Alpha Omega
FEATURED CUSTOM
"This bass has really been a life long process and dream for me," Olie wrote to us. "It all started in the late 70's. Unlike most Alembicologists of the 70's, my introduction to Alembic was more intimate than seeing one on stage in concert.
"I was a sophomore in high school and the number 2 bassist in our Lab band at Skyline High School in Dallas. The 'numero uno bassist,' a senior by the name of Chris Kay, had just gotten a new bass and I can remember it like it was yesterday when I first saw it.
"All I knew about the bass was that he ordered it from a 'custom' builder in California and that he'd saved for three years to buy it. When he opened that HUGE blue case and pulled out this monster size bass my first thoughts where, 'yea looks cool but I bet it's heavy.'
"Then he let me play it. WHOA!!! I had a religious experience right then and there. Every instrument I've owned up to and ever since that moment has been nothing more 'than something to play until I get MY Alembic.'"
Olie found some stellar Alembics to start his collection, including a Signature Deluxe in Spalted Maple and one in Quilted Maple. After enjoying these basses and speaking with Susan and Mica at Alembic, he decided on Coco Bolo for the top and back of Alpha Omega. It represented a definitive change in tone compared to the Maple basses he already had, plus the look, well, you can easily see why Coco Bolo is one of the most popular top woods we use here at Alembic.
The peghead has Coco Bolo facing veneers on both the front and the back. Interior veneers are alternating layers of Maple and Purpleheart. These layers give strength to the peghead joint, which is inherently weak being the smallest part of the bass with all the tension of the strings.
The classic Alembic Crown peghead shape is adorned with an inlaid logo of sterling silver accented with mother of pearl and abalone. The inlay is beneath the finish which is completely smooth to the touch.
Don't forget your strap at home with these recessed straplocks. What you gain from this small liability is a strap to bass connection that is more stable than one that protrudes.
The knobs are custom made by Roger at THG Knobs. They are topped with Bloodwood, in keeping with the theme of Alpha Omega.
Continuous wood backplates are standard issue on a Series II bass, and you know what? We never get tired of looking at them. The battery backplate and preamp backplate are also made in the continuous wood way.
The theme behind the bass' inlays stem from Olie's faith and beliefs. The artistic foundation is from Olie's tattoos.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. "This bass was crafted by human hands but the music that comes from this bass comes from deep within and its Spirit will last for ever." This inlay is a thick slab of mother of pearl which has the letters cut clean through.
Going up the fingerboard, we find the descending dove across the twelfth fret. It's done in mother of pearl with spiny oyster for the flames and golden mother of pearl for the beak and feet.
The cross is simply elegant in a single large piece of mother of pearl framed in sterling silver.
For the Alpha and Omega, both black Tahitian mother of pearl and white mother of pearl complete the design.
It's so nice to see those unbroken lines of the neck laminates. The neck's main component is Maple with a center pack of alternating Purpleheart and Ebony. This construction recipe gives Alpha Omega an amazingly full tone, with deep lows that sustain longer than expected on a typical electric bass. What can we say Olie, we just love your bass!
And on this Christmas Eve, we wish to all our readers joy, happiness, contentment, and peace.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Series II 4-string bass
- Coco Bolo top and back
- Custom fingerboard inlays
- Maple, Purpleheart and Ebony neck
- 34 inch long scale
- Gold plated hardware
- Continuous wood backplates
- Series II electronics
- 3/4 Heart Omega body shape
- Inlaid Alembic logo with shell
- Custom THG knobs
