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triodecr
New
Username: triodecr

Post Number: 5
Registered: 3-2003
Posted on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 1:20 pm:   Edit Post

Here is my new Orion guitar. It is my first Alembic and the best guitar I have ever owned or played. It is Mahogany/Maple accent/Vermillion with gloss finish and matte neck. The Vermillion/Maple/Walnut veneers on both sides of the headstock complete the look. It reminds me of the "American Beauty" custom guitar, sans series electronics and incredible burl top.



I was kind of skeptical of the active electronics and onboard eq as my past experiences were not good with active pickups. I was hoping Alembic would be different. I was suprised at the tone and versatility through my amp - A 30 watt "class A" amp I designed and built based on several Matchless, Bad Cat, Dr Z and Top Hat amps. This guitar really can do everything from bright clean funk to thrash. The clean with a little "tube finesse" is outstanding, very John Frusciante-esque and the overdrive is robust with detail. Fabuloso!!!
groovelines
Junior
Username: groovelines

Post Number: 48
Registered: 4-2003
Posted on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 3:39 pm:   Edit Post

welcome to the club,

and wow, the vermillion top is stunning, I love that body shape.

Alembic means everything it say's about it's electronics and then some. enjoy!

Mike
triodecr
New
Username: triodecr

Post Number: 9
Registered: 3-2003
Posted on Saturday, August 30, 2003 - 1:14 pm:   Edit Post

I added a bass filter to my guitar and it is super versatile now! It really completes the guitar. Incredible!!
elzie
Intermediate Member
Username: elzie

Post Number: 191
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Saturday, August 30, 2003 - 5:24 pm:   Edit Post

That is a really great looking guitar Clint!

I can't believe I didn't see this post earlier.... I have often wondered what a six string Alembic sounds like, but I can imagine it is really good, especially if yours sounds like it looks :-)


Paul II
jazzyvee
Intermediate Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 170
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, December 04, 2004 - 10:17 am:   Edit Post

hi triodecr, I'm considering getting an orion at the moment. A few questions about it if you don't mind. Does it sound crisper than a strat?
Does it have a mellow tone for stuff like Jazz or that santana type overdrive when using a pedal.

Is the guitar totally dependent on battery power?

Is it susceptable to noise interference.
I'm considering getting one to take on the road next year and just want to know if its the right choice.
Also will it fit into a flight case made for a strat?

Jazzy vee
jalevinemd
Intermediate Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 133
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Sunday, December 05, 2004 - 10:16 am:   Edit Post

Jazzy Vee,

I have a Strat and an Orion. Bear in mind that I am not a professional musician. My wife's a stay-at-home mom and I'm a play-at-home dad. For me, going on tour means taking one of my guitars and heading from my den to the basement. But here's my two cents.

The Orion sounds nothing like the Strat...I don't think anything really does. Sure, run a guitar through enough pedals and any one will sound pretty much like another...but out of the box and through the amp...no way. The Orion does, however, deliver wonderfully crisp tones through a clean amp. Turn the bass up a bit and the treble down and you get a nice, warm and full sound. Through an overdriven/distorted amp, the Orion rocks just as hard as my Les Paul and PRS...so don't worry about that Santana tone. You will not go wrong with the Orion being your Jack of all Trades!

It is dependent on the 9v battery, but the active pickups are hardly a drain on the power so they seem to last forever. I don't play the Orion all the time, but it's been at least a year...I think...since the last battery change.

Never had a problem with noise interference.

Because of the extended upper horn, the Orion will not fit into a case that is cut specifically for the Strat.

Hope this helps,

Jonathan
jazzyvee
Advanced Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 297
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 12:22 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks for your comments, I got the orion and everything you say is true.

I haven't tried it with effects yet.
I do notice that I does have a sound that feels like there is just a smidgen of chorus on it. Makes me wonder if that is something to do with out of phase pickups.

If this is how good the guitar sounds at the "cheap" end of the alembic range, I can't imagine fantastic how the upper end of the range sounds.

I'm sure this won't be my last Alembic.

Jazzyvee

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