Once upon a time, in the mystical land of Asbury Park, NJ there was a staff of brave guitar slingers who ruled peacefully and kept watch over a proud stringed instrument kingdom. This illustrious kingdom, comprised of beings made of exotic woods and precious metals, served as a safe haven for these 4, 6, and 12 string subjects; all of whom enjoy their brief time in the kingdom under the watchful eyes of their caretakers. While there, they are fed a healthy diet of perfect humidity & polish and are given thorough examinations and check-ups, all as they all await to complete their journeys to their future forever homes.
And so it goes on and on; peacefully, and for generations. Until one dark and stormy afternoon, a strong and distant wind blew from the far west. This wind was unlike anything the kingdom had ever experienced; delivering a thunderous low rumble along with crystal clear chimes and growling mids. It was unlike anything this kingdom had ever experienced. Then, as fast as it blew in, the creature revealed itself. It had beautifully intricate carves, a gorgeous Cocobolo top, striking Maple and Purple Heart accents, a strong and sturdy Mahogany Body, and an Ebony fingerboard that is darker than the furthest depths of your coldest nightmares and is only brought to light by its breathtaking Abalone inlay & Amber/Red LEDs (and yes, they really do light up). ‘Twas The Dragon’s Wing from the land of Alembic.
To say this is a quality instrument is like saying that it was no big deal when Bard slayed the treacherous Smaug with the legendary black arrow. This is without a doubt, a super special instrument that words can seldom do justice (hence the attempt above). What we can say is that these instruments are painstakingly made one at a time, by a team of crafts people at the top of their profession, and with best materials in the world. Each item is hand made by the team at Alembic. They do not source any parts from elsewhere. This includes the bridge, pickups, etc. It is also a true investment piece. This one-owner bass was meticulously well-cared for and is as close to mint/new condition one could be without being brand new out of the box. Speaking of brand new, it is worth mentioning that purchasing a brand new one of these will cost the customer well over $20,000. This one, at $10,999.99 is an excellent value for a forever instrument that will only go up in price as it gets older. Did we mention that it has LEDs in the front and side of the fretboard?
A word about the playability of this instrument; somehow the strings just lay on the fingerboard like a feather settling gently on the most delicate of surfaces; yet there is zero buzz! It is by far one of the most playable instruments (guitar or bass) that we have ever had in here. It nearly plays itself. The neck is super comfortable (a great shape and not too big or small) and the action (as previously mentioned) is inexplicably low and fast.
Tonally, whatever you’d like to get out of this bass, you can. The pickups and electronic options allow this to shine in any application. It features 2 Filters (which essentially act as low-pass filters) 2 Q-Switches (allowing for a huge amount of tonal range and give you a Wah-like quality), 1 Volume knob, 1 Pan knob, and 2 LED dimmer. It has some of the smoothest and cleanest low-end we’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing. Equally impressive are the highs and mids; it seems to occupy some largest tonal surface area on any bass we’ve ever played.
Rarely do you meet an instrument that is this well-made, this playable, sounds this good, and looks like this. These do not come along often (or really ever). Here is an opportunity to own a true work of art that is both rare and valuable as well as highly functional for half of what it would cost you new. The only way to tame this beast, is to tame the beast within!
- Custom Alembic pickups and bridge
- Volume and Pan controls, 2 Filters, 2 Q-Switches, 2 LED Dimmers
- Build sheet, sticker, warranty card included
- Wrenches, Keys, Straplocks included
- Quick Start Electronics Guide included
- Original Hardshell case included