| Author | Message | ||
| atdiboy729
New Username: atdiboy729 Post Number: 1 Registered: 3-2004 |
Hi, I'm new to Alembic basses, but I am incredibly interested in them (I saw a band live using one of your basses and it sounded incredible). Though I love their tones, I'm not too fond of the shapes of their bodies. If I ever bought an Alembic, I'd really love it if I saw one with a Gibson Ripper body (or an enlarged Stanley Clarke), with double cutaways. I was just wondering how much would this custom body shape cost. | ||
| bassman10096
Intermediate Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 188 Registered: 7-2003 |
I'm sure Alembic can customize whatever body you'd like. A Ripper or (here's the fun part) the Ripper shape you would design. It strikes me you could do a lot or a little to "put a little more speed" on a Ripper shape. At any rate, the Alembic folks can best answer the cost question. Bill | ||
| atdiboy729
New Username: atdiboy729 Post Number: 2 Registered: 3-2004 |
Also, I'm not very familiar with all the terms you guys are using on the body parts of the bass. Could you tell me what each part is if you don't mind? :-\ | ||
| kenbass4
Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 82 Registered: 10-2003 |
Hey, Bill! (or, do you prefer William?) First off, welcome to the club! I'm sure the Pauls will be along shortly with a boisterous welcome as well. If you could list the terms that confuse you, one (or more!) of the helpful Alembic club members will be along to translate for you. (If it's me, I'll refrain from lapsing into Elvish, I promise!!) Ken (TEO) | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1138 Registered: 9-2002 |
Hi there William, great to have you here. Thebest thing you can do to get acquintant with the body parts is first go to the main page and look to the "Customs of the month" see: http://www.alembic.com/info/fcvault.html You'll find them going back to 1999. After you've read those -and drooled your keyboard under- start to browse the "Factory to customer" department or the "dreaming for now" department. Man ...you'll be the youngest Alembic-bass building expert alive!!!! Welcome from this side of the pond! Paul the bad one PS: oh ...and Alembic ....that is the kind of good and healthy addiction you can never start early enough with!!! | ||
| atdiboy729
New Username: atdiboy729 Post Number: 3 Registered: 3-2004 |
Hey, I go by Will (just to let you know). I'll probably never be able to afford an Alembic, sooo... I don't know... Maybe a sponorship is in order... :-) | ||
| kenbass4
Member Username: kenbass4 Post Number: 83 Registered: 10-2003 |
Will, I said that once too. Check the showcase/Rogue/ Ken's Elvish Rogue It WILL happen (hmmm...coincidence???) Ken (TEO) | ||
| atdiboy729
New Username: atdiboy729 Post Number: 4 Registered: 3-2004 |
Okay, here are the terms I'm not sure about... ~neck laminates (is this just the finish on the neck?) ~top (i.e. california walnut top; is this just the finish name, or is it a different wood on the top than in the core) ~back (same question as above) ~bookmatched top (what is it?) | ||
| hollis
Member Username: hollis Post Number: 55 Registered: 11-2003 |
Hi Will, Welcome to the club! They say a picture's worth a thousand words....try going to: http://www.alembic.com/info/featured_construction.html the pictures are worth several thousand words......and they have their own words to go along with the pics! Hope that helps clear things up for you. If not, I'm sure someone better versed in Alembic construction tecniques will be signing on soon. | ||
| atdiboy729
New Username: atdiboy729 Post Number: 5 Registered: 3-2004 |
Does anyone know quite how much a Ripper style body would cost additionally? | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1461 Registered: 6-2000 |
Custom body templates start at $450. That's for the first one. If you order a second or third bass, usually you can have us use your original template for no charge (unless the design is more labor intensive, like extra carving or something). Neck laminates are the pieces of wood the neck is made out of. We laminate (glue) several smaller pieces of wood together to create the necks. The top is the top laminate of the instrument body, which is also made from several smaller pieces of wood. All standard Alembics have at least 3 laminates in the body. When we say "California Walnut top" it describes the decorative top laminate, and it's usually a different species of wood than the rest ofhte body. Sometimes we have custom requests for a solid body made from one wood. We just recently finsihed an Essence with a solid walnut body. The back can mean a couple of things. If the bass only has a top laminate, it means the main body wood on the back of the bass. Sometimes the bass has a back laminate, so when it does, we call that the back. A bookmatch is when we take a piece of wood and saw in down the middle then open it like a book. The grain has a symmetrical appearence when you bookmatch. You can see a bunch of bookmatches in the Wood Bank. We also bookmatch pegheads sometimes too. Let us know if there's anything else you need clarified. | ||
