Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Fun Stories => Topic started by: Charles David Tichenor (alembic76407) on March 19, 2003, 06:18:12 AM
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I was 20 years old, I had a $200.00 Karman Ghia rag top, with a $2000.00 Alembic Series 1 sticking out of the back seat with the top down, like a surfboard, the only way it would fit.
that was in 1976, and I still own the bass
David T
(Message edited by alembic76407 on March 19, 2003)
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I think I was 18 or so.. The discussed EVH series.. 4string. It served me well :-)
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I'm envious. It took me until I was 28 to get my first Alembic. There's no stopping me now....
John
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I bought my first Alembic at the age of 22 (1992). It was the Mark King Signature Deluxe I still have today. I don't think I'll ever part with it.
Duncan
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I bought my first Alembic at age 17. Or maybe it was 18. The year was 1978 and I went to my local music store and put a down payment and told them to get me one. At the time I thought that a medium scale, large body bass was for me. I plunked down a payment of $500.00, and they ordered me one with a point. They asked me what kind of wood I wanted and I didn't even know. So they asked if I wanted a light colored one or a dark one. I chose dark, and in a few short weeks I got my first Alembic. It was medium scale with a point just like we ordered. It came with a purpleheart top and back with a kinda stripey ebony fingerboard. It also had zebrawood headstock veneers. I remember that it's serial number was 78/1058. I played it for a month or so, and realized it was just way too big for me. I then parted with it to get a small bodied Alembic. I picked up 78/1158 brand new. It was also a purpleheart top and back and was just a wonderful instrument. Today I have no idea where either of those basses are. When I bought that first series 1 bass the price was $1550.00. I still have the receipt.
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I was 30. Had been playing an Ibanez P-Bass to see whether I liked bass after switching from guitar. I did - so decided to get a proper bass.
Took a friend on the 200km trip to the Alembic dealer. She thought that for high end intruments they were pretty cheap - she was a cellist and looking at $100,000 for a respectable instrument. So I bought the Series I which I still own.
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31.
I've owned Fenders, a 60s gibson eb3, Spector, Yamaha, and borrowed tons besides. I had decided to take up fretless.
Then one day, while picking up a rental PA, I browsed through the used basses at a little store, and there was a fretless essence 4. I fell in love. Dreamt about it that night. Mumbled about it the next day at work, then went straight there and plunked down the cash.
That was six months ago. Now I'm looking at picking up a fretful essence 4 as a twin to the fretless. I love the small-bodied basses.
I'm officially scared to play a series bass. Scared for my bank account. :-)
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Bought my 6-string Orion almost 3 years ago. I was 54 then.
Wally
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I think I was 34 or 35 when I scored a Spoiler. Then I was on a pace of an Alembic a year until 2000, when I rec'd two Alembics in the same week!! Those are the two I still have today (and for the foreseeable future)
http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/568.html?1022984147 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8497)
Peace,
James
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I was 43. It was in late 1999 when I bought my 1975 Series 1 with Lacewood top and back from a musician in Austin. I did a long search for a used Series bass in Europe but they are very rare here. So I had to import one.
Best regards from Germany
Harald
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The short answer: I was about 38 I think.
The long answer (of course a long story it wouldn't be me otherwise)
I played bass from my 16th of age. I owned a Telecaster bass (messed up). I quitted bass-playing between 26 an 35. However: the period I sold my T bass a friend gave me a GUITAR-player. In that magazine I found an ad for a very beautiful bass. It was a very small black-and white from Alembic picturing a Alembic SII with omega cut-out.
I said to myself: I'll play bass again and it will be on such a bass.
Around 35 the urge came back and I kept the ad in my wallet showing it to music-stores.
I got reactions like:
never seen it. You don't like this Fender?
wow.. too expensive .. want to try this Yamaha?
huh ...where are my glasses... you like this Hayman (yes ... i played a Hayman bass!!!!)?
not imported but pick up this Music-man
***sigh***
In that period I discovered (late ... I know) Mark King and his playing. I was starting to play again on a Roland Synth bass.
(Yeeeeeeeeeeeks)
I discovered Alembic with Edwin ( See thread EVH ...Eee-vee-huh?)
I bought a Spoiler wich I owned for 3 weeks.
I went back and changed to the MK Deluxe in absolutely fabulous Cocobolo.
In 1996 I got Bonnie my trusted SII 5 string in a period I could afford it.
Alas ... the taxman came and I had to part from the MK (you see Other Brother Paul - I knew where you were up to).
