Build Record Log Out | Topics | Search
Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

Alembic Club » Factory to Customer » Danny's 10-string, three pickup monster » Build Record « Previous Next »

  Thread Last Poster Posts Pages Last Post
Archive through July 15, 2009fc_spoiler30 7-15-09  2:27 am
Archive through December 14, 2009tmoney6109230 12-14-09  3:53 pm
Archive through February 19, 2010dannobasso30 2-19-10  9:35 am
Archive through April 12, 2010dannobasso30 4-12-10  11:37 am
Archive through October 25, 2010dannobasso30 10-25-10  9:09 pm
Archive through February 21, 2011tbrannon30 2-21-11  7:15 pm
  ClosedClosed: New threads not accepted on this page        

Author Message
dannobasso
Senior Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 1340
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Monday, February 21, 2011 - 8:05 pm:   Edit Post

Yep. I'm off all week but a delivery Friday would be better for me. I'll be out of the house Thursday unless you have it held at the UPS in Saddle Brook location. Then I can pick it up there without worrying about missing the driver on Thursday.
dannobasso
Senior Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 1341
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - 1:32 pm:   Edit Post

A deep gratitude and profound thanks to Ron , Susan, Mica, Mary, James and the whole Alembic family for their artistry, patience, craftsmanship and generosity. Again, here is a unique company that works so closely with their customers even when a dealer is usually the person who gets that privilege. Always prepared to entertain a special request and execute it to the highest level of craftsmanship even when it has not been done before. I am truly blessed to have so many of their creations, many built to my order. Though this was a while in the making, it was the easiest wait because I have learned to trust completely the folks in charge of my requests, unusual as some have been..
Please continue to support this family company and promote it whenever you can.

I shall have it Thursday or Friday. I'll let you all know how it sounds this weekend.
dannobasso
Senior Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 1346
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Friday, February 25, 2011 - 7:21 am:   Edit Post

D'oh! I saw out for delivery on the tracking and went to the service center. I was shipping a bass anyway. I was too early. So now I shall nap and try again later. Haste makes waste, and with gas going up too!
tbrannon
Senior Member
Username: tbrannon

Post Number: 1289
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Friday, February 25, 2011 - 8:07 am:   Edit Post

Good luck Danno- I probably would have left the car running and napped in the parking lot at the distribution center :-)

Opening that case for the 1st time is always magic- enjoy the day.
dannobasso
Senior Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 1349
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Friday, February 25, 2011 - 3:04 pm:   Edit Post

Turns out, they had it in the office because it was a very pricy package. Got it home after inspecting it in the parking lot and not getting peanuts all over the place. This is a very demanding animal. I'm really going to have to hone my finger strength/placement to get chords to ring evenly. (it not the bass folks its me). This recipe with the koa top and ebony lam gives it a darkish tone which is going to be easy to control at stage volumes. The chorus strings are not too bright and can be dialed in nicely. The 3rd pickup adds a great character to the tone. It does not add volume, just a bit more depth. Plus I can have it in with or without high end to get whatever mix I want. Its going to be a very musical, useful tool.

The balance is good with an Alembic/Moody strap and despite it being a bit heavy compared to some of my basses it will be easily managed. The body size feels familiar and almost compact when I look at all the do dads that are on it. Plus the added bonus that it fits in my new gig bag!

Thanks again to the Alembic family for all the work and dedication. I'm going to have to put in some serious practice on this beast but what doesn't kill you makes you a better player. right?
briant
Senior Member
Username: briant

Post Number: 549
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Friday, February 25, 2011 - 4:14 pm:   Edit Post

\m/ the blackness is complete \m/

Go forth and rock.
hb3
Senior Member
Username: hb3

Post Number: 584
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Saturday, February 26, 2011 - 12:36 pm:   Edit Post

I'd love to hear even a brief sample of what this sounds like. Don't be too self-critical, Danno!
dannobasso
Senior Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 1351
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Sunday, February 27, 2011 - 6:22 am:   Edit Post

I was surprised that the new bass was so readily accepted at rehearsal. The sound is unique and undeniable. Truly a monster tone. The mahog, maple, koa combo with the ebony lam give a rich full tone even through an old Sunn head and EV 18 sub.

It does require more energy to play. Extra strings, extra tension. The right hand was a bit fatigued after about an hour. So in a live situation the extra adrenaline usually causes one to play harder than usual is something to prepare for. That said, its not difficult to play and kept its tune from before I left the house through taking it out of the bag and playing for over an hour and a half.

So in conclusion, I'm extremely pleased with this bass. I would recommend the 3rd pickup to anyone and ebony lam and of course the extra strings. It was a bit of an investment in money and time but it will give me great pleasure and performance for years to come, and I plan on living a very long time. Cheers
crobbins
Senior Member
Username: crobbins

Post Number: 812
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Sunday, February 27, 2011 - 10:39 am:   Edit Post

Right on, congrats....
fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 1232
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Monday, February 28, 2011 - 9:08 am:   Edit Post

Allrighty then, congrats!

+1 on the 3 pickup recommendation, insanely versatile is the only way I can describe it.

