I?ve just bought my second Epic (94W8703), a 4str that I?m really fond of. Now I can have one with classic Pyramid flatwounds, and my 6str Epic can keep the EBS-roundwounds on...I?m a bit curious about the top-wood on my 4str, it?s very different from the 6str?s. If you have some info I?d be happy to know. Thanx from frosty Sweden1

My guess would be koa - 'all' my Alembics are koa, as you can see on my profile - and your Epic seem to be a fairly close relative of mine(http://club.alembicguitars.net/Images/411/4519.html?1055019057).
 
If you change the position of the bass in the light, or even the camera angle, the figuring in the wood can look so different - that's a standard Alembic feature, courtesy of Mother Nature!
 
You can ask the build details by starting a new thread in the Owning an Alembic section, under Serial Number / History Requests.
 
I was in Gothenburg two weeks ago - they weren't used to having snow this late in winter? But I guess Uppsala is further up north.

Beautiful top!  I think it's a Burl, possibly Madrone.
 
(Message edited by davehouck on March 15, 2006)

hi alembicians...my other epic (6str) is not koa. after looking at your nice pix, adriaan, i?m not sure that it?s the same...it?s more quilted-like...we?ll see what people come up with? yep, we have the worst winter since 1942 (stalingrad...:-(!).kristjan....burl? madrone? don?t know about tehm, either, have to check!

Hi Kristjan,
 
Here's what I found in the instrument file:
 
top: Koa
accent: Maple pinstripe
body: Mahogany
neck: Maple, 34 scale
fingerboard: Ebony
pickups: MXY
controls: volume, pan, bass, treble
output: mono 1/4 face-mounted
originally mde for: Guitar Center, Hollywood, CA
birthday: not recorded, but I estimate it as mid-November 1994.
 
There is no other repair or ownership history in the file. You should register your instrument if you haven't already done so.

Adriaan; I was pretty sure it wasn't Koa.  Fortunately, I don't gamble.

hi, adriaan! you were right on KOA. congrat! thanx mica, for all other details = impressive.

...by the way, the only problem that arises when bringing Alembics to Sweden is the frets - in winter humidity goes down to zero and they come out real sharp and have to be filed (often several times). but it?s worth the hassle - i love my alembics. the epic is so easy on the shoulder and my F1-X & SF-2 provides the sound i want!