I found a picture of yours truly (yes ...that's me 7 years ago) with his first (well...) Alembic. It's a B&W picture.
The MK Signature was modified by EVH over here in EU by:
- adding a Mastervolume, installing 2 volume knobs and a PU-selector.
- adding a Standby-switch with led.
It's a real Paul-wise long story about well ... being Alembicious I guess?
Paul
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/3885.jpg)
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I was 36 (1990) . Paul Shine at Washington Music Center offered me a great deal on an Elan. Unfortunately that bass and I didn't get along very well. I loved the tone and the feel but, because I rest my thumb on the neck p/u, the screw extention on the P p/u tore up my thumb quite miserably. 1991 I sold my '61 Fender Jazz. Only 30 minutes later, I went to WMC again only to discover someone had traded in a Small Body Standard Series I. I bought it for, get this, $800.00 !!! The rest, as they say is history
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I was 21 - 1985. I had been playing a 1980 Guild B-302 for about 5 years, but wanted an instrument that wouldn't fight me, action & scale wise. I also was looking for a little more lively sound...something you could really hear, as opposed to just feel. They had a couple of Spoilers & Distillates in stock at Rolls Music in Falls Church, VA & I went in & took 'em for a test run. The Distillates being out of my price range at the time, it came down to either a Coco Bolo Persuader or a Bubinga Spoiler...liked the Coco Bolo, but in the end went with the Spoiler - $1,000.00 brand new. It's a great bass & I still have it today.
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Forty-Four.
Walked into a music store in Nashville. Found the 5-string SPOILER hanging on the wall.
Fell in love.
Asked 'how much?'
'Consignment, $1500.00.'
Asked my brother-in-law (who well understands the syndrome of boys-and-their-toys) who said 'here's the money!'.
Before I could repay him, my mother passed away, and I repaid him from the estate. So my brother in law (who's really the brother I never had) bought it for me, and my mother gave me the money to keep it as the last thing she ever did for me.
How could I ever part with it, it's the best bass I ever had, shot full of love.
The first time he saw it, my brother-in-law said,
Geez, that's a big red bass! And so our story began . . .
(Message edited by bigredbass on March 20, 2003)
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I was 34. Okay it was only a few weeks ago that I got my first Alembic (MK Standard)The Mandarin. I had been on a search for The One since I started playing at age 18. I'd owned most of the top names before (Zon, Modulus, Roscoe etc) and that search ended when I picked up my first Alembic. For some reason, I'm just not interested in cruising the guitar shops or internet bass sites anymore. Better late than never!
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Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....my Baby (76AC070) was ordered in 1975 when I was 20 and delivered in 1976 when I was 21. All of the local music store guys snickered and told me that I was nuts to be spending over $2,000.00 on a bass! My grandfather had passed on and left me a fair amount of money - this is all I have left of that money today. 8>) When she arrived, she became affectionatly known as Chris' coffee table because of the size. Imagine what would have been said if I had not had the body sides carved and the front and back contoured!! I believe that she may be the only Alembic with a purple heart neck with walnut stringers as a result of the shaved neck dimensions (Mica?). She also has a Susan designed, modified Tree Of Life inlay that includes a modified Libra glyph at the top in abalone and has LOTS of silver, ivory and mother-of pearl as well. The core is cherry and the front / back are schedua. What a warm and rich sounding combination. She is reportedly worth over $20K (replacement). I'd call that a pretty good investment, eh?
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1983 at 20yrs. I had a Gibson Ripper and a custom Fretless. The Ripper was sold by a guy I lent it to who happened to be (as I rudely found out) into heroin. Orderd a custom BCRich Mockingbird bass. Played like garbage. Went to Sam Ash 48th St. NYC. Found a Koa Spoiler 4. $900.00 no case. Just had it refinshed and should get it on the 21st. One day shy of me birthday. Been buying them ever since. 87 Custom spoiler 6 w/dragon inlay. 93 custom spoiler 6 flame koa jazz spacing initials, BDay present to myself. 00 spoiler 7 fretless cocobolo, no real reason, 02 custom spoiler 6 figured walnut initials, back up bass, 03 excel 5 almost black finish, needed dark bass for new project, picked up used 89 spoiler exploiter quilted maple, guy need cash, I needed a fix, 87 SC sig dlx, it was there. 2 F1X preamps, best things to use. I feel the urge for a sister for my Excel 5. I'm averaging one every 2.5 years. Most from Brian at Washington Music. Great rep for Alembic to have. Question is, how old will you be when you get your last Alembic?
