Product: Alembic California Special
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
03/24/2007
at
10:42pm
by
buckit
Email: otherdjk at gmail<dot>com
Features
:
10
This is a 1988 model, an early example, made in SF Bay area, and there are no other manufacturing facility. It's a family operation.
Gloss finish, very tasteful cherry burst on a 2A quilted maple top. If you are reading this you probably know their construction techniques, which give their guitars better sustain than any brand I have played in 20+ years. Strat style body, early Floyd Rose that I don't use but it stays in tune great. 24 fret, great action. Ebony fingerboard feels like buttah. SSH Alembic configuration.
Sound
:
10
The sound is unreal. For blues, rock, jazz, and country, it has the bite, the twang, the growl, and unbelievable singing sustain. Goes from an almost acoustic sound to strat --> tele > Les Paul > Alembic. The eq sweep is set on this model (the q) but they have it set for a huge number of great sounds. No noise at all. HB pickup goes from crybaby squawk w/ tone control at 1, to LPish at 3, to tele around 5, strat around 6, uncharted territory known only to Alembic after that. Individual toggle for each pickup, 5 way strat switch would have been a better choice.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
This guitar is 19 yrs old and plays/looks/feels like a dream. Alembic is well known as the pinacle of both looks and construction.
Reliability/Durability
:
9
It appears to have been gigged extensively, has multiple dings and even a cracked neck. No worn spots in the finish ANYWHERE. It is far more ready for the next 20 years than I am.
Customer Support
:
10
The Wickersham family is famous for supporting all their instruments, even if you bought it used. That does NOT mean they work for free. They even have an Alembic owners club that Mica, the president of Alembic, seems to monitor and contribute to, as well as several of their employees. I have truly never seen a company like Alembic before, it is an honor to be their customer. They did not pay me to say this and I do not stand to gain in any way. I am just IMPRESSED AS HELL.
Overall Rating
:
10
Playing: 20+ yrs
Other gear: 59 Tele, Gretsch 6120, Alembic Series 2, MM Morse model, Fender Robben Ford Ultra FM, 89 LP Std, Lowden acoustic, Steinberger GPS2.
Amps and stuff: Fender SuperChamp, Gibson Skylark, Groove Tubes STPG, Lexicon MX-G2 effects unit, SansAmp, Lexicon JamMan
I bought this so I could get the Alembic sound without having to get my Series2 out to do it. The S2 is just too expensive to have out lying around. I am very satisfied with the investment, as I am getting similar tones for more than $10k less.
