Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: bucky on June 19, 2003, 04:19:38 PM
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Hello My Fellow Alembic Brothers! I spent a good part of yesterday afternoon on this site educating myself further about the history of this phenomenal company. I read Susan Wickershams first installment of "The Long Story" and was SO moved I was motivated to get into my picture archive for my band Glass and dig out every single old picture I could find of myself playing my Alembic Brown Bass SN# 74 - 52. So at the risk of boring you all or seeming too self-indulgent I'd like to post some of them here. . Enjoy ? Please and feel free to ask any questions! (Just no laughing about the bellbottoms o.k.?(-; A lot of you guys had ?em too. . come on. . .let me know if you want to see more. Thanks Alembic, Jeff p.s. Also I was graced with a returned phone call from none other than Mica Wickersham herself just the prior afternoon. Between my sons repeated interruptions and requests for "candy" and "Daddy. .why isn't my computer working" we had a great conversation about Alembic Brown Basses, Alembic in general and my specific problem of trying to track down a vintage Gold Plated Schaller Tuning Gear. . she was so down-to-earth and cool I wanted to pack up my Brown Bass and drive right up to their shop and meet her and the whole family! I intend on doing just that sometime this summer. What a great heritage to be a part of.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/5183.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/5184.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/5185.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/5186.jpg)
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That's so great that youy have such a history with that bass Jeff!
All my old pics have me playing an old Gibson and such. I'm trying to decide if in the third pic you look more like Geddy Lee....J/K The first picture reminds me of one you would see in a 70's era Time-Life Year In Pictures. The photo has a cool, old funky look to it.
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Thanks elzie!
That 3rd picture - obviously a concert shot - was done by our longtime friend, soundman and photographer Erik Poulsen. He had been experimenting with various B&W film speeds for graininess and also that blurred effect. I've always liked that shot too. . Erik has a real talent with tripping the shutter at exactly the perfect moment. . I'm sure you've known a few photogs like that too. The second shot I included - from the same concert - is rare because for some unknown reason I didn't take a lot of pictures of my gear back then. I guess I just thought I would have it forever. . ah, my youthful naivet? showing through. At the time I was playing mainly the BB but had also started in playing Rhodes and bass pedals as well - NOT an easy thing. But I got pretty proficient. The Strat was a great one too that I let go - '61 had an incredible neck. And last but not least the ever-present can (or bottle) of the bands unofficial beverage - Dr. Pepper! The first picture I included because it was taken the day I brought my new Brown Bass home. Man. . I couldn't put it down! Seriously. . I think I even wore it to bed!
Jeff
P.S. Should I post more? Is this getting boring yet? Please let me know. .nothing worse than a guy who won?t turn off his old ?home movies?!
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Hi Jeff,
You're not bpring anyone up here. It's good to see how man and their instruments have a history together.
BTW: I suppose we'll use this thread to post pictures of our past.
I think I have a picture somewhere me playing my first bass in a concert on university. I'll check.
Now this bass is an Alembic.
Excuse me if I'm asking things already answered but:
* how did you and your bass met in the first place?
* Was it your first bass?
Paul The bad one
PS : old home MOVIES?? No problem, as long that there's an Alembic on screen it's okay. LOL
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Jeff,
Very cool pics. Thanks for posting them.
stoney
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Jeff,
Great stuff man!!!! I agree with Paul (tbo). We should dig up our old pix and post them here. I've got some old pix of my metal days that my wife is black mailing me with. Maybe if I make them public, she can't black-mail me anymore.
D
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Of course they would include Alembic basses too....
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They're great pics those! Jeff has started something here for sure!
