| Author | Message | ||
| blazer
New Username: blazer Post Number: 7 Registered: 12-2003 |
Since I know that Rickenbacker throws a fit over anybody who tries to copy their designs I won't ask you to make an Alembic in the shape of a 4001 (although the idea seems really appealing, just imagine, an "AlemRick" with a body made of a mahogany core with cobolo fronts and back through neck of maple and ebony and series one electronics, what a wonderful looking bass that would be) Instead I wanted to know if Alembic could make me a short scale bass (which I plan to use as a tenor bass) in the shape of a Gibson SG, I saw pictures of an Alembic custom bass once and I knew right away that I wanted one like that too. But I'd like it a little differently. I'd want it to have a solid mahogany body with a maple through neck and crown peghead but with a Maple fingerboard with Black sharkfin inlays, black hardware and a bartolini MM humbucker with 3 band EQ, is that a reasonable option? | ||
| davehouck
Advanced Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 233 Registered: 5-2002 |
Wouter; welcome to the group. I like your idea of a Series I with a maple and ebony neck, mahogany core and coco bolo front and back; the combination of those woods with Series I electronics should produce wonderful tone. I would love to have such a bass! Barts are great pickups; however, your idea of putting Barts in an Alembic doesn't seem appropriate. I believe it to be the case that Alembic electronics are designed in tandem with their pickups; the pickups and electronics work together as a unit. I would imagine that most of the members of this group would suggest that replacing the Alembic pickups with Barts would not result in improved sound. Admittedly though, I've never tried it and perhaps you have, so you may know more about that than I. But for all their amazing wood work, the starting point for an Alembic is the pickups and electronics; an Alembic with Barts just wouldn't be an Alembic. I do not recall having seen an Alembic bass with a three band EQ; they may have custom made such an arrangement but it certainly isn't a standard setup or one of the many modified setups I've seen. (Of course I must admit to an unreliable memory, for all I know I may have seen such an EQ yesterday <g>.) Generally, the tone control on an Alembic is the low-pass filter. And generally, the filter is augmented with a Q switch. Additional enhancements are bass and treble boost/cut switches. And then there are the bass and treble controls as found on Epics, Excels and Orions. I suppose Alembic could custom make a three band EQ, but you are probably talking about some bench time and its corresponding cost per hour. Perhaps the standard Epic controls would give you a setup similar to what you were requesting. | ||
| zappahead
Member Username: zappahead Post Number: 59 Registered: 10-2002 |
I dont think Alembic will allow you to substitute other pick ups for their own when you order a guitar or bass from them. Thats what the local dealer near me stated when I asked him that a very long time ago. It seems like they will do just about anything but that. | ||
| oggydoggy
Junior Username: oggydoggy Post Number: 20 Registered: 3-2003 |
I agree with Davehouck, An Alembic with out Alembic pickups? Isn't that against the law. if not it should be. I have found that no other pickup comes close to the tone or the control that you have over your sound with Alembic electronics. best wishes,Good luck | ||
| blazer
Junior Username: blazer Post Number: 11 Registered: 12-2003 |
It was just a suggestion. People tend to stick with what they're familiar with and I favor the sound of the MM style humbucker. So what kind of pickup do you suggest would be a perfect substitude for that? | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1297 Registered: 6-2000 |
It's true that it's not easy to get us to use non-Alembic electronics/pickups on a custom build. To us, the electronics/pickup system is the soul of an Alembic. In our way of addressing the electronics/pickups system in a bass or guitar, we don't use the pickups as tone controls. Their sole purpose is to faithfully reproduce the motion of the string (i.e. they are not "voiced"). The tone control happens in the electronics. Our research indicated that much of what people try to change with different pickups was the upper limit. Instead, we provide a low pass filter where you can adjust the upper limit by a knob even in the middle of a song (not so easy to change pickups at that time). It does take some getting used to, because those unfamiliar with Alembic will not initially understand what's going on. But we feel it's worth learning how our systems work since it gives control of the tone to the performer. A skilled musician with a mastery of Series I/II electronics can sound like a P bass one minute, a Ric the next and a bass that isn't even invented next. We don't believe the instrument should limit how the performer sounds. The whole idea from our perspective is for each player to find their own musical voice. We just finished Yvette's Zebrawood Skylark yesterday afternoon. I was trying it out and especially with the particular wood combination it was probably the most versatile Skylark to date. Even without the bright controls, it was like playing an acoustic guitar. With the filters turned back, it was round and smooth, almost distant and melancholy. Hard to describe, words really fall short. Guess that's why there's guitars! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1298 Registered: 6-2000 |
We do make 3 band EQs on custom request. But since there are so many different ideas about what midrange even is, you need to name the frequency range you're interested in. If you wanted a custom Rickenbacker shape, I suppose the best thing to do is to ask them what it would cost to license the design for one custom build. They may say no, but it's worth asking if it's what you really want. Maple fingerboard - just for looks? The fingerboard isn't a huge tone factor on a fretted neck throguh Alembic. Ebony is always a better choice for durability (and for looks in 10 years to me). Of course the different fignerboard feel different, and if the feel of one wood is distracting to your playing, you should stick with what won't interfere with the music, regardless of maintenance. | ||
| hollis
New Username: hollis Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2003 |
Hi, This is my first post although I have been "listening in" for quite some time. I just wanted to say that Mica's responses are both tactful and informative. Thanks for the insightful replies! One of the things that constantly amazes me after 40 plus years of rigorous guitar playing is how much more there is to know. Soon I hope to be purchasing a Further guitar. Much of the decision making process has been made easier by looking in on the process of these pages. I am looking foward to becoming a member of this group of folks. I have a feeling that it's going to feel a lot like coming home. | ||
| oggydoggy
Junior Username: oggydoggy Post Number: 21 Registered: 3-2003 |
Hollis, Wlecome, do you already own an Alembic or will this guitar be your first? Welcome Home!! -Ed | ||
| hollis
New Username: hollis Post Number: 2 Registered: 11-2003 |
I don't as of yet have that pleasure. I have overcome the most important hurdle, my wife is in agreement with me so it's now only a matter of time......I'm in the process of sketching a Cockatoo's profile that I'd like inlaid at the base of a Further. I'll need to talk with the Alembic folks to get some feel for the costs of something like that. I'm hoping to place an order sometime around June of next year. My folks live in San Andreas, Ca. My next visit to them (sometime in April)already has a stop over in Santa Rosa planned on the itinerary. Right now my main electric guitar is a Travis Bean Artist (Koa, flamed)that I picked up in 1978. It should be a relatively seamless change over to a Further don't you think? I've been dreaming of an Alembic for a long time, and when I saw the photos of Further, well all's I can say is....Hook, line, and sinker! | ||
| bracheen
Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 54 Registered: 11-2003 |
Hello Hollis, glad to have you here. Anyone who can make a guitar work has my respect. I get lost on a five string bass. You know, old dog, new tricks... Let us know when that Further gets going. Sam | ||
| blazer
Junior Username: blazer Post Number: 17 Registered: 12-2003 |
Well it seems that all I can do to get my "AlemRick" is to make it myself, I'll order the pickups and electronics from Alembick, buy some fancy wood (maybe even scarrow some furniture shops)get my hands on Albalone and built it myself. I have no idea when I will begin work on it and how much time it will take me but it will be a LOT of fun. ^_^ |
