| Author | Message | ||
| the_8_string_king
Senior Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 469 Registered: 9-2005 |
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| the_8_string_king
Senior Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 470 Registered: 9-2005 |
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| pierreyves
Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 89 Registered: 11-2006 |
be happy....19$95....in the world !! ;o))) | ||
| bassjigga
Intermediate Member Username: bassjigga Post Number: 164 Registered: 8-2005 |
Very cool Mark. Can't wait to see your new one take shape. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 786 Registered: 6-2002 |
Aaah now I understand the 8 string King name now. I was thinking it was an 8 string like the 4 string with the double strings. Nice bass. I have enough of a challenge with my 4 and 5 stringers to dip my toes into your territory. Jazzyvee | ||
| eligilam
Junior Username: eligilam Post Number: 33 Registered: 2-2006 |
Mark, that's officially the coolest Alembic I've seen. Do you have any sound files from that bass? Cheers, Will D. | ||
| the_8_string_king
Senior Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 475 Registered: 9-2005 |
'Fraid not. In fact, I'm such an ignoramus... I don't even know (well, exactly) what a "sound file" is! But thanks for the compliment. It was/is my dream bass, and it's surpassed all my expectations. The range, flexibility of the tone control system, and sound are nothing short of astonishing... plus the appearance... well, you can see for yourself! My new Custom-in-progress is nowhere near as ambitious... but it should be pretty awesome nonetheless. | ||
| bkbass
Intermediate Member Username: bkbass Post Number: 135 Registered: 11-2003 |
Hello Mark,I'm having a 7 possibly 8 string made. I'm interested in the nut and 24th fret widths and the overall string spacing of your incredible instrument. It looks very narrow 5/8? Also to what fret is the extended fingerboard? How are the controls laid out? | ||
| jags
Intermediate Member Username: jags Post Number: 115 Registered: 12-2006 |
yeah guys for a better look, check out jan 1999 custom "8 strings of power". then you'll find out the other 75% of this bass,and your mouths will really drop then. for sure, he is still hiding the really good parts, right mark! | ||
| the_8_string_king
Senior Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 478 Registered: 9-2005 |
Yessuh, and I tried to put up some (other) new pictures of the back, but for some reason I don't get, the system would't accept the pictures... a message popped up saying it was over the limit of 150 somethingunits...? Even though the pictures were all taken with the same digital camera. Probably some technical issue that's over my head. Anyway, I recently figured out how to do a link, so here's a link to the COTM thread... and you can see the back side is every bit as awesome as the front!!! Flame Maple body, Quilted Maple Headstock, and one of the coolest necks of all time!!! Be sure to notice the ultra-slick, unique and exceedingly cool feature of integrated body/outer neck laminates... the Flame Maple body flows continueously all the way up the neck into the headstock... it's all the same two pieces of wood on either side! Here's the link: http://www.alembic.com/info/8string.html Barry as far as your questions go: My neck is about 2&15/16th inchs at the nut, and about 3&33/64ths at the 24th fret... relatively narrow... but perfect for me. (My new 6-String Custom-In-Progress will actually have slightly tighter spacing.) My fingerboard has 26 full frets, and then partials on the 2 high (F & Bb) strings that go up to 31 frets -giving it the same range as a 7-string with a 3 octave/36 fret fingerboard... an incredible range of 5&1/2 octaves, with my 31st fret high F actually being a half step HIGHER than an Alembic guitars 24th fret high E!!! I specified no extra cutaway, so the notes above the 26th fret are a little harder to play, and not well suited for anything fast/complicated/repetitious. But the entire fingerboard IS playable. As far as the control layout... there are a total of 16 controls -8 knobs and 8 toggles. In the center, there's a master volume and a pan/blend/balance. To either side, each pickup has the standard Alembic low-pass filter, and also Bass & Treble knobs -which were spec'd to +/- 12 dbs -instead of their standard +6/-15 setup. (I can't imagine why they do it that way.) Then, each pickup has 2 Q switches; one that varies the Q (4/8/12 dbs) and another that turns the Q off & on. (So I have a variable Q for each pickup that can go from 0/4/8/12 dbs). Each pickup also has a 3-position mid-range boost/flat/cut toggle control. As far as I know, my Europa is the ONLY Alembic with any mid-range controls on it. All of these controls are set up in a completely symmetrical configuration. The exceptions are the last 2 switches. These are laid out symmetrically -but they have different functions. One of them is a power switch. In the middle, the power is off -even when the jack is plugged in. If I lift this toggle up, it turns on the instrument/draws power from the main battery. If I flick it down, it draws power from an alternate battery and ALSO turns on the LEDs. I chose to