Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: hendixclarke on March 14, 2008, 12:53:56 AM
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Look like Stanley will be touring with his new line of basses called Spellbinder.
Has anyone play them, I would love to know your thoughts. They look cheaply built. Does anyone know if Stan has totally moved away from Alembic at this point?
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On Chic Corea website, shows Stanley playing a black Spellbinder as they prep up for the RTF Tour. I thought for sure, he'd be playing with the beautful Dragon S2 Alembic bass.
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Those basses Suck!!!
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Have you played them?
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Just took a look at the Spellbinder website. Not my cup o' tea, but anything Rick Turner does, is usually pretty damn good. Have you ever seen a Model One bass in person? Just awesome. And the price of the Spellbinder is $3600. Not bad either, in my humble opinion.
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more info on spellbinder. www.lieberguitars.com (http://www.lieberguitars.com)
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Just what I thought. I'll pass.
An Artist like Stanley Clarke should stay away from the drawing board if he tries to make a case for creations like the Spellbinder basses, when he's been enjoying life with Alembic all the years. He plays a Rolls Royce, and returns with a Yugo basses to sell?
Technically speaking, the Spellbinder lack a lacks an offical peer review I would expect. I tried searching the web on this bass to get more insight, and I found nothing. I asked people here, and nothing returned. I have not even read anything from Stanley as to; why he felt a need to market his own basses?
Truly, what else does the gets other than a bass indorsed with Stanley's design and name?
IS THAT ALL
If so, I'll pass.
Stanley is not the only person who tried to rub off his influence to the production floors.
Bootsy has a limited Space Bass. I love Bootsy, but he and Stanley can keep their basses. Enough said.
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When making a proto-type, or concept you try to incoporate everying into the idea. Once in production, you scale down to control cost, and focus on quality. Here, I seen his newer versions more well thought. I am sure its a learning curve for Stanley to get beyond.
It's still strange or an awkward position for Stanley to compete with Alembic, when he made a career with the best bass in the world IMO.
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There were some Spellbinder basses produced in the 80's that Stanley played- he does have a history with them.
If it helps the guy pay some more bills, I don't see the problem. Stanley has lots of 'other' basses onstage through the years- it doesn't mean he stops playing his Alembics.
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Remember,
Stanley owns and plays a number of brands of basses, but he always comes back to Alembic. I have seen him play a weird German bass with a lions head bridge and 6 pickups, a Ken Smith bass, and a piccalo bass. He always returns to his Alembics even though he does not get paid to endorse them.
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Funkyjazz, that is so true. Stanley knows which side his bread is buttered on.
I give him credit for trying, because as good as he is, you have to peek and take notice from his perspective on quality. As for me, I am done looking. Alembic is my rock.
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Hmm. That's kinda lame -- RTF w/o Alembic?
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You got it. I am still marinating this concept too.
I am sure Stanley will pull all the stops with his Alembics including the great Dragon's Breath! http://www.alembic.com/info/fc_dragonsbreath.html (http://www.alembic.com/info/fc_dragonsbreath.html)
Spellbinder who, what?
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The lion head bridge instrument - L?wenherz
http://www.loewenherzbass.com/english/englishindex.html (http://www.loewenherzbass.com/english/englishindex.html)
Stanley Clarke can play whatever he wants people, yes it is an Alembic club, but if he stops playing an Alembic at any moment and you feel hurt, you need to get help.
Spellbinder basses are/were funded and 'co-designed' with SC. The first run in the late 70s had the name 'CLARKE' on the headstock. There's one for sale now.
http://www.thelowend.net/gallery/viewtopic.php?t=3307&sid=72b003f7c33f57b8bc27af21f9a0d54e (http://www.thelowend.net/gallery/viewtopic.php?t=3307&sid=72b003f7c33f57b8bc27af21f9a0d54e)
Also, SC played various basses with RTF, including a Rickenbacker 4001. If he needs the blessing of Alembic club owners to play any particular instrument, particularly one with his OWN name, something is wrong.
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Actually the Rick is a 4000, the single pickup one.
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I'll see RTF even if Stanley used a broom as a bass.
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Overstating things a bit, 0vid?
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I don't think so, did the RTF video with a Rick hurt your nerves?
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Actually, I thought 0vid's posts were some of the most rational in this thread...
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Oh God, nevermind....
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Substitute rude for rational, and maybe you're onto something....
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And awwwaaaayyyyy we go!
