Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: F. Michael Miller (fmm) on March 06, 2003, 06:10:34 AM

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: F. Michael Miller (fmm) on March 06, 2003, 06:10:34 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2513818966&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Wayne McLemore (wayne) on March 06, 2003, 06:56:05 AM

Hmmmm, gold sparkle over Spalted Maple - not as bad as the black lacquer over Macassar Ebony though.
 
There's no accounting for taste.....
 
C-Ya...........wayne

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Jarek Michalski (basstard) on March 06, 2003, 07:04:20 AM

Degustibus non disputandum est...
 
But... well... I dunno...
 
Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Wade Handy (oujeebass) on March 06, 2003, 07:38:19 AM

I would understand a sunburst over some nice flamed maple.This would be a great bass just because it is an Alembic.

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Brian Ceasar (bbe1020) on March 06, 2003, 01:14:16 PM

I don't understand...I see absolutely NOTHING appealing about the gold sparkle paint JOB on the bass's front (looks like an E. Scheib special) Now as for the spalted maple on the rear...
GENUINE ALEMBIC CRAFTSMANSHIP  

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Charles David Tichenor (alembic76407) on March 06, 2003, 03:04:23 PM

I kinda like it, but I would never do it to an Alembic, maybe a Warwick

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Rami Sourour (rami) on March 06, 2003, 03:49:56 PM

This poor bass needs an ambulance flight back to the factory for some serious plastic surgery.

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Gerald E. Greene (flash) on March 06, 2003, 05:25:59 PM

I have to admit this was not the smartist thing to do! but who ever did the paint job did'nt do so bad of a job.
what I can't understand is who would pay that much money for a new child and then change his face.  Oh well to each his own.
 
peace
 
see ya down range.
 
Flash
 

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Jonathan Johnstone (stoney) on March 06, 2003, 05:36:30 PM

OYE!!

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Joey Wilson (bigredbass) on March 06, 2003, 09:39:14 PM

I'm a big fan of COLOR. While I am stunned by the sometimes unearthly wood that ALEMBICs are built from, I admit I'm a big fan of the translucent stain/clear coat instruments.  (It's not called the BigRedBass without reason !)  I think it would be just fine for ALEMBIC to build instruments for opaque finishes.  Wood that is structurally and sonically just fine, but is not figured properly to be seen.  
 
I admire the finishes on the translucent Paul Reed Smiths, but I know there AIN'T a '10-top' under a gold or black one.  
 
A pearl-white EXCEL with gold parts and abalone binding and ovals, an inlaid logo and the Gotoh keys with white pearl buttons would be just FINE with me.

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Bob Novy (bob) on March 07, 2003, 12:09:35 AM

Oh jeez, Joey, just when I thought you were alright . I'm going for an oil finish on mine, but to each his own.  
 
Brings to mind a spoken break on one of Vic Wooten's albums, where he's talking about prejudice and injustice in the world... and ends by saying, I guess there's a place for that too.  
 
I won't get into where I think that particular place might be, but I'll admit I'm the original owner of a '63 Gibson SG Standard in translucent cherry red, which I kinda like... so maybe we're not that far apart after all.
 
But seriously, metal flake???
 
Peace. (Oh, sorry, guess that would belong over in the Dreaming for now category...)
 
(Message edited by bob on March 07, 2003)

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Dino Monoxelos (dean_m) on March 07, 2003, 06:19:51 AM

Ya know I have to say it's not all that bad a job.  I guess part of owning an Alembic is to try to be unique!?!?!
Being a Warwick owner though David, I don't think I'd even do that to a poor little Warwick.  Ouch!!!  
Where's my brother Paul L to defend me?  LOL.
Everyone have a great weekend!!!!!!
 
Dino

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: James L. Martin (malthumb) on March 07, 2003, 05:45:12 PM

A movie reviewer once referred to Prince's Purple Rain as the worst movie I ever loved.  For me I guess this bass drives a similar sentiment.  It's sorta the best looking bass that I couldn't stand.  I keep asking myself but what does it look like under the paint?

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Joey Wilson (bigredbass) on March 07, 2003, 09:35:59 PM

You know, I just can't help it.  
 
In my (film) photography hobby, the world just LOOKS better through Fuji VELVIA because the color is so saturated.
 
I'm going to a custom car show tomorrow.  The cars are the point, but imagine your favorite show car in white instead of some candy metalflake.  
 
And I LOVE the old surf color Fenders; a Candy Apple Red Jazz with a matching headstock (or Lake Placid Blue or Sherwood Green) just evokes a time and place for me, just because they LOOKED so cool in their day.
 
I love the dark woods in satin or clear.  But the see thru colors or (dare I say it again) the opaque colors on certain basses with less than magnificent grain would be fine with me.
 
Just to get myself off of the hook, there's no way in hell I'd have painted that spalted dreamboat that set this thread off.
 
OK, my sanity is verified !

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Bob Novy (bob) on March 08, 2003, 12:53:27 AM

Yeah, Velvia - and preferably with a polarizing filter. So I'll give you the metalflake, Joey, as long as we can agree on some color other than jaundice yellow, and knowing we're not obscuring a beautiful piece of wood. Your sanity is fine by me.

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: James L. Martin (malthumb) on March 08, 2003, 07:53:42 AM

You don't need a sanity check, Joey.  Now me, on the other hand......
 
I just have this thing about wood.  I have hardwood floors, a humongous wood deck,  A lot of wood grained furnishings.  I occasionaly have cars with wood grain interiors.  If something is wood, then doggone it I want to see the grain.  And it had better be a nice grain.
 
If (and that's a mighty large IF) I were to have a painted Alembic it would have to look something like this...
 
