Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: aquaman on November 06, 2006, 07:39:09 AM

Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: aquaman on November 06, 2006, 07:39:09 AM: Having just purchased a Spoiler, and blown away with the sound and tonal qualities of the bass, I got to wondering--does anyone know of any major label releases where the tracks were recorded with an Alembic? Any particular showcase tracks, for example?
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: tubeperson on November 06, 2006, 07:45:39 AM: John McVie used Alembics in the studio before he entered bankrupcy. John Entwhistle used one as well. Jimmy Johnson is a long time user of Alembics, and although the labels he has been recorded on may not be major, the results certainly are, (as well as minor, disnonant, diminished, augmented, etc.). Cliff Burton used an Alembic briefly as well before his untimely death. And let us not forget Stan the Man Clarke!
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: tubeperson on November 06, 2006, 07:46:53 AM: Also, Mark King (I had a senior moment, sorry fellow pluckers!)
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: 811952 on November 06, 2006, 07:47:06 AM: The Who - Face Dances
Practically anything by Stanley Clarke
Either of the Animal Logic releases
Works vols. I & II by ELP
Lift Me Up single (on the Union release) by YES

Those are just what's in my head at the moment. I need coffee...

John
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: jacko on November 06, 2006, 07:47:11 AM: The majority of Stanley Clarke's output was recorded with an alembic.
I'm petty sure Level 42s Staring at the sun was recorded with an Alembic.
Most,if not all of James taylor's latter work features Jimmy Johnson, a well known alembic user.
John Entwhistles 'Too late the hero' uses alembic exclusively and even features an exploiter on the cover.

Check out the Artists section of the showcase then track down the artists output.

cheers

Graeme
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: tubeperson on November 06, 2006, 07:48:18 AM: Also, Mark King (I had a senior moment, sorry fellow pluckers!).
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: jacko on November 06, 2006, 07:56:04 AM: Flea recorded almost all of One hot minute on an epic.

graeme
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: dannobasso on November 06, 2006, 08:19:43 AM: Nazareth, Dixie Dregs, some Parliment, Type O Negative
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: keith_h on November 06, 2006, 08:33:36 AM: Allman Brothers, Styx, John Paul Jones.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: FC Bass on November 06, 2006, 08:59:02 AM: I'm not sure, but I think Metallica
I think it's even possible Cliff Burton used his Spoiler on Master of Puppets... (the Spoiler was stolen in '85)
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: chuck on November 06, 2006, 09:03:10 AM: tyran porter of the doobie brothers.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: olieoliver on November 06, 2006, 09:06:59 AM: I've seen Tyrone use his in concert several times.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on November 06, 2006, 09:25:40 AM: Phil Lesh w/the Grateful Dead from about 1968-69 to sometime in the early 1980s, on occasion after that.
Jack Casady, w/mid to late Jefferson Airplane, early Hot Tuna; I'm not sure how late it goes.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: edwin on November 06, 2006, 10:15:36 AM: Robert Gordon on the early 80s Gil Scott Heron records and Danny Bowens on some of the 70s ones. One of my favorite Alembic tones (although mixed way too low) is Jim Cammack's fretless Series I playing on Ahmad Jamal's Live in Paris '92. A great album all around. Jim is just awesome!

Edwin
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: bumhucker on November 06, 2006, 10:21:01 AM: prince's bassist brown mark used a spoiler on a bunch of stuff in the 80's. weren't the later zep records made w/ alembic bass? i am pretty sure the most recent red hot chili's record is done with an epic bass. i was trying to find out if robert plant's principle of moments had alembic on it-sounds like it to me!
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: blazer on November 06, 2006, 10:35:49 AM: Prince's bass players played a lot of alembics

Brown Mark played a whit Alembic spoiler with flower motives on Around the world in a day and on Parade

His successor Levi Seacer Jr. Played a Black Alembic Spoiler on Love sexy and Grafiti bridge

And Sonny T can be seen using Levi Seacer's Spoiler in the video for Peach
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: blazer on November 06, 2006, 10:44:01 AM: Brown Mark apparently still plays his Alembic spoiler but I guess it recieved some mods, judging from the enormous array of knobs and switches.

