| Author | Message | ||
| Reid Raymond (rraymond)
New Username: rraymond Post Number: 3 Registered: 6-2002 |
'98 Orion 5 string with Standard Point body, bubinga top, wenge accent, cone headstock, Essence electronics - big sound!  (Message edited by rraymond on May 03, 2004) (Message edited by rraymond on May 03, 2004) | ||
| rraymond
Member Username: rraymond Post Number: 62 Registered: 6-2002 |
I had some upgrades done to The Big "K" by the good folks down in Santa Rosa. He's back and absolutely smokin'! My thanks again to everybody at Alembic!   | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1321 Registered: 9-2002 |
Cool ...the logo after the bridge!!! | ||
| rraymond
Member Username: rraymond Post Number: 64 Registered: 6-2002 |
Thanks Paul TBO, I do have to admit that like musicians will do, I stole the idea! Check Keavin's old #12. Now I have to steal some country riffs for a rehearsal this afternoon, check ya'll later! | ||
| bassman10096
Advanced Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 333 Registered: 7-2003 |
Looks cool either way! | ||
| hollis
Intermediate Member Username: hollis Post Number: 162 Registered: 11-2003 |
Are the ovals MOP, or are they abalone? It looks great! Are those fat boys? How's it sounding? | ||
| rraymond
Member Username: rraymond Post Number: 65 Registered: 6-2002 |
Thanks to all for the compliments. The inlays are MOP and the pups are Fatboys. I also had a sustain block installed under the bridge and added a Q switch. As far as sound, well it always sounded great, it is an Alembic, but now it is simply awesome. I couldn't get the grin off my face at rehearsal yesterday afternoon. My bandmates couldn't quit looking at it, either. It has become an amazing piece of ear and eye candy. Yet again, credit goes to Alembic! | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 503 Registered: 5-2002 |
The fatboys look good on that body with the five string neck. | ||
| keavin
Advanced Member Username: keavin Post Number: 327 Registered: 12-2002 |
hey!!! | ||
| keavin
Advanced Member Username: keavin Post Number: 328 Registered: 12-2002 |
lets admit 'logos'do look good down there by the tail,,,, but, "that bass" looks like it will kick your ass! (mean!!!) | ||
| rraymond
Member Username: rraymond Post Number: 68 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hey Keavin, this bass absolutely kicks MY butt, anyway! The Big K is a 13 pounder, and it feels and definitely sounds HEAVY! I don't know why having the logo down between the tail-piece and point intrigues the heck out of me like it does, but it does, and obviously I am not alone! Now I'm thinkin', "Logo with shell inlay and an LED underneath, and you got tail-lights!" I'm out of here before I start thinkin' too much. (Message edited by rraymond on May 20, 2004) | ||
| bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 447 Registered: 11-2003 |
You have a beautiful bass. It sounds amazing I'm sure. I agree the logo does look cool at that end. 13 pounds? Wow, I can't imagine. I'm getting to the age where my 8 pounder starts to hurt after a while. Maybe with the taillights you can have a beeper for when you back up. Sorry, it's early. Sam | ||
| keavin
Advanced Member Username: keavin Post Number: 386 Registered: 12-2002 |
boy! if i was a termite alembics would be my main meal!. | ||
| rraymond
Member Username: rraymond Post Number: 69 Registered: 6-2002 |
Alrighty then, the termite gourmet says Alembic = 5 Star Restaurant, Fender = McDonald's! "Would you like that Supersized today, sir? We're throwing in a Mustang with every Precision purchased." "No thanks, I'm going across the street for a heapin' helping of bubinga, purpleheart, and macassar ebony with a quilted maple chaser! | ||
| keavin
Advanced Member Username: keavin Post Number: 387 Registered: 12-2002 |
man i'm laffin my ass off! | ||
| alemboid
Member Username: alemboid Post Number: 71 Registered: 5-2003 |
RRaymond, The big Kahuna was attractive in its original form. After the inlays and pickups, the big kahuna is absolutely beautiful. Congrats! I have a balance point bass that weighs just over 14 lbs. I know how you feel! Bryant | ||
