Gratuitous Alembic pic

[alembic1989]

My pride and joy. The best bass I've ever played...dreamt about owning one since I was a lad. Bought new in 1989 and used ever since.
[URL=http://s817.photobucket.com/user/23basslord/media/IMG_2645.jpg.html][IMG]http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz96/23basslord/IMG_2645.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[RhysP]

Very nice.

[jazzyvee]

Excellent looking Alembic. I'm a big big big fan of their basses and pre-amps. Yours looks like it has anniversary electronics with two volumes, two filters and two q-switches and stereo/mono output?

[alembic1989]

Spot on.

[three]

Absolutely beautiful - gorgeous walnut (?) - a 25th Anniversary? The electronics are wonderful

[alembic1989]

Walnut yes..but its the 20th anniversary model.

[three]

Ah, of course, I didn't check - 20th it is, but another chance to bump a gorgeous instrument! Also an opportunity for another gratuitous image of more walnut and Anni electronics

Edited December 9, 2016 by three

[alembic1989]

Is that long scale?

[Sonic_Groove]

Very Nice!!

B

[jazzyvee]

This is my contribution to the thread and is the bass I bought from a collector in the USA in 2012 and was in brand new condition when I picked it up and in bass terms it's my soul mate.
An Europa bodied Series II 5 stringer. Fully specified mahogany body. 5A quilted maple top and back with purpleheart highlights., 2x vol, 2x low pass filters, 2x CVQ ( constantly variable Q), pickup selector, master volume, side LED's with brightness control, 3 ebony neck laminates and ebony fretboard. Weighs about 13lbs.

Edited December 9, 2016 by jazzyvee

[ped]

Good lord alive. I love the Europa. Always wanted one. The closest I got was a 6 string Elan which is a similar shape as you know. I'll post a pic if I can find one.

I've always liked the series shape basses but haven't really played one. I've had a noodle on Kiwi's graphite one which felt lovely but it was ages ago. One day I'll steal it from him.

[jazzyvee]

Funny how things are I just love the Elan shape and yes the difference is subtle but something slightly more curvy that appeals to me. I just love that little curl at the end of the elan headstock on the 4 and 5 string versions. For my sins, I do also have a black Alembic 5 with the best of both worlds an Europa shaped all maple body like you would get in the Elan, a Europa neck recipe having maple and three purpleheart neck lams but it is the slightly narrower style Elan neck profile with the Elan headstock. talk about punch and clarity.....!

[ped]

Here she is. Weighed a ton but felt fab. Quite a dark sounding bass which would have benefitted from a more involved pre-amp, I think. It had the triangle headstock (3+3) but I prefer the type you have on your Europa.

[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/pedullaman/media/Vigier%20and%20Alembic/alembic1.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/pedullaman/Vigier%20and%20Alembic/alembic1.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[TheGreek]

Come on fellas - there's no need for that - we're all friends here - how can you do this to us just before Xmas?? That's just cruel...I'm so jealous..

[Cosmo Valdemar]

Nothing gratuitous about these pics! Bring em on!
My ultimate bass. Hopefully I'll be able to afford a second hand one by the time I'm 40...

[three]

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1481308443' post='3191443']
Come on fellas - there's no need for that - we're all friends here - how can you do this to us just before Xmas?? That's just cruel...I'm so jealous..
[/quote]
I'm not sure this will help...but to continue the theme

Edited September 7, 2017 by three

[jazzyvee]

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1481308958' post='3191453']
Nothing gratuitous about these pics! Bring em on!
My ultimate bass. Hopefully I'll be able to afford a second hand one by the time I'm 40...
[/quote]

It felt like a major achievement when I got my first one at the age of 42 but being a guitar player at the time I was like a fish out of water but had to make that dream come true.

[three]

I'd have to say that Jazzyvee beat me to it. I was in my mid-late 40s before I was able to find an Alembic. I'd looked and lusted for years but eventually I had enough cash (some hard saving and a lot of bass selling) and for me it was well worth the wait. A bit addictive though! I owned a gorgeous chestnut topped Fodera MG5 and that was sacrificed for a second short-scale Alembic - though I never looked back. We are blessed to have some incredible bass builders around today, each brilliant and special in their own way. For me though, Alembic remain the pinnacle (though I'm sure others would disagree - all part of the fun)

[Shaggy]

I'd have sworn the OP bass has a curly koa facing, rather than walnut - but whatever it is it's a fabulous looking beastie......

Just to add to the porn; I'll include my '76 long scale S1 in bird's eye maple.

[Captain Bassman]

Here's my gorgeous Series 2. She's burl maple with a 3/4 size point body shape and chrome hardware - Fire & Ice!

http://basschat.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2014/post-2303-0-38714700-1404486473.jpg

[three]

Great to see these popping out! An SI and SII within two minutes - both very beautiful. The more I see of the earlier Series basses, the more attractive they become.

Edited December 10, 2016 by three

[scrumpymike]

Remember trying one same as the OP at The Bass Centre around the turn of the '80s - a privileged experience! Also a privilege to have that emporium a short tube ride away.

[jazzyvee]

[quote name='Captain Bassman' timestamp='1481361119' post='3191702']
Here's my gorgeous Series 2. She's burl maple with a 3/4 size point body shape and chrome hardware - Fire & Ice!

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2014/post-2303-0-38714700-1404486473.jpg"]http://basschat.co.u...-1404486473.jpg[/url]
[/quote]
That looks like a series II that was in Station music a couple of years or so ago.
Superb bass I love the burl maple and obviously it sounds amazing!

[Captain Bassman]

[quote name='jazzyvee' timestamp='1481379572' post='3191872']

That looks like a series II that was in Station music a couple of years or so ago.
Superb bass I love the burl maple and obviously it sounds amazing!
[/quote]

Correct, it is that very one.

I bought it in 2014 in absolutely brand new condition with original case, case candy, power supply and power cable but it was actually built in 2000 for Station Music in Germany.

Like Jazzyvee's beauty she is on the Alembic website in the 'custom archive' section.

[alembic1989]

[quote name='Shaggy' timestamp='1481360941' post='3191701']
I'd have sworn the OP bass has a curly koa facing, rather than walnut - but whatever it is it's a fabulous looking beastie......

Just to add to the porn; I'll include my '76 long scale S1 in bird's eye maple.
[/quote]
That's a beauty... and it is walnut :-)