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A question to Joey: is there a picture somewhere of that Bigredbass here hanging around?
Same question to Chris: where stands the coffee table?
8-D
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I got my first Alembic, an 83'Spoiler....well, today. I'm 50 years and 35 days old (yea, I was born on Valentines Day). Over the last 39 years I have had 24 basses that I can remember (I still have 20 of them). I presently own 6 Fenders (mostly oldies, but goodies), 2 Rickenbackers (including a 64 4001), 2 G&L's, 4 Steinbergers and an old Modulous Graphite Flight 4, etc etc. Looking forward to actually playing out with the Spoiler. Been drooling over owning an Alembic for many years.
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Hi Bill,
welcome to the club.
Bill Payne ??? That name rings a bell but I dunno how? In antother context?
Anyway welcome from this Paul (the bad one).
I suggest that Daniel and you together can put a nice bass-museum? You add Brother Rami to that.
;-)
Paul
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Paul,
Bill Payne is also the name of the keyboard player for Little Feat, maybe that's the bell it's ringing.
Valentino
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Also born on Valentine's Day, but got my first Alembic in April of 1995 at the age of 34. 2 weeks after I got it, I went to Europe for a month on my honeymoon and spent a lot of the time wishing I was back home playing my new bass. I had wanted one since 1976 after seeing Phil Lesh playing one at the Boston Music Hall. There was a short lived high end bass store on Boylston St that had a few, including some with graphite necks. Didn't really get to check one out until 1981 in San Francisco. It took a long time to find the right one. Mine is a '78 Series I in Schedua. Paid $750.
Edwin
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Edwin, for some reason I can understand perfectly that you didn't took your new bass along on your honeymoon! ;-)
Holy Moder: you are ringing the right bells again. (I'm afraid this memory thing will not go better with the years to come and where did I put that $$#**^@!? guitar ????)
LOL
Paul
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Well, I'm 16 and just bought my '77 or '78 Series 1 3 days ago. I was in there trying out basses and said that I was really looking for an Alembic and couldn't afford it. They said they'd sell me one they had locked up downstairs for $850. So of course I said, What's wrong with it? Nothing. they said. Is it fake? they said, no. So I asked if I could see it and play it. I didn't see anything fake and it certainly didn't sound fake as the Alembic sound came pouring out. It was amazing! I have been trying to figure out some of the technical history of the bass, but I can't get anyone to answer. I don't mind, I know they're busy. But if any one is here... like Mica:
The serial number is 964A and its either '77 or '78. They didn't know. Its a Series 1. Any help is appreciated.
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Congratulations James!
it sounds like those guys must have really liked you, or they didn't realize what they had, because a series I at that price is a steal. I imagine most of us would love to run into a deal like that. Wonder why the heck would they keep something like that not on display. That was your good fortune for sure. Post pictures soon, I know we all want to see it.
BTW, did you get the power supply too? even if you didn't it's still an unbelievable deal.
Valentino
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James,
the serial number should be on the very top of the headstock. one side of the tip is the year and the other is the number of the bass.
welcome to the club.
I got my '76 series 1 in 1979, I was 27.
Kenn
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To Val,
Yes. It did come with the original power supply which worked fine. I am a very happy boy.
Thanx all for the welcome.
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I was 24 when i got my spoiler, bought it over the phone without looking at it from The Bass Player in Sydney Australia. It is a 5 string with coco bolo top. I haven't owned may basses but now i have my spoiler i wont play anything but ALEMBIC
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Hello,
I had to become 39 to buy my 1st Alembic (94 MK Standard, used, see some pictures in the showcase section) after owning and reselling 20+ other axes. Shame on me it took me that long to find out that this was the sound I was always searching for (I am a huge fan of Mark King and Stanley Clarke). And ... you are right Paul, my other Basses, including my former workhorse, a MusicMan Sterling don't love me anymore ... I guess I can live with that ;-)
Peace on earth,
Werner
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My first Alembic was a SC deluxe I got in August 1990. I was 28. I had started playing bass late, at 26, and that was the very first Alembic I ever saw, other than in pictures. It was a dream come true, did not expect to find one when I walked into the one of the Evil Empire Outlets.
I was playing a Steinberger headless 4 string at the time ( the less expensive and more V-shaped of the 2). I gave it away as a present to a friend about 2 years later. I still see it at his house all the time. I never feel the slightest urge to pick it up.
Valentino
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If I'd known I was going to live this long, I would've taken much better care of myself when I was younger! But then again......maybe not! It's sure been fun so far!