have separate power batteries so I never have to worry about running out. The final switch is a unique "stereo switch", made custom for my bass. In the middle position, each pickup has it's own set of 6 tone controls (bass, mid, treble, filter, and 2 Q switches); by flicking this switch to one side or the other, I can "assign" either set of tone controls to become "master" tone controls for each pickup. The primary application of this is that I can choose to have the ultimate, more-detailed control of individualized tone control for each pickup -like the Series, Signature, and Anniversary models, OR I can choose the simplicity of having just one set of tone controls for BOTH pickups... if I prefer. But an ancillary benefit is that I can use this system to switch back and forth between two completely different tone control setups... for example, I can, say, use the bridge pickups' controls to set up a particular tone curve; then, I can flick the stereo switch over to the neck pickup, and use the neck pickups' controls to create a completely different tone/sound. Then, at any point, I can flick the stereo switch back to the bridge pickup controls... to use it as a built-in "preset" option. This is an extremely cool & unique option. That's it! Hope this answers your questions! | ||
| the_8_string_king
Senior Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 479 Registered: 9-2005 |
P.S. if you go to "introductions" and then open the "Archive through Nov. 9th" (the 1st one) and check out "Allow me to formally introduce myself", you can see a few more pictures -including a good close-up of the controls. | ||
| roberto
Junior Username: roberto Post Number: 38 Registered: 3-2006 |
Hi Dude! Amazing bass.I am goin for a 7strings myself. would you please tell me the string gauges used for the 1st and 2nd strings,and whether they are wounded (roundwound) or just plain steel? Thanks a lot. Robert | ||
| the_8_string_king
Senior Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 496 Registered: 9-2005 |
Hi Robert. You can see the gauges of my strings by clicking the link 3 posts above to my 8-Strings' COTM thread. They are all roundwounds except for the high Bb string. The strings it came with actually had a plain steel F string. I ordered 5 replacement sets of strings with the bass -I think they're custom LaBella strings, made specifically for my 8-String. For whatever reason, the replacement sets came with roundwound F strings. I like the feel of the roundwound F string a little better... can't say I notice much of a sound difference -though the strings were gettin' kind of dead by the time I finally replaced 'em. (But I have to say, they held up for a long time, and sounded good for quite a while. I attribute this partially due to the LaBellas being high quality strings... and partially to the high quality of the Alembic bass.) I'm real gung-ho on 7-Strings, and wish you luck with it. Trip Wamsley and I have 8-Strings, and Danno has a 7-String Spoiler -have you seen it? These are the only Alembic basses I know of with more than 6 strings (not counting octave basses). When I put in my quote for my current custom in progress, I inquired both about the cost of a 7th string, and also/alternatively, the cost of an extra 5 frets with a slanted fingerboard (like my 8-String). They quoted me basically the same for each option. Susan said it would be an extra $1500 for a 7-String; alternatively, they quoted me $1125 for an extra 5 frets (same range) -but stated it would have to go directly to Alembic with no dealer discount... so it would've been the same as $1500 run through a dealer with the maximum 25% discount. Depending on what you want/are looking for, you might consider the extra 5 frets instead of the 7th string. Both are cool options with tradeoffs. Obviously, the 7th string adds a 4th to your "string range", and enables you to play more notes in a given position without shifting. On the other hand, having 5 extra frets INSTEAD of the 7th string means you have a a more narrow and lighter neck, and also don't have to worry about a custom F string. It would mean you could pretty much use any 6-String sets for your scale length. Both of these options are really cool. I'll look forward to seeing what you decide. Another club member -bkbass- was also asking me for info on my bass... he was also thinking about getting a 7 or 8-String bass. So maybe there'll be a couple new multi-string basses under construction soon! I'd love to see it! Hope this helps, if I can be of any further assistance, just let me know. | ||
| roberto
Junior Username: roberto Post Number: 39 Registered: 3-2006 |
Hi King! Thanks for the reply.I am thinking of using La Bella too cause they are the only company that make 0.020roumdwound. I started playing classical guitar,so playing a 6string is really hard for my memory,cause my brain is kind of set up to a guitar tuning.So I decided to get a custom 7 this year. BY the way.your neck dimensioms is quite unique, that is app 3inches at nut and app 3.5 inches at 24th fret.?Can you slap on such a narrow spacing? The Bocate looks real nice. Thanks again. Robert | ||
| the_8_string_king
Senior Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 504 Registered: 9-2005 |
