Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: ajdover on December 28, 2006, 07:30:03 AM
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Folks,
Went to G-Cat Music here in Seoul today ... as well as the G-Cat store in the Nakwon Arcade yesterday. Alembic is live and well in Korea, I can report.
Took some pics ... it's like bass porn.
I picked up a Stanley Clarke Deluxe, and it was like ... well .. coming home. I can't describe it. I plugged it into an Ampeg B-15, and ... it was incredible. It was just so .. like an old shoe .. comfortable, like going back to your hometown and seeing all the things you grew up with, familiar things.
Anyway, enough gushing. I'll post pics tomorrow.
Alan
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I can visualize an old episode of M*A*S*H*, where Hawkeye might say to Trapper John would you just look at this Alembic I picked up on my 3 day pass? Where's Henry, he's gotta see this! Radar...........!
Thanks for your service and dedication and Alembic sightings (& acquisitions) in places far from here, Alan. Godspeed & get home soon......
Chris
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Nice to here from you again AJ.
Happy holidays and thanks.
Nice find!
NLP
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AJD, did you tell those GCat guys you were one of the 'Pros from Dover'?
J o e y
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Alan wrote I picked up a Stanley Clarke Deluxe. Is that like I picked it up off the guitar stand and tried it out or is it like I picked it up, paid for it, and walked out the door with it?
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Joey,
Nahh, no Pros from Dover remark. However, I did say I had a brother named Ben (Dover). Get it? :-)
Dave,
I wish I could have picked it up for good. I just tried it out. At over $7K US, it was a bit rich for my blood.
Best regards,
Alan
P.S. I have the pics, but I'm having trouble sizing them. Anyone have any suggestions?
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I use IrfanView to edit pictures. On the menu I click on Edit and then Resize/Resample. The Resize/Resample window gives various methods of resizing and resampling the pictures. I have also found that often I can just open a picture up in IrfanView and then save without resizing, and as a result the file size will be smaller. I think it has to do with IrfanView's default jpg resampling employed in the Save process, compressing the size of the original file. I think other photo editing software packages are similar. In IrfanView, when resizing a picture, you are given a choice of resizing or resampling. Resampling is probably what you want to do. I have mine set to resample at the slowest rate; I think that gives the best results. However, I have no expertise in this area and I'm just guessing. But there should be some similar functionality in your photo editing program, although sometimes they are hard to find.
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Alan-
Photoshop is a pretty pesky program to learn, but resizing for the web is a pretty easy task.
If you have photoshop: open the image, Select File--> Save for web.
Once there, photoshop will give you a selection of resized images to choose from. You can also customise the image size to one of your choice if you like.
(Message edited by tbrannon on January 05, 2007)
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I personally use a piece of software called ThumbsPlus. You can download it from CERIOUS.COM. It is pretty cool and you can use the free trial version to resize the photos!
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Here's an attempt.
Alan(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/35002.jpg)
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Wow!!! to walk into a room and see that much beauty. I'm just speechless. Where do you start?
Alan, where did you start? Damn I'm jealous.
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Nice inventory!
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In Korea, G-cat sell the left upper line MK deluxe-5 about $14000. It's quite expensive.
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Here's a few more.
Alan
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/35005.jpg)
(Message edited by davehouck on January 22, 2007)
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And the aforementioned Mark King ... Beautiful, but not cheap, particularly given import taxes, duties, etc.
Alan(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/35008.jpg)
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And another ... mmmm ....
Alan(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/35011.jpg)
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And yes, Alembic is alive and well in the Land of the Morning Calm ...
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/35014.jpg)
(Message edited by davehouck on January 22, 2007)
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Adam,
Where did I start? Well, after I got my breath back, I started with the Stanley Clarke ... I don't think it's a Deluxe (no LEDs, etc.), but that didn't make it any less amazing. Tried a used Essence with Orion Electronics next, then the Series I. The Series played great, but desperately needed new strings (the strings had rust on them! - but the guys at G-Cat had a post-it note near the bass reminding them they needed changing). I didn't go near the Balance K - I'm not a five string player, and I just didn't want to pull something off the wall that I knew I wasn't going to even think of buying (it's about $14K!). Needless to say, it was a great experience. I'm going back down there this afternoon - ahh, the joys of Alembic worldwide.
Alan
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Uh oh ... looks like the Alembic Wall at G-Cat Guitars in Seoul is missing something ....
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/35021.jpg)
And the reason is this ....