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/33129.jpg)
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: bumhucker on November 06, 2006, 10:51:00 AM: looks like a synth pickup on there!
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: hifiguy on November 06, 2006, 05:12:27 PM: I recall an article in Bass Player in which Jason Newstad (Cliff Burton's replacement in Metallica) spoke of owning and recording with a half-dozen Alembics. This would have been around the black album era in the early 1990s.

Nice catch with the Cammack connection, Edwin. His playing on that album is boggling, but when I saw Ahmad Jamal about nine years ago Jim was playing a traditional upright.

Peter Steele of Type O Negative is an Alembic player. Saw them in concert and his big, long scale Alembic looked like a toy on Steele, a 6'7 bodybuilder.

Paul (another one)
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: jubeas3eyes on November 06, 2006, 05:21:05 PM: The bassist from Pinback plays a series 1 and recorded their albums with it.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: bassdr on November 06, 2006, 06:51:49 PM: Jimmy Johnson Flim and the BB's CD's on DMP label
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: worldfamousandy on November 07, 2006, 08:01:51 AM: Cammack on the Ahmad Jamal album Live at the Montreal Jazz Fest is probably my favorite. I have seen that group around 10 times, and he does sometimes play upright, but Jim's real forte is that fretless Series II. For the classic wide-open Alembic sound, The Who's Eminence Front can't be beat. It's what inspired me to play bass.

Andy Calder
www.andycalderbass.com (http://www.andycalderbass.com)
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: karl on November 07, 2006, 09:26:27 AM: A couple more live albums for you:

Armand Sabal-Lecco is playing a Series instrument for most of Paul Simon's famous Concert in Central Park - no other bass on earth can sound like that!

And while it's not one of the band's better recordings, Mark King is unmistakably playing an Alembic on Level 42's Live In Wembley CD (c.1990, not to be confused with the Live at Wembley video from around 87, where he's using a Jaydee).

K.
www.myspace.com/harambe (http://www.myspace.com/harambe)
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: FC Bass on November 07, 2006, 10:07:44 AM: Gorefest - Erase
Jan Chris de koeijer bought his Elan when Gorefest was recording this masterpiece.
Quote:
I bought the Elan in the summer of '94 in Germany somewhere near Gelsenkirchen when we were recording Erase.
The Dean ML had a rattle somewhere that we couldn't locate, so we went out to this amazing music shop and started testing every bass that was around, and the Alembic was a winner.

And another live album / VHS / DVD:
Metallica Live S**t Binge & Purge
Almost on all songs Alembic: Persuader, Elan and Series II (Spoiler and Europa shape)
Jason also played Wal basses on the ...and Justice for all tour, from the '91 Monsters of rock tour till '94 (?) I only saw him with Alembics.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: inthelows on November 07, 2006, 10:54:25 AM: I found this on you tube. Looks like the Elan with series 1 electronics.
NLP
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: inthelows on November 07, 2006, 11:01:45 AM: Noticed some foul language at the very beginging of this. I have no way to edit it out. Sorry about that!!
Parental advisory..If your ears can't handle the word F#*kin and its only once.. Please don't open the the you tube file!!!! It is Metallica!
NLP
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: longhorncat on November 07, 2006, 11:01:59 AM: John Paul Jones

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/33160.jpg)
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: gtrguy on November 07, 2006, 01:03:01 PM: The Brothers Johnson!
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: jseitang on November 08, 2006, 05:40:19 PM: i think the guy from pinback plays a signature not series I.i could be wrong but all the times ive seen them, the guy has always played a signature deluxe
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: jazzyvee on November 08, 2006, 11:35:25 PM: I have seen Alphonso Johnson with alembic series instrument years ago. Also Norman Watt Roy used an alembic as well in the past not sure if he used it on the track with Ian Dury and the Blockheads called Hit me with your Rhytmn stick.
JAzzyvee
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: jacko on November 09, 2006, 04:36:41 AM: To elaborate on Bill's John paul Jones pic, I believe the first zeppelin album he used an alembic on was Presence.

Just about anything Nazareth have brought out since around 1978 would have Pete Agnew's Alembics on them. The recent(ish) Homecoming Live DVD/CD package is an excellent showcase, both of the bass and the player.

Graeme
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: hifiguy on November 09, 2006, 05:24:45 PM: A Norman Watt-Roy mention! Cool! NWR is one of the most underappreciated bassists out there. I've been trying to ace that Rhythm Stick lick for dog's years and still can't play it consistently.

When I saw the Blockheads back in '7, well, er, a long time ago, he was playing a Jazz.

