Aslin Dane ALB-22

This Aslin Dane bass is made in Korea, and is about 95% of a copy of 4 string Alembic Spoiler. It sports 2 Large soapbar humbuckers, with active electronics (4 knobs - volume, pickup pan pot, treble, bass) a standard fixed (like the old badass style, but more rounded) bridge, and gold hardware. The controls are a little strange in that the volume is farther away than the pickup selctor, and the knob turns in the opposite direction of the pickup it is selecting. One nice thing is that every knob but the volume has a center detent. This is a 5-piece neck-thru design, with what looks like rosewood and hard maple layers. The headstock, like the Alembic, is shaped like that of a Gibson flying V, and has front laminate of quilted maple, and 2-on-a-side generic keys of the small schaller type. The body "wings" are mahogany, also with quilted maple front laminates. These are done so that the neck-thru "stripes" show from the front. I was told by the Importer that this is a factory 2nd because it has has a dull tung oil finish - the firsts have a glossy urethane finish. One unusual item - this bass has 24 frets on what I measured to be 32" scale, once again like an Alembic. The factory web site (www.aslindane.com) claims 33", and also that the fretboard is made of something called superphenol, which is very black (like ebony), has jumbo frets, and dot inlays off center (between the E and A strings).

Since this bass looks like an Alembic, it actually sounds like one! This surprised me, since most pseudo - copies I've run across sound more like an old dull p-bass! This bass has that hollow, boomy, midrangy Alembic sound. My playing style is like Steve Harris (Iron Maiden), and I play in a speed/thrash metal band, so this bass is really good for cutting through 2 distorted guitars. With the active controls on the bass, you can get anything you want - from a dark, traditional Jazz sound to a bright piano slap sound. To get my sound, I set the volume, bass, and treble wide open, and have the pickup selector at the center detent so I get both of 'em.

Keeping in mind that this was a factory 2nd, here we go. The action was high, and despite lowering the bridge saddles as far as they will go and alot of adjusting to the truss rod, I still can't get the action as low as I'd like - it starts buzzing. My band tunes to C#, and these look like standard scale round-wounds that came with it. I may eventually take my router and drop the bridge 1/16" into the body to solve this problem. The bass is certainly easy to play, I would just like lower action. Frets were set up just fine, as were the electronics (once I figured 'em out - it didn't come with directions!) Finish and cutting were good aroung the nut, pickups, control cavity, etc. The wood does have a couple of dents in it, and is rough around the output jack - it was drilled at an angle and never sanded. The Mahogany "wings" are pitted everywhere, and I'm not a wood expert, so I wonder if a heavy urethane finish would cover that up? Overall, the woodwork was good (considering how many laminates there are here, and the (probably) tung oil finish is even. The back of the neck could have been sanded a bit more, as you can feel the height of the different woods. As you would expect, the bass "feels" cold and wooden.

Bass seems well made and that it will last for many years to come. Finish looks thin and will probably wear off (remember, it's a 2nd - you might not have this problem with a first), and I will eventually sand it off and refinish it with something heavier. I've had it 6 months now, many practices and a few shows, and it hasn't needed trussrod adjustments or new strings - stays about 99% in tune all the time!

Don't know about warranty, but Aslin Dane is very quick about answering e-mails. This is through Burns, USA, who make the Brian May guitar. They also state they will be happy to "customize" the finish (color, gloss, etc.) for $300. No problems so far.

If you like the look, sound, or feel of the high-end Alembics, but, like me, you can't afford even a $3500 used one, this is the bass for you!!! I've been playing 20+ years, and this is probably the finest bass you can get for this kind of money. I prefer neck-thru basses, and it seems like they are all at least $1500 these days. The smallish "V" headstock takes some getting use to, and the pickups could be a little farther apart to give greater tonal seperation. Other than these and the aformentioned action problems, I have no complaints, and would probably buy another one if need be. The bass has a good weight, a wide flat body, and medium-sized neck radious, plus I can really fly on 24 frets on only a 32" acale neck!!!