Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: 811952 on October 27, 2003, 09:50:35 AM

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: 811952 on October 27, 2003, 09:50:35 AM

Who is the guy with the lovely doubleneck 8+4 from the SuperWound string ads of the late '70s?  I'm guessing there is a good story behind that bass..

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: zappahead on October 27, 2003, 11:15:31 AM

Im not sure who the guy is, but the same or similar bass has been on gbase.com forever. If you got 12k burning a hole in your pocket you could round out the collection. Heres a good link to take a peek at some pics:
 
http://www.gbase.com/gearlist/guitar_picture.asp?guitar=315665 (http://www.gbase.com/gearlist/guitar_picture.asp?guitar=315665)

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: rami on October 28, 2003, 03:27:51 AM

That's definitely the legendary John Judge bass.  I had a long discussion with Mica about it once.  
Although John Judge may have disappeard into obscurity, the bass lives on!  I'm guessing that's how it's going to be with my custom Alembics once I'm gone  (I don't plan to ever sell them).
 
Custom Alembics leave their own Legacy.
 
Rami
 

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: bishopqdog on October 28, 2003, 11:12:38 AM

Well said, Rami

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: rami on October 30, 2003, 03:15:15 PM

Isn't it the ultimate goal to have your name live on? Legend has it that John Judge only owned this Bass for 3 or 4 years before setting it free into the world.  Like a child that has grown up, it is now 25 years old, it has been cared for by numerous owners, travelled many miles and above all, treated with the ultimate respect befitting an Alembic masterpiece.
Throughout the years, it has always carried the name of it's father, who may or may not be reunited with it some day.
 
I wonder who John Judge is (or was). I admire and respect his legacy in this Bass.  
His name is synonymous with one of the MOST exotic Alembic creations ever, and lives on because of it.
 
I hope that someday when people mention my name, there's a super exotic Alembic Bass associated with it too.
 
Rami  

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: rami on October 30, 2003, 03:28:38 PM

Here he is folks,  the man himself!
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/6520.jpg)

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: rami on October 30, 2003, 03:35:30 PM

Notice in the ad, they say, Whether you own a $5000.00 double neck custom Alembic bass like that of John Judge......
 
I'm guessing that having something like that built today would cost just a little bit more!!!
 
 
Rami

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: palembic on October 30, 2003, 03:36:24 PM

He-he-he
I hav ejust recently looked at that same ad in an old Guitarplayer! THat moment I even didn't realize what it was an Alembic. Leave alone that I knew what Alembic was or did.
 
BTW: Rami in my humble opinion your name is already linked with one of the most remarkable achievements in Alembic that I could think of: the evil Twins
 
 
Paul the bad one

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: dela217 on October 30, 2003, 03:41:01 PM

I saw that same ad, when that ad was new.  I remember thinking that it looked like a Series 1 bass, but where are the hum cancellers??  Anybody know?  Are they in the body?  Are those pups not the single coil I thought they were?  Someone must know!

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: rami on October 30, 2003, 03:49:01 PM

Here's a better picture,  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/6524.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/6525.jpg)

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: valvil on October 30, 2003, 04:13:14 PM

You got it Michael,
 
the dummy humcancelers are indeed in the body.
 
Valentino

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: rami on October 30, 2003, 04:13:39 PM

Check out the inlays!    Dragon
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/6537.jpg)
  Dragon's body
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/6535.jpg)
  Dragon's tail
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/6534.jpg)
  Captured Princess
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/6533.jpg)
  The Warriors to the rescue!
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/6536.jpg)
     Truly magnificent!  (Message edited by rami on November 01, 2003)

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: rami on October 31, 2003, 04:21:22 PM

More pictures I managed to find;  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/6553.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/6554.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/6555.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/6556.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/6557.jpg)

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: bigredbass on November 01, 2003, 09:58:29 PM

I believe the inestimable Mr. Judge came to a choice that led to his sad parting with this truly amazing instrument. . . . he couldn't afford the chiropractor and all those strings !
 
If anyone doesn't 'get it' when it comes to ALEMBIC, all they need do is look at these photos. This bass is almost supernatural, virtually other-worldly, surely off-world in origin.  I have never been more proud to be a part of a tradition of engineering and artistry.
 
Doesn't it amaze you though, that some people find the most horrid spots for the strap buttons?
I always wonder 'what were they thinking' when I see the neck button in the laminations in the heel.  Oh well . . . .
 
J o e y

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: xlrogue6 on November 03, 2003, 08:33:09 AM

One thing the photos don't really show is that the nipples on the Princess have LED's behind them--as if the inlay itself wasn't lurid enough!

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: rami on November 03, 2003, 09:05:22 AM

Actually Kent,
 
In a discussion I had with Mica, she told me that that was the original design, but was scrapped because it was just too complicated.  So they never lit the Princess's nipples - Darn!
 
Rami

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: mica on November 03, 2003, 09:26:21 AM

It wasn't complication (we've been putting LEDs on the fron tof the fingerboard for years), it was... how shall I put this... a matter of taste.

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: smokin_dave on November 03, 2003, 09:54:47 AM

Stop it,you guy's are killing me.I can see the custom orders taking on a new twist right now.

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: rami on November 03, 2003, 10:00:40 AM

Oops!
 
Sorry Mica, my memory isn't what it used to be.
 
At least I got part of it right!

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: xlrogue6 on November 03, 2003, 02:26:00 PM

Ooops here too--another sad case of CRS syndrome.

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: rami on November 06, 2003, 01:26:56 PM

I just couldn't let this thread slip away!

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: jake on November 06, 2003, 02:11:57 PM

ladies and gentlemen, it appears the same bass is for sale....http://www.gbase.com/gearlist/guitar_picture.asp?guitar=315665 (http://www.gbase.com/gearlist/guitar_picture.asp?guitar=315665)

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: zappahead on November 06, 2003, 02:41:25 PM

Dumb question: Who is John Judge?  
 

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: bracheen on November 06, 2003, 04:48:51 PM

I was wondering that myself.  I tried a internet search and found some politicians but nothing related to music.

Title: John(?) Judge Alembic doubleneck
Post by: steveo on November 06, 2003, 06:59:04 PM

Something to ponder, what would we rather own, this gorgeous piece of art, or a 2001 Chevy Cavalier that would be crushed into scrap metal in a few years. Twelve large would be cheap, considering it could bring 20 a few years hence!