| effclef
Junior Username: effclef Post Number: 49 Registered: 1-2004 |
Atdiboy - being able to afford something means saving up...if you have to save a little longer, the wait may be worth it. BassNW has a beautiful looking Epic for $1399: http://www.bassnw.com/Used%20Basses/alembic_epic_5_string_bass.htm This is just an example. Epics show up on Ebay all the time, it seems, for less than $1000. When an American Deluxe Fender Jazz costs close to that, and their "custom shop" prices approach Alembic neck-thru basses, I'd say keep saving for the Alembic. You might also find deals in the Swap Shop section of the Club - perhaps an old Spoiler model. If you really want to start out with that custom, all it takes is time (Alembic's) and money (yours)! :-) EffClef PS NICE walnut on that Epic!!! | ||
| malthumb
Intermediate Member Username: malthumb Post Number: 174 Registered: 5-2002 |
Atdiboy, Here's what I suggest you do (it's what I did, sorta).... Start by buying something used on the low end or mid range. Figure on spending $800 - 1,500. In my case, I bought a used Spoiler. Then just enjoy playing it. Actually that sorta goes without saying. Next time you have $800 - 1,000 or so to spend on a bass, sell the one you bought used for pretty much the same price you paid for it. Then add the $800 - 1,000 you've saved up to the funds from selling the first used bass and buy something a bit nicer, but used, for $2,000 - 2,500. Now you're into Rogue / Europa / Signature / Series I range. You can keep repeating this cycle until you have enough money to fund a custom instrument. An added benefit is that you also have a better idea of what features you want or don't want after having played several different instruments. What makes this process work is that after about 5 years, used basses have already depreciated as much as they are going to depreciate. A bass that you can buy for $1,500 used you can sell a year later for $1,500, so you get to use it for free!!! (Plus the cost of strings). Over the years I've owned 6 different Alembics. I now only have the two that my children will inherit. Individually they would cost a fortune, but since I used the process of buying and selling the previous four, the incremental cost to acquire them wasn't too bad. Peace, (and welcome to the club) James | ||
| cdf
Junior Username: cdf Post Number: 50 Registered: 5-2003 |
Musical economics - a great approach. Ok, that might be the worst pun I've ever tried to make. Bad pun or no it is a great approach, James. Wish I had done that. I could have been playing an Alembic much earlier. | ||
| bassman10096
Intermediate Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 198 Registered: 7-2003 |
James: Great strategy. The Alembic savings plan! I only wish I had started earlier. I had only parked about $1K in my first Alembic when got "the fever" (you know what THAT is!). Had I started earlier and/or been a little more patient, I would have avoided or at least reduced the large cash infusion my custom order is taking from me right now (I think it feels like donating blood - A lot of blood!). Your advice is really good for Adtiboy. Trading up is not hard at all the way Ebay (say what you will about it,) has made it fast and convenient to find buyers when you want to convert an instrument back to cash. Bill | ||
| dnburgess
Intermediate Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 199 Registered: 1-2003 |
James, that is indeed a great approach. I like it so much I am going to make it official policy at Green Square Music: If you buy a pre-loved instrument from us, we will give you the full purchase price back when you trade up! (Assuming, of course, the instrument comes back in as good condition as when it went out.) | ||
| bassman10096
Intermediate Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 200 Registered: 7-2003 |
I'll bet that really helps develop a loyal following. Shame you're not local to me in Milwaukee... Bill |
