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Alembic Europa Bass Guitar

Alembic Europa Bass Guitar

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Page last updated Feb 01, 2026

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Description

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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.

EXAMPLES: EUROPA

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Guitar & UkuleleShop TANTAN (タンタン)

USED/ALEMBIC EUROPA in Coco Bolo 5‑Strings Bass 2008年製@guitarshoptantan

Guitar & UkuleleShop TANTAN (タンタン)

낙원상가 Alembic Europa 5 string bass 시연영상

낙원상가 베이스기타 더원악기

Alembic Europa 5 1993 performed by Victor Levchenko

Victor Levchenko

Alembic Europa 5 Tiger Koa performed by Victor Levchenko

Victor Levchenko

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Alembic Europa Bass Guitar.

Value and pricing

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Alembic's entry-level models are often compared to the cost of 25 Squier CV basses, highlighting the luxury pricing tier Alembic occupies.
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Despite being an "entry-level" Alembic, the Epic model's price starts at around $11,000, but retailer discounts can reduce it to $7-8k.
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Custom Alembic basses can be priced significantly lower through high-volume dealers, with some reporting discounts up to 25% off list prices.
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Entry-level Alembic models like the Epic start around $2800, whereas custom models can exceed $10,000.
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Setup and maintenance

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Regular maintenance includes polishing the logo and bridge assembly with Brasso polish and a Q-tip for aesthetic upkeep.
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Alembic pickups have a hidden Phillips head screw under the cover for height adjustment, which can lead to missing screw appearances if not properly secured.
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The black tone/volume caps on Alembic basses require prying off the top to access a nut underneath, a unique feature compared to other basses.
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User experience

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Owners note that the Alembic Epic is bright, full, clean, and articulate sounding, making it suitable for clear and precise musical applications.
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Owners mention the Europa's neck dive causing strain, with some switching to the heavier Balance K for better ergonomic balance.
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Some players find the Europa 5-string's string spacing uncomfortable, affecting their overall playability preference.
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Features and functionality

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Alembic Epic models typically feature a 2-band EQ, lacking the Q filter EQ system found in higher-end Alembic models, affecting tonal shaping capabilities.
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Alembic's intricate controls and adjustments lean towards a technical, studio-friendly sound, favoring clarity and precision.
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Use cases and applications

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Owners suggest that Alembic basses are more suited to affluent hobbyists or professional musicians who can justify the high cost as a business expense.
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Alembic basses are often seen as trophy instruments, with some users opting for more affordable basses for practical gigging and recording.
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Alembic basses are noted for a "Hi-Fi" sound, which may not suit those preferring a vintage rock tone like Duck Dunn's.
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Build quality

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Despite high craftsmanship, Alembic basses are noted for their hefty weight, with models like the Epic being slightly lighter.
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Comparisons

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Compared to Warwick and Fender basses, Alembic offers superior effortless playability, though some prefer Warwick for comfort.
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Jason Newsted

Bassist

Metallica

Verified via Photo

Jason Newsted's Alembic Europa Bass Guitar is custom-painted in "Almost Black," a unique color designed to appear black on stage while revealing intricate details up close. This is evident from a user-uploaded photo on Freewebs.

Trevor Dunn

Bassist

Melvins

Verified via Photo

This photo shows Trevor Dunn playing his customized 1991 Alembic 5-string Europa bass guitar. On his official site, he talks about the details of how he came to own it and how he customized it:

"So I met this guy at a Bungle show who happened to work for Alembic. He got me a good deal and brought me to the factory up in Santa Rosa, California where I was able to pick out the actual pieces of maple that would be used on the front of the body. Since it was being made from scratch I customized it in a couple ways: I had them refrain from putting dots on face of the ebony fretboard. It looks cool but it really messes with your eyes and took me a while to get used to. Luckily there are dots on the side of the fretboard. I also had them use a left-handed head-stock for that Hendrix look. Unfortunately this puts the E-string tuning peg out of the reach of my stumpy little arms. Oh well, there's no other bass in the world like this. I used it on Bungle's DV & CA cds as well as Zorn's The Gift, but I don't play it that much these days." – Trevor Dunn on his 1991 Alembic 5-string Europa