Hey all!

Became an Alembic owner in December 2022 after purchasing the Distillate (picture attached). Then within the past couple months I worked out a trade of a vintage Gibson I wasn't giving much love to for the Spoiler bodied Epic (picture also attached).

I definitely am loving the Epic more than the Gibson I had but in an ideal world I think I'd like a 5 string fretless Alembic to be a companion to the Distillate. Either way I've dreamed of owning an Alembic since I was a teen, never even thinking I'd end up with two. Very excited to use them to record an EP with my alt rock band in a couple months!

Howdy Newish Owner, and welcome to the club!  As you are discovering, Alembics are indeed addictive.  There's loads of good info around here and the site is frequented by some of the nicest and most helpful people to be found anywhere on the net, starting with the Wickersham family and extending to all the rest of the extended Alembic family that inhabits this forum.   You won't find the usual flare ups and other BS found on most sites.  We really are a family here.  Welcome to the fold!

Bill, the guitar one

Eli -
Welcome to the camp!  What Bill said - this is a really nice place with a lot of help available.

Nice pair you have there.
I also desire a fretless Alembic....   

Thanks for the welcome y'all! Seems almost any question about Alembics has already been asked in the forum and is a quick search away.

They truly are addictive! I'd love to have many more but my internal tendency to be a minimalist is driving me to ask whether or not I inquire about a fretless conversion for my Spoiler bodied Epic or hold out for a trade. Either way, very happy to be here!

Congrats and welcome!

Personally, I wouldn't do a conversion; just watch for a fretless to come along.

Welcome.  I get the desire for minimalism, but if you ever go the other way you have a nice start to a collection of non-Spoiler Spoilers there.  Or maybe five string Spoilers.

I agree with David on avoiding a conversion.  It feels like there are more fretless Alembics hitting the used market with five strings than with four.  It shouldn't be a long wait when you're ready.

Just out of curiosity, what year is your Epic?  Something about the body seems a little bit different from my early 80s Spoilers.

Ken

Hey Ken!

That one is from 1995. The body is definitely bigger than the Distillate which is a Spoiler w/ tail. Feels more proportionate to the Epic neck so maybe that's why?

Wow - both basses are REALLY cool with interesting variations from the norm. I've kind of been on the lookout for a 5-string, but I don't have a fretless to trade. (And I agree with others that my preference would be to wait for a fretless to come around)

Sounds like I'm probably waiting for the right time for me and for the right fretless to come around. It is unfortunately (or fortunately) the case that the quality of these two Alembics has made some of my other basses feel less special in some regards. One of those being an Ibanez fretless I acquired between the two Alembics. 

Alembics are known for having that effect. Probably should be referred to as the "Wickersham Effect".🎶🤨