{"product_id":"alembic-orion-1997-4-string-bass-with-hard-case","title":"Alembic Orion 4-String Bass 1997 Natural — Bubinga","description":"\u003cp\u003eNo sales tax for US customers outside California.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv style=\"background-color: #6caebe; padding: 20px; margin: 10px 0px;\" class=\"shop-favorite-prod-desc\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eShop Favorite!\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"shop-testimonial\"\u003eBrian: \"This is my first experience with an Alembic build in person. I must say, now I get it. I get why masters such as Phil Lesh, Stanley Clarke and John Entwisle chose them. This is a serious instrument for serious players and I hope we get more Alembics coming through the shop! I'm hooked.\" \n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eAlembic was born out of the Grateful Dead's sound system in 1969, founded by Ron and Susan Wickersham and luthier Rick Turner with a single radical idea: apply recording studio electronics to the electric bass. The result changed everything.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eActive onboard preamps, low-impedance pickups with wider frequency response than anything else available, neck-through construction using carefully selected exotic tonewoods, solid brass hardware — these were not refinements to existing bass guitar thinking, they were a complete reinvention of it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eStanley Clarke bought his first Alembic in 1973. John Entwistle played them. John Paul Jones used one on Stairway to Heaven. Phil Lesh and Jack Casady had their instruments redesigned by Alembic before the company even started building complete instruments. Today Alembic still builds every bass by hand in Santa Rosa, California, in small numbers, to a standard that has not changed since they invented it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe Orion is Alembic's entry-level set-neck model — entry-level being relative, because this is still a handmade American instrument built to the same exacting standards as everything else that leaves the Santa Rosa shop. This 1997 example carries a bubinga top over a mahogany body — bubinga is an African hardwood with exceptional density and figure that adds tonal warmth and sustain while providing a visually striking natural grain — paired with a three-piece maple neck with walnut pinstripes that runs set into the body. The neck dimensions are fast and comfortable at .825\" at the first fret and .996\" at the twelfth, and the dual truss rods adjust at the body end. The ebony fingerboard is smooth and glassy, 24 frets with top dot inlays only — clean and uncluttered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe original Alembic MXY4 active pickups are present, original, and fully working — volume, pan, bass, and treble controls give the player genuine tonal flexibility from a single bass. The solid brass bird tailpiece and ABR-style bridge are original and intact. The Alembic-Gotoh gold tuners hold pitch correctly. The height-adjustable brass nut is original. All original pots and codes. Action is set at 3\/32\" on both strings at the twelfth fret.  The original frets show light wear.  The neck is straight and the bass plays perfectly and easily as you might expect.  There are no changes or repairs.  There is some surface wear from use - see the pics for details.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe non-original case is an Ibanez hardshell — functional and protective, not a factory Alembic case.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003ca title=\"Sell your vintage guitar to Mahar's Vintage Guitars\" href=\"https:\/\/www.maharsvintageguitars.com\/pages\/sell-vintage-guitars\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWe buy, sell, and take trades.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2034\" data-end=\"2106\"\u003eBe sure to check out the other cool guitar related stuff on our site\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"2106\" data-end=\"2109\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.maharsvintageguitars.com\/collections\/vintage-fender-guitars\" title=\"Vintage and used Fender electric guitars at Mahar's Vintage Guitars\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFender electric guitars\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e - vintage \u0026amp; used\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"2247\" data-end=\"2250\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.maharsvintageguitars.com\/collections\/gibson-guitars\" title=\"Vintage and used Gibson electric guitars at Mahar's Vintage Guitars\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGibson electric guitars\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e - vintage \u0026amp; used\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"2275\" data-end=\"2278\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe largest \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.maharsvintageguitars.com\/collections\/amps\" title=\"Vintage and used guitar amplifiers at Mahar's Vintage Guitars\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003evintage \u0026amp; used guitar amplifier selection\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e in Northern California\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"2302\" data-end=\"2305\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.maharsvintageguitars.com\/collections\/effect-pedals\" title=\"Vintage and used effects pedals at Mahar's Vintage Guitars\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVintage \u0026amp; Used Effects Pedals\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExcerpts from Real Online User Reviews:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\"Alembic was the company that invented the modern boutique bass — everything that came after owes them a debt that rarely gets acknowledged.\" — TalkBass\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\"The MXY4 active pickups in the Orion have a clarity and dynamic range that passive pickups simply cannot replicate — there is nothing in the signal chain getting in the way.\" — Bass Guitar Magazine\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\"Bubinga over mahogany on an Alembic set-neck is one of the most tonally balanced wood combinations they've ever used — warm, focused, and articulate.\" — The Low End Bass Shop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\"The three-piece maple and walnut neck on the Orion is one of the most stable and visually striking neck constructions in production bass building.\" — Reverb community\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSPECS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColor: Natural\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeight: 9 lbs 13.5oz\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTop: Bubinga\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBody: Mahogany\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNeck: \u003cspan\u003e3-piece Maple with Walnut pinstripes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFretboard: Ebony\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInlays: Top Dot only\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrets: Original\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFret Count: 24\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNut: Original \u003cspan\u003eHeight-adjustable \u003c\/span\u003eBrass\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNut Width: 1-5\/8\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRadius: 12\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScale: 34\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNeck thickness at 1st fret: .825\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNeck thickness at 12th fret: .996\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAction 1st String at 12th Fret: 3\/32\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAction 6th String at 12th Fret: 3\/32\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOverall length: 44-3\/4\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBody depth\/thickness outside edge: 1-5\/8\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eString gauge: 45-105\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHardware Color: Brass \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBridge Pickup\/Brand: \u003cspan\u003eAlembic MXY4 active\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePickup Original?: Yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNeck Pickup\/Brand:  \u003cspan\u003eAlembic MXY4 active\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePickup Original?: Yes\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBridge: Original, w\/ s\u003cspan\u003eolid brass \"bird\" tailpiece\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTuners: \u003cspan\u003eGold Alembic-Gotoh\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKnobs: Original\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePots\/Codes: Original\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCase: Non Original Ibanez HSC\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNotes:\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShipping policy:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site.  Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver.  For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for Eastern states - customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air.  Otherwise, ground shipping will be used.  Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions.  If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com.  Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.   \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Alembic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56339406979238,"sku":"G-2177","price":3199.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0455\/7527\/4662\/files\/alembic-orion-4-string-bass-1997-natural-bubinga-4114391.jpg?v=1775280375","url":"https:\/\/www.maharsvintageguitars.com\/products\/alembic-orion-1997-4-string-bass-with-hard-case","provider":"Mahar's Vintage Guitars","version":"1.0","type":"link"}