| Author | Message | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 6323 Registered: 6-2000 |
Been collecting some pics for ya!      The wood already looks amazing, but wait until the sealer coats hit it! | ||
| artswork99
Senior Member Username: artswork99 Post Number: 798 Registered: 7-2007 |
Ohhhh, very nice! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 8595 Registered: 5-2002 |
Wow! What a cool bass!!! | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 1085 Registered: 11-2004 |
Looking sweet Will!! Is this the bass with the special electronics that we discussed on the phone? Toby | ||
| ajdover
Senior Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 735 Registered: 11-2003 |
Is this a series I or series II? Alan | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 1086 Registered: 11-2004 |
Alan- I don't want to ruin Will's surprise (and I don't really remember the exact details), but this is going to be a seriously streamlined Series bass. From what I remember of our conversations, Will relies heavily on his rack for his tone shaping (can't remember if he uses F-1X, F-2B or SF-2 or some combination), so the controls on this bass will be somewhat minimal.... That's at least what I remember from our conversation and seeing the single back plate for the series bass makes me think I'm close to being right. | ||
| ajdover
Senior Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 736 Registered: 11-2003 |
Reason I'm asking is that this looks like it might be my next custom - an Essence body shape, with an extended upper horn, with Series II electronics. Or at least Signature Electronics ... ;-) Alan | ||
| willgunn
Junior Username: willgunn Post Number: 34 Registered: 2-2007 |
Actually, it's neither Series I OR Series II! This bass will utilize Series pickups, a "PF-6" card and a side-mounted 5-pin jack, but from that point, it strays WAY off the reservation! It's what it WON'T have that makes it rather unique. Namely, this bass won't have: 1. any on-board filters or "Q" controls (I'll be using a "Superfilter" for those duties instead; in conjunction with an "F-1X" and, of course, a "DS-5" power supply), 2. any batteries (outboard powered exclusively), 3. any 1/4" jack, and 4. any pickup selector switch (or pan-pot, for that matter). What it WILL have for controls will be: 1. Master Volume, 2. Neck pickup volume, 3. Bridge pickup volume, and 4. Side LED fader control knob....and that's IT! Admittedly, not everyone's cup of tea, but it works for me! For over a year, I've been using a custom bass with "Elan" electronics (with the filter set "full up" to the 6Khz point, and the "Q"-switched off) through a "Superfilter" configured in "Stereo" mode and wired in "Series" (bass output to Channel "A" FRONT-panel input (Channel "A" in Hi-Pass mode); Channel "A" output to Channel "B" input (Channel "B" in Low-Pass mode); Channel "B" output to "F-1X" f/x return jack (yes, it works as a rear panel input); and "F-1X" XLR direct out to the Channel "A" Balanced input of a QSC power amp configured in "Bridge" mode with the channel inputs internally paralleled as well. In the "paralleled inputs" mode, the Channel "B" XLR Balanced input functions as a Balanced OUTPUT, so, when I need to send a signal to a Mixer, I use THAT for the job (and pad it down with a Shure in-line switchable attenuator as needed). This new bass will simply be a refinement on the current arrangement. The "DS-5R" will be in "Mono" mode, and will feed to the "Superfilter"'s REAR-panel Channel "A" input. The gain adjustments on the basses'"PF-6" card will be goosed-up as needed for maximum s/n ratio for the entire system. On those occasions when I need to utilize a more "conventional" amp setup, I'll simply use the bass with the "Elan" electronics, and set the filter/"Q" controls as needed to approximate the "big" setup. Obviously, neither of these basses/setups allows for individually filtering each pickup separately from the other; but that's something I personally neither need nor desire. Now, I ask you - where else but Alembic can one achieve such a variety of possibilities...even something as different as THIS?! | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 1087 Registered: 11-2004 |
Thanks for the clarification Will- I knew it was something more than I was explaining above. Stunning wood combinations BTW and I really like the elongated horn on the Essence (it IS elongated, right?). Toby | ||
| tmoney61092
Intermediate Member Username: tmoney61092 Post Number: 183 Registered: 9-2008 |
(jaw hits ground) woooooooooow, that is going to be insane ~Taylor Watterson | ||
| willgunn
Junior Username: willgunn Post Number: 35 Registered: 2-2007 |
