This guitar is a commission sale - if you have a high end guitar you are interested in selling, please contact us via our easy to find website - search: Sell Us Your Guitar.
Here for sale we have a very special Alembic Orion 4 bass in Natural finish. High end guitar and bass manufacturer Alembic was originally founded as a workshop in Grateful Dead's rehearsal room in California to help improve the bands entire sound chain; instruments, preamps and effects through to PA. As the company grew, modifying and repairing guitars and basses and eventually even recording sound, they began to serve other customers. By 1970 the company was incorporated, eventually releasing its first instrument in 1972 which was a bass made for Jack Casady.
Made in the USA in 1997, this bass features a set-neck construction comprising a Mahogany body with Bubinga top, 5-piece Maple/Walnut neck and 24 fret Ebony fingerboard. Gold hardware is fitted including a 'Bird' tailpiece, 4-saddle adjustable bridge and sealed tuning machines. A pair of Alembic MXY4 pickups are installed, and are wired to an on-board active preamp with master volume, pickup blend, bass boost/cut and treble boost/cut controls.
The 5-piece Maple/Walnut neck plays very well, with a profile that might be described as a moderately-sized 'C' shape which fills the hand comfortably without being at all cumbersome. The gloss finish to the rear assists with smooth navigation of the 34" scale, and in conjunction with the generous cutaways and compact heel design ensures that the full range of the instrument is easily accessible. The Ebony fingerboard is luxurious under the fingers, offering a smooth and durable playing surface across the register. With its 12" radius, the instrument is highly practical for a wide range of playing styles and techniques.
The amplified tone of the Alembic Orion covers all of the sonic bases you could need as a working musician thanks to the comprehensive yet straightforward controls. The pickup blend control offers a wide range of voices; the brightness of the bridge pickup complementing the roundness of the neck position beautifully. Boost/cut controls for bass and treble allow you to dial in the perfect sound right on the guitar, ranging from deep and full-bodied bass tones through to aggressive and punchy sounds that capture all of the spank and attack of your playing. A fantastically made instrument with an impressive range of sounds which at 27 years old is developing a genuine vintage-vibe.
This guitar is a commission sale - if you have a high end guitar you are interested in selling, please contact us via our easy to find website - search: Sell Us Your Guitar.
Please be aware that for international buyers import fees are not included in our postage and packaging cost, this only covers the cost of the guitar being sent to you. Import fees will be charged by Customs upon the guitar's arrival in the recipient country. Due to Brexit, this also applies to EU buyers. We advise checking the total import cost with Customs as this is not information we are able to accurately provide.
Alembic Orion 4 Natural 1997 Electric Bass Guitar
Brand- Alembic
Model- Orion
Finish- Natural
Year- 1997
Made In- USA
Body- Mahogany
Top - Bubinga
Neck- 5pc Maple/Walnut
Fingerboard- Ebony
Fingerboard Radius- 12"
Frets- 24
Scale Length- 34"
Nut Width- 1.623"
Pickups- 2x Alembic MXY4
Controls- Master Volume, Blend, Bass Boost/Cut, Treble Boost/Cut
Our ID: 117102453691
Weight: 9.35lbs
Serial: 97OW10880USA
Aesthetic Condition:
Headstock: Overall very good condition. The top rear edge shows light scuffing which has worn through the finish. The tip demonstrates light indentation which doesn’t pierce the finish. The treble and bass sides show very light indentation.
Neck: Overall very good condition. A small patch of finish has worn away to the centre rear of the neck behind frets 11-12. Light indentation is apparent throughout the neck, only slightly felt under the thumb in playing position and not negatively impacting the overall playability of the instrument. Some very light scratching to the fingerboard can be seen in places, difficult to discern from the natural grain. The fingerboard inlays appear to have been painted over in gold, with the 17th fret inlay appearing to have had some repair work performed.
Body: Overall very good condition. All aspects of the body demonstrate light scratching and indentation. This is most notable to the treble side edge of the lower bout where some light scuffing is also present. Another notable indentation is present at the bass side edge of the lower bout. The satin finish of the body has worn to light yet consistent gloss across all surfaces. Low contact areas such as beneath the strings and around the control knobs retain their satin finish.
Condition of Frets:
The frets show moderate signs of use, not affecting playability. Denting and flattening of the frets is noticeable through the entire register. There is moderate material remaining for any light fret work the new owner may wish to perform.
Current Set Up:
Truss Rod: Fully functional. Truss rod tool (1/4" socket) not included.
Hardware: Fully functional with moderate signs of wear, most notably tarnishing of the tuning pegs and bridge. Some of the lettering on both of the pickup covers has worn away.
Structural: No concerns or issues to note.
Height of the string from the 12th Fret-2mm - Bass 2.5mm
Please be aware that the action on a guitar may move slightly in transit and this measurement is the current height.
Strings on Guitar - 45-100
Electrics:
Full working order.
Case & Accessories:
Hiscox Bass Case
The case demonstrates light signs of use. The lining of the inside pocket lid has separated from the lid, but still remains functional. Truss rod tool not included.