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/35022.jpg)
I took my Ernie Ball Musicman Stingray HH in to see if Mr. Gim could get it to play right. I was having an extremely hard time getting it to take the strings I use (DR Hi Beams, .40-.100) without buzzing all over the place when I lowered the action. He made some adjustments to the nut, and it still buzzed with what I consider high action. Then ... I went and played the SC again, and .... well, I just couldn't help myself. I traded the MM in on the spot for the SC. It's a coco bolo beauty, hideously low action, plays effortlessly. And the tone ... well, you guys all know the deal. Hmmm, I called the last Alembic I had while deployed "The Burkha King." How about "The Kimchee King," or "The Bass of the Morning Calm?" Enjoy, Alan
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One other thing ... I can report with confidence that Mr. Gim and his wife are representing Alembic proudly and well. He definitely takes care of the instruments, and in my view is a great representative of our bass brand of choice. Normally, I buy a bass in about an hour; I spent about three hours in Mr. Gim's shop - it was that pleasant an experience. BTW, while I was there, a gentleman brought in a beautiful Spoiler with a lovely quilt maple top - too bad I didn't have my camera with me.
Alan
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Alan--
Congratulations, and remember, you're only human--or should I say, hunan--no, wrong country Who could be expected to resist such an inventory of Alembics staring you in the face!
Enjoy--
Eric
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Eric,
Thanks. The only problem was choosing which one my pocketbook could handle ....
I tried a few of the others they had ... several Orions, Europas, and Excels. I can't say I liked the Excels as much - different neck profiles. They played and sounded great, I just didn't like the neck feel, that's all. I already have a Europa, so I couldn't justify the expense. However, I didn't have a short scale, and I've been lusting for an SC ever since I played one in Santa Rosa back in August. Well, as they say, be careful what you wish for ...
Thanks again,
Alan
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Alan,
many congrats to your new beauty.
Seems that you are collecting basses from each country
you are doing service in? :-)
Your buddy
Oliver (Spyderman, Dragonman, Buzzardman......)
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Oliver,
It sure seems that way, doesn't it? ;-) It could be worse - I could be collecting useless tourist trinkets! Now, the next time I visit Deutschland, you must take me to the nearest Alembic store so I can add a German Alembic to my collection!
Alan (fellow Spyderman, Dragonman, and soon to be Entwistle Spyderman!)
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Alan:
Looks like your having lots of fun. What a great way to start off the new year! Congrats, it is quite the looker, lucious top. May I suggest a name? Considering the location, that we usually refer to our instruments as female, and that it is a Stanley bass, howzabout Chick Korea? hehehehe
Bill, tgo
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Alan,
Thanks for serving.
And congratulations on your Stanley purchase.
Bradley
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As said before, nice pick up! I felt that you would. BTW, what were they asking for the 5 string SC ?
NLP
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Bill,
Chick Korea it is. Great name!
Bradley (and all),
Thanks for the kind words. Just doing my job.
Norm,
They were asking W7,000,000, or 7 million Korean Won (a bit over $7K US). Before anyone thinks how expensive that is (and it is), keep in mind that they have to pay import duties, taxes, etc. here, driving up the cost considerably. Most goods imported from the states are about 30% more expensive than they are back home; only reason I could afford this was I had a trade in that I pretty much got top dollar for.
The Balance K Mark King with the Buckeye Burl top was W13,500,000; most of the others (Orions, Excels, etc.) were around the W3,000,000 area, and the Europas were up there with the Stanley Clarkes.
Need to get new strings for my SC - as good as Alembic instruments are, I've never been a fan of their strings, but all they had at G-Cat in short scale was Alembic strings. Time to go to Just Strings and order some DR Hi Beams online!
Alan
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I think you have made a good choice, it's a lovely instrument. ( my fave body shape too).
I have a weakness for Coco bolo and would have found the Europa hard to walk past.
Did you try the SC5?
If you did, i'd be interested to know how well the bass balanced on a strap with the extra 5th string and if the low B felt sloppy or less distinct as on a longer scale bass.
Jazzyvee
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Jazzy,
No, I didn't try the SC 5 as I am not a five string player (damn necks are too wide for me). What I've noticed about my SC is that it is a bit neck heavy, but more importantly, it tends to tilt away from you as you hold it standing up and strapped on. It's not as big of an issue with a nice Moody strap (which the G-Cat folks gave me with the bass, a nice touch), but it did surprise me a bit. I solve any inbalance simply by resting my elbow on the bass, near the back.
I really like the access to the upper frets as I don't just stick to the lower registers (I'm accused of being a busy bass player as a result). It's the same feature that I love on my Essences, the DW, and the Spyder. It's good on my Europa as well, but the SC and the Essences really make it easy for the player I think.
Alan
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Dover,
I wrote E-mail to you. Check it.~
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Congrats!! It's gorgeous!
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Well, I had my first gig with my SC Standard here in Seoul tonight ....
First, the bass amp I was going to use (a GK RB700 or something combo with a singe 15 in it) had a blown speaker from what I could tell. I didn't have time to get the Ampeg BA 210SP I normally use, so I had to go through the PA, with a monitor feed to hear myself. I was a bit concerned; normally, I like a bit coming from the amp, and then the rest from the PA.