As for JPJ, there's no missing the dinosaur-eating-cars roar of his 8-string Alembic on Achilles' Last Stand.

Paul
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: adriaan on November 10, 2006, 02:42:52 AM: Paul,

You may find that a gentle bit of compression might help leveling out the Rhythm Stick line.

I wouldn't call it a lick - it goes on, and on, and on, and on. And then some more. Also very bubbly in a Bernard Edwards kind of way, and laidback at the same time.

Defeats categorization!
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: dadabass2001 on November 10, 2006, 05:50:51 AM: Any Frank Zappa/ Mothers releases with Tom Fowler on bass would be Alembic. Roxy and Elsewhere, Overnite Sensation, Apostrophe, One Size Fits All, etc.

Mike
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: yggdrasil on November 10, 2006, 06:56:30 AM: cozmik_cowboy wrote:
Jack Casady, w/mid to late Jefferson Airplane, early Hot Tuna; I'm not sure how late it goes.

Actually virtually none of Jack's recordings feature his Alembic bass - I think a few studio tracks + the 30 Seconds Over Winterland live sessions.

Most of the era you refer to was recorded with the Guild Starfire, which, at different points, included some Alembic mods, but AFAICT, the mods were added to the Hagstrom pickups, which were retained .

Dan Schwartz in an article explains it all thus:

The Jazz bass is still Jack's main instrument on Baxter's, though towards the end of these sessions he started trying out his new Guild.

   The tale of Jack's Guild Starfires roughly begins with Augustus Stanley Owsley (otherwise known as Bear) taking the instrument in late 67 or early 68 to do some circuit mods with Ron Wickersham, one of the founders of Alembic. Their circuit was a variable Q resonant filter, with Darlington emitter-followers at the pickup to lower output impedance before the filter. Originally a natural finish spruce/maple instrument, an L.A. luthier named Roy Noble refinished it dark brown, coloring over the binding somewhat. Jorma's wife Margareta created an abstract design that was inlaid into the peghead by Chuck Erikson. As a surprise for Jack, Chuck stuck some model-train lights under the inlay, to be battery-powered through the second and third strings. They didn't get it working, but apparently Owsley did, after being told they were in there a year later. Jack used this bass for the next three Airplane albums. It was stolen shortly after the Woodstock festival, and Jack bought another, a Sunburst '68 or '69, on the road. He shipped it back to Wickersham immediately with orders to rush. There wasn't time for woodworking, so Ron sawed out part of the top around the lower f-hole, installing three magnesium channels for the controls. The circuit was an update of the previous filter, installed in time for the Berkeley performance recorded on the first Hot Tuna album. Jack used this bass until early '72, when he got the Alembic.

   Jack's new bass was the first all-Alembic instrument, built by Rick Turner, with pickups of his design, and elaborate electronics by Wickersham, including two channels of state-variable filters (low-, band- and high-pass) with variable Q and direct volume controls to combine the unfiltered sound with the filtered. There were 4 or 5 sets of interchangeable pickups on sliding rails so that Jack could experiment with their position and interchangeable bridge saddles of different materials. At some point over the next three years, the bass got dropped onto concrete, and after going back to Alembic for repair of body cracks, Jack felt it never sounded the same. (The instrument is currently intact with the exception of burned out neck LED's and standard Alembic PF-6 electronics on purpleheart faceplates instead of the original birds-eye maple).

   Jack replaced the Alembic with a short-scale Flying V bass with a mahogany body by Glenn Quan attached to an old Guild Thunderbird neck and 60's Guild pickups. He used this bass during Hot Tuna's hard-rocking period.

Frank
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: 57basstra on November 10, 2006, 11:42:25 AM: Fascinating! Thanks.

David
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: hifiguy on November 10, 2006, 04:12:19 PM: I wonder who has custody of Jack's Alembic #1? It is certainly an instrument of major historical significance. Seems to me that the most appropriate place for it would be the Santa Rosa Mothership, where it could occasionally be loaned to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame for public viewing.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: yggdrasil on November 11, 2006, 03:59:19 AM: 72-01 - That's a weird story.From memory, so some details may be off:
There's a guy named David Hardy that somehow acquired the bass, left it at a music shop in the 80s, the shop went bankrupt, some other guy acquired it at a bankruptcy sale, and he pretty much lays low, since this David Hardy persists in his claim to the bass.