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Hey Guys: Couldn't agree more with your comments and thanks for the support. And as far as posting your old pics here I say BRING ?EM ON! I?d love to see you guy?s musical pasts. It?s a little weird posting old pics ? kind of like running through a Supermarket naked ? but who better to ?streak? with than your Alembic Brothers, eh? In answer to your question Paul my very first bass was a knock-off Hofner copy. Made out of plywood - seriously! The next bass was my first *real* bass - it was a '62 Gibson Newport. One big fat Humbucker and a neck that was incredibly fast. I got it used from another bass player for $80! Gave that one up for my one and only Rickenbacker 4001 in 1972. Chris Squire was my first BIG Hero then. . I saw him with the Classic Yes lineup in ?71 and he BLEW ME AWAY! When he did his solo part of the show - playing bass pedals at the same time as he played these incredible bass licks, I was hypnotized. So I just HAD to buy a Rick. . got the pedals too, eventually. I thought that was the absolute killer setup. . that is until I walked into Bandstand Music in Lakewood Washington on April 3rd 1974 and saw this VISION from Heaven looking down at me from the wall. . .I couldn't believe my eyes!! really. . I had NEVER seen anything . . any man made artifact that looked THAT beautiful. It was my one and only Baby. . my Alembic Brown Bass. As if she were waiting for me. . of course the store people knew absolutely NOTHING about her. I don't even think they knew how to pronounce "Alembic" let alone where and who they were. . later on I read about their history and being a HUGE Jefferson Airplane fan (I think Jack Casady is a genius and one of the unsung heroes of Bassdom - his melodic style is just SO unique) I saw a picture of him playing an Alembic and I felt I had a brother there. . like minds finding the same axes kind of thing. . anyway. . I?m rambling. Here?s a couple more. . .Come Now. . .you post some ?Golden Oldies?! I Dare Ya! Jeff P.S> Roger. . really? I thought I might be being a little selfish. . I'm glad everyones seeming to enjoy this. Can't wait to see everyones pictures!
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/5198.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/5199.jpg)
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I'll see if I can find someone with a scanner so I can add some pics, but I'm not running naked through a supermarket! At least, not the frozen food section ;)
Paul, one of the many
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Paul,
You mean that wasn't you I saw running through the Stop & Shop the other day. You had a bag of potato chips, a six pack of beer, and an Alembic Excel?!?!? LOL
Dino (bptfo)
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Yikes! I thought I was running fast enough not to be seen. I think the cold beer is what slowed me down.....
Paul, The Supermarket Streaker
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I'm dying here I'm laughin so hard! You'd need one heck of a large bodied Alembic to hide my gut these days(-;. .and I'd only be going to the cold case for beer!
I can't wait to see everyones pictures. .
Jeff
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Hey Michael:
I got your package today. . WOW THANKS! Sent you a long rambling email about it all. . I may have to take a special trip down your way just to check out your basses! I am so envious. .
Here's one more picture of me. . this one was taken at that same concert. .
Jeff (http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/5215.jpg)
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My Alembic Brothers:
O.k. . . this is the last one I have. NOW. . wasn't there some talk about YOU GUYS posting some? Let's do it! I can't wait to see them!
Cold here alone by the beer case,
Jeff(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/5250.jpg)
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My Alembic Brothers:
O.k. . . this is the last one I have. NOW. . wasn't there some talk about YOU GUYS posting some? Let's do it! Fire up those scanners. .I can't wait to see them!
Cold and alone by the beer case,
Jeff(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/5252.jpg)
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Oops. . how did *that* happen? And I call myself an consultant!
Jeff
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Oops. . how did *that* happen? And I call myself a Systems Consultant!
Jeff
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fully redundant systems are more reliable, aren't they? ;-)
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Yeah. . a little TOO redundant. .not that there's really such a thing, eh? At least the brothers her are more forgiving than most of my clients.
Jeff
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Yeah. . a little TOO redundant. .not that there's really such a thing, eh? At least the brothers her are more forgiving than most of my clients.
Jeff
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As promised, here is a pic of me from yeeeaars past. That is my old Gibson EBO, and yes, I am using a pick in the picture, but that habit has long gone and so has my hair
Paul, The Feeling Old One
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Okay,
Let's see if I do this right!!!!