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Ovid, you are right. Stanley can play any bass he wishes. Nobody here has a problem with this. I sure don't have a problem.
In light of the facts in all this, we are excited to see the Four Aces Return To Forever band back in the limelights of jazz. By far, it is Jazz-Rock biggest news. Guessing what gear will be used for such an event is just fun and no harm.
I hope he plays all his basses. They all sound good and those basses is a part of RTF's music history too.
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When do the June Taylor Dancers arrive?
Bill, tgo
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I have never met Stanley Clark and he does not play in any Bands that I follow. In fact I can not recall the name of any Band that he has played in. I do recall that RTF are the initials of a Band that he and Chick Corea are in.
My friends in Philly tell me that Stanley was well regarded during his teen years and that he is a musicians musician.
But I do know that during the late 70's he won the best Bassist award for many years in a row in the Playboy music Poll. This tells me that regardless of his musical talent he knew how to appeal to and communicate to an audience. Even the best promoters and publicists could make this happen yer after year.
I have heard many recordings of Stanley playing and they were all remarkable examples of playing; but why would my friends say to me this is his worst ever... you need to hear this.
I am puzzled about why any of you would condemn him for playing whatever instruments he feels will inspre him and bring out whatever he is seeking in his music.
My Alembic is less suited to playing some styles of music that an old Supro plugged in to a Silvertone amp. Certain instruments are better suited to specific genre's of music.
I trust that after 30-plus years of being a professional musician that he has learned a bit about what instruments will bring out the best in his playing. I commend Stanley for his commitment to music and for his wilingness to explore a wide variety of instruments to find whatever he can to accomplish his goals.
This is a Forum forum for people that like and Love the instruments which Alembic builds. The people that participate in this forum are probably going to prefer the Genre's of music which Alembis are optimal for. This forums members found Alembic instruments because these instruments are so suitable for their preferred styles of music.
Even after reading all of the above comments in this thread I have no idea what the intrinsic and inherant strengths and weaknesses of a Spellbinder bass are.
Posting comments like those basses suck is not enlightening to me nor anyone else. Comments like: I find ____ instruments fall short for the following reasons.... This type of comment is enlightening because it defines the problem and explains to some degree what the properties of that instrument are.
It is not my desire to Flame anyone on this forum. I just wish that the people that have posted about this topic (and countless other topics) had posted fewer unenlightening comments so that I could learn something more from this discussion. I am not adverse to comments which are critical and/or unflattering as long as they are enlightening.
I own instruments which were built by at least 20 differnt luthiers/companies. They are all different and they each have their strengths.
I trust that Stanley clark, David Wilcox, Jerry Douglas, Doc Watson, Izaak Stern, Buddy Emmons, Steve Cropper, and most any of the musicians that have been playing professionally for a long time can figure out which instruments will bring out their best. I do not think that Alembics instruments will always be their first choice, nor do I think that Alembic instruments should always be their first choice. Alembic instruments are not always the best.
(Message edited by u14steelgtr on March 16, 2008)
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Does it matter what damn bass he plays..as long as he is playing with RTF??
In fact we should be grateful he is still playing electric bass as in an interview in a UK magazine some years ago he said he didn't want to play electric bass in his 50's.
I love my Alembic and my opinion is that they are the best electric basses in the world but that is my opinion and if Stan wants to play something else then that is his choice not ours.
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You can get an impression of what a Spellbinder sounds like in that clip of RTF rehearsing (http://www.chickcorea.com/player_temp.php target=_blank) on Chick Corea's site.
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honestly, i always liked his upright playing more.
alembics sure are pretty, though......
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When I saw him in January he was playing upright and an Alembic. He spent most of the night playing an Alembic.
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I am sure, we are now past the fact and agree Stanley can play any basses he wants. However, the basic question is:
would it make a different in the sound if he played with only the Spellbinder, or in other words, would people be disapointed if didn't play alembics at all on the concert floor? This is just for the sake of discussion. Let's have fun with this question and in good spirit of the RTF reunion!
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I like his upright playing, but his upright tone doesn't do it for me.
There's a lot of, well, noise in it. It just has some je ne sais quoi, some harshness that sounds bad to my ear.
Of course, the 'orrible tweeters on his SWR rig (used for his electric playing) are harsh to the point of pain.
But hey, you've got to love a guy that invites my kids back stage, and I certainly love his music. And he can play whatever kind of instrument he wants-- but I'd be surprised if he doesn't tour with the red bass.