Old Alembic Board Post by David Hardy (http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/alembicbasses2/message/1972)

And Another (http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/alembicbasses2/message/1926)

(Message edited by Yggdrasil on November 11, 2006)

(Message edited by Yggdrasil on November 11, 2006)
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: s_wood on November 11, 2006, 06:48:23 AM: Concering Zappa and Tom Fowler's Alembic:

Fowler got his Alembic sometime in the spring or early summer of 74, which means that both Overnite Sensation and Roxy & Elsewhere were recorded with Fenders. In fact, you can see Tom with a black P-Bass on the cover of Roxy. One Size Fits All, Bongo Fury and YCDTOSA VOl II are the three Alembic albums.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: mrbassman42 on December 25, 2006, 02:14:10 AM: Saw a clip of Rose Royce on TV just the other day.... Bass Player was playing an Alembic Series I not sure if he recorded with it but the live sound was fantastic....

Mark
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: richbass939 on December 25, 2006, 11:04:21 AM: I hope nobody thinks I'm dissing anyone here because I'm not. Weird Al's Straight Outta Lynwood lists Micah (sic) Wickersham, Alembic under the Thanks to column. I haven't spotted it yet, though.
Rich
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: pierreyves on December 25, 2006, 04:06:36 PM: Hey, you forget Wizzard, the bassist of Mother's Finest who played Alembic in the 1980's. Mother's Finest Live !!

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/34640.jpg)
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: bumhucker on December 25, 2006, 05:43:02 PM: major tom by peter schilling sure sounds like alembic to me. anyone know?
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: hubwolf on January 17, 2007, 07:47:29 PM: Convoy by Chip Davis and Bill Fries (aka C.W. McCall) and most of the Mannheim Steamroller stuff through the mid-90's by Eric Hansen on a beautiful Series I std point long scale (which can be seen on my intro thread)-hubwolf
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: gblick on January 24, 2007, 01:10:23 PM: Correct about Tom Fowler and his earlier use of the Fender Precision, but he has also played a Fender Jazz bass (can be seen on Dub Room Special, which features some Alembic action as well IIRC).

There is also a picture showing Tom Fowler playing an Alembic on Jean Luc Ponty's Imaginary Voyage album, so I guess he used the Alembic on that one too.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: bassjigga on January 24, 2007, 01:40:57 PM: Probably not in the major category in terms of recordings, but definitely a major player: Trip Wamsley just put out a new one with tons of killer Alembic tones. Also some great sounding Vigiers too. I highly recommend you guys checkin this guy out if you don't know about him. Phenominal musician. www.tripwamsley.com (http://www.tripwamsley.com) or www.myspace.com/tripwamsley. Buy his album! He's also the guy who owns COTM Ocean Blue.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: bumhucker on January 24, 2007, 01:49:01 PM: thanks for the mother's finest tip! i had never heard them before and i went to itunes and got some of the live stuff and it's killer!!!! magic carpet ride is clever and funk as all hail!
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: jacko on January 25, 2007, 12:56:37 AM: Trip Walmsley came over to the UK for Bassday 2005. he didn't bring any Alembics but played up a storm anyway. He's got to be one of the nicest most genuine guys i've met - he spent most of the day hanging out, chatting with Mike Pisanek and myself and helping us get through an unprecedented number of beers ;-)

Graeme
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: jags on January 25, 2007, 05:24:27 AM: nice pic of Jonesy,love the inlays and top! i'm pretty sure that Flea used an alembic when they recorded that Aeroplane hit(however it's spelled!?). its easy to tell with the slap and pop notes, especially in the intro
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: jacko on January 25, 2007, 05:26:46 AM: Hi john. From what i've read, all of 'One hot minute' was recorded on an Epic except Aeroplane.

