Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: slammin on November 02, 2009, 06:55:17 PM
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Great forum! But I do have a question. Does anyone actually play their Alembic basses?
I just purchased a very nice 87 Persuader and though the bass does have a couple of very minor 'love taps', I was just amazed at the overall condition of this 22yr old bass. It had some Alembic round wounds on it, and they were very flat/dead, so I put a set of Optima Golds and the first thing I noticed is that any fret where I stretched a note, I felt fret grind. You know, that grind you feel when you use ground wounds on a new bass. Visual examination of the frets really looks to me like this was not a very well used bass.
She's getting plenty of play now and though I was really fearful I may have spent too much for her, I did buy it on an ebay from a reputable dealer that I spoke to over the phone a few times beforehand, and was comfortable that I might be getting a prize, and I certainly did. More than I had expected really.
Now I have 3 other basses that I am going to sell. Not just because I will never play them again, but also because I think I have some serious Alembic GAS.
Funny. All the $$$ I've spent in the past on basses and other gear/goodies trying to find nirvana, and also that Alembic sound, only to finally get one. Nothing was wasted, no harm, no foul, but really, I wish I had known then what I know now.
Problem is, now I want a Signature :-/
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hehe...it's a wonderful addiction.
I think most Alembic owners really take good care of their instruments. Because are built so well and with alot of love they seem to just get better with age.
Lookin forward to pics if you got 'em
cheers
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I certainly will. It's got an awesome Koa top and I agree, some serious love went into this bass.
I'll also post a pic of a bass I built in woodshop class in high school. Actually, a pic of a pic, but I do think I have a more than an idea of the craft, though not an inkling of the skill, lol!
No idea how a bass this old can sound so good. Is the wood doing something? I mean, I have a Warwick too, and you can definitely hear the 'wood' in that bass, but this one just has 'character', for lack of better description. I really can't explain it, and I am still discovering new voices it has.
Pics this weekend!
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IMHO, there are many basses available today, made with great care, out of fine wood, and with high grade hardware, but I think there are two big things that set Alembic apart from the crowd.
First is the electronics, like them or not, there is no denying they are different, and a big part of the Alembic sound.
The second thing is something less concrete, but equally important. That is the legacy and history and mentoring that is part of a family owned business that has been honing it's craft for somewhere around 40? years. You cannot buy/hire that kind of workplace culture that they have developed over multiple generations. That's what you feel/hear in your bass that you really can't explain.
IMHO of course.
JBY
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Are you serious did you ask does anyone play their alembic basses?(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/72168.jpg)
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Plenty pics of two of my Alembics getting used here (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=10095)
Graeme
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Well, I've got to admit my 8 string Spoiler is 4th on the depth chart and doesn't see much action. However, my 85 Persuader has done everything from heavy metal to doo wop. It's got a lot of voices....
Welcome to the club and have fun finding all the voices in your new baby! Oh yeah! Pictures!
JP
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I am a Koa junky. Show us some pics
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i play my Alembics almost every night. The other basses just sit in the corner in their cases. John
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I only play my Rogue nowadays. Still own my Washburn 6 string but, really, it is not so funny anymore...
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I play my Alembics regularly with bands, in my studio or the occasional open mic. I don't think there are that many Alembic collectors as compared to players. I think it is just due to the expense of the instruments a lot of us take better care of them than some other makes.
Keith
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Ivan -
Welcome aboard!
Keavin ain't lyin' - he will beat the tar out of any Alembic he gets his hands on and he will do it for hours on end!
I totally understand your comment about a Signature - earlier this year we had a gathering in Chicago, and Mica (bless her heart or maybe it's good marketing skills) brought a Stanley Clarke Signature bass . . . I'm saving pennies fer sure!
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Ivan:
I have a nice collection of Alembics (or at least I think so). I play them all the time, in the bars where I gig, in the rooms where I rehearse and in the basement where I practice. There are only 2 kinds of gigs where I leave the Alembics home: outdoor gigs when rain is in the forecast, and any bar where patrons have to walk across the stage to get to the men's room (sadly, there is one place I play sometimes where that is true - and the stage is about the size of an SVT cabinet on its side, too).
