Alembic-inspired design goes a long way in this translucent flamed purple bass machine.
Buyer Andrew Noto had Mariotti Guitars construct this guitar for him.
Andrew writes:
Had the fortune of meeting Guglielmo on Facebook. I saw him there holding a double-neck Rick, sent a friend request, and he accepted. After we started talking, he told me he built the bass, and that he was a luthier.
Later I met him in person at a gig he played in Hamilton Ontario, and we started to discuss a build for me… I had always wanted an Alembic Scorpion, like the one I seen Greg Lake play in 1977 at my first ever concert… Emerson, Lake and Palmer. I was in AWE over that design.
I already had an 8 string bass, so I opted for a 5-string M-5, a 32-inch scale. It has a 5 piece neck thru design made up of maple and walnut. The wings consist of Flamed Maple sandwiched over American Walnut.
The color is Translucent Purple, which really brings out the Flame pattern of the wood. M-5 has Black hardware, and a 2 piece Warwick bridge that mimics the Alembic design.
The pickups are Corona-76SM by Tesla, a versatile humbucker soap bar type for the 5 string bass. In concert with the EMG active electronics, produce a rich deep, punching and very powerful bass sound.
The Headstock is made of birdseye maple, with an ebony fret board that house my surname at the 12th fret.
The back of the bass, has a compartment for the electronics, a battery for the active electronics, and a second compartment that will house a Graph Tech Ghost Hexpander MIDI Preamp Kit #PK-0440-00 system that will be added at a later date.
100% handmade, one of a kind , Guglielmo’s TALENT and PASSION for the wood, and the instrument really show in the final result.
Great job, great build!
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WOW!!!! Gorgeous bass!
Beautiful bass, not really a fan of the style or the color but I can appreciate the hard work put into it. Grats
Stunning!!!!
Amazing!!
Just curious–why not a 34″ or 35″ scale? I finally got to play a 35″ scale 5-string recently and loved it.
Just more comfortable for me to play, don’t have Stanley Clark size hands…. Lol
some flame maple knobs would be sweet!!
Superb design, workmanship and I love the color. I saw Lake play that one too.
Great looking!! Congratulations, Andrew!
Question: what type of transformer do you have in there for the xlr out, or is it just a balanced high z direct? Nonetheless, with the pre, I am for sure it is nice and quiet, and clean.
I do also have a Mariotti Bass Guitar. The first Eggshell 5 Stings with Musicman electronics.
I’m just about to take delivery of a REAL custom Alembic! Probably a little more costly, I admit.
This just doesn’t come close, especially with the very ordinary “paint job”! If it had a more stunning finish, it would’ve (at least) come fractionally closer to the mark!
Really?? There is nothing ordinary about this bass….
Bass Snob
I love how people always want to cut down a beautiful bass like this. Even though deep down they know they want to play it. That’s just rude! This may not be an Alembic. But they sure did a nice job creating a piece of playable art. Why don’t you keep your negative comments to your self!
Thank You…. 🙂
Greg Lake was the first person to mind when I saw your photo! That 1977 tour was a watershed of inspiration for me, even though I never saw them live that year; I followed it closely through media. I still call it the high point of Western Civilization. I hope you saw them with the orchestra. That was your “virgin” concert; you are most fortunate!