I'm not much of a slapper... not my style -though I've played around with it a little. I can slap the 3 low strings half-decent... but I get the impression that wider string spacing IS more conducive to that style of playing. My paradigm is more fast/intricate/chordal/contrapuntal in nature... I've found closer string spacing works better for that. Plus, needless to say, when you've got 8-strings... well, I wouldn't want the board to be any wider. Make sure you THOROUGHLY educate yourself about fingerboard dimensions. NO ASPECT OF YOUR CUSTOM IS MORE IMPORTANT THAT GETTING A FINGERBOARD THAT IS COMFORTABLE FOR YOU, AND FITS YOUR NEEDS. Do research, and make sure that when you order it, you order what will be right for YOU! By the way, I also play classical guitar and totally appreciate your thinking on the 7-String... of course, I also think 7-Strings is the way to go on guitar as well!!! | ||
| the_8_string_king
Senior Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 505 Registered: 9-2005 |
Thanks for the compliment on the Bocate top, by the way. I'm quite pleased with it, and think it holds up pretty favorably with the other pretty awesome tops you see floating around here -and that's no small thing! There's no shortage of awesome looking Alembics... but I really feel this one is right up there with the best of the best!!! | ||
| tbrannon
Advanced Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 386 Registered: 11-2004 |
Mark, I've read the whole thread, but it's kinda daunting, please excuse me if you've answered this before. How come you chose to have the neck pickup slanted? Toby | ||
| the_8_string_king
Senior Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 545 Registered: 9-2005 |
Hey Toby! It was a matter of form accomodating function. You see, for many years, my fantasy, my "dream bass" was a 7-String with a 3-octave (36 fret) neck. Then one day, lo and behold I saw a picture of such a beast -a Conklin "Sidewinder" with 7 strings and 36 frets. When I looked at the picture of this bass, I found that it had only one pickup; and there wasn't really much of a place for a second pickup... at best, a second pickup might be able to be positioned right next to the... well, it was more a less a "bridge" pickup... positionwise. And then, what would be the point? So, when I decided to commission Alembic to make my dream bass, I modified this original concept slightly -by adding an "extra" string, and cutting back the fingerboard 5 frets. So my bass has the same range as a 7-string with 36 frets. Now, I wanted to leave my bridge pickup as close to the "normal" spot as possible... but the treble end of the pickup is displaced by the extended fingerboard. So that's it. The slant is just the result of pushing the treble end of the pickup out of the way of the extended fingerboard. | ||
| tbrannon
Advanced Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 387 Registered: 11-2004 |
Makes total sense now that you've said it- I don't know why I didn't think of that myself. ~thanks | ||
| rob_the_fiend
New Username: rob_the_fiend Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2007 |
Hello Mark. Would you mind if I used your bass as inspiration for a double neck I'm drawing in AutoCAD? I have been looking through this site for a year now, since a friend showed it to me,and I have let my mind throw ideas around. Your bass is one of three Featured Customs that have been my inspiration. | ||
| the_8_string_king
Senior Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 921 Registered: 9-2005 |
Hi Robert. I'm sorry, I missed your post until... well, just tonight. I'm pleased you appreciate my 8-string, and certainly don't mind your using it for inspiration and/or source material. A few additional pictures can be found here: http://alembic.com/club/messages/397/21729.html?1130250188 Between that thread and this one, most questions that one would be inclined to ask regarding the bass have been asked and answered... but if you have any others, feel free to ask! | ||
| thedavidkeith
Junior Username: thedavidkeith Post Number: 35 Registered: 3-2007 |
Holy Sh(t that thing scares me. It's obviously bigger and stronger than me, and far better looking. | ||
| rob_the_fiend
New Username: rob_the_fiend Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2007 |
Thanks Mark. I find things that are extreme, and over the top, facinating. Your Extended Range Bass certanly qualifies. The double neck I'm drawing is getting nearer completion, as is the single neck I'm also drawing. The single neck is pretty much an Essence, with an extended upper horn, and a squashed omega. The omega is possible due to the entire action,(tailpiece, bridge, pups and fingerboard), is pulled out of the body. It's so all the frets are accessible. And I just love the omega cutouts. So I had to have it... heh. Robert | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 412 Registered: 11-2004 |
Do you gig this bass?? Looks awesome..wondered who 8 strings of power belonged to | ||
| rob_the_fiend
New Username: rob_the_fiend Post Number: 10 Registered: 10-2007 |
Hey, Mark. I posted a pair of renderings of the ideas I've had based on your bass. http://alembic.com/club/messages/402/49807.html?1206676855 | ||
| robinc
Intermediate Member Username: robinc Post Number: 136 Registered: 5-2008 |
not enough strings! ;) |
