three

it's a very big question...as awesome as reputation and price tag? To some they're mythical beasts, and I suspect many of us haven't seen one up close, let alone played one. To others, over-priced, overly-ornamented and a bit of a dinosaur - early innovators but disappeared into some cosmic, highly esoteric hole. Trying to be as objective as possible (I've owned six and retained three but played many more), for me each instrument feels very different. Woodworking is complex and beautifully executed and quality of finish is the best I've seen anywhere (I've owned Fodera, Wals etc. but not a Ritter). Ergonomics can be err... idiosyncratic. There's a rigidity or stiffness to most instruments and they tend to sound quite oddly dead unplugged (there are reasons for this). The house tone is present in most models but you'll get more of this and more versatility the higher you ascend the price scale - I'd say you're generally buying-in to the characteristic tone from around the signature models and up. In the SI and SII models, this reaches its zenith. The basses are generally not that easy to set-up and some notable builders and techs don't like to deal with them. When set-up properly (and of course, to individual taste), they can play remarkably well - certainly as well and better than anything else I've ever used. On the downside, I find most Alembic body shapes uncomfortable on a strap and only really play them in a sitting position. Some are also very heavy. Adjusting the on-board controls takes some getting used to. There's also some nonsense talked about Alembics and a bit of a negative cachet (as with any expensive brand). So... to return to the original question. Yes on both counts for me though with some caveats. These aren't magical instruments but they are beautifully crafted and thought-through in a (wholistic) way that doesn't appear to be the case with most basses (or other instruments for that matter). To add a question, is this the transcendent bass and end of the search? Well, I've been playing my US Lakland PJ a lot more than my Alembics recently and it fits most situations perfectly. And it's not fiddly or uncomfortable in any way

Ahh, my favourite amp - a monster classic. I note your gain and master levels. These are capable of crushing volume (running at 4ohms?)

I suspect that you’re absolutely correct here and the OT is a key ingredient in the sound. After trying the pre/power combo in the studio, rehearsal rooms and even in the lab, I had to conclude that it’s a sound that really doesn’t work for me. I play Alembics and the fur/distortion is not something that I welcome. Not everyone can hear it, and some that can find it desirable. For me, sadly not and the transients from the db750 are pretty impressive. For anybody with an interest in experimentation, there’s a Hellborg 500 on BC for £200 at the moment and I think that Thomann are still knocking them out new at £500. The distortion-transients compromise isn’t something that works for me... and I really tried to love the Hellborg power amp

Thanks musicavenger, an interesting point. I tried every permutation - soaks, warm-up etc. But the distortion remained. A few of us found the same thing - my 500 is now gone (I bought a new 2x250 and it did exactly the same thing - so that was returned). I’m now using the power section of a db750 with a Hellborg pre - wonderful (in terms of my personal tone goals)

Hmmm... for me Agi as a company is not what it was, and its more recent products don’t appear to have the reliability of earlier gear. I use a db750 and love it but I’m not sure I’d buy a more recent amp. An OBP3 just failed on me - out of warranty and impoosible to repair because of the epoxy seal. £200 to replace with fitting - Agi didn’t appear to give a toss. To the OP, I hope that you get this issue resolved at reasonable cost - £200 is a lot of dosh

Just received an excellent bag from Gareth - perfect communications, item in superb condition (as advertised), well-packed and rapid shipping - everything was extremely easy and a great deal in every respect

Tried just about every configuration (including just DI into FoH - ‘can be fantastic with a great engineer and great monitors). Current main rig is valve pre and A/B power. However, I’m not using the valves. These are by-passed with a SS pre straight to the power section (it’s a Hellborg into a DB750). Sounds glorious to me but it’s all so personal. I tend to play modern(ish) active basses (Status and Spector) but a P sounds pretty good too. My overall tonal aim is immediacy, clean extended dynamic range (capturing the complexity of the basses), lots of headroom and power. I have a small and light option (BAmp) that gets very close, but not as close as the above. Cab is a Berg HD210 - good for monitoring and more. To take this in anither direction, I think a lot is in technique and fingers. I sometimes see bands with the most simple of rigs - P into cheap combo - and it sounds glorious

SIMS have some nice celluloid tort too, and does Jack's in Manchester - probably about £80-90 from SIMS or £60 from Jacks

There will be many with far greater knowledge than my own, however, as far as I know, the 'straight' pickup (i.e., non-split) was standard on Fender's original Precision basses up to around '56/'57. So I'd say, yes - a P can have either split or single pickups

I was in conversation with the Bassdoc recently re: a replacement tort guard for a US 44-64. I sent him the original Lakland guard and he sent back some images of the celluloid tort that he has in stock. In his opinion, and mine, it's no better than the material that Lakland are using. My plate was promptly returned and I'm still looking for some beautiful '60s style tort. I had a Spitfire plate on a Limelight J a few years ago. It was simply staggeringly well-executed and could easily pass for (a very good) 'Fender '60s plate. Originally imported for around £200 (not by me) about 7 or 8 years ago. If you have to have something almost identical to '60s tort, I don't think that there's a better alternative to Spitfire. Horribly expensive but lovely.

Some lovely Laklands appearing - here's a couple more

I suspect it’s Fender’s International series Monaco Yellow. Just beautiful - very ‘70s

I’ve used a Rumble in a rehearsal room - light, loud and versatile - I was very pleasantly surprised and would consider one for easy gigging. There’s also an AER Amp Three for sale on here too - I had an Amp One and it was very special (the brand is certainly worth consideration). If you stick with separates, have a look at the Bergantino amp options (BAmp and Forte). Not cheap but a superb unit. You’d need to think about protection for gigs - a very cute box but doesn’t appear massively robust (mine’s in a Peli)

The guarantee has worked for me too in the UK. On the noise issue, I’ve experienced this with both my Hellborg power amps - one sold, the other returned to Thomann. There’s definitely an element of harmonic colouration/distortion that you’ll either appreciate or not (I’m in the latter camp). With the first amp there was also intermittent internal noise

I recently went over to see Max to collect a bass from him - everything worked perfectly - an incredibly easy transaction with excellent communications throughout (we still talk on Basschat). Very honest and rapid in responses and action. I can recommend without any reservations as a totally upstanding member of our community (and a really good and knowledgeable guy too - just a pity we didn't have longer to speak)

Clive Brown in North Yorkshire has an excellent reputation (thiugh contact isn’t always easy)