| Author | Message | ||
| pukie
New Username: pukie Post Number: 7 Registered: 9-2010 |
Hi, So my patience ran out, could'nt wait any longer for the "right" pre-owned bass to come along( apart from the one I didn't win on fleabay). Anyway some of you may have seen this bass appear in the final construction stage on a well known website.... So after a couple of emails from Beaver I snapped it up. It has now arrived at it's new home, directly from the factory... and here is the finished product. Needless to say (but I am going to anyway) everything you guys on here have said is true. It is in a different league to anything I have ever owned or played before, both in terms of construction and playability...yes blue LEDS are too bright... and No, I havent figured out how to use the tone controls properly yet either.   Lovin' my Alembic | ||
| pukie
New Username: pukie Post Number: 9 Registered: 9-2010 |
Picture from Alemic...  I was speechless when I received this picture when they shipped the bass, but was speechless again when I opened the case, there is a quality to the finish in the shine, colour and the depth of pattern that just can't seem to be photographed. | ||
| pierreyves
Senior Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 760 Registered: 11-2006 |
yummy bass... very wonderful... | ||
| pace
Senior Member Username: pace Post Number: 681 Registered: 4-2004 |
That is AWESOME!!!! Congrats on your first Alembic!!!! Last time I was at the factory (2004) they were carving a Buckeye Balance K Omega 5 string similar to yours w/ the exception of an all ebony/purpleheart neck. Even w/out the finish, it looked amazing!!!! | ||
| crobbins
Senior Member Username: crobbins Post Number: 811 Registered: 6-2004 |
Very cool looking bass. Congrats...... | ||
| oddmetersam
Intermediate Member Username: oddmetersam Post Number: 122 Registered: 7-2008 |
She is exquisite. What's the scale length on yours? I have a MK King Sig Dlx also and a year and a half after acquisition she still surprises me with some of the great tones she's got lurking under the hood. I'm actually working on a chart cataloging my favorite sounds, complete with pics of the filter and Q switch settings. You are a very lucky man. Have fun! | ||
| pukie
New Username: pukie Post Number: 10 Registered: 9-2010 |
Thanks for the compliments. Hi Sam, It's the standard 34" scale length. never tried anything else so I wouldnt know if it makes a difference or not. When it comes to tone I've been using mike1762' s advice from this thread... http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/82325.html?1278705864 Actually I was surprised no once has cataloged (or at least listed on the forum) specific tone settings before , but now I think perhaps it is because the controls are Sooo sensitive, & each bass is different. Then of course there's the amp to be considered. So much tweaking, so little time. | ||
| manbass7
Junior Username: manbass7 Post Number: 14 Registered: 10-2010 |
waoww | ||
| artswork99
Moderator Username: artswork99 Post Number: 1433 Registered: 7-2007 |
Stunning! Play it Healthy! | ||
| jim777
New Username: jim777 Post Number: 7 Registered: 10-2012 |
I know this is an old thread, but this is exactly what I would love to have. Love that heart omega, blue LEDs  The whole package is just perfection! | ||
| charles_holmes
Intermediate Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 194 Registered: 3-2009 |
Only it has to be a series! | ||
| hammer
Advanced Member Username: hammer Post Number: 250 Registered: 9-2009 |
Someday I'm going to need to get an explanation as to exactly what a Series I or II provides (other than the capacity to split pickups into separate channels which is something I don't think I'll ever use not alone be able to hear) that one doesn't get with a Signature electronics package and the combo F-1X preamp and SF-2 superfilter that I currently use. I know that there might be an advantage to on-board controls versus having to walk over to one's rack but if I'm in a studio situation that shouldn't be too much of a deal, and if I'm playing live, will I ever really have the time to engage in the amount of tone shaping that the on-board package allows without bandmates throwing things at me.? | ||
| charles_holmes
Intermediate Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 196 Registered: 3-2009 |
Well for my taste, I prefer the series (there's nothing wrong with signature electronics)because of the separation (bass/treble) and if you have a series with the right amplification..You Will Hear a Difference. Absolute total control of what you want to hear, and after a while you'll be able to dial any tone(s) you want within seconds and you'll bandmates will be pleased.I have never owned a signature bass so I cannot compare it against the series (that equals apples-n oranges). I just know after hearing the series live, that that was the way to go. Imagine this..you are sitting in front of two speakers, Speaker A pumps out bottom only and speaker B pumps out treble and you can add exactly what you want to come out of those speakers (yummers!!) With the series II you get an extra volume potentiometer to control overall volume (double yummers!!)You ever hear Stanley's axe live?!! (i'm getting excited!!Give me a second to compose myself) The bottom line {IMHO} is that all Alembics are "all good", "all that" and it's like saying hmmm..what kind of Rolls Royce do I want. If you ever get the chance to aurally compare the signature and series you will dig the tones and "feel the force Luke"!! | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3179 Registered: 6-2002 |