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Embroidery is indeed a bit more expensive, but it looks great specially on sweats, hats and jackets.
to Paul the good one : I am not related to Tony Lopes of Salem, I live in scenic Gloucester, Ma. where the movie The Perfect Storm was filmed.
Pictures coming soon. I left my epic at the rehearsal space, I know, I know ! That's a no no .
Henri
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I like that, I'm a vintage instrument. Now if I were as sought after as a Strat from the same year, that'd be great.
(Message edited by bracheen on February 20, 2004)
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Hey Jeff,
Beleive it or not I recollect your bass 74-52. It was one of the first to sport one of my moustache tailpieces. She's a beauty. As to your vintage price that alone as you know is priceless.
Susan
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Hi Susan!
I am honored beyond words that you remember my bass. That is so cool. It is my understanding I have YOU to thank for it's beautiful design! And to know it was one of the first to have that tailpiece just makes my month! As you probably know it's in your shop right now and I was also thrilled to find out that Ron was going to be the one checking out my hum and short problem. WOW. .BOTH of you . .Mr. and Mrs. Alembic. . it's as if your child returned home for awhile, eh? I feel like I did the time I met Eric Clapton and got to talk to him after Cream played Eagles in Seattle Washington. You folk at Alembic are the greatest! And most definitely have YOUR place in Rock History too. Hopefully my Baby, Little 74-52 will be ready for her coming out at this years BajaProg 2004 ( http://bajaprog.com (http://bajaprog.com) ) I would just LOVE to show her to the world when my band Glass takes that big Teatro stage on the 3rd of March.
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19.
Sold it two years later due to poverty and illness to my bass teacher who I knew would love it.
Last week I finally got another Alembic, twenty years after buying the first.
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Brett; congrats on your new Alembic and welcome to the group.
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Bucky,
You should have them take a photo of the Wickershams with your bass. Maybe even in front of the old quonset hut shop on Foley Street. That would be cool. We should start a movement to get Alembic into the R&R Hall of Fame. Rock and Roll, that is, not Rest and Relaxation, although their instruments do provide all of the aforementioned...
John
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I was 19 yrs old when i baught #12 in 1980, from guitarcenter in san francisco,for 2,000,bucs. now im 42.
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811952:
Sorry for the delay in a reply - I've been at BajaProg 2004 (where I sadly was not able to premier my Alembics return to the stage - still waitin for Ron W to check it out, oh well) That's a GREAT idea and I'm going to suggest it to Valentine when I call for an update tomorrow! I'd LOVE a picture of the W's with my bass.
Jeff
P.S> Ditto for the Alembic Hall of Fame! My choice for the First Player Member would have to be Jack Casady of course. Yours? Anyone?
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811952:
Sorry for the delay in a reply - I've been at BajaProg 2004 (where I sadly was not able to premier my Alembics return to the stage - still waitin for Ron W to check it out, oh well) That's a GREAT idea and I'm going to suggest it to Valentino when I call for an update tomorrow! I'd LOVE a picture of the W's with my bass.
Jeff
P.S> Ditto for the Alembic Hall of Fame! My choice for the First Player Member would have to be Jack Casady of course. Yours? Anyone?
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Jeff,
Believe it or not, I'm totally unfamiliar with Jack Casady's playing. I've seen him in films and videos, but managed to never be able to pay attention to what he was doing. I guess it's time to hit the used CD bin again. It would be difficult for me to pick a particular player, since there are so many who have used Alembics in the studio whilst playing lesser instruments on stage. I'm a big Entwistle fan, but also a huge Chris Squire fan (Trevor Rabin says Chris played his Alembic on Lift Me Up), a Stanley fan, a Phil Lesh fan, Mark King, David Hood, Tom Fowler... You get the picture. Speaking of the picture, I really hope you get one with the Wickershams. That would be really, really, really cool, and indicative of the familial code of conduct they do their business by.
John whose bass is in it's 23rd year!
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I too was unfamiliar with Jack Casady's playing. All I know of him is what I heard on the radio, or recordings. I finally got a chance to see him live a couple of years ago. What a monster! He plays with such authority. You really must see him perform to really appreciate it. Now that I have seen his live performance, his recorded work takes on a new meaning to me. Try not to judge him on his recorded work. He is truly one of those players that you must see to fully appreciate.
