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Takeo Sonoi (tkotmk42)
Junior
Username: tkotmk42

Post Number: 13
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 4:35 pm:   Edit Post

Just received this bass today. I'll let the pictures speak themselves.




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Googe Endeveronte (goooge)
Junior
Username: goooge

Post Number: 35
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 5:32 pm:   Edit Post

absolutely beautiful!!!
Paul Lindemans (palembic)
Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 79
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 12:15 am:   Edit Post

Yeah... such things make you silent. Jeeez!-Waw
Takeo Sonoi (tkotmk42)
Junior
Username: tkotmk42

Post Number: 14
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 7:28 am:   Edit Post

OK, now that had a night of sleep (barely) I can finally write little more detail about this bass.

It all started when I saw the May special, free option upto 20% of retail price. I tossed around few ideas, but settled on more conservative options.

Bass started out w/

MK Dlx 4str
Medium Scale (plays so nice, wish my last bass was a medium scale)
5A quilted maple front and back (from same slab! how cool !)
Deluxe purpleheart neck laminate (I justlove them 3 stripes)
Continuous wood truss rod and back plates (stunning!)
Bookmatched headstock laminate (my favorite)
Prep for Series II electronics (hollow body)
Satin neck

Bass is EXACTLY what I had hoped to be. I guess this is what's expected from Alembic....
Best playing bass I've ever played. My last bass played excellent, but combination of Cocobolo and long scale neck made it pain to play the top part of the neck. Medium scale took car of that.
Also, it's much lighter than my last bass.

True piece of ART.
Why is machine made PRS Dragon (what a joke) in Smithonian and not Alembics?

American craftmanship at its finest.

I would like to thank everyone at Alembic for creating such a beautiful piece of art.

Takeo
Duncan Muller (muller1007)
New
Username: muller1007

Post Number: 10
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 3:46 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Takeo,

Congratulations!! Wow, what a superb looking instrument!! (exclamation points all over)
Beautiful quilt and a very nice upgrade. The series II electronics preps are a great idea. I'll keep that one in mind. I am sure you'll be enjoying the medium scale, are you so far?

Have great fun with your very own piece of Art.

Duncan
Paul Ellsworth (elzie)
Junior
Username: elzie

Post Number: 26
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 4:58 pm:   Edit Post

I have to echo everyone else's statements. That is absolutely beautiful, to quote Googe :-)

I'd bet it sounds and plays like it looks too!

Congratulations and enjoy!!!!
Takeo Sonoi (tkotmk42)
Junior
Username: tkotmk42

Post Number: 17
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - 1:28 pm:   Edit Post

Duncan,

I had a month to play this bass and I can honestly say that medium scale is THE way to go. Especially if you're buying standard point/omega body. I am really with it. I didn't adjust my playing style at all, it just made it easier to play. I used to try to spread my fingers with so much effort, now it's a breeze!

I am so greatful that company like Alembic exists. This company represents what this country is capable of doing.
Bob Lutz once said:

"It's part of re-educating ourselves as Americans because we have collectively as a country what I call the 'good enough syndrome. There's a view in the States that if we're too perfectionistic we're being anal."

Alembic is a prime example of how being "perfectionist" is contributing to their success.
I have a lot of respect for Mr. Lutz (having to work in Auto industry, you hear a lot of good stuff about him) and his approach to manufacturing.....

Anyway, you really can't compare mass-produced product with 50,000 components with hand-build low-volume musical instruments, but approach can still be the same....

Just my opinion.....I'm just so happy that Alembic exists and I was privileged enough to purchase their instrument.

Takeo
Michael Paskel (Mikey) (pookeymp)
Member
Username: pookeymp

Post Number: 72
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Thursday, December 12, 2002 - 7:04 am:   Edit Post

WOW Takeo...

She's absolutely gorgeous!!! Enjoy!!!

