvetronix series. I have not been playing very long at all, and I don't play that much electric to tell the truth. I love my ovation and play alot of dave matthews type stuff. My schecter is a T-1 in TV yellow and it was used so that might have somehting to do with it. But, I would like a really flexible electric to experiment into funk and jazz. I have been looking around for awhile now. I tried the Taylor T5, and a PRS Hollowbody II with a piezo. The T5 was nice, but it just did not seem to be worth the better part of three grand. I did not like the PRS at all. The frets were tiny and it was uncomfortable. So, after seeing Jerry Garica's wolf alembic and listening to Stanley Clarke and his use of alembic basses I realized that I should give alembic a try. I read a ton of reviews all amazing and practically worshipping these products (for their flexible tones, amazing bookmatching, and smooth action). I narrowed it down to a further or a skylark. Is the further that much better than a skylark? Sorry for the long explanation I just had to let it out. | ||
| jalevinemd
Intermediate Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 165 Registered: 12-2003 |
Mike, As someone who went through a complete amp overhaul after buying my Alembic, I can tell you that you will not be able to fully appreciate your Alembic playing through a sub-standard rig. I'm sure the Further is a wonderful instrument, but I get all of the tones from my Little bear (Skylark electronics) that I could ever need. I say go for the complete package. Regards, Jonathan | ||
| grateful
Member Username: grateful Post Number: 74 Registered: 12-2004 |
Hi Mike, The price differential between the Skylark and the Further is not just down to the electronics. The Further is a through-neck, hippy sandwich guitar, the Skylark isn't. I would imagine you could order a Skylark with Further electronics and it would be cheaper than a Further. That said, there seems little point in buying a Further and having nothing to play it through, so I'd advise a Skylark and some valve/tube amplifier of your choice. Good luck in your quest, Mark | ||
| tom_z
Intermediate Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 139 Registered: 7-2004 |
Mike, I am completely satisfied and amazed with my Skylark. I've written many times of the tonal variety possible with the Skylark electronics. I have always sought very clean rich tone and my Skylark delivers magnificently. I can get very clear, chimey bell-like tones with excellent definition (think Steve Kimock) but also serious crunch - beautifully overdriven tone. It is also capable of very dark, warm tone. Mine has a laminated top with vermilion, maple, and cocobolo which may very well add to the complexity of the Skylark tone, though never having played one with a single layer maple top, I can't make a fair comparison. I've put on a heavier gauge string than the 10s that it shipped with and I believe that the tone is even more focused (though I may have to do some filing of the nut to accommodate the heavier gauge on the E and A). If you use heavier strings I recommend having Alembic set up your nut and bridge saddles accordingly. I also opted for the longer scale 25.5” rather than the standard 24.75” length, which adds a bit more string tension. I play a Martin dreadnought a fair amount of the time so the heavier gauge and added tension are not a real issue for me, and the tonal advantages are more than worth it. As for amplification, I am keeping my eyes open for a good price on either a Two Rock or a Mesa. I’m leaning toward the Two Rock, as the more I hear them the more I’m convinced a Reverb Signature would be a perfect companion to my Alembic. The price, even on used Two Rocks, is quite expensive. Right now I’m playing mostly through a Vox Valvetronix which offers additional tonal variety (I usually use the Dumble and Fender models), and is also a nice match for the Skylark. I have never played a Further and can only imagine that it has an even greater color palette and the addition of the effects loop would certainly add versatility. There may be a Further somewhere in my future, but for now I’m still holding out for Alembic to develop an archtop hollow-body jazz box. (Valentino – please continue to pester Susan and Mica on this front.  ) Mike, whatever you decide, you can’t go wrong with an Alembic. Tom (Message edited by tom_z on May 30, 2005) | ||
| mikem13
New Username: mikem13 Post Number: 5 Registered: 5-2005 |
Thanks everyone for your input. | ||
| jalevinemd
Intermediate Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 166 Registered: 12-2003 |
Tom, What do the Two Rock Reverb Signatures go for? Are they similar to the old Hiwatts? | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 1835 Registered: 5-2002 |
I found a "retail" price for a Two Rock Custom Reverb Signature of $7,000. | ||
| tom_z
Intermediate Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 140 Registered: 7-2004 |
The price Dave found is about right - which still beats the price of a Dumble by a long way (if you can even find one) - then you would want to configure a nice cab with maybe a couple of tone tubbys. I have seen the slightly older Two Rock Custom Reverbs (non signature) on ebay in the $3000 -$3500 range. A friend of mine plays through an older Two Rock Emerald that he got used on ebay for around $2K - it sounds incredible. If you're interested here's the Two Rock Owners discussion group - it's worth checking out. http://www.dhenderson.com/TwoRock/ Tom | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 882 Registered: 9-2003 |
