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BGRA: Fernandes Alembic Series 1 short-scale copy
| Manufacturer |
Fernandes |
Model |
Alembic Series 1 short-scale copy |
| Reviewer |
Shawn Charniga |
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| Experience |
10 |
Item owned |
1-6 months |
| Review Date |
2001-09-10 |
Price paid |
625 |
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Bass type | 4 string fretted |
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Neck join | Neck Through |
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Neck construction | Five-piece: maple with two rosewood stringers |
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Fignerboard | Rosewood, 30" scale, 24 frets |
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Body | Zebrawood top, body core unknown |
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Finish | Natural satin |
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Pickups | Two soapbars plus "dummy humcanceller", manufacturer unknown. |
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Hardware | Chrome, Gotoh? |
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Electronics | Active: 4-position pickup selector, dual volume, dual tone, three-position "Q switches" |
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Ye Gods, what a find...Fatdog from Subway Guitars said Alembic was furious
when Fernandes started marketing these basses because they're just as good
as a Series 1 but a lot cheaper. I guess the lawsuit must have been settled
pretty quick, because I only know of one other instrument like this
floating around out there.
For the record: I've either owned or borrowed almost everything out there,
and I've ditched everything except a mangled PRS 5 and a mauled Vigier
Passion 4 with a graphite neck. I'm the bass snob from hell, and sometimes
it's really sad how nothing I pick up in a music store or even buy and
take home is as good as the toys I have already. It makes window-shopping
no fun at all, but this one I like.
Except for the solid brass nut and that resonant and endearing
Japanese-copy feel, it's exactly like a real Series 1. Exactly. They even
designed it so just the neck pickup works when using the 2 internal
9-volters. Power supply, 5-pin cable, the works.
Like all Alembic designs, it balances a little weird, at a 45-degree angle
to your chest but the neck doesn't dive too bad and it isn't particularly
heavy.
It's always weird jumping to a short-scale after years of playing a
full-scale bass but once you adjust your attack it's very easy to play.
How does it sound? Like a god-damned $10,000 Alembic, that's how. I doubt
the same level of attention went into this bass as its' pricier twin got,
but it's definitely good enough...if I'm not mistaken, the previous owner
was the hired gun for boy-band 98 Degrees. How's that for surreal?
The case has a trustworthy frame but the sides are chipboard or something
equally flimsy. On the plus side, it has room for everything, the lower
part is form-fitted to the bass' body, and it's lined in a shade of
orange velvet that doesn't occur in nature.
I've owned two Alembics- a dismal but rokkin' lookin' Spoiler Exploiter
and an incredible Spoiler with an aftermarket Alembic Activator preamp- and
this is better than either of them.
If you run across one of these rare beasties, email me immediately: DEADLY
POISON!!! Let the professional weird-bass wrangler defuse it...ha ha...just
greedy!
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| construction |
 | (100%) |
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| playability |
| (90%) |
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| appearance |
| (100%) |
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| sound |
| (98%) |
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| value |
| (100%) |
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| service |
| (0%) |
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| overall |
| (98%) |
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