Graeme
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: jlpicard on February 08, 2007, 01:31:57 PM: Anybody mention Greg Lake?
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: xlrogue6 on February 13, 2007, 04:49:31 PM: Jimmy Johnson, already mentioned for his Flim & the BB's stuff, absolutely rips it up on Allan Holdsworth's Then album, a smoking collection of live tracks.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: yanc on February 14, 2007, 03:58:27 PM: (Message edited by yanc on February 14, 2007)
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: yanc on February 14, 2007, 04:09:15 PM: I don't know if it's the good topic, but on Marvin Gaye live at Montreux 1980. The bassist use an Alembic :

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/36262.jpg)

Don't know what model is ...

http://www.amazon.com/Marvin-Gaye-Live-Montreux-1980/dp/B000094J89/sr=8-2/qid=1171497561/ref=sr_1_2/105-2764407-4720456?ie=UTF8&s=dvd (http://www.amazon.com/Marvin-Gaye-Live-Montreux-1980/dp/B000094J89/sr=8-2/qid=1171497561/ref=sr_1_2/105-2764407-4720456?ie=UTF8&s=dvd)
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: David Houck on February 14, 2007, 06:29:46 PM: Hi Yanc;

I've stared at the picture for a while and then I went to YouTube and watched a couple videos (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=marvin+gaye+montreux&search=Search) and I don't think that bass is an Alembic. If it is, then it's a very unusual one.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: mica on February 14, 2007, 06:33:42 PM: I don't think it is one from the photo, I don't recognize the peghead. I would be so jazzed if it were - I love Marvin.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: 811952 on February 19, 2007, 07:43:44 AM: Looks like an Aria, perhaps?
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: essenceman on February 19, 2007, 12:04:57 PM: John 'Rhino' Edwards, who now holds down the bottom end for Status Quo!!! used to play with that fabulous singer, Judie Tzuke, in the early '80s. He now plays mainly Status basses, but when I saw him with Judie Tzuke in 1984, he was playing a Series bass of some sort (can't remember which).

You can hear him on Judie Tzuke albums such as Sports Car, I am the Phoenix, Ritmo, The Cat is Out & Shoot the Moon, but the best is on the live album, Roadnoise - his sound on the track Katiera Island is fantastic!
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: s_wood on February 19, 2007, 01:26:48 PM: Good Grief! He's got Gibson Grabber on the stand behind him!
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: crobbins on February 24, 2007, 04:28:01 PM: Jerry Garcia 3/24/71 - Looks like a Les Paul neck on a handmade body. I'll take a guess that it was an early effort from the Alembic guys, because the raised pickguard appears to be made of hand-cast metal,and they were into that.

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/36693.jpg)
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: bracheen on February 25, 2007, 05:36:50 AM: I believe that's what is referred to as the Peanut Guitar.

Sam
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: David Houck on February 25, 2007, 08:06:59 AM: Sam's right.
There's a better picture here (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=15162).
See also here (http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/19928.html).
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: paulman on February 27, 2007, 06:30:36 AM: In the Grateful Dead gear book, Rick Turner explains that guitar is a body he made (with a local furiture maker) with a Les Paul custom neck he salvaged. Rick used it as his main guitar in the late 60's with Autosalvage until Jerry bought it.

It has been recorded in (I think) Stepping Out with the Grateful Dead a circa '71 performance. It aya have been Ladies and Gentlemen, The Grateful Dead also. I don't have the book in front of me.

Rick is quoted as wishing he knew where that guitar is now.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: mgod on March 13, 2007, 07:25:53 PM: On a recent Interscope record by Sierra Swan, I use my 77 custom exclusively. However I don't know how many of the 5 tracks I did survived the major label bloodletting, and I know Linda Perry redid some of our tracks note for note. Anything produced by Bill Bottrell is me on my Alembic.

DS
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: alembic_doctor on March 13, 2007, 09:24:10 PM: One of Alembics was used by a buddy of mine on a dance club album by someone named Michelle Weaks. or something like that. I guess she's big in Big Gay Dance Party crowd. This was about 4 years ago. I never heard the album. wasn't my thing. But apperantly the producer was floored by the sound of my bass.

Hey DW, how is my old girlfriend anyway?
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: hifiguy on March 14, 2007, 05:02:43 PM: Your first post here, Dan??!! I'm surprised you weren't one of the charter members given how long you've been part of Alembic Nation!

Paul
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: blazer on March 15, 2007, 05:24:03 PM: Has somebody mentioned Bowie guitarist Carlos Alomar yet, who has played his Alembic guitar on albums such as Scary Monsters and has toured with Bowie during the eighties using his Alembic as his main stage guitar.