| marcm
Member Username: marcm Post Number: 73 Registered: 12-2003 |
hi reid the big kahuna is really beautiful! the btc figured bubinga is striking, the logo by the tailpiece is very cool, and your choice of mods is right after my own heart: my almost-completed bass started out as an essence, customized with fatboys, three-position q switches, and a bridge block. i probably should've stopped right there, but one thing led to another . . . i haven't seen many bubinga-topped alembics, and i don't know anything about it as a tone wood. does it have a characteristic effect on the sound of the instrument, as maple or cocobolo or vermilion would? regards marc (Message edited by marcm on January 18, 2005) | ||
| rraymond
Intermediate Member Username: rraymond Post Number: 157 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi Marc: The Big Kahuna does have a unique tone. I used to have a Bocate topped 5 string Orion and a Bird's Eye Maple topped 5 string Epic, all with the same Essence tone controls. Basically, all three basses were the same, except for their body size differences and their tone woods. As big as the Big K is, you wouldn't believe how trebly it is! It is very brilliant, has super clarity, but is mid-rangy to trebly overall. I can compensate via controls on my amp to get more bass, so I'm basically very happy with the results. Even playing it unplugged, it is super bright sounding - very Stanley-ish. Thanks for the compliments, BTW! Reid | ||
| dgcarbu
Intermediate Member Username: dgcarbu Post Number: 186 Registered: 6-2004 |
Hi Reid, Nice upgrades, Congratulations! The ovals came out great. Peace, Darrell | ||
| marcm
Member Username: marcm Post Number: 74 Registered: 12-2003 |
hi reid thanks for the insight! after i posted my message to you, i asked a friend, an experienced woodworker and cabinetmaker, what he knew about bubinga. the first thing he told me was that it's pronounced boo BING ah, not byu BING ah; his subsequent comments suggested that it might be a bright, trebly tone wood, but his experience doesn't extend to musical instruments as a first-time alembic owner (i've only played one just once, 23 years ago), i have a lot to learn from experienced owners and from playing my own alembic when it is completed i wish you all the best with the big k. it's a beautiful bass marc | ||
| lbpesq
Advanced Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 287 Registered: 7-2004 |
My Mesa/boogie Mark III and the matching Thiele cabinet are bubinga. Beautiful wood. I've had the amp almost 20 years, it still looks great. As far as a tone wood, I can honestly say that I love the boogie's tone, though I don't know if the wood really has much to do with it. LOL Bill, tgo | ||
| marcm
Member Username: marcm Post Number: 75 Registered: 12-2003 |
hi bill this is off-topic for reid's 'big kahuna' thread, so please excuse, but was your theile cab made by the company of the same name (without the final 'e', i thought) who make excellent home-audio loudspeakers? thanks marc | ||
| lbpesq
Advanced Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 288 Registered: 7-2004 |
Marc: No, not the same as the speaker company. It is a closed back single 12 with a port - designed by a guy named Thiele, I believe, - made by Mesa. Great low end and directional projection. Bill, tgo | ||
| csissom
New Username: csissom Post Number: 5 Registered: 11-2005 |
Well, this beautiful bass has a new home now. Mine! It is my first Alembic and my first 5 string, so I am pretty excited. I thought I would mark the occasion by posting a new pic of the Big Kahuna in her new home.  | ||
| 5stringfreak
New Username: 5stringfreak Post Number: 1 Registered: 6-2010 |
I just bought this bass. 6/11/10. LOVE IT! I'm upgrading the neck w/ some LEDs. Alembic = happy.  | ||
| artswork99
Moderator Username: artswork99 Post Number: 1172 Registered: 7-2007 |
Cool! Welcome Rich enjoy that Alembic. Play it Healthy! Art |
