Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Community => Gatherings => Topic started by: mica on May 07, 2017, 11:41:03 AM

Title: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: mica on May 07, 2017, 11:41:03 AM
I think Harry started this tradition after the first Gathering where we collect the pictures in a new thread

To start us off, I'll post a few images from my phone, and tomorrow at the office I'll get the ones off my camera and add more.


What a fun day! Great people getting together and visiting and jamming.
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: mica on May 07, 2017, 11:47:30 AM
The weather predictions were all over the place. A week ago it was predicted to be much cooler than usual. On Thursday we were worried about it raining. Then on Friday they were saying partly cloudy, and still cool.

Finally when Saturday came around we had no rain, it was a little cooler than average, and we had times of nice sunshine. Actually, couldn't have asked for a nicer day!
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: mica on May 07, 2017, 11:49:34 AM
Will showed my son Erik how to run the lights and smoke machine at the start.
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: mica on May 07, 2017, 12:00:12 PM
The last of the phone shots is from the first jam.
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: jazzyvee on May 07, 2017, 12:00:31 PM
Looks like you had a good group of alembicians there this year Mica. I look forward to more pictures and if anyone has any video clips of some of the instruments being played that would be great to hear.
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: David Houck on May 07, 2017, 01:03:42 PM
Pictures!

So Erik has a new career in running lights now.
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: lbpesq on May 07, 2017, 02:41:31 PM
Erik also brought his Ukelele, on which he tells me he is taking lessons.  Hmmmmm, can an Alembic uke be far behind?

Bill, tgo
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: David Houck on May 07, 2017, 03:18:53 PM
I'm guessing Erik will be making a shop night uke himself as soon as he has a few more lessons down and knows what he wants for neck dimensions.
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: rv_bass on May 08, 2017, 04:08:42 AM
Looks like fun!
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: pauldo on May 08, 2017, 08:17:43 AM
Noticed Erik in the Instagram picture . . .  he is growing up - last I saw him was at the Chicago Gathering . . . .  has it been THAT long?
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: edwardofhuncote on May 09, 2017, 01:20:41 PM
Looks like you all had a great day for the event.  :)  I'm also quite tickled to see my new Custom Fretless made it to an official Gathering.  :D

Harry was kind enough to email me a couple pictures of it from there, and I'm still coming to grips with how perfectly it fits in with the rest of the family. It's as if they read my mind on the build, down to the smallest details.  8)

I've been working on a short essay for the Showcase Thread that will explain/acknowledge a couple things about it...
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: StephenR on May 10, 2017, 09:21:14 AM
Hey Gregory, thanks for letting Mica bring your new bass to the gathering. It was nice to get to see it in its pristine glory. I particularly liked the contrasting wood on the face of the headstock and thought the design choices all added up to a subdued yet individualistic look. May it bring you many years of sonic bliss.

Hanging out in the back picking up some mojo from the assembled clan...
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: StephenR on May 10, 2017, 09:40:27 AM
While we wait for Mica's "official" pictures taken with an actual camera here are a few more phone pics my wife took.
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: StephenR on May 10, 2017, 09:42:19 AM
The bass orchestra grows...

Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: StephenR on May 10, 2017, 09:44:37 AM
What is that up in the sky?
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: StephenR on May 10, 2017, 09:45:58 AM
Pre group-photo jam.
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: StephenR on May 10, 2017, 09:47:38 AM
Post group-photo jam.
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: David Houck on May 10, 2017, 02:30:17 PM
Great pictures, Stephen; thanks!
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: alemberic on May 11, 2017, 10:27:27 AM
Hi fellow Alembicians!  For some reason I did not get the group email notification of this year's event. To be fair, I don't  check in on the Discussion site too often, or I would have seen the info for this year's gathering regardless of email if I had  :-[    In any case I wouldn't have been able to make it on May 6th (not that the success of the event depends on my presence  ;D   In fact, the last gathering I made it to, I completely embarrassed myself by--in the greatest tradition of our friends the Grateful Dead--totally sucking when I got up to play "live." Guess my mojo just wasn't there that day, as it sometimes wasn't for the Dead).   From the photos it looks like the usual good time was had by all, and the Canyon location is certainly a great place to gather.  Living as I do in Northern California, I'm fortunate enough to be able to make a "day trip" to each of the annual gatherings, when the date is available to me in any given year. 


Take care, and hope to be at next year's gathering.   



Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: sonicus on May 11, 2017, 02:44:06 PM
Hello everyone . I had a great time . My thanks to Mica and Alembic  and our host  Will and Bill for all the hard work and PA  . I will post some photos next week when I have a chance to catch up .
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: mica on May 11, 2017, 08:15:18 PM
I didn't take too many pictures this year.

I got one partial shot of the forest of Alembic instruments in the side room.