I have a signature bass with f1-x and sf-2 and using Stanley Clarke's albums as my tonal reference I can in most cases get what to my ears sounds close to what I'm hearing off the record even without the sf-2 in many cases. However with the sig f1-x and sf-2 I can't get my signature bass to sound anything like my series ii bass. Jazzyvee That said the lower notes on the e string of my short scale sc deluxe have a magnificent tone I can't get or better on my series bass. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3180 Registered: 6-2002 |
I forgot to say, Charles I agree Stanley's live sound is incredible. Best bass sound I've ever heard live. Jazzyvee | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1160 Registered: 1-2005 |
I upgraded my Stanley Clarke Signature so now it has Anniversary electronics - instead of vol/pan, it has separate volumes for each pickup, pickup selector, and a switch so you can run either stereo or mono. Probably as close as you can get to Series without being Series. Of course, the pickups are different. Ultimately, I'm a believer in using the tools available to express oneself. As Chalie said, any Alembic is going to be an amazing instrument. And the bass in this thread is AMAZING!!! | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3181 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi Harry, did Alembic do the mod for the anniversary electronics or did you do it yourself? Was it a mod to the existing electronics or a completely new electronic refit?. The important bit, was it a few hundred dollars or a heck of a lot of hundreds of dollars? I did ask Mica about this recently but have not got a reply back from her yet. jazzyvee (Message edited by jazzyvee on October 11, 2012) (Message edited by jazzyvee on October 11, 2012) | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1161 Registered: 1-2005 |
Just the control harness - used the same pickups. And Alembic did it, so I don't have the old harness lying around ;) So I seem to remember it being on the lower end of the scale cost-wise. | ||
| pukie
Junior Username: pukie Post Number: 11 Registered: 9-2010 |
OK first things first, thanks for all the nice comments , and I can safely say that this particular bass gives an accurate rendition (to my ears) of the Stanley Clarke and Mark King tones. So I can slap away to my hearts content. I'd imagine there would be some very unhappy customers and, the US being a very litigeous society, a few law suits if signature basses didn't produce the "signature" sound of the "signatory". That said, What it does'nt give me is one of the other tones that I associated with Alembics - the John Entwhistle sound. Perhaps that needs series electonics..or a rig the price of a house..or does someone else know better? Anyway now for the next question - why upgrade?, what will Anniversary Electronics actually bring to the party that a volume/pan combination and tone shaping at the amp won't do? - apart from the stereo option. (ARRRGHHHH! I have a nasty feeling I am going to need this anyway, if everyone else does it!) | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3187 Registered: 6-2002 |
Here is a discussion on the subject from a few years back. Certainly got me thinking. http://alembic.com/club/messages/402/26700.html Jazzyvee | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Junior Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 30 Registered: 6-2012 |
Re: Entwistle tone - IMO, Anniversary electronics help, but aren't totally necessary. It is my experience that the most important component of the "Entwistle tone" is perfecting the "typewriter" tapping technique. If it is executed correctly, any Alembic electronics package should have enough sensitivity to reproduce this technique. New strings, longer scale and low action also help as you don't have to tap as hard to get a ringing sound. It actually sounds better if you ease up and use a gentle, precise "tap" (as opposed to a "hammer") directly on the fretboard somewhere between the 18th and 24th frets. I have a Spyder with the Anniversary package and a Stanley Signature Deluxe with the same electronics as your MK. Like your MK, the Spyder is 34" scale and therefore rings a little more than the short scale SC, but, electronically, either will deliver the harmonic nuances produced by the tapping technique. |
