| Author | Message | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2149 Registered: 6-2002 |
I've fired off an email to Mica last night with some thoughts on getting a series bass and thought I'd put it on here to see if my thoughts can gain some experience/guidance from your knowledge. I'm not sure even if this will happen but at the moment the 60% off custom items has made me consider again. Anyway here goes, bearing in mind the 60% off a custom item for this month only, I'm trying to decide before the deadline whether or not a new 5 string non series bass customised with series I or II electronics is within my reach. I know there are only a few days before the end of this special and if I miss this then I will probably have to wait for Mica's 60th for the next major discount. :-) I have three options as I see it at the moment. Option 1) have a standard non series bass built and use the special to have 60% off series I or II electrics and the free side led's Option 2) investigate the possibility and cost of adding series I or II electronics to my one of my existing basses. The most suitable would be this one: http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/3658.html?1170593034 with Standard Europa electronics or This one: http://alembic.com/club/messages/631/57606.html?1279803631 with signature electronics. Option 3): Do nothing. Now from what I've read on previous threads is that some the body shapes are not deep enough to hold the series package. So, with that in mind I wondered if the body on either of these two basses was too thin whether a book matched to centre back laminate could be added to give extra depth? I expect there may be an issue with the neck area if there was some additional wood on the back of the bass. I suppose if it were possible, then the easiest one to do a conversion with is the black maple Europa since it already has signature electronics and the holes would be in the right place for series electronics. But then I think for my style and music I generally play I prefer the mellower tone of my mahogany body Europa and may feel a bit unhappy about having to lose some of the flexibility of the series package due to the need to use it more for taming the high end brought on by the maple body of the black bass. If it were to convert the Bocate Europa, then it would have non standard and maybe confusing control layout unless some of the existing control holes could be filled invisibly or artistically. SO: If I was to go down option 1 then I would have to offload some of my existing alembics to fund that project. :-( If I was to go down option 2 which could probably be as expensive as option 1, then I would again have to sell off some of my alembics except the donor Europa bass used for the upgrade. Then I'd have to factor into that the cost of shipping to and from the USA unless it could be done in 2 weeks then I could go for a holiday and drop it off at the start and pick it up at the end. :-( if I was to go down option3, then I'd still keep my existing basses and my bank balance and have to continue looking for that elusive series bass bargain. I welcome any advice you can give me about this. Once it gets to October and a decision is not made well...... this message may well become another unfulfilled dreamy post.. hahaha Before I forget, what's the crack with the approved dealers? If I was to go for a new one I presume I would get it cheaper than direct from Alembic. What about upgrade work does that qualify for a dealer discount too? If i do decide to do this, I kind of like the idea of going to the states to collect the bass from Alembic in person. Would that stop me getting a dealer discount? Right back to the quote generator to work out some prices. Jazzyvee (Message edited by jazzyvee on September 26, 2010) | ||
| mike1762
Senior Member Username: mike1762 Post Number: 643 Registered: 1-2008 |
My understanding is that the Series "guts" will not fit in anything other than a body that was specifically built with a Series "prep". I think the difference is the presence of a front AND back laminate. That allows the body to be hollow and thus hold all the extra "stuff". So... I think Option #2 is not possible. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9650 Registered: 5-2002 |
Personally, I much prefer Series II; I use the CVQ a lot in fine tuning my tone. Of course I'm not playing live in a band situation or making changes on the fly in the middle of a song; so I can understand why many prefer the relative ease of Q switches over CVQs. I had wondered about the 'adding an extra lam on the back' to get an existing body deep enough for a conversion; I can't recall seeing anyone post here that they've had it done. In thinking about it, if it's even possible, you would have the routing of the body, routing the top for the humx and drilling the holes for the new electronics, the cost of the new laminate, new carving of the whole body with the new lam to get the overall shape perfect, the finishing process, installation of the electronics and calibration by Ron. I don't know that you would be saving much over the purchase of a new bass. I just looked at a picture of the back of a Europa. The contouring on the back, the tummy cut, seems to me to rule out all of the above. I don't see how you can easily add a laminate to that surface. So, I'm thinking 'no' on option two. In thinking about it some more, my guess would be that even on a body that had a 'flat' back, the carving required to get the overall shape right, since the existing roundover on the body has to be eliminated, might bring the edge of the body into, or too near, the existing control cavity routing. In other words, the edge of the body would need to be removed to the point of removing the existing roundover. So my guess is that this kind of modification is probably not possible. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9651 Registered: 5-2002 |
In addition to 'series prep' customs, the Brown Bass is deep enough for a series upgrade. And it's not just the addition of a back laminate that makes an instrument deep enough, lots of other models have back laminates; the body itself is deeper. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2150 Registered: 6-2002 |
hmm I knew I was clutching at straws a bit on option 2 and I can see how if would be somewhat challenging to say the least and probably a lot of expensive and extensive manual work from start to finish. So probably looking like option 1 or 3. Jazzyvee | ||
| mike1762
Senior Member Username: mike1762 Post Number: 646 Registered: 1-2008 |
I often wondered why all bodies were not made with the capability of accepting all electronic packages. I think the "problem" would be that it would increase the base price of the non-Series instruments (the thicker body and additional laminates). Until I REALLY took the time to work with my SI, I didn't understand the "hype" about Series electronics. But I would LOVE to be able to upgrade my SC and Spoiler. As electronic components get smaller, I wonder if that might be possible some day??? | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2151 Registered: 6-2002 |
It would be good if smaller electronics components made upgrading cheaper in the future too. Jazzyvee | ||
| pukie
New Username: pukie Post Number: 1 Registered: 9-2010 |
My completely unbiased advice would be to go for option1... and to sell one the Europas to me :-) Luke | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 9655 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hi Luke; welcome to the board! | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2155 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi Luke, welcome to the forum. My email is in my profile, everything has it's price..... impress me with an good offer.... :-) jazzyvee | ||
| pukie
New Username: pukie Post Number: 2 Registered: 9-2010 |
Davehouck, Thanks for the welcome, I must post and "introduction". Jazzyvee, IMHO If you have anywhere near the money for a custom build, go for it... and don't hold back get what you REALLY want so you don't regret missing something off afterwards (I stopped counting at $11k !!!... SH for me). Email sent Luke | ||
| crobbins
Senior Member Username: crobbins Post Number: 708 Registered: 6-2004 |
You cant lose with option number 3.  | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2197 Registered: 6-2002 |
Very true Crobbins, I'm still pondering on the idea at the moment. It would be ideal to be able to try out a series II bass side by side with my signature bass but there is none at the UK distributors at the moment. So things are on hold for a bit. Jazzyvee | ||
| otis
Advanced Member Username: otis Post Number: 240 Registered: 10-2008 |
Jazzy, My humble thought is to definitely try out a Series II. There's nothing like a true Series II. Peace;) Frank Here's a link of me playing my S2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QW9R7eOusQ |
