Where are the Big Al 5s?

[adouglas]

As flawed as it was, I miss the dealer inventory widget that used to exist on the MM website.

I'd really like to go try out a BA 5 SSS, but I have no idea where any are. GC evidently has no plans to carry them as stock items either in stores or on the web, my ace local dealer Pete DuB (only an hour away) doesn't have one and doesn't appear to have one on order....

As near as I can tell the only ones in the wild are the handful split between Bass Central and TPB.

To be fair, I have held a BA 4 in my hands. But it was at the Manhattan Guitar Center, which is precisely what you might imagine as far as checking instruments out goes. It's the classic Guitar Center experience, amped up to New York City intensity.

After patiently waiting 25 minutes for the other guy in the bass alcove to conclude his slap solo I quietly gave up, plugged my ears, walked past three 14-year-old shredmasters screeching away on pointy guitars (not together, mind you...) and headed for the door. Next time I'll save the price of the train ticket.

Not that I expect an answer to this but... have any dealers other than TPB and BC ordered a Big Al 5 for stock?

 

[silverburst]

Not to overburden the customer service folks, but they did track a bass down for me before.

I have yet to find a Big Al 5 in the wild, thus far.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Well adouglas, if I were you I'd email customer service, or someone within EBMM who deals with their distribution, surely they could point you in the right direction. Also don't forget that while here in this forum, their existence is well known from the moment they were announced, out there in the big ol' world unsuspecting musicians aren't yet aware that such a thing as the Big Al 5 SSS exists. Sad but true.

 

[lefenton]

don't forget that while here in this forum, their existence is well known from the moment they were announced, out there in the big ol' world unsuspecting musicians aren't yet aware that such a thing as the Big Al 5 SSS exists. Sad but true.

Well said. I'd say the same thing applies to the Big Al in general, at least in Canada. Very few stores are carrying them and even fewer people know of them. I like having a unique bass, but I don't have enough words in my vocabulary to re-assert this thing's awesomeness to everyone that sees it and looks in awe asking "what the hell is THAT thing?"

 

[MadMatt]

adouglas... since having got mine I have been able to confirm the existence of 4 others in Germany... (A country which has a population of 80 Mil. BTW) I had to buy mine blind... Of course GW and others did help me with the decision... as we are trying to help you Listen to the voices in your head and simply have TPB or BC send you one.

-M@

 

[syciprider]

My Mind Control machine seems to be working

 

[MadMatt]

My Mind Control machine seems to be working

Sorry syciprider but we have put the B. i. g. A. l. into macro burst mode. Resitance is futile

 

[syciprider]

Yah. adouglas does not realize this but it is only a matter of time. First you get curious, then you get sucked in.

 

[ivbenaplayin]

Yah. adouglas does not realize this but it is only a matter of time. First you get curious, then you get sucked in.

there are more of us that are "Big Al Curious"... my question (having never seen one up-close and in-person) is this... what it the body of the bass like as far a physical size goes... give me (us) a size comparison vs... let's say... a bongo, a stingray, & a sterling... that pretty much covers it. I've heard that they are compact in size, but is that a neck comparison (sterling/slo vs. stingray...) or is that the bass overall? As stated before, I have yet to come across one in the wild...

 

[five7]

There are a bunch on ebay.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Well, if you've tried a 4 string, then you've had a chance to mess with the preamp and if you've ever tried a Sterling 5, you've had a chance to check out the neck profile.

If someone asked me if I've checked out a Big Al 5SS, I can answer "Yes, but not all at once."

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Swing by my place and you can try mine.

 

[syciprider]

there are more of us that are "Big Al Curious"... my question (having never seen one up-close and in-person) is this... what it the body of the bass like as far a physical size goes... give me (us) a size comparison vs... let's say... a bongo, a stingray, & a sterling... that pretty much covers it. I've heard that they are compact in size, but is that a neck comparison (sterling/slo vs. stingray...) or is that the bass overall? As stated before, I have yet to come across one in the wild...

4er: The body feels smaller than a SR. The design also makes the bass sling lower than an SR with the same strap length. The neck is all Sterling.

 

[adouglas]

There are a bunch on ebay.

Most of them are the ones at TPB.

Besides, last I checked eBay didn't allow you to visit and try a bass out before buying it….

I am seriously thinking of asking for one as a 25th wedding anniversary gift, but I'd really, really rather not order before trying.

 

[adouglas]

Swing by my place and you can try mine.

Well, you are only 400 miles or so away….

 

[MrMusashi]

didnt gw offer to send you his?

ps: you need one.. do as we europeans does.. buy without testing first
pps: or else i will come over one weekend and swap the contents of the fuelbottle for the bongoray transmitter. heheh.. you know you want one

MrM

 

[Grand Wazoo]

didnt gw offer to send you his?

Yes I certainly did promise, and would have lent it to him, the only problem was that when adouglas checked the DHL shipping costs, it was rather prohibitive.

 

[projectapollo]

First you get curious, then you get sucked in.

I can hear the sucking sound while reading this thread.

 

[strummer]

I'd really, really rather not order before trying.

Are you lacking in faith?

Order one and be done with it!

 

[cellkirk74]

4er: The body feels smaller than a SR. The design also makes the bass sling lower than an SR with the same strap length. The neck is all Sterling.

Yep. It is and feels a little smaller:

and shorter than a Stingray or Bongo:

Therefor it plays very fast. I don't know whether the body is the same on the Big Al4 and Big Al5. Can someone clarify this?