Man, were my worries misplaced. That bass cut through it all - lows, mids, highs, you name it. So clean, too - it cut through everything. I ran it with both filters wide open, the pan pot about half way between the center detent and the rear pickup, and volume adjusted accordingly. It was perfect.
I was going to use it for a set, then switch to my Lakland 4-94 (a very fine instrument too, BTW). Needless to say the SC never left my hands. It's freakin' incredible.
All I can say is that once again, Alembic trumped all. They are, simply, the finest bass guitars I've played in 30 years of playing the instrument. It's a pleasure to be able to support such a fine company and the people who make these wonderful instruments which bring so much joy to me personally and (I hope) others when I play it.
Alan
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Alan:
Sounds like you had big fun! Alembics tend to do that (as you well know). What kind of band do you have out there? I'll be playing my Fender Strat XII with a band tonight for the first time since I installed complete Alembic electronics. I hope to taste some of that zone too. Enjoy the SC and be careful out there.
Bill, tgo
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Bill,
It's a blues band - www.bluefrogblues.com (http://www.bluefrogblues.com). I'm not much of a blues guy, but tonight we really locked in and played some good stuff, in the pocket/groove.
A lot of folks might think an Alembic is too hi-fi for blues, but they're mistaken. My SC more than handled it.
Best wishes for your Fender with Alembic guts - I'm sure it will sound great. And yes, you'll be in the zone, trust me!
Best regards,
Alan
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Here's me with the SC Standard. Gigging in Seoul. Enjoy. Alan
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/35445.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/35446.jpg)
(Message edited by davehouck on January 22, 2007)
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Alan:
YOUR BASS IS ON FIRE!!!!!
Bill, tgo
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Bill,
Of course it is! It's an Alembic!
Alan
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How does one go about hustling freelance gigs in Korea?
Andy Calder
www.andycalderbass.com (http://www.andycalderbass.com)
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Andy,
Don't know, but I doubt you'd have any problems. You're a good player from what I can tell (much better than me, anyway!), and there's a large market here. Koreans tend to like Jazz and Blues more the Rock, but that's changing a bit as the younger crowd here grows a bit older - they're asking for more RnR. If there's anything I can do for you, let me know. I can make some inquiries amongst friends about how one goes about free lancing here - I've never done it myself, so I just don't know.
Best regards,
Alan
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Hey Alan,
I got my first Alembic in much the same way.I purchased a MM Stingray and after a month,I couldn't even stand to look at it anymore.I pretty much grew to hate everything about it.Sold it to the store I bought my Epic from and the rest is history.
Congrats on the sweet SC.
Enjoy.
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Dave,
Like I said, I liked how it sounded and felt (for the most part), but I couldn't get it to take the strings I use, no matter what I did. It's nicely built, and it's a shame I couldn't get it to work. Either I got a lemon, or it's just designed for heavier strings. In any event, it all worked out for the best - I've got my SC, and the rest is history as they say. Had I known G-Cat existed before I bought the SC, I probably wouldn't have bought the MM.
Alan
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How do you get on with that wireless you are using? Any interference etc?
Jazzyvee
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Alan,
Thanks for the compliments! I was just curious, more than anything. I don't have any plans to visit Korea soon, although I will probably see that country someday. I know it's a large and prosperous country, so I guess I should not be surprised that there is an audience for all kinds of music.
It would be cool to have that on the resume, though: Freelance blues musician, South Korea
Andy Calder
www.andycalderbass.com (http://www.andycalderbass.com)
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Jazzy,
The wireless (a Samson Airline for bass) is a nice little unit. I've not had any problems with interference yet, and it's easy to use. I do need to get a power supply for it because I just don't like the idea of relying on batteries - nothing worse than the wireless going dead in the middle of a set! I keep a spare cable close at hand for such things, but better to eliminate potential trouble if you can.
What I really like about it is the fact that I don't have to wear one of those annoying packs with a cable to my bass. Some folks don't mind, but I just plug mine in to the bass, and away you go. Works great. It also has a 15dB pad built into the thing that plugs into the bass, so if the amp is lacking, you can just switch that on. Nice feature. The Transmitter has a shaping feature, kind of like a notch filter or something. I don't use it much, but some might find it handy.
Some folks say they lose bottom end with wireless systems, but I haven't noticed it. Maybe I'm not as audio savvy as some folks, but it sounds fine to me, especially with the SC.
Anyway, it works for me.
Hope this helps,
Alan
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Andy,
I think my musical resume would go something like this ...
Old guy, likes Alembics. Has too many basses. Plays when he can, if they'll let him. Can cook. Film at 11.
Geez, I crack myself up sometimes .... ;-)
Alan
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Well ajdover,
Mine would be pretty close to yours except that I'm already past the 11 o'clock and on Konen O'brien. I'm sitting here just submerging in your Alembic pictures and dreaming of being where you are. It looks like fun.
So, enjoy and thanks for all of the pics and fun.
Aloha, Paul