Product: Alembic Epic 6
Price Paid: US $900 used
Submitted
03/13/2004
at
11:02pm
by
Anonymous
Features
:
9
Wenge top, ebony board, dual truss rods, active electronics adjustable nut, 2 pickups.
Sound
:
8
I play a wide variety of music. The bass is very heavy, and had good sustain. I tried to enhance the tone by adding a low pass filter. Don't waste your time, it is nearly unnoticable.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
4
I had to file the fret ends that stuck out past the neck. They were very sharp. The pickup adjustment must be understood before you grab your screwdriver, or you will break the pickup. Same goes for the adjustable nut.
Reliability/Durability
:
3
The neck was a double truss nightmare, I had to adjust around every time I turned around to keep the action low and buzz free, finally gave up and raised the action. A screw that holds the tuner broke in half? The adjustable nut threaded insert pulled out of the neck, one pickup was broken. I know I bought it used, but these basses are hard to adjust. Break easily.
Customer Support
:
3
The online forum is a good form of support, but when you break something be prepared to wait and wait and wait, and get out your cash, cause it's gonna cost ya.
Overall Rating
:
2
The guitar is over priced, too many issues for such a high end bass. The problems keeping the neck adjusted, and breaking the pickups, are all too common with these ultra expensive instruments.
Product: Alembic Epic 6
Price Paid: US $1000
Submitted
03/16/2001
at
02:09pm
by
Anonymous
Features
:
9
'98 Wenge top, made in USA, 24 frets, 6 strings, Vol., Pan, Treble, Bass controls, 2 Alembic active p/u's, satin finish, brass bridge/nut/tailpiece, hard case. Heavy as a water-soaked log.
Sound
:
10
Extremely versatile tones, with an especially impressive low end. Top is clean, too, with brass nut offering all the sustain you'd ever want. Records like a dream but this is a bass for gigging--it rocks! Play it through an SVT and you'll be hooked for life.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
Big, wide neck requires frequent truss-rod tweaking if you live in rainly climate and there's two truss rods. Fairly flat fingerboard so action may be a little higher than some like. Ebony board needs oiling about once a year, too.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
You could row a canoe with this thing and then play it for four sets. Solid as a rock and about that heavy. I've often taken it on gigs without a backup (yes, I'm a fool sometimes) and it's never let me down.
Customer Support
:
2
Alembic folks are friendly if you can get their attention but they seem to have no concept of time whatsoever. Need something from them? Forget it. You may see it some day. Maybe not. Best hope is that battle-axe never needs warranty work!
Overall Rating
:
9
Been playing over 30 years. Never really had a better bass and I've had a bunch. Day in day out, night in, night out, this axe won't let you down and it'll cut through any mix or band. Boogie band with horns, no prob? Skynyrd cover band with guitars cranked, piece o' cake. Blues trio, come on, you know!!!