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I've been using my Alembics since 83 in every situation I've come across.
Note: Do not wear a watch when beating your bass Mark Mendoza style. It will leave many nasty dings in the upper horn area! Refinished in black. Looks Great!
Sold 5 Alembics this past year or so. Traded a few and ordered another custom. But it always starts with just one.
Enjoy and don't fight the addiction. I can attest that the quality of my life is greater for having these instruments. They have outlasted every other relationship outside of family. 26 years and counting. Welcome and enjoy.
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Danno, or like Newsted did to his Alembics after his solos in early 90's!!!!
~Taylor Watterson
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(Message edited by serialnumber12 on November 05, 2009)
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I too love my Persuader, what difference in sound between mine and say a dilstilate (sp).
Is it noticeable, do different scale lenghts sound different.
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Will not leave home without my Alembic Excel. These basses are great, sold all but one and that my P-bass. Glad you enjoying it.
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I'm now running my bass through a Line 6 POD X3 Live and really getting some amazing results with this bass. I've also in the last couple of months, actually in preparation for getting this bass, began playing a lot softer. That might account for some of the difference in the amount of sounds I can get from this bass vs. what I ever got with any other bass I've owned. Keep in mind that before this, my main bass was a Peavey Cirrus 4 35 scale and I beat that bass down hard and it just doesn't seem to come alive unless you play it hard.
That is not the case with this Persuader and I am loving that! So are my fingers :-)
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I've been playing my 77 series I since 1978. It's the only bass I play, every rehearsal, gig, etc. Don't know what I'd do if I had to send it in for repairs. I guess buy a new one until it's fixed.
Howierd
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I got a good deal on a 2 year old Distillate in 1985. It's the only bass I've used on stage, in studio and rehearsals now for almost 25 years. It still looks and plays the same as it did when I bought it. It de-throned an only 5 year old Aria SB1000 I bought new in 1980 (the closest thing I could find to an Alembic I could afford). That poor thing has rarely seen the light of day since. I get it out every so often to make sure it's not growing mold . So maybe a good topic would be what basses don't ever get played now that you have an Alembic.
I agree with others that it is the reverence for something you highly longed for that makes you pamper it over the many years.
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I only have alembic brand basses so play them at home, rehearsals and at gigs. The one i take depends on what tracks I'm doing on the gig. The SC has the sound I prefer on a personal level but the Europa with its 5 strings has a more fitting sound for the majority of gigs I do.
Jazzyvee
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As promised, some pictures:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/72549.jpg)
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Koa luv
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My other children - soon to be up for adoption(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/72554.jpg)
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A picture of instruments I had hanging over my bunk while living on base in 1979-1980.
My dad gave me that guitar when I was 6 but I never played on more than the EADG strings.
I built the star bass in high school woodshop class.
I bought the 79 Jazz right after bootcamp in 1979. Sorry for the poor quality but the photo is 30 years old :-)(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/72557.jpg)
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Love the star bass! a Bootsie tribute?
Is it bedazzeled with jewels?
(I ask cause I play in a blues band with a guy who has a Bedazzeled 57 strat and we love the look!)
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Yes, Bootsie was my hero! I had originally painted it white. The 'jewels' are actually just aluminum/paper stars that I laid out on the underside of the plexiglass and then spray painted black paint behind them.
5 pickups! Really, she sounded pretty good with a Morley wah (tuna fish can was empty) and an old Plush tube amp with bad tubes :-)
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Steve; I think so too!
Ivan; congrats and welcome to the board! Very nice Flame Koa top!
The explanation posted by James (jbybj) is right on the mark.
Oh, and yes, the only basses I own are Alembic; and I play my main bass hours every day.
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Thanks! And I have to say that James must be correct. This bass plays so buttery smooth that I have a hard time putting it down sometimes. I've never had a bass that was so easy to play. Just an engineering marvel as well as the craftmanship. I love this bass!