zomnius Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 [quote name='jazzyvee' timestamp='1399549534' post='2445184'] Yesterday I upgraded this bass with new Q-switches so like the series and anniversary basses the Q switches have 3 positions of [font=arial, helvetica][size=2][color=#000000]0/6/9db instead of the standard 0/8db which gives me the option of a more subtle resonance peak at the cut of frequency of the low pass filter plus a slightly higher full on effect. Sounds great at home and [/color][/size][/font][color=#000000][font=arial, helvetica][size=1]I have two gigs over the weekend to try them out.[/size][/font][/color] [font=arial, helvetica][size=2][color=#000000]Jazzyvee[/color][/size][/font] [/quote] very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zomnius Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 [quote name='jazzyvee' timestamp='1399549534' post='2445184'] Yesterday I upgraded this bass with new Q-switches so like the series and anniversary basses the Q switches have 3 positions of [font=arial, helvetica][size=2][color=#000000]0/6/9db instead of the standard 0/8db which gives me the option of a more subtle resonance peak at the cut of frequency of the low pass filter plus a slightly higher full on effect. Sounds great at home and [/color][/size][/font][color=#000000][font=arial, helvetica][size=1]I have two gigs over the weekend to try them out.[/size][/font][/color] [font=arial, helvetica][size=2][color=#000000]Jazzyvee[/color][/size][/font] [/quote] what a beautiful beast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzyvee Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 Thanks It's the bass I use the most for live gigs over the past couple of years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zomnius Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 (edited) [quote name='jazzyvee' timestamp='1365356352' post='2038475'] It's an Essence 5, "post-facelift" version. I absolutely love it. The tone is uncomparable to anything else - it's clear like a bell! It doesn't work everywhere, it needs more room in the mix than Fender basses for example, but when you know where and how to use it it's like nothing else on the planet I've had some problems with it (the neck is VERY meteopatic, the volume control went south - it's disconnected atm - and good luck finding the jack input replacement, lol) but the sound and feel more than makes up for the truble. I've recorded an album and used this beauty on most songs - it worked just fantastic. It's a keeper. Have you tried joining and posting on the Alembic Forum? if you have problems with anything about the bass it's a great place to start and also it might be worth contacting Mica at Alembic directly, I have found them to be great with looking after musicians who own their instruments. Jazzyvee [/quote] hi jazzyvee, is there a chronologic story somewhere of alembic models etc regarding your remark of 'post-facelift' ? cheers Zom. Edited June 21, 2014 by zomnius Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzyvee Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 I posted that wrong and the quotes didn't show up so it's wrongly attributed to me. My bit on there is the last paragraph regarding the alembic forum, it was originally posted here by Bass-driver.[color=#A4A4A4][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3] Posted 07 April 2013 - 12:01 PM[/size][/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] Ahhh, Alembics This is my baby - a bass I intend to keep forever: It's an Essence 5, "post-facelift" version. I absolutely love it. The tone is uncomparable to anything else - it's clear like a bell! It doesn't work everywhere, it needs more room in the mix than Fender basses for example, but when you know where and how to use it it's like nothing else on the planet I've had some problems with it (the neck is VERY meteopatic, the volume control went south - it's disconnected atm - and good luck finding the jack input replacement, lol) but the sound and feel more than makes up for the truble. I've recorded an album and used this beauty on most songs - it worked just fantastic. It's a keeper. [color=#7C7C7C][size=3] [b]Edited by Bass-Driver, 07 April 2013 - 04:30 PM.[/b][/size][/color][/font][/color] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zomnius Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 matching table haha great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Bassman Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 I haven't posted on BC for ages but couldn't resist sharing this beauty with y'all, having taken delivery just last week. She's a full-blown Series 2, 34" scale with a 3/4 size body (much more in proportion than the regular point body size, me thinks), burl maple back and front with chrome hardware, no LEDs. Mmmmmm..!!!! [attachment=166160:IMG_0340.JPG] [attachment=166161:IMG_0339.JPG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzyvee Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Nice bass, that looks like one that was on sale at Station Music. My series I is also burl maple but has an Europa body style. Is it your first alembic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Bassman Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Good spot Jazzy, t'is exactly the one that Station Music had! Great guys there, especially Lothar who actually custom ordered this particular bass from Alembic. A bit over priced but I'd had my eye on it for over a year and eventually managed to strike a good enough deal with Lothar, once I'd saved enough pennies... Yup, first Alembic and yet to be used in anger but very impressed with it through my BG250 practice amp. Filter-based EQ takes some fiddling with and getting used to so I'll not be taking it on gigs for a little while... Beautiful build quality and quite light for a 'bic due to the down-sized body and Series chambering. 20 years in the wanting, waiting, searching and saving so this baby ain't going nowhere!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzyvee Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 Mine was listed there for about a year before I bought it. It was on commission sale but didn't get sold. (The price was too high). I eventually it was removed from there and listed privately and a guy from the alembic forum who knew I was wanted it, found it and sent me the link. The rest is history. The filters do take a while to get used and with the series ii you have the cvq to deal with also. If you haven't done so already I can highly recommend the alembic forum as a great resource for all things alembic. These basses are not one trick ponies and whilst they sound great it can be a challenge to move confidently between sounds.. Here is a link to the series I & ii FAQ http://alembic.com/club/messages/16271/16308.html?1361485906 Have fun. Jazzyvee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zomnius Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 hi, the filters of the alembics R superb. Right now i have a series 1, that has a three way switch and a filter knob per