Erik and Tom were playing a chess game out back.
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: mica on May 11, 2017, 08:16:06 PM
Couple of jam shots.
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: mica on May 11, 2017, 08:17:29 PM
Some of the group shots
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: mica on May 11, 2017, 08:18:49 PM
A few more toward the end of the day.
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: growlypants on May 12, 2017, 06:06:49 AM
Thanks, Mica.  This year's gathering may have been a little slow reporting to all the rest-of-us (remember Seinfeld's "Festivus for the rest-of-us"?) but I still drooled over that stage set-up, and all those amazing basses!  Once again, thanks!!
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: pauldo on May 12, 2017, 08:20:44 AM
Agreed, that forest of beauties is lust worthy.   Apologies to Ian Anderson as I go 'living in the past' - but at the Chicago Gathering there were a lot more basses on stage then those skinny stringed things*.   ;)

Those Spider's!  The top wood looks like they are book-matched to each other.  8)



* big love to the guitar players
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: lbpesq on May 12, 2017, 11:15:50 AM
One never knows what might happen at an Alembic gathering.  Last year, I was the only guitarist in attendance!  Go figure.

Bill, tgo
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: David Houck on May 12, 2017, 06:05:19 PM
Thanks for the pictures, Mica!
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: oddmetersam on May 13, 2017, 09:31:50 PM
Test shot from the gathering. I haven't posted in ages and I want to make sure I'm correctly ly re-sizing my original shots. This is Nick's beautiful old Series II.
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: hieronymous on May 13, 2017, 09:54:56 PM
Test shot looks good to me! Bummed that I couldn't stay but at least I made it for the beginning, in fact, it was the first time that I was the first one there - I even beat Will & Mica! The only instrument I got to play was Erik's ukulele, but I'm glad the doubleneck could make it to Northern California X
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: oddmetersam on May 13, 2017, 10:29:21 PM
Pics Part I.
Had a fabulous time at the gathering. Great people, great basses, and great playing. Special thanks to Mica and her family and our host, Will.
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: oddmetersam on May 13, 2017, 11:09:20 PM
Pics Part II
Gary came down from Washington state with the only Classico 6-string in existence. The icing on the cake? Two beautiful Spyder basses; a 4-string and an 8-string.
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: David Houck on May 15, 2017, 11:31:13 AM
Great pics, Sam!  Thanks!
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: oddmetersam on May 15, 2017, 07:22:37 PM
Hey, Dave! Thanks!
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: hieronymous on May 15, 2017, 07:31:55 PM
+1 on the great pics - I can almost imagine that I was there for the whole day!
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: pauldo on May 16, 2017, 02:44:57 AM
Beautiful pics Sam.  Gorgeous subjects and framed perfectly.

Oohh those Spiders! 

On the 8, are both strings anchored in the same slot?
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: oddmetersam on May 16, 2017, 03:07:11 PM
Harry, will look forward to seeing you next year.

Pauldo, Thanks. Some of the shots are slightly (wink, wink) cropped. As far as the exact design of the 8-string's tailpiece and string anchor, I'm sure Mica and Gary can answer that question in detail.
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: David Houck on May 16, 2017, 05:09:18 PM
Paul; go back up to Sam's body closeup of the 8 string and zoom in on the tailpiece; you'll see that yes, both strings are anchored in one slot.
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: edwardofhuncote on May 17, 2017, 03:40:53 AM
Love that scroll on the Hyak bass.   :D
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: rv_bass on May 17, 2017, 04:11:14 AM
Why is it called a Hyak bass?

Bill and Henry, nice guitars!
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: lbpesq on May 17, 2017, 08:52:21 AM
Rob, Hyak was the company that made it.  They lasted about a year in Belleview, Washington, and produced about 100 basses and guitars in the late '70s.  I believe one of the founders was a former Alembic employee.  They could be run mono or stereo, and came with a power supply and 5-pin cable, similar to Alembic.  And thanks for the compliment.  Henry's old Series II sure is sweet!

Bill, tgo
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: rv_bass on May 17, 2017, 04:30:32 PM
Bill, thanks for the explanation, Hyaks are neat looking basses.  Sam,  I add to the compliments on your photos, very nice!

Rob
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: pauldo on May 18, 2017, 06:01:13 PM
Paul; go back up to Sam's body closeup of the 8 string and zoom in on the tailpiece; you'll see that yes, both strings are anchored in one slot.

Thanks -
Doesn't that create a condition that is subject to a random positioning/ settling of the strings with potential binding that could lead to premature failure?  Or at least a tuning hassle until they find their happy place nestled together?
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: oddmetersam on May 20, 2017, 10:07:19 AM
Hey, rv!
Thanks for the kind words about the photos.
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: HyAlembicK on June 16, 2017, 09:08:27 AM
nice photo's Sam. It was great hanging with you and all the folks at the gathering!
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: carsbybigd on June 28, 2017, 03:19:31 PM
Nice photos Mica,Sam and everyone. I would of loved to have heard Nate playing that 8 string !! next time for sure ,and I will bring the Alembic rig-o-doom !
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: garyhead on February 23, 2025, 02:32:06 PM
I was rummaging through this thread this morning and saw the photos from oddmetersam. (Samuel Sheats). He hasn’t posted here since 2018. Anyone in contact with him?  He sure was an interesting guy to chat with.
Title: Re: Northern California X - The Photo Thread
Post by: lbpesq on February 23, 2025, 08:50:31 PM
Sam was at the Northern Cal gathering last August.  He took some pics, but I don’t remember him publishing them here.

Bill, tgo