If nobody has mentioned him, I'll mention him right now.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/37552.jpg)
Alomar's 1975 Alembic guitar. A guitar heard on MANY classic Bowie albums.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: aquaman on March 16, 2007, 07:07:58 PM: Blazer,

Did Alomar use the Alembic on Ashes to Ashes? That track has otherworldly guitar sounds.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: blazer on March 17, 2007, 05:21:51 AM: I wouldn't be surprised if he did but Bowie also had deployed Adrian Belew on that track and he's probably the man behind those otherworldly guitar sounds.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: estring on May 04, 2007, 11:58:28 PM: And then there is John Mcvie!
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on May 24, 2007, 10:00:44 AM: Marvin Isley of the Isley Brothers played a Series II bass on the Go For Your Guns album. The sound is distinct.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: 57basstra on May 24, 2007, 04:56:09 PM: Hello, Vann. Welcome to the club!
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: olieoliver on May 24, 2007, 06:01:24 PM: Welcome to club Vann

I loved the Go For Your Guns album.
The band I played with in high school did a cover of Climbing Up The Ladder. Cool song.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: terryc on May 25, 2007, 02:10:42 AM: Mark King used Alembics on Staring At The Sun through to Guaranteed although for the recording he used a Musicman for about 80% of the recording.
His Alembics were his main stage basses, he hardly uses them now preferring his own designed Status basses with small body, headless neck and led's
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on May 25, 2007, 06:43:03 AM: Marvin Isley shines on the entire Go For Your Guns album. The bass and guitar lines on 'Climbing Up The Ladder' are tough to play. I am impressed a high school band handled them.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: olieoliver on May 25, 2007, 06:47:58 AM: OH YEA it was a fun one to learn to say the least. That and Carry On by Kansas where 2 of the more challenging tunes we did back then.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: David Houck on May 26, 2007, 11:32:21 AM: Hi Vann; welcome to the board!
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: crazykiwi on June 03, 2007, 02:45:08 AM: One of Carlos Alomar's guitars was on Ebay this year.

(Message edited by crazykiwi on June 03, 2007)
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: jason on June 21, 2007, 09:01:26 AM: Wikipedia link digest of alembic players.

Some, like Ace, have simply said I have an Alembic and will use it compared to others who live, breath and are buried with their alembics. By no means comprehensive. List assembled for my own research purposes so some obvious names like Garcia are not here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ace_Frehley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ace_Frehley)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Mark
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Alomar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Alomar)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Panozzo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_Burton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_Burton)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Dregs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerson%2C_Lake_and_Palmer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerson%2C_Lake_and_Palmer)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flea_%28musician%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Lake (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Lake)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Cammack
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Newsted (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Newsted)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jermaine_Jackson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Johnson_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Johnson_)(bassist)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Johnson_%28musician%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Entwistle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Entwistle)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McVie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Paul_Jones_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Paul_Jones_)(musician)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julio_Iglesias (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julio_Iglesias)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Johnson_%28bassist%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_King_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_King_)(musician)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Isley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Isley)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Malley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Rutherford (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Rutherford)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother's_Finest
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazareth_%28band%29 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazareth_%28band%29)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_(band)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Agnew (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Agnew)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Steele
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Meisner (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Meisner)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riders_of_the_Purple_Sage_%28band%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Clarke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Clarke)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styx_(band)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Allman_Brothers_Band (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Allman_Brothers_Band)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiran_Porter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Fowler_%28musician%29 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Fowler_%28musician%29)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_O_Negative
http://www.myspace.com/tripwamsley (http://www.myspace.com/tripwamsley)
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: lbpesq on June 21, 2007, 09:30:47 AM: The link above to Riders of the Purple Sage refers to two old bands from the 1930's through the early 1950's. I suspect neither of these used Alembics. The correct reference should be to the New Riders of the Purple Sage, the Grateful Dead spinoff band that was formed in 1969. IIRC, founding member singer/guitarist/songwriter John Marmaduke Dawson used an Alembic. I believe Dave Torbert, the bassist following a brief stint by Phil Lesh, may have also.

Bill, tgo
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: David Houck on June 21, 2007, 07:30:26 PM: Yes, Torbert had the single cutaway Alembic that gets mentioned every once in a while.
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: jacko on June 22, 2007, 12:45:38 AM: You can see it briefly on the 'Closing of Winterland' DVD extras.

Graeme
Title: Alembics used in major label recordings
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on June 22, 2007, 04:13:58 AM: Dela217 posted a picture of Torbert's in this thread (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=20762); there was a picture of Dawson with his somewhere but I can't find it.

Peter