Mikey/
Googe Endeveronte (goooge)
Junior
Username: goooge

Post Number: 42
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Thursday, December 12, 2002 - 10:09 am:   Edit Post

I know there are various "names" to describe quilted maple- "sausage", "bubble", "blistered" etc. -

But the 3 dimensional effect is so intense on this wood my mind is calling it "mountain range" quilt- it looks like what a mountain range looks like when you fly over it at high altitude. the "depth of field" the quilt has- it jumps off the bass-

You made an excellent choice in wood Takeo-the more I look at this bass the more I am impressed with that quilt.
Jonathan Johnstone (stoney)
Member
Username: stoney

Post Number: 87
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Thursday, December 12, 2002 - 10:42 am:   Edit Post

Googe you're right. I checked it out again and the more you look at it, the more it looks 3-dimentional. Beautiful. Great piece.

stoney
James L. Martin (malthumb)
Junior
Username: malthumb

Post Number: 35
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, December 13, 2002 - 5:41 pm:   Edit Post

Takeo,

That is one sweet piece of art. Get the best out of it. I see you have it prepped for Series II electronics. The best bass I have ever played BAR NONE is my Mark King w/ Series II electronics. Also glad to see you got the wood backplates. When wood is that gorgeous you just have to make the most of it. Have fun!!

Peace,

James
Takeo Sonoi (tkotmk42)
Junior
Username: tkotmk42

Post Number: 18
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, December 15, 2002 - 3:48 pm:   Edit Post

Thank you all for nice comments. Let's give credit where credit is due and that's to fine people at Alembic.

I just love this headstock....

Head stock
Clay Sharp (exploiterplayer)
New
Username: exploiterplayer

Post Number: 9
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Friday, January 24, 2003 - 6:23 am:   Edit Post

Hi Takeo, I totally agree with you on the 32" scale lenth being "the way to go". I was a little hesitant about a 32" scale lenth when I purchased my first Alembic but after one week with the 32" I was so impressed with the way it played (especially with my medium sized hands) that I sold all of my 34's and bought another 32" for a backup. I cant believe I have struggled with 34's all these years because of that "superior tone" Myth associated with the 34's.
Thanks for the post, Clay
Oh Yea, Your bass almost looks too good to be made by mortals.
jfoster
New
Username: jfoster

Post Number: 6
Registered: 3-2003
Posted on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 5:36 pm:   Edit Post

le drool !!!!!
thebass
Member
Username: thebass

Post Number: 57
Registered: 3-2003
Posted on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 10:42 am:   Edit Post

Sonoi-San,

your Bass looks absolutely perfect to me. The quilted maple veneers are of unique beauty. It's exactly what I would order if I would be looking for a new bass. It seems we share the same preference in design. You must be a proud man to own such a fine piece of art. Congratulations for your wise decision.

Werner
malthumb
Advanced Member
Username: malthumb

Post Number: 310
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, March 18, 2005 - 3:55 pm:   Edit Post

"I am so greatful that company like Alembic exists. This company represents what this country is capable of doing.
Bob Lutz once said:

"It's part of re-educating ourselves as Americans because we have collectively as a country what I call the 'good enough syndrome. There's a view in the States that if we're too perfectionistic we're being anal."

Alembic is a prime example of how being "perfectionist" is contributing to their success.
I have a lot of respect for Mr. Lutz (having to work in Auto industry, you hear a lot of good stuff about him) and his approach to manufacturing..... "


It's funny that I just now ran into this quote 2 1/2 years after you posted it. I cross paths with Bob Lutz fairly often. Sometimes two or three times a week. The staff area I'm in often winds up doing presentations for him on new product programs.

At one of the meetings I attend, the guy facilitating the meeting puts a list of "Top 10 Quotes" from the meeting at the bottom of the meeting minutes page. There's always a couple good ones from Bob.

Peace,

James
tubeperson
New
Username: tubeperson

Post Number: 1
Registered: 5-2005
Posted on Friday, May 27, 2005 - 8:51 am:   Edit Post

Please contact me and list all of the options. I am interested in purchasing this instrument. I am pay pal verified. Regards,

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