Alembic Custom Rogue 6-String

Six String Alembic Rogue - Neck Through Body
3A or 5A Quilted Maple Top with purple heart contour
Signature Series Electronics - three flip switches and three knobs
Ebony Fretboard
One height bridge (I prefer individual height adjustable saddles)
Double Truss Rod
Adjustable Nut
Soapbar pickups (I don't know electronics)

The sound as well as the looks of this bass really impressed me. I am forty three and have been looking at basses since I was sixteen. I've seen a few Alembics in my day but was never impressed because they are bulky and had a jacked up sound like the grunt of an athlete on steroids.

This bass was elegant and sleek, beautiful with the contrast o the maple and the purple heart, and had electronics which will cut through air harmonically. I still haven't found a bass with as good electronics as this other than fancier Alembics.

The sound is the most versatile I've heard in a bass and I use the SF2 Superbass Filter which I would recommend to anyone with any bass with decent electronics because it is like having a preamp section added to your bass sound that will give you many more tones. I call it a tonal modulator. To the gentleman with the Rogue who wants to spend $2600 for an upgrade - don't do it - just buy the SF2 and run it in stereo mode. $600 or so and more effective.

These electronics are bright or phat, dark or deep, boost what you will. I do not even know what they do so I won't pretend to tell you other than to say flip a switch and enjoy the new sound. I imagine these are high, mid and bottom boost switches on the bass with a volume, treble and bass knob. But I will say that an accomplished player with a Ken Smith who does not like Alembics even knew that the sound was superior when e tried the bass - and he's older than me. He stated that he had never heard a sound like that and really admired it.

There are no dislikes!!!!

No flaws. The setup was good from the factory. Alembic's one height bridge makes it easy for the novice and the professional to make bridge adjustments. The neck nut I have not tried yet. I prefer individual saddle heights as a professional set up guy, however the double truss rod is a great idea because you can even out the neck surface for a longer period before going for the refret.

Finish was superb on the wood.
I will mention that an indiivudal buying onbe of these must understand that the neck is wide and deep and takes getting used to. The bass is heavy and requires a padded strap. These are the two negatives, however the denser wood provides greater highs in your sound.

My only complaint is that my bridge and the nut have lost their varnish from humidity.

Hardware issues in preservation of brass finish but the bass and the bridge and nut could be used as weapons they are so tough.

The Rogue with the Signature Electronics is the only bass you'll ever need.

Very friendly company. Very nice people. Very expensive relationship although I was very lucky and only paid just above cost on this bass in 1996. Usually you should expect to pay much much more unless you buy used on Ebay which is a good way to go but have no idea of the playability of the bass. You have to find a dealer who has ordered the bass and wants to get rid of it. Ordering what you want new is going to be expensiv unless you have a friend with a dealership.

A dope palyed the bass with his rings on while showing off in the guitar store before I tried it and left ring scratch marks on the bass. Kudos to the store and Alembic who shipped the bass off after I tried it for a weekend and fixed the damage promptly.

James at Alembic volunteerd to look at a custom made bass I had which I sent in to him to figure out the problem which he diagnosed. I wanted it it refinished but they would not do it so I sent it to Mike Pedulla who does a great finish job and fixed the neck angle which was made for a guitar! Moral of the story is that any of these production shops is going to be more expensive than you think because they are serious people who need to get paid.

Alembic is really set up for creating new basses and electronics - they are not necessarily set up to service old stuff. They might consider two service days each month for items that have been sent in order to improve service issues.

It is the nicest bass I have and I am selling some other ones to get down to one or two. I owuld rather have one really beautiful bass and spend the money on it than five almost rans.

I would love to have one other six string top of the line crazy bass (like the Omega with lights) from Alembic if I become a millionaire one day.

If it were stolen I could not afford to buy a new one again unless I had insurance money or met the same nice salesman who made me a deal (Go Saitu!). I only receive diability now!

Bass type 6 string fretted
Neck Through
Neck construction; purpleheart & maple, 11 ply, Red LED's side position markers
Fingerboard; Ebony 24 fret, narow spacing, 34" scale
Body; Babinga, maple, mahogany
Finish; gloss poly
Pickups; 2 MXY
Hardware; brass
Electronics; Signiture electronics, Master vol, pan, low pass filter and "Q" switch for each pickup




I ordered this bass through Washington Music. It took about three months to make. Mica and Susan at Alembic were great to work with. I wasen't sure about what I was looking for in a custom bass. After talking it over with them about the various styles and sounds I was looking for, we agreed upon the Rogue with the Signiture eletronics. They also made the electronic control cavity large enough for the Series 1 or 2 electronic upgrade.
This bass is the finest bass I've ever played. The craftmanship is supperb. Beautiful woods, fretwork, inlays, brass and gold hardware, LED's with silver rings surounding them. All of the fine touches that make a great custom bass.

The sound; It took a several weeks to get use to the low pass filters. They don't work like your standard active or passive tone controls. It's kind of like having a electonic crossover, it won't let any higher frequentcy past the the cutoff point. Adjustable from 6000Hz to 350Hz. The "Q" switches give a 8Db boost at the cutoff point. A VERY powerful and extremely sensitive system. The pickups are very sensitive to a variety of playing styles and string attack. You can get to a certan point with your attack that they seam to compress the sound a bit. A finger popping style via finger style. Responsive and expressive. This bass has so much sustain that I have to roll the volume off on a fadeout. I am so impressed with this setup that I will probably send this bass back to Alembic for the $2600 Series 2 upgrade. A 48volt phantom power, stereo, adjustable "Q" 0-15Db boost system. Now I understand how Stanley Clarke acheaved his sound.

The neck; Series 2 6 string neck dimentions, 1.75" at the nut, 3.1" at the 24th fret. Double truss rods, adjustable from the body end, under the brass serial number plate. Abalone inlays. Adjustable brass nut and bridge. Alembic makes all of their own hardware so there was no extra charge for the custom string spacing. Red LED side markers with on/off switch. A $860 option and worth every penny. The neck plays like a dream.

The body; Rogue shape with the rib contour like the fender jazz. Extended upper horn for great balance. This bass does not neck dive on you. A bit heavy but comfortable bass to play. I did get a wide padded strap to make those 1 1/2 hour sets tolerable.

If I had the money I would without hesitation buy another one just like it in fretless. Alembic is what it is!

Experience; 29 years club & studio