When did Alembic quit making the Elan model and what model today would be comparable to the Elan: Europa or Essence, other? As always, thanks~!
 
 
 
(Message edited by 57basstra on August 11, 2006)

The Elan was offered from 1985 till 1997 according to The reference pages: click here
The Europa and Elan have very similar body shapes, The Elan is a bit 'Fatter'
The electronics of the Europa bass have more tone shaping facilities.
 
Cheers!
F.C.
 
(Message edited by fc_spoiler on August 11, 2006)

Elan electronics are like Essence electronics with the addition of a Q switch, except that where the Essence only has one preamp, the Elan has two.
 
Elan Plus electronics are, as far as I can tell, the same as Europa electronics.
 
The Essence and Europa both have the Comfort neck taper.  I believe it is the case that the Elan has the Classic neck taper.

The Body Shapes page is here.  The Elan and Europa shapes are very similar.

Sorry, off topic:
How often does this happen? (same time)

According to the Reference Pages, the Elan was offered from 1985 to 1997.  However, if you wanted a new one, I would imagine that would be possible.  Elan electronics and the Elan body shape are listed as options on the Quote Generator.

Hah!!  I hadn't even noticed your response!  I was watching PBS and looking up facts on Elans at the same time.

Hahaha! Lets celebrate with a picture of a beautiful Elan From this thread:  
 
 
 
 
More Elans can be found here  
 
(Message edited by fc_spoiler on August 11, 2006)

It is a nice body shape.

Yeah, and there really is a nice one on ebay right now. It seems to either be overshadowed by the other Alembics  on there now or everyone is just laying back on it.......Thanks, guys!

As the Elans were Susan's take on a Fender-style bass (besides the Jazz Bass look-alikes they make occasionally), I've often thought these would make the perfect companion to the more traditional ALEMBICs for those times when you just want/need something along those lines.
 
I have a daydream of an Elan Five with a P/J Activator circuit in Maple over Ash built with the 'classic taper' neck to pair with the BigRedBass (SOON to be retrofitted with FatBoys).
 
Then I'd have a traditional Series shape with FatBoy vocals in Maple/Mahogany/PurpleHeart, then the Elan in Maple/Ash with an Alembicized-P/J boom, and both axes would have the SAME neck.
And the Maple/Ash would be the traditional bolt-on woods.
 
One of these days . . . . it WILL be so fine!
 
J o e y