 
 
Peace,
 
James

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Daniel Tracey (dannobasso) on March 08, 2003, 08:22:20 AM

Everyone has a preference for finishes. I truly love figured woods. I've got some babies in quilted, flamed maple, fleme koa, figured walnut ,koa and coco bolo. But there are some musical styles that don't lend themselves to these finishes. Like it or not, some fans won't accept the look of these kinds of instruments. Warwick has made some inroads to having a wood bass appear normal in videos and print ads. I had an excel 5 made with almost black finish. It's kind of like the Gibson Joe Perry model Les Paul. I'm waiting on my oldest (battle worn) spoiler to be reborn in it's new black coat. Oh Blackie where are you????  Jason Newstead had some Alembics finished in black for Metallica. That band's fans may not take to an ornate bass for the dark music that Jason Produced. You can't get around the fact that image has a lot to do with the business of music. No matter what it looks like, underneath it all it's still an Alembic.

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Earl Schreyer (eschreyer2) on March 09, 2003, 08:36:35 AM

Thanks James, that's my baby (the human too). That picture is a little dark. Actually you can see through the finish a lot better depending on the light.  
Thanks,  
Earl  
 
 
(Message edited by eschreyer2 on March 10, 2003)

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: David M. McKenney (david_mckenney) on March 09, 2003, 06:11:33 PM

I like the original picture better: Daddy? Can I go to bed now?;

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: mica on March 10, 2003, 01:18:28 PM

This bass was a pretty one, I remember it. I think the old distributor in Norway used it in a magazine ad. I'll fumble through the files someday and see if I can't find out this bass' true face for you all.
 
You gotta love Norway. They have the higest percentage of strange finishes from the factory. We made one Spoiler as a Slimeburst chartreuse at the center bursted to a bright kelly green, all metalflake.  
 
Another one was the mother of bowling ball shell of a bass drum converted to a Spoiler top (drummer migrating to bass).
 
My favorite shipment to Norway included a bass that was to look like a Harley (there go those motorcycles again) that had been in an accident. We painted it all black with lots of chrome hardware.  Then, we tied it to a Fat Boy and drove it down the street. It got scratches, gouges, a pebble or two imbedded and was just what the customer wanted.

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Russ Carreiro (zappahead) on March 10, 2003, 01:58:06 PM

I do like to see painted, colorfull Alembics. I absolutely love the woodgrains and the natural finishes on most instruments from Alembic, but I also love to see the various bursts and colors as well. In my experience the instruments that are finished in a color are more interesting sometimes because they tend to be rare as most Alembics I see simply chose to showoff the wood instead of painting over it.
 
That being said, Gold sparkle rates pretty low down on my list of colors Id like to see on an Alembic. I would like to see more burst colors though, they really seem to do a great job on them. Id also love to see some custom paintjobs. Ive never seen a custom, factory job from Alembic that I can think of.

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Frank Goodrick (yggdrasil) on March 11, 2003, 02:06:46 AM

Bass NW has had an interesting painted Alembic on their site for awhile , described as  a contoured Mahogany body and a custom Blue Steel Chrome Illusion finish which is one of the most incredible finishes that we have ever seen. It changes color when you move it in the light. The bass also has matching continuous Blue Steel Chrome Illusion backplates and Chrome plated hardware.  
 
The pix is currently at:
 
http://www.bassnw.com/New%20Exotic%20%20Basses/alembic_custom_contoured_4_st_blue_steel.htm (http://www.bassnw.com/New%20Exotic%20%20Basses/alembic_custom_contoured_4_st_blue_steel.htm)

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Valentino Villevieille (valvil) on March 11, 2003, 04:33:25 AM

I had the luck to hold that bass in one of my visits to Alembic.  The contoured body curves in the back, much like a Spector NS bass, so that it tucks very well against your body. I remember Susan saying that the top laminate had to be about twice the thickness of a standard one to get the contour body thing happening.  The paint job is pretty awsome, even if it does cover up the wood.

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Russ Carreiro (zappahead) on March 11, 2003, 06:31:35 AM

That is a really attractive bass Frank. They really do some nice work and they seem to have some nice color schemes available. What a choice, keep the wonderfull woodgrain appearance or get a custom paint job. You have to love Alembic.

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Gerald E. Greene (flash) on March 11, 2003, 04:18:50 PM

hey mica: on the harley dragged bass, did you have to rework some of the stuff in and on it because I can't beleave that thing made it through that type of abuse with out something going wrong with it? what a wierd request for someone to ask for!!
 
peace
 
Flash

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Michael Delacerda (dela217) on March 11, 2003, 06:55:34 PM

Someone wanted a bass dragged through the street BEFORE they got it?!? Oh my! I have visions in my head of all the folks from Alembic coming outside to cheer it on and laugh at it. Mica, I hope you have pictures of that!  I'll bet it was fun.

Title: Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?
Post by: Paul Lindemans (palembic) on March 12, 2003, 12:41:06 AM

Hi brothers,
 
coooo-cooo I'm baa-ack!
Brother Dino Of course I defend you (but not so wild as normal because I'm still on the flu!)
 
About the gold bass?
I like it!
It's an Alembic on the first place!
It's a show-tool secondly.
If I would be so lucky to go on a tour and I could afford me some Alembics I certainly would ask in some coloured ones.
I remember Armand SL playing a nice red SII SS.
I like reddish/amber colours where the wood-grain comes through.
However: in a situation I am now I could only afford 1 (or 2 - ahlalla those dreams) Alembics I prefer the natural look and the colour-tones of the wood. Even then one can go pretty extreme I guess.
But yes ...I like colours ...as extra.
 
Paul
 
Dino, don't touch your Elan with that can chrome-silver spray paint, keep it for your Harley ;-)