Two weeks ago, My first Alembic bass arrived to my home. It's a five string Essence with bokote top wood. A friend of mine, professional bassist, had raved about his Alembics in a convincing way so as to help me make a decision to go ahead with a purchase. He also brought his own custom built Alembic for me to try out.

So here's the bottom line.  I've been playing since I was a kid. I have 19 basses of other makes. NONE of them are in the same league with the Alembic Essence. The build quality is incredible but the thing that really totally shifted me into a new bass paradigm is the SOUND.  The engineering, design, woods, materials, craftsmanship, all add up to this sound. They got it right. Now I'm the one raving, sorry, preaching to the choir, I know.  I'll be purchasing a Mark King Balanced K five sometime soon. 

Jerry,
Welcome to the camp!
You obviously understand.   

I've been an Alembic owner 30 years now.....Just bought #6......it doesn't stop.  That is one crazy Top on the Essence.

They can be pleasantly addictive.

46 years for me.   Yeah it's a problem.

Welcome Jerry,

You're preaching to the choir in here!  49 years for me and somehow my collection stopped at 5.  That's all I've needed for about 35 of those years.

Glad you're enjoying it!

Jimmy J

Coming up on my 10th year with Alembic. Musical life ain't been the same since I got here. Welcome to the Club.

Beautiful bass, Jerry. Sounds better than it looks if that's possible!

Glad to hear that the balancing worked out for you.

That's a beautiful top. Welcome.

Thanks for all your comments and feedback. Playing and exploring the dynamics of the Essence bass is kinda like the primates in 2001: A Space Oddesy, when they discovered the monolith, ha ha. Whole other level and so enjoyably cool. The first Alembic I heard was sometime around 1974. Blue Oyster Cult bassist played one. It was the sound that I never forgot. Thanks guys and Alembic.

Nice shot of that top wood!

My bass teacher had a really cool looking, great sounding bass. I asked what kind of bass that was. He said, "It's an Alembic Spoiler". I replied, "That's a really cool looking and sounding bass. I'd like an Olympic bass too one day." When I played it, I could tell it was of a quality I didn't know existed. Despite the sticker price, at 16 years old, I made it my life goal to save up enough money to get one of my own. 31 Oct 1997, I became a proud owner of a Alembic Europa. Still have it, still love it.