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I was fortunate to see Jack with Hot Tuna in '72, shortly following the Jefferson Airplane's heyday. Monster is a great word for what I saw him do. Using all five fingers on his right hand, he and his Alembic were their own band within the band. I never connected with him again, but never forgot the impression he left. That is, until a year ago Thanksgiving when I saw him with Jorma doing their acoustic Hot Tuna gig in NYC. Jack played his Epiphone with much greater restraint, given the less electric genre. But he did it again!! Now with more maturity, but still INCREDIBLE power and subtlety!
Casady is definitely one of the unheralded great ones. I agree with Dela, his recordings (while not bad) are nowhere near a complete representation of his performance. My favorites are Water Song from Hot Tuna (Burgers) and almost any of the live tracks with the Airplane on Bless its Pointed Little Head (great Alembic sounds).
As for the Alembic Hall of Fame, I'd still elect Phil Lesh as first in, but I agree with all of the names 811952 mentioned. I suppose I am a little conflicted about Lesh because he hasn't done anything with an Alembic for a while (I really do not like his Modulus sound!). But the relationship between his Alembic sounds and his music was (to me) a perfect compliment.
Sorry for the rant.
Bill
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There's a tune on Wake of the Flood with a bass solo (forgive me for not remembering the title) with a very unique timbre. Smooth but with a hint of very bright pick sound. Probably the Alembic is the only instrument that could even come close to creating it, since it sounds like flatwounds with an 8 to 10 kHz bump but no noise. Very hi-fi, if you will. And Phil's phrasing/structure of the solo is, well, very musical...
John
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John: The bass solo on you remember (I think) is at the end of a song called Eyes of the World. The song was a regular and a favorite for the Dead for many years. I always enjoyed hearing it because Phil played with the theme from that original solo in many different ways. I agree with you on the timbre - sounds very stringy to me (if that makes any sense). I believe that bass was short or medium scale, so the lesser string tension was apparent in the sound. Another example of the fantastic sound of that bass is the song Stella Blue on the same album.
Bill
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Phil also does a very subtle and lovely glissando (guessing at terminology) slide at one point in Bob Weir's Weather Report Suite on Wake of the Flood. Phil's sound on the first David Crosby solo album If I Only Remembered My Name is excellent. Jack Casady played on one or two tracks also.
Both Phil and Jack were early influences on me. I bought myself a Guild Starfire in 1973. I still love the originality of Jack's lines on Somebody To Love, among many other tracks.
Mike
(Message edited by dadabass2001 on March 10, 2004)
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Is Jack doing anything (I can get my hands on) now? The most recent video I've seen of him he was playing one of those tiny Steinberger-ish Modulus Graphite headless (yet very neck-dive prone) basses in a video that had a cool time-lapse shot of the pyramids in Indianapolis before there were any buildings around them. I'm guessing it was '82 or '83.
John
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Hi John: Jack released a solo album (sort of a with a little help from your very talented friends) recently. You can listen to samples on his website http://www.jackcasady.com/ (http://www.jackcasady.com/). There is other stuff of interest there as well. Jack does some master classes in bass at Jorma's FurPeaceRanch (sp?) in Ohio. They consist of a 3 day weekend with a relatively small group working on specific pieces, jamming in the evenings (a wide variety of electric and accoustic instrumentation seems to be taught there). Sounds like fun - expensive (about $8-900 for the weekend if I remember), but probably a time to remember. Some of the other teachers at the ranch are well known (Jorma, Cindy Cashdollar, GE Smith, David Grisman, to name a few).
Bill
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Jack was also involved with the Gov't Mule project: The Deep End, a tribute to their bassist Allen Woody who died in 2000. Jack plays (along with 24 other great bass players) on one studio track each. Some of the others on the project were Phil Lesh, John Entwistle, Chris Squire, Jack Bruce, Flea, Bootsy Collins, Oteil Burbridge, Larry Graham, Roger Glover, Jason Newsted, Tony Levin, Alphonso Johnson, etc. etc.
The studio sessions were documented by Mike Gordon in the DVD Rising Low, and resulted in 2 CDs: The Deep End volumes 1 and 2. Then they put together a live show in New Orleans in 2002, and got 13 of the original 25 to come in for one or two songs during that one night (I wish I'd been there)! There is a combo DVD /CD release from that night as well, called The Deepest End.
By the way, Gov't Mule was Allen Woody, Warren Haynes, and Matt Abts.
Mike
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I have all three of those Gov't Mule releases. I just watched The Deepest End DVD this past weekend - it's three hours of concert footage plus a short documentary - and it's great stuff.
No Alembics to be seen at all, though. Not sure which of the basses were even neck-thrus but Les Claypool, amazingly, does some slapping and popping on a Rickenbacker!