This was taken jut after I got my new Elan back in 91. I don't know why people thought I was scary back then.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/5258.jpg)
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Paul & Dean:
WAY COOOOL!!! I love that axe Dean. . what is that electric standup? God, I've always wanted one of those!!! Did you play it arco or just pluck it? And Paul. . surely someone must have told you you look like Roger Waters back then. How cool. . he was/is like one of my favorite bassist/composers.
This is AWESOME. . C'Mon everybody. . start postin!
Jeff
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Wow Bucky,
You're right, Paul does look like Roger Waters (minus the potato chips and beer) LOL
The electric upright was one of the very first BSX. I tried playing arco on it but it sounded too electronic, plus any sort of heavy left hand vibrato and it would start wobbling at the end pin. I've got some more I've got to post as soon as I get them scanned.
Peace,
Dino
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Dino:
TOTALLY COOL! Do you still have one around? I would love to augment my current stage setup with one. I saw The Police when they first came to Seattle years and years ago and Sting played one - with a bow. . it sounded so cool. . so unique. My band Glass does a lot of symphonic prog and I think it would fit perfectly.
Can't wait to see more pics!
Jeff
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I actually sold that one to a student just recently. The guy's name at BSX is Dino too. He does a wonderful job. Sticking with the Alembic tradition though, you should check out their Classico. http://www.alembic.com/prod/classico.html (http://www.alembic.com/prod/classico.html)
This thing is beautiful!!!!
Peace,
Dino
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Dino:
Yeah.. .I saw that when I was browsing the Alembic site. Looks pretty cool. Have you played one? I'm considering it. .
Jeff
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I played one quite a few years ago at one of the NAMM shows. It really is a remarkable instrument. I remember it sounding HUGE!!!! Like an enormous fretless bass.
I've since switched to playing an acoustic upright so I haven't had a need for an electric. I do miss the portability though.
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Dino:
Yeah I use to go back and forth between acoustic bass and cello when I played in symphony orchestra. There really isn't any comparison (IMHO) to bowed sound of the orignal acoustic instruments when compared to smaller chambered electrics. My thought however was since I do so much signal processing in some of my work I could take that stereo output from the Classico and do *unreal* things to it. . and the low end would be ungodly. .
Jeff
p.s. I'll have to try one soon. .
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Hey Guys. .
You're all probably tired of seeing these by now but I found one more - it's not the greatest snapshot but is of historical relevance to my career in that it is one of only two pictures I have of me in an actual recording studio with my Alembic Brown Bass SN# 74-52. And it was also the first time it was used in the studio. The 3 tracks recorded that day were subsequently released 24 years later in a 2CD retrospective of my band that basically launched our careers again.
Jeff
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/5304.jpg)
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How do we get a copy?
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Thrill:
The 2 CD Set is entitled No Stranger to The Skies. The band is Glass. And the URL to our web page is:
http://www.rpursuit.com/glass/Index.asp (http://www.rpursuit.com/glass/Index.asp)
It can be ordered there and there are a few copies left of our run. Musea of France http://www.musearecords.com/ (http://www.musearecords.com/) will be soon be distributing all new copies worldwide. So if you really want it why not let me send you a copy. I have no idea what Musea will be selling it for and I feel a little strange charging my Alembic Brothers for it. It's pretty good music if you like '70s Era Progressive Rock bands ala ELP and King Crimson. Anyway, give me a mailing address and it's yours. .
Jeff
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Will and Jen Rawlings
381 Roberts Dr.
Travis AFB, CA
94535
Thanks! I have Court of The Crimson King in the media player, what a coincidence. Must have been Greg Lake's guitar. I should post that.
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Will:
I'll get it in the mail tomorrow. .
Enjoy!
Jeff
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Will:
I'll get it in the mail tomorrow. .
Enjoy!
Jeff
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right on.