| Author | Message | ||
| jack
Junior Username: jack Post Number: 29 Registered: 11-2005 |
Hey all, Anyone ever own one of these basses? There's a semi hollow 5 str fretless in my neighborhood for 1300. Internet search shows this to be a fair price, I think. I've never owned a fretless or even played one regularly. I think the added bonus of the semi hollow is I'd pick it up everytime I walked in the room and play acoustically. Anyway I see the subject has come up, and some of you have owned one of these (mik, jaurigemma). I'd greatly appreciate any thoughts on sound, reliability, playability, etc. Thanks, Jack   | ||
| edwin
Intermediate Member Username: edwin Post Number: 117 Registered: 5-2002 |
I've never owned one, but I've played one and heard them played live (through a great system at the Boulder Theater by a great player, Derek Jones). They are simply awesome. Built like a classical guitar and they sound somewhere between a fretless bass guitar and an upright. HTH Edwin Can you tell that I want one? :-) | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 307 Registered: 7-2002 |
If you can get your hands on one BUY IT! imho they are the best! And you'll be getting a bit of Alembic in the process! (Mr. Turner) I actually passed on one on Ebay about a year ago for $800 (lefty) and I've been kicking myself ever since. | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 607 Registered: 10-2003 |
I spent about half an hour with one and loved it. Very organic sounding, and ridiculously sweet neck. John | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2213 Registered: 9-2002 |
IFF I am well informed Dela has/had (seen the New Orleans area disaster) such a bass. My "Chi" is a Rob Allen MB-2 and that is a similar instrument. I am not in the market for a collection of basses but this bass -well ...in this case read "this type of basses"- is very rewarding to have: the tone is COM-PLE-TE-LY opppostite on an Alembic. If I can see it well the bass you propose is strung with Bronze-wounds. In my case I have the Labella nylon flatwounds. Don't panic about that fretless issue: just start with your ears and heart, not with your eyes and -in time- the rest will come. I would advice the use of a good tone control system if played live! "CHi" and my SF-2 are made for each other. Just some thoughts. Paul the bad one | ||
| jack
Junior Username: jack Post Number: 30 Registered: 11-2005 |
Well I played one (4 str. fretless) on at a 48th St. store last night after work, just to get an idea. Must say is sounds a little thinner than I was expecting. It was wound with nylon-core bronze strings from Thomastik-Infeld (the guy said they were the factory strings and the internet backs him up); I assume the bass shown above is wound with the same. I didn't have much time (the store was closed when I walked in) but it certainly seems to be well made and very playable (nice neck). The sound seemed a little thin to me, but maybe I just need to sit down and work with the controls a bit. In retrospect, I should've tried it unplugged; maybe I'll go play the one above tonight. For 800 it'd be a no-brainer. As it is, buying this would probably put me out of the instrument market for another couple years at least. My Epic is really all I need in the fretted dept., but I've secretly been on the lookout for an Alembic with the low-pass filter. Maybe the answer is buy this baby and send the Epic back for an upgrade? Not a bad idea... On another note, the one I tried at the store did not have a thumb rest, and this one does, an absolute must for me. Anyway, thanks for the input, and I'd appreciate any other contributions. -Jack | ||
| kungfusheriff
Senior Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 448 Registered: 8-2003 |
Jack, RT says there's a trimpot on the circuit board that adjusts low-end output. T-I Acousticores are the stock strings, and unless my memory's tripping me up (again), RT is credited with that design, too. | ||
| jack
Junior Username: jack Post Number: 31 Registered: 11-2005 |
Yeah, I saw that, that's good news. There's also a neat interview that discusses the history of Alembic and etc. http://www.renaissanceguitars.com/interview.html | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1593 Registered: 9-2003 |
Cool interview! Thanks for the link! | ||
| spose
Member Username: spose Post Number: 86 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hippies with routers! heehee | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1594 Registered: 9-2003 |
Yeah, that is a good quote! It's a wonder some of them still have all their fingers (and toes?), LOL! Anybody that spends time in a wood shop around rotating machinery knows what I'm talking about. | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1595 Registered: 9-2003 |
Yeah, that is a good quote! It's a wonder some of them still have all their fingers (and toes?), LOL! Anybody that spends time in a wood shop around rotating machinery knows what I'm talking about. | ||
| gbarchus
Intermediate Member Username: gbarchus Post Number: 158 Registered: 6-2002 |
I use T-I Acousticores on my Washburn AB40 fretless acoustic/electric. They were designed for basses with piezo pickups. You have to get used to their feel but they WILL change the sound of your bass in a positive direction! | ||
| jorge_s
Member Username: jorge_s Post Number: 62 Registered: 8-2002 |
I own two of Mr. Turner's basses. All I have to say is: 100% good bass, worth every penny. I'll stop with that being the Alembic site and all. | ||
| jack
Junior Username: jack Post Number: 34 Registered: 11-2005 |
Thanks for the input everyone. Took the plunge on Sat. Love it. Sounds beautiful and easier to play than I thought. Quite a looker as well. Took it to band practice last night. Rave reviews from bandmates. Thanks again, Jack |