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For me I love the sound of stanley and his alembics and his upright bass playing is nothing short of incredible.
It would be great if he stuck to alembic on the RTF tour but it won't affect my enjoyment of the night if he doesn't. Just like many of us use non alembic instruments. why shouldn't he. If he wants a different sound?
I'm just happy to experience the greatness of the man regardless. He inspired me to get an alembic. I sure won't change if he decides to get something else.
Sometimes even when you have a Rolls Royce there are times when you may want to drive a Cadillac.
Jazzyvee
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jazzyvee, that was beautifully said, I mean it too.
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byoung I know what you mean about his upright playing..I like it..the sound of his fingers and the clattering of the strings on the board..makes it more human if yous see what I mean.
There is some amazing upright playing on the Vertu album.
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I think to members of this forum it does matter what Stan plays - simply because this is the Alembic club!!
Many of us were starstruck by Stan/RTF back in the day - for a lot of us it may have been the simple fact that stan was playing an Alembic that turned us onto the Alembic bass!
For me? well I remember seeing Stan playing school days with George Duke..blew me away! Stan was, of course, playing his Alembic - first time I had seen one and it blew me away as well! In fact that was the start of a love affair with Alembic for me so I can see why certain members of this forum feel the way they do about this subject!
I have seen (and obviously heard) clips of Stan playing the Ricky 4000 with RTF- sounded terrible! In fact one of my favourite lps, hymn of the seventh galaxy, features the Rick and Stan's sound totally sucks! In fact, I have no idea how he managed to make it sound so bad - I have owned two 4001's and they sounded brilliant!
John.
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I agree with John.
Besides even when I saw Stanley play the L?wenherz, he still played an Alembic for most of the set. A decade ago, he played a Ken Smith on a tour with Najee, Larry Carlton and Billy Cobham; but he had his Alembic as well. Before that, I saw him on tour with a four-string acoustic guitar (He called it a Flyde Bass even though it sounded like a guitar); he still had one of his Alembics for most songs.
I am willing to bet we will see (and hear) an Alembic with RTF
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The thing that really appeals to me about stanley's playing is that it feels very personal and his phrasing on both alembic and upright is nothing short of incredible he has written and performed some beautiful music for the bass and much of that we have experienced on his alembic so to have him play that on the rtf tour would make things that much more special. But I'm there for the music... :-)
To be honest, I don't see why he wouldn't play his one but even if he doesn't and plays the spellbinder for publicity, I can't imagine the effect of him playing a spellbinder bass on tour will do the same for that company as he has done for alembic. Spellbinder is there more than likely as a result of alembic being here just like many other 'high end' basses.
Get the dragon out Stanley....now that would be something to behold.
Jazzyvee
Jazzyvee
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If there was ever a time for Stanley to play the dragon, this would be the time, like no other time and I am sure he knows there's great interest.
Pound for pound, if Stanley plays The Dragon Breath, his already commanding presents will raise to the power, of 10. The Dragon is a bad Motha-%@$#!!
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Actually the sterling 25th anniv alembic would be the most ideal bass to do this tour with!...........the Sound of Silver!!!
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I saw Clarke / Duke project tonight at the Sydney Opera House. Good concert.
Stanley played a pretty new looking Alembic Series bass and a double bass. It might have been the Dragons Breath - but I wasn't close enough to see the inlay.
(Message edited by dnburgess on March 22, 2008)
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Stanley could fart in a bucket and it would probably sound good and be impossible to duplicate.
I've played a few of the original Spellbinder basses, and they really didn't do it for me. I hated them. No body mass and felt like rubber with no bottom and no highs.
If Stanley feels moved to play an instrument, then I'm certain he'll play it well and use whatever idiosyncracies to the benefit of the performance..
John
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Stanley played the Spellbinder on the Clark/Duke Project. The bass is not attractive at all.
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To me, the Spellbinder is just something a collector would maybe want put on a wall with an autographed picture.
As far as Stanley is concern, I think Stanley is using the Spellbinder as a rehearsal instrument. Why practice with a 30-40K bass, when you could play around with a cheaper bass. Thoses other basses would probably be too much of a distraction anyway, or be a risk of ending up missing.
That being said, I believe the Dragon Breath will be at the concert, and maybe along with his other basses under tight security.
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Will we see the Dragon here?
http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/50018.html?1206552902 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=1758)