Grateful Dead Music Forum

Hi everyone, I have a 1977 Series II Alembic, I am happy with it(except that stupid power cord that goes to the external power deal).
I also almost never play it, I have a 3 year old...so the Alembic stays in its case.
I play an old vantage I leave lying around which I like also.
Now concerning the alembic, its been years since I played it a lot, and never in a band situation, but I like it feels great sounds great, I love the extra frets, I think it has a bad tone pot, so I don't touch it, just leave it where it is, because if I turn it with the volume up I get really loud screeching feeback.
But I expect something to go bad on a thirty plus year old guitar.
I have read some of jonarobs posts deriding(in a non asswhole way) Alembics.
I trust his opinion, he has not really gone to much into specifics.
I am wondering what is everyones experience? Including jonarobs
Are the older ones built better?
What are the problems?
Do people like them?
I can certainly see where they are pricey, I did not spend over a grand for mine.
I most recently played through a fender pro(is this the one with the 4--10'' speakers)
it sounded great!!!, wonderful punchy lowend, and great all thuout the guitar and up the neck.
SO what is the beef?
I know thing change once you start adding power and other variables to the equation...
so whad ya guys think?

I mean I would love to have many guitars, Carvins, that Schecter for sale right now looks sweet, I'd love to play it.
guitars guitars guitars, love 'em


Thanks

IMHO Alembic is a fantastic bass company and an ok guitar company, but vastly overpriced for guitar. I stole a lot of their ideas when I built my custom bass, and would have used their electronics if I'd had the budget.

I bet that Series II is fantastic! I'll give you a grand for it in a heartbeat! Even with the scratchy pot and everything.

I played an Alembic Electrum for a couple of years. Nice clean tone but not very versatile and it was a struggle to get a good overdriven tone (but you can with the right pedal). Great company, cool history and great looking guitars - I'd love to have another one eventually but (as the other thread noted) I'd probably go with a different custom company that is cheaper. Their basses are boss and I think their electronics are much better suited for a great bass sound rather than guitar.

Lets not get crazy here,
in the other thread on the alembics, my participation (and some others I can only assume) was strictly limited to addressing the Alembics in regards to their complete "jerryness" when it comes to electronics, and the actual look of a their Tiger/Tribute (alembic has the wolf look right imho).

However,
I did not see many people saying that alembics were not fantastic instruments. Alembic basses AND Guitars are some of the finest made instruments in the world. That is not opinion that is fact. Ask the builders that everyone goes gaga over, the Moriarty's, the Leibers, etc... on what their opinion of Alembic build quality is. While I never have asked them, I will bet a cnote on what their answer will be.

People can dispute whether Alembic price points are too high (I think they are), people can hate their devotion to their proprietary electronics, (which I also think is a little silly, if you pay 10k for a guitar you should be able to take a dump in the pickup cavity if want to and the builder should accomodate), but to deny the guitars their due from a quality standpoint is myopic.

Well put, who is to say what an Alembic is worth but them. They never came out to the world and said,"hey kid you should be playing this guitar in your cover band." In fact these are very high end guitars made for stars. Even the avarage pro musician cant afford one. That is why Garcia, Entwstle and countless others had them. I think they are worth every penny and I would love to own one. It just probably isnt in the cards for me. I find it almost silly for a bar band to have Alembic guitars and boutique gear!

astroman99 wrote: I have read some of jonarobs posts deriding(in a non asswhole way) Alembics.
I trust his opinion, he has not really gone to much into specifics.
I am wondering what is everyones experience? Including jonarobs
Are the older ones built better?
What are the problems?
Do people like them?
I can certainly see where they are pricey, I did not spend over a grand for mine.
I most recently played through a fender pro(is this the one with the 4--10'' speakers)
it sounded great!!!, wonderful punchy lowend, and great all thuout the guitar and up the neck.
SO what is the beef?
I know thing change once you start adding power and other variables to the equation...
so whad ya guys think?

I mean I would love to have many guitars, Carvins, that Schecter for sale right now looks sweet, I'd love to play it.
guitars guitars guitars, love 'em


Thanks

I really dig Alembics and love the history of the company and its relationship to the "scene". I've had the pleasure of working on several dozen of them over the years, both guitars and bass. Unfortunately I don't get them until there are problems with them. Since there are so many talented new builders out there, I encourage folks to check them out before they lay down the big bucks for an Alembic. I wholeheartedly believe you will get more bang for your buck.

As for new vs old Alembics, the rate and frequency of problems with newer models(dead pickups, inlays that fall out, knobs that fall off, poor setup, etc....) I'd favor an older model in the likelihood that it would run a little cheaper pricewise. But again, thats just my opinion and you know what they say about opinions.

Have a wonderful day!

Well,
I never bought a new one, but, I have been playing mine in bars for 30+ years. I
never thought of using it as being silly. The sound is as much a part of me as I am of it.
Now I know lots of folks hang all kinds of different instruments on the wall just to look at,
I think, and just my opinion, they are meant to be played.
Not trying to cause a rukus, just my 2 cents.
Lembic

jdsmodulus wrote: I find it almost silly for a bar band to have Alembic guitars and boutique gear!

True, but who is to say what level of gear is silly? Compare the price of an Alembic to your average sports car or sailboat or even a nice Harley. Plenty of people have hobbies that require a 2nd mortgage. At least with music gear you can entertain others as well as yourself, and make a little money too.

Your right by saying about peoples hobbies. I can totally agree with that. Even myself, I have some gear that is "silly" to have in the tyical bar band. But I certainly didnt spend 10K-20K bucks for it. I guess that is what I mean there is no limit but I think a good goal is balance. What I mean is, I try to at least break even. I wouldnt buy a 10K guitar unless I thought I could get some of that back. It is just the way I think about it. Including an Alembic!