Product: Alembic Exploiter
Price Paid: US $1500 used
Submitted
12/02/2003
at
07:55pm
by
Alan Dover
Features
:
9
Completed October 29th, 1984 in Santa Rosa, CA. 24 frets, four string. Top is Zebrawood, core is Mahogany, neck is maple with an ebony fingerboard. Controls are volume, tone, q-switch. Alembic pickups, active. Finish is satin. Body style is Exploiter (like a Gibson Explorer), medium (32" scale). Brass bridge and tail piece, brass adjustable nut. Tuners are chrome schallers. Case came with (bought off Ebay).
Sound
:
10
I'm a big classic rock guy (e.g., Yes, Rush, early Genesis, the Who, Led Zeppelin, King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Emerson-Lake-Palmer, etc.), so this bass fits what I play perfectly. I play it through an Ampeg SVT IV-Pro, Ampeg BXT cabinets, and with a Morley Power Wah and Ibanez chorus. With the Q-switch, I can get just about any sound I need, though I just normally play it full out, e.g., tone set to full treble. It is extremely quiet - quietest bass I've ever played. The only thing I don't like is that it doesn't have a boost/cut option for the tone control like a Musicman does. I suppose I could send it back to Alembic and they'd do that for me, though.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
This is the finest instrument one can buy, IMO. The construction and attention to detail is just phenomenal. The neck is the straightest I've ever seen, and this is a near-20-year-old instrument. In fact, when I got it, I didn't have to make a single adjustment - not one. And there were no flaws - the previous owner took great care of it.
Reliability/Durability
:
No Opinion
Haven't had it long enough to comment, but if others' experience is any judge, this instrument will be more than reliable and durable.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Haven't had to deal with Alembic yet, but again, those that I've corresponded with tell me the support is outstanding.
Overall Rating
:
10
I've been playing for 26 years. I own a 74-75 Gibson Ripper, an '87 Gibson Thunderbird, a '79 Musicman Stingray, a '73 Fender Jazz Bass, a '94 Fender Jazz Bass, and a '76 Rickenbacker 4001. If it were stolen, I'd report it to Alembic (they track that stuff - amazing), and try to get another one in the interim. I chose this bass because I just think it looks great, and the sound is incredible. The only thing I'd change about it would be to add the boost/cut knobs/switches for the pickups, and make the neck a bit thinner at the nut (I'm used to Fender Jazz Basses). Other than that, I wouldn't change a thing. It's a superlative example of craftsmanship.
