The only construction imperfection was that the frets slightly protruded from the fingerboard. Alembic states that this is normal due to humidity changes and should only happen once. The control cavity was meticulously shielded and cleaned.

Once I got passed its beauty, I played it. I found that I didn't want to put it down...ever! The string spacing is nice and wide, coupled with the flat profiled neck, this bass is fast. I found myself playing phrases that have previously escaped me. I've heard many complaints about being able to slap on Alembics do to the spacing of the pickups, but I had no problem adjusting (listening to Mark King if you want audible proof of slapping on one).

The electronics are simple yet powerful. There are two unique features to the Europa: the "Q" filter and the bass/treble quick swtches. The "Q" filter has its own on/off switch. When engaged the knob acts as a variable EQ. I found the sweetest tone is with it fully engaged, however there are many usable tones. Quickly turning this knob while playing makes a "wah-wah" sound. The quick bass/treble switches have three positions: cut/neutral/boost. Engaging the bass boost adds tremendous thunder, while the treble boost (using light gauge strings) make a bit too bright. A huge plus is that electronics are super quiet. So quiet that I'm going to install Alembic Activators in my Jazz bass.

The only downside to this bass is the price tag. At $5560 retail, the bass isn't cheap (keep in mind that coco bolo adds $500 for each side). I ended up paying $3673 after taxes. However, the joy it brings me is well worth the the cash. This is THE bass of my dreams.

Construction	98%
Playability	100%
Appearance	110%
Sound	100%
Value	100%
Cust. Service	99%
Alembic is very friendly and helpful.
Overall	100%