Mike: You're on the right track. Play EVERYTHING and then make up your mind. For sure, get the best sounding, best playing, best feeling, best looking (if that's an issue) guitar you can afford. This way, you're not so tempted to ditch it in a fit of GAS and possibly lose money in the bargain. I don't think you can go wrong with ANY Alembic, as the quality is second to none, regardless of brand name. Then narrow your choices for an amp. There's lot of good used stuff out there, both mass-market and "boutique"...some of which is reasonably priced. Good luck in your quest. Whew! Those Two-Rocks are out-of-sight pricewise...and I thought Mesa was extremely pricey! I guess you get what you pay for. | ||
| jalevinemd
Intermediate Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 167 Registered: 12-2003 |
I read that a Dumble, if you can find one that's for sale, goes for $12-18,000. I didn't realize the Two-Rocks were so expensive. I guess my first clue should have been the fact that no dealer posts a price. I told my wife not to let me get another amp, as my Marshall isn't even six months old yet. But I'm feeling that dangerous build up of GAS. I always loved the old Hiwatts, but am suspect of the quality, of late. The Dan Reeves amps supposedly match the tone and quality of the classic Hiwatts - handwired point-point turret circuits, Partridge transformers, etc...They go for about 1/3 of the Two-Rocks. Regards, Jonathan | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 884 Registered: 9-2003 |
Wow! Those prices are too rich for my blood. That stuff is making my amp choice look more like the el-cheapo bargain of the millenium. Looks like I'll be sticking to my trusty old '79 silverface Twin and '05 Straub Cantus for the forseeable future, LOL! | ||
| jalevinemd
Intermediate Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 168 Registered: 12-2003 |
Although I'd love one, here's the problem I have with buying an amp in that price range. I'm not a professional musician nor am I a tone connoisseur. I've no doubt that you could tell the difference between my Marshall and The Two-Rock amp out of the box. But, add a little distortion, some overdrive, a touch of chorus and start stepping on the wah and I can't see how the $5000 difference could be justified. I'm sure that there are plenty who would disagree with my rather pedestrian view, sorry. It's the same thing with my Alembics. No problem distinguishing them from the PRS, Les Paul, Strat, etc... it's amazing how the slightest filter adjustments dramatically alters the sound of the Little Bear. But once I've got those effects going, the lines quickly blur. I could make the same argument with the guitars, only with them it's more than just about tone...it's look, the feel, the weight...everything. I have never played a neck as comfortable as an Alembic. I don't have huge hands and there are licks that seem effortless on them than are very difficult on my other guitars. | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 886 Registered: 9-2003 |
I'm with you. I'm not a pro, nor am I rich. I am a bit of a self-professed tone conoisseur and anal nitpicker (guilty). I also can't see spending that kind of dosh, even if there is a diference. As a long-time hi-fi nut, it's called the Law of Diminishing Return: to wit, it takes A LOT more money to get a little more improvement, after a certain level, that is. Personally, I took great pleasure in spending less than many boutique amps sell for, as well as mass-market gear, but I still got a one-off, hand-built, hardwired, real hardwood-cabbed custom amp that I spec'd. As I dealt directly with the designer/builder, Customer Service was also outstanding, certainly atypical in the real world. An Alembic of the amp world, so to speak. You can definitely hear the difference, and it didn't break the bank. Point here is that there are brand-new premium goods available out there for mass-market prices. Or, you can always take a used "vintage" amp, like my 70's Fender, and put it in a custom hardwood cab with premium speakers a la Boogie, and really get a gem for very little money, just like I did. I should have pix (and a mini-review) posted herewith for that beauty shortly. I also agree that there's nothing that can touch an Alembic, seemingly at any price. I'm sure I don't even have to mention the level of Customer Service Alembic offers in this forum, especially relative to other OEM's. My biggest problem RE: Alembics is being able to keep the price down without optioning the thing to high heaven...features, aesthetics, embellishments, etc. that nobody REALLY needs, but I WANT anyway, LOL! If I had to criticize Alembic for anything, it'd be that if there's such a thing as TOO many choices, Alembic is certainly guilty of that "crime", LOL! | ||
| jalevinemd
Intermediate Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 169 Registered: 12-2003 |
Now I can't shake the idea of getting a new amp! Does anyone know a qualified GASorcist? | ||
| foth
Junior Username: foth Post Number: 19 Registered: 12-2004 |
Mike, If you have a scale preference, the Skylark is 24.75" and the Further is 25.50". BTW, I tried a Further in the Alembic showroom a few months ago and it was easily the finest guitar neck that I have ever laid my hands on. Paul, foth | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 889 Registered: 9-2003 |
Actually, you can get any Alembic guitar in just about any scale length you can dream of: ultra-short scale to baritone, if you like. Usually, the guitars are either in the Gibson-esque 24 & 3/4" or the Fender-esque 25 & 1/2". I've regualrly seen Skylarks in both scale lengths. It's all up to player preference. |