It IS elongated - actually, it's the version used on the 6-string "Essence" body. With the exception of the woods used (for that inspiration, I'd like to give credit to Ezra Ardolino and his beautiful 5/08 COTM; though I went with 5A Quilt rather than Flame maple for the top) and, of course, the electronics, this bass is nearly identical to my other bass with the "Elan" electronics (see "Will's Custom Bass" - last entry on 10/26/08). Man, these things are more addictive than drugs! And it doesn't help things one bit being a dealer, having a bunch of 'em around giving you endless ideas and such....! | ||
| altgrendel
Intermediate Member Username: altgrendel Post Number: 104 Registered: 5-2008 |
Wow, that's impressive. I bet the sound is incredible. | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 2382 Registered: 10-2002 |
Love the neck laminations. Graeme | ||
| chrisalembic
Member Username: chrisalembic Post Number: 62 Registered: 3-2009 |
man thats a great concept!! i like the simplicity of less knobs. if it had one pick up and 6 strings, it would be an alembic anthony jackson contrabass guitar :-) | ||
| georgie_boy
Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 917 Registered: 8-2005 |
Have to agree with Jacko here!! | ||
| artswork99
Senior Member Username: artswork99 Post Number: 803 Registered: 7-2007 |
Will, I agree, "Where else but Alembic" incredibly cool. Enjoy! Art | ||
| eardolin
Junior Username: eardolin Post Number: 50 Registered: 8-2006 |
Will- Beautiful! And thanks for the inspirational credit. You're definitely gonna love both the warmth and clarity of tone this wood combination generates. It's really something else. Not to mention, in my opinion of course, it's superior visual appeal! Best- -Ezra | ||
| willgunn
Junior Username: willgunn Post Number: 36 Registered: 2-2007 |
Ezra - You're more than welcome! I must admit, once I saw your guitar, I couldn't resist! The balance of colors, as well as the contrasts between light and dark that you'd arrived at simply blew me away! Wouldn't it be cool to see the two of 'em side by side?! And I just KNEW that the tonal effects of such a wood combination would be nothing short of fantastic as well! I can't wait to get it in my hot little hands! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 6355 Registered: 6-2000 |
Some spray:  | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 545 Registered: 10-2006 |
The ebony framing on the neck is just soooo cool....... Peter | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 8666 Registered: 5-2002 |
Thanks for pointing that out Peter; that does look nice! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 6399 Registered: 6-2000 |
Here's the picture of the peghead you asked for, Will:  Hope you can see the bevel - I have to admit, as usual, my peghead picture is not so good! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 8786 Registered: 5-2002 |
The more I notice about this bass, the cooler it gets! | ||
| hydrargyrum
Senior Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 672 Registered: 3-2004 |
Agreed Dave. I love the color of the neck laminates. | ||
| bassjigga
Advanced Member Username: bassjigga Post Number: 369 Registered: 8-2005 |
Will - I have the same neck wood combination on my fretless Europa (though with a mahogany body) and I absolutely love the tone - much more so than my all maple-neck'd Essence (not that it sounds bad by any means). The ebony adds that huge fundamental we all love and I think the vermillion in the neck really warms the tone up. You're going to love this bass! | ||
| willgunn
Junior Username: willgunn Post Number: 38 Registered: 2-2007 |
Thanks Dave (actually, BOTH of you!) for your thoughts and input. Admittedly, choosing this particular neck wood combination was something of a leap of faith (above & beyond it's good looks); but it IS good to hear that it truly DOES work well, and in the ways that I'd hoped for too. One thing's for certain: once I actually receive it, this bass WILL get put to regular and constant use....no lounging around for THIS beauty! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 6404 Registered: 6-2000 |
Here's the picture of the back you requested:  Sweet! | ||
| mario_farufyno
Advanced Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 304 Registered: 9-2008 |
I'm speachless. What nice red tone you got on that body wood. This Bass is really getting better all the time... Happy for you, this is already in my "best list". | ||
| tmoney61092
Advanced Member Username: tmoney61092 Post Number: 304 Registered: 9-2008 |
anything here? ~Taylor | ||
| willgunn
Junior Username: willgunn Post Number: 42 Registered: 2-2007 |
Nothing new for now - according to Mica a few days ago, it's still "in spray". Reminds me of watching the grass growing.... |
