Custom Warwick Or Alembic?

[gronk]

Hey guys. I've been looking around for a new bass for over 6 months now. I started off looking at Warwick Corvette standards, but as time moved on, my funds increased, and so did my desire for a better bass.

I got a quote for a custom Corvette with the following options:

Corvette Standard
2 piece AAA Flamed Maple body (Quilted maple cost too much)
F Clef fret inlays
Owner's name plate in 24th fret
Seymour Duncan Basslines
High polish stain
Gold hardware

All this will cost me $4700.

But now here comes the tricky bit!

I found out there's a distributor in Sydney who deals with Alembics.

I've never played one, but I've heard awesome things about them. The cheapest model starts at $5200, however they have some 'pre-loved' and demo models in for cheaper.

Question. Is it worth the extra money for an Alembic? I wouldn't be able to afford one with the options I want, so it will probably be just the bottom-of-the-line, stock-standard Alembic. Either an Epic or Excel.

Alembic Epic/Excel vs Warwick custom Covette

HELP ME!

[Tryxx]

I'd go for the Warwick. I like Alembic's but over that quality of the 'Vette for that price, nope.

*Would also make the 'Vette fretless with Nordstrand pups:thumb:*

[gronk]

I thought about getting a fretless, but I've decided I'll just defret my Fender J and change the pickups.

[Tryxx]

Sounds good, still a solid choice there.

[Led_Zeppelin678]

I'd throw in a D-Tuner as well, if I were you.

[gronk]

I'd throw in a D-Tuner as well, if I were you.

Would you mind helping me out and tell me exactly what a D-Tuner does? I'm not 100% sure.

[Tryxx]

With the flick of a lever it changes the pitch of a note with near absolute accuracy so you do not have to retune.

[gronk]

Ahh, that's what I thought it was. If I got a 4 string, I would consider it. However I'm thinking about 5 and 6 strings now. No point putting a D-Tuner on a 5 string, right?

[Tryxx]

Maybe you want that B to be an A, or you can get some detuners on all of them and tenor tune it EADGC! :eek:

That would take special strings though...

[Led_Zeppelin678]

There is if you want an open D.

*just realizes his mistake*

What I meant to say was you need the E to be a D for some songs.

[Phalanx]

that's an awful lot of money to spend on a bass, you could get a custom bass from Conklin for that I think

[gronk]

that's an awful lot of money to spend on a bass, you could get a custom bass from Conklin for that I think

All prices are Australian dollar. Hence why they are so expensive. If I lived in the USA, I could be getting a much better bass for the same price.

[TheMachineRagesOn]

Yep, prices over here for quality instruments are ridiculous, i think you could also get a modulus for that much,through another dealer in sydney, but really, from what ive read theres a 1500 to 2000 dollar differance in used and new alembics, thats alot of money and seeing if someone where to pay full price for a new one and trade it in, it would ney should be babied and in good nick.

Hope that helped and btw who is this dealer in sydney,i live out in the western suburbs & i need a new bass, so... *strokes goatee*

[shadow316]

I don't see the point in a Warwick with SD pickups. The one i played had all the Warwickness taken out of it with SDs.

[muthafunkabass]

u should try out an alembic before u dismiss right away. for a little extra money u could be getting a bass from the best name in the business.

[Jabawanga]

i'd go alembic.

[TakeThePowerBack]

The corvette wouldn't be adding that much, just inlays and SD pickups, which aren't very expensive.

I'd probably say Alembic, I think you'd probably find something better for the price, especially if you buy it used.

eh.. then again
I can't decide, they're both good choices

[lbanks]

Alembic... but, try it out, first. Each Alembic is very different and no two sound or feel the same.

[sixner]

id go warwick..... but, meh.. im a warwick kinda guy :lol:
-sixner

[DaveSavesTheDay]

'Vette for sure.

[Tryxx]

BGLit@danabgoods.com DBGLit@danabgoods.com Try them?

Gav, you're AIM is broken.

[peeted]

id get the alemblic allthough the specs for the vette sound pretty good.

[Jahmez]

I've never played an Alembic, so I'd probably go with the Warwick if it was me. Alembics seem to be more of a status symbol than a quality bass to me, but again, I've never played one or met anyone who has.

[MasterofBass]

I'd go with the Warwick. :thumb:

[ridethelightning]

even with shipping charges, you can get an equal or greater quality bass from winters for much less than you would pay for a custom vette or alembic. for 1000 you can get an amazing bass from john. why spend 5g's when you dont even need to spend 2?

[bass&cookies]

ive played an alembic. theyre some pretty hot stuff. im not sure how i would describe the tone other than amazing. sounds like for the corvette you could get a standard and make most of the mods yourself.

[bottlerocket]

Tryxx: Thank you, kind sir. :D

I say go Warwick, since it's exactly what you want and is in your price range...Alembics are highly overrated, the quality isn't consistent, and they're overall good basses for way too much of a price. While Warwicks fall under the same category, I'd rather have my bass personalized like you did to the Warwick, but that's just me. :D

:thumb:

-Gav

[Michaeltheyoungbassist]

i say go top of the line Spector, I just love the tone of those, Spector is my choice, even though you didnt mention it, id give it a look sees

[bottlerocket]

^ Mmm, the top of the lines Spectors, like the Euro LX series, are QUITE nice basses...

/drools

:thumb:

-Gav

[Michaeltheyoungbassist]

yeah thats what i palyed a Spector Euro, forget the exact model, but 2mins of playing it i was in love with it and it was onle $2200 canadian and it soo nice perfect but im a broke

[irishslappop]

im not a real fan of warwicks, but alembics are way over priced. i think you would be more satisfied with the custom warwick

[Michaeltheyoungbassist]

Spector!

[jollygiantchris]

with your 2 choices i would definitely take the custom warwick over the alembic a lot of people (including me) think alembics are way overpriced.

i tell ya though if i was gonna be spending that kind of dough i would get a sadowsky NYC ultra vintage j-bass but thats just me :)

[irishslappop]

i'd get the queen mother of all winter's customs.

[Esp Griffyn]

i'd get the queen mother of all winter's customs.

A useless Show piece that has no real use?