pick-up. the filter knob, is incredible, you can create any sound. Just use it with some delicate…like a synthesizer filter. I very much like it, it gives so much new sound possiblities, and you can create any sound from blender precision 70ties style funk-slap to growl, and crisp, slap or piccolo sounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzyvee Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 (edited) Captain Bassman, you have a good catch there. I don't gig that often with my series basses and that is mainly because most of the gigs I do, don't require the full spectrum of the bass and the backlines I get, usually Ashdown, frustrate me because they stifle the sound of the bass. So basically I prefer to take it when I do my Jazz funk gigs and I'm able take my own bass rig or where I know in advance the back line is going to be something I like. There is lots of fun to be had working with the filters. I've spent many years listening to stanley clarke and his alembics so he is my tonal reference and trying to get some of his tones on my basses has helped me understand which knob to turn and which way, in order to get the tones I now need for the music I play. If I can give you a tip I use which helped me with the CVQ it's this. I conceptually divide the travel on the CVQ into 4 points one being off and 4 being fully on, then between that find two more positions roughly equi-distant apart. Then when you find a filter position you like, turn the Q to each of these 4 points in turn, and listen to what is happening to the sound and refine the sound around each point with filter and Q. I found this was useful because you get to understand what is going on at 4 easily repeatable points and eventually getting to specific tones quickly is often a matter of setting the Q at one of the points, adjusting the filter then fine tuning the Q or filter as needed. Another thing to remember is that the effect of the Q is applied more to the attack of the note and less to the sustained note. Jazzyvee Edited July 18, 2014 by jazzyvee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Bassman Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 Thanks for the helpful tip Jazzyvee, it's always much easier to work things in small manageable chunks! I've had a fair good play around with the knobs (oo er!) and found a few places I like but, as you say, it's remembering how to get from one to the other that's the tricky part. Especially when you're so used the the more 'basic' bass, mid and treble arrangement. There seems to be a lot of helpful hints and tips over at the Alembic forum and some really nice chaps there instantly willing to help us newbies to the 'bic world. I've used it on one gig to date and got a few great compliments, especially from our PA man who couldn't believe the sheer depth of the sound. I play through a TC RH head and Bergantino cabs live and agree that, through my small BG250 home practice combo, the sound really lacks. You really do need a decent rig to get the full whack of sounds out of these basses. Next up I'll have to get me another TC head, then I can go stereo! She's one of those basses where you keep going back to lift the lid on the case just to look at it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass-Driver Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 [quote name='zomnius' timestamp='1403364699' post='2482156'] hi jazzyvee, is there a chronologic story somewhere of alembic models etc regarding your remark of 'post-facelift' ? cheers Zom. [/quote] I think a picture will explain it most accurately: Left - a "pre-facelift" version, as far as I remember, '92. Right - a "post-facelift" version, '00, in this case, mine [quote name='zomnius' timestamp='1404027618' post='2488542'] matching table haha great [/quote] I took the "matching table" picture at a place I used to work back then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbass Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 (edited) Hi you guys, does anyone know the value of an Alembic spoiler from 1993, Good condition. I don't have no idea. thanks Edited July 22, 2014 by Robbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbass Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 see pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 [quote name='jazzyvee' timestamp='1403371254' post='2482223'] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I've had some problems with it (the neck is VERY [b]meteopatic[/b]...)[/font][/color] [/quote] Is that something to do with the weather? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass-Driver Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Yes - when it's hot and humid, the treble side of the neck bends backwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyJ Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 (edited) [quote name='Robbass' timestamp='1406023145' post='2507509'] see pics [/quote] Sheesh, that's narrow Is that a factory 5-string? [quote name='Bass-Driver' timestamp='1405791034' post='2505321'] I think a picture will explain it most accurately: Left - a "pre-facelift" version, as far as I remember, '92. Right - a "post-facelift" version, '00, in this case, mine [/quote] Beautiful! Especially like the post-facelift one, with the slightly more compact build and the slightly deeper cutaways. It makes the top horn look just a bit longer and even more elegant. I bet it's more ergonomic too, with the nut a bit closer towards your body. I also prefer the look of a darker top wood Edit: just noticed the more compact headstock and narrower nut width too. No more straight string pull like the maple-topped one, but it looks nice! Edited July 22, 2014 by LeftyJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbass Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 I don't know lefty, someone wants to trade in this alembic. What do you think of it's value? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzyvee Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 I found this interesting link about Alembic today. It may be interesting to alembic lovers, haters and those in between. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/alembic-guitars-wickersham-grateful-dead-20141001 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 cool. I know at least two of us who've wandered around that workshop and chatted with the Wickershams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taurus1 Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Here's my 20th Anniversary bass.A dream come true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzyvee Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 (edited) Here is a review of alembic I just found on line. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWWXQEiAtUM&app=desktop Edited September 21, 2018 by jazzyvee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zomnius Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 Looks almost like a sleeping thread 🍺 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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