Pricing and availability
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Description
With its elegant and understated form, the Europa bass is the type of instrument you return to again and again, and each time you're reminded of why you love this bass so much. From the moment you wear it on strap, comfort and balance greet you. Plugging into the side mounted jack gives a satifying "kerchunk" in response. Once your amp warms up, the tone that piqued your interest in the first place comes flowing back. This bass is home.
Quick tone change switches give instant access to useful on-the-fly sounds. When you're ready to take that solo, you can simply flick the bass and treble switches to the boost position, knowing full well that when you're finished, that original sound is just a click away.
The Europa comes standard with Alembic's classic Maple and Purpleheart neck lamination pattern. This engineered beam supports even response across the Ebony fingerboard, and assures that snappy Alembic brilliance will be delivered at every note.
Like most Alembic basses, Europas are quite happy in a variety of musical settings. Turn the low-pass filters down to 300Hz for deep tones suitable for blues. Turned up to 6KHz, there's plenty of zing for slap or driving rock technique with a pick. Versatility puts the tone control in your heart and your hands.
Since each Europa bass is handcrafted right in our one-and-only shop in Santa Rosa, California, you are able to custom order any aspect of the bass. Custom fingerboard dimensions, wood choices, decorative details, or even things not yet invented are possible.
Videos
Guitar & UkuleleShop TANTAN (タンタン)
USED/ALEMBIC EUROPA in Coco Bolo 5‑Strings Bass 2008年製@guitarshoptantan
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Alembic Europa 5-String Bass Guitar.
User experience
Features and functionality
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Alembic basses, including the Europa, are often described as having a "hi-fi" sound, which can be perceived as sterile compared to warmer, vintage tones preferred by some players.
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The Europa's tone is described as bright, full, clean, and articulate, with a two-band EQ system rather than Alembic's signature Q filter EQ.
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Value and pricing
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Prices for Alembic basses start around $2,000 for models in less-than-perfect condition and can exceed $30,000 for premium or custom models, reflecting their boutique status.
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New Alembics can often be found cheaper through guitar stores or with discounts, even for custom models.
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The Alembic Epic 4-String, often confused with the Europa, starts around $11,000 USD, with retailer discounts potentially reducing it to $7-8k.
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Use cases and applications
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The Europa, among other Alembic models, is known for its suitability in genres requiring a clear, articulate sound, such as jazz and progressive rock, due to its hi-fi tonal quality.
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Despite high price tags, for professional musicians, these instruments are seen as a tax-deductible investment.
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Build quality
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Alembic basses are often praised for their craftsmanship, with intricate designs and finishes, though some models can be heavy, potentially leading to discomfort during extended play.
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Alembic basses use the best materials and many man hours go into building each one, with everything done by hand in-house except for the tuners.
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The bridge assembly and logo can be polished effectively with Brasso polish and a Q-tip for a pristine look.
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Comparisons
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Owners note that the weight of Alembic basses makes other instruments, like Kramer basses, feel significantly lighter in comparison.
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Setup and maintenance
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The black tone/volume caps on the Europa do not pop off; instead, they are secured by a nut underneath, requiring careful removal to avoid damage.
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Pickup height can be adjusted via a hidden Phillips head screw under the pickup cover; overtightening can crack covers, necessitating replacements from Alembic.
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5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 1 Rating
Artist usage
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