Ya know this calls for a new updated group picture right? :-)

Have fun!
jack
Advanced Member
Username: jack

Post Number: 274
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Friday, March 04, 2011 - 1:27 pm:   Edit Post

I would also love to hear a sound clip or two if you have a chance. Congratulations - amazing instrument!
dannobasso
Senior Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 1356
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Wednesday, April 06, 2011 - 9:57 am:   Edit Post

A bit of an update. I changed the set up a tad and work with it everyday and it continues to surprise me at how responsive and well designed it is. It is the finest instrument I have received from the Alembic family to date. If I knew what a difference the ebony lam made earlier I would have sprung for the extra cabbage on my other customs. Amplified at even moderate volumes this thing just rings with sustain. Notes hold for huge amounts of time. And again the third pickup is tremendous in its versatility. It totally changed my mind about electronic packages.

Just wanted to let you know how much the ebony and electronics have impressed me and made the quality of my playing life that much more enjoyable. Now to make the credit card payment!
mario_farufyno
Senior Member
Username: mario_farufyno

Post Number: 637
Registered: 9-2008
Posted on Thursday, April 07, 2011 - 6:45 am:   Edit Post

Great Tip!
dannobasso
Senior Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 1363
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, May 05, 2011 - 6:37 pm:   Edit Post

body shot y'all!
dannobasso
Senior Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 1364
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, May 05, 2011 - 6:40 pm:   Edit Post

headshot!
artswork99
Moderator
Username: artswork99

Post Number: 1486
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Thursday, May 05, 2011 - 6:42 pm:   Edit Post

Wow!
briant
Senior Member
Username: briant

Post Number: 570
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Friday, May 06, 2011 - 9:16 am:   Edit Post

So want to hear sound clips of this bass.
mario_farufyno
Senior Member
Username: mario_farufyno

Post Number: 661
Registered: 9-2008
Posted on Friday, May 06, 2011 - 9:53 am:   Edit Post

Impressive
jack
Advanced Member
Username: jack

Post Number: 302
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Monday, June 13, 2011 - 1:02 pm:   Edit Post

I apologize if I missed it in the thread, but what kind of strings are on this? I recently purchased a ten string and am in the market for strings (the octave strings)- they seem somewhat tough to find...

The options I've found so far are either D'addario four string piccolo (.020, .032, .042, .052) which I can find locally, and purchase a separate .018 (the smallest single string I see) for the G octave, which is only online; or

Zon seems to offer two five string piccolo sets:
(B through G tuning, maximum 34" scale (.018-.025-.040-.055-.065); and
E through C tuning, maximum 34" scale (.009-.018-.025-.040-.055)

For reference, the manufacturer tells me the bass originally shipped with:
.014, .020, .030, .040, .050

The Zon piccolos are singnificantly heavier on the low end, and I wonder if this will create spacing problems/nut and bridge problems.

So I'm curious what's on yours; or, if the kind folks at Alembic would let me know where they source their strings or if they have any ten string (or piccolo five string) sets to sell.

Thanks.
dannobasso
Senior Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 1371
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Monday, June 13, 2011 - 6:58 pm:   Edit Post

They are D'Addario I'm told but the gauges were not recorded. I need to get a battery for my micrometer and see if DR can fill the bill.
check http://www.12stringbass.net/ for more info.
dannobasso
Senior Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 1390
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Monday, September 26, 2011 - 3:53 pm:   Edit Post

Dr is making up sets for me
Lo Riders
Octaves: G .020, D .025, A .035, E .045 B .055
Medium 5 String w/125
MH5-45 45 65 85 105 125

Thanks to Anthony at DR for doing this. They can also do them in high beams as well. I'm going to pick up a box of Marcus Miller Fat Beams for my 4 stringers. Should be good on the 83 Spoiler.
adriaan
Moderator
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 2862
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, September 26, 2011 - 11:12 pm:   Edit Post

Those Fat Beams will make you turn down the Bass, they put out a lot of low end on my 88 Spoiler.

Mighty 10!
dannobasso
Senior Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 1402
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Saturday, October 29, 2011 - 5:07 am:   Edit Post

Just a little report. I used it on a gig for the first time with my epifani rig ( ul902c, and 2 ul212's) and the sound was epically huge!. Got rave reviews from the engineers there and folks in the audience. The new string sets are easy on the fingers and stable.
It covers a great sonic spectrum and really fills out the sound for a 3pc-frontman band.
crobbins
Senior Member
Username: crobbins

Post Number: 935
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Saturday, October 29, 2011 - 9:28 am:   Edit Post

Right on!
hb3
Senior Member
Username: hb3

Post Number: 667
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Saturday, October 29, 2011 - 10:04 am:   Edit Post

Clips, man...clips.
dannobasso
Senior Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 1408
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, December 15, 2011 - 5:59 pm:   Edit Post

hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous

Post Number: 1007
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Thursday, December 22, 2011 - 3:26 pm:   Edit Post

Monstrous!!! (even without soundclips!) :p

Add Your Message Here
Post:
Username: Posting Information:
This is a private posting area. Only registered users and moderators may post messages here.
Password:
Options: Enable HTML code in message
Automatically activate URLs in message
Action:

Topics | Last Day | Last Week | Tree View | Search | Help/Instructions | Program Credits Administration