Dave Schools is the kind of player where you would think you'd see him with an Alembic strapped on at some point...
EffClef
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I wondre why alot of big name players are never seen with an alembic,or once used them (its not that they cant afford one) but ,i guess alembics tend to make you stand out too much in the band, (the sound, and looks can be commanding) and these guys tend to want to step down to their sadowskys or ,whatever they prefer other than the best.
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Keavin, my guess would be endorsments have a lot to do with it. Alembic doesn't do endorsments. Frankly, they don't have to pay people to play their instruments. Just take a look at how much of Bass Central's Alembic inventory is always marked Sold.
As Susan said in another thread, in the privacy of the studio many Alembics are pulled from cases, endorsments be damned. That's a paraphrase not a quote.
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Great list of names for the Hall of Fame! Could listen to everyone mentioned for hours on end. I might have to vote for Stanley Clarke as first inductee both for his brilliance and his close association with Alembic. The're like peanut butter and jelly (if you'll pardon the odd food simile)just kinda always go together, at least in my mind. That being said my two personal favorite bassists from the aforementioned are Jack Casady and Phil Lesh. Unfortunately I was not old enough to have heard J. Casady with the Airplane, but I have seen him several times with Hot Tuna and I definitely concur with the term the assesment of monster. Great musician and what gifted hands! I have been fortunate enough to have seen Phil Lesh many times with the Grateful Dead from the late 70's to his current projects today. Love seeing him not just for technical prowess, but mostly for his amazing musicality. I sort of remember a great quote and compliment from Jerry Garcia about Phil's playing. It was something like, he plays like he was the first person ever to play bass. He really does take a very different approach, coming at the bass portion of the group musical equation from a unique angle.
Well for what its worth, there's a guitar players perspective on Alembic Bass Hall of Fame
Though if I keep hanging around here I might start having deeper thoughts and notes ;-)
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Come to think of it, people sometimes say I play guitar like the first person ever too. Though in my case this is not meant as a compliment.
LOL
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Hey Bros:
Yeah, Jack Casady, Entwhistle (of course!) and I'm a HUGE fan of Chris Squire. When I saw Yes on the Close to The Edge Tour (WOW! I really AM old aren't I?!) Chris blew me away. I'd say he was probably *thee* most influential bassist for me in my early years. . I took up bass pedals because of what I saw him do at that concert. .
Also, I love all the old Motown Rhythmn Section records. .James Jamerson, Man. THAT guy was a MONSTER. And of course Stanley. Seeing him with the original RTF showed me you CAN mix groove with chops and great Progressive writing. .
Jeff
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I played a Fender back in the late 60s and early 70s. I'd decided to start looking for an upgrade and loaned my J to a friend who wanted to play it for a few days to see if he wanted to buy it. That's the last I saw of the J or the money. I soon met my future wife and got busy doing the family thing and music (playing it at least) got pushed to the back burner.
Last year I looked around and realized that the kids were all grown and on their own. It was then the thought hit me Why aren't you playing? For my 52nd birhtday I bought myself a used Peavey RSB and started taking lessons.
Two weeks ago I walked into my lesson and my teacher was playing this gorgeous bass. Before I could even get my Peavey out of the case, Mike hands the one he was playing to me commenting You HAVE to play this thing. I played it for a couple of minutes and handed it back to him. Knowing Mike's propensity for buying and selling equipment, I also told him that , if he ever wanted to find that one a new home, I'd be more than happy to take it off his hands.
To make a long story short (or is it too late for that?), Mike called me last Friday. It seems he found a great deal on an electric upright which was something he's been leaning toward but needed $800 to close the deal. I hope he's as happy with the upright as I am with the '85 Persuader he shoved into my hands at that lesson
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I love hearing stories like that....Randy, welcome to this fantastic fellowship....Stick around, guaranteed to blow your mind! I'm understating when I say that there's a great group of very knowledgeable folks around here.
Enjoy!
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Hi Brother Randy,
quite a story!!!
I lived the same thing only I was lucky (?????) enough to start playing again at 36 after quitting bass for 10 years.
Great to have you here!!!
Oh ...BTW ...you see ...there are those weird dudes in the corner on that table ...can you see???
Well ...I'm going to join them and will start yelling with them PICTURES - PICTURES - PICTURES!!!
Yep ...of your bass of course ...not of your garden.
We will banging loudly with empty beerbottles on the table until your post into the appropriate department.
Paul the bad one
PS: don't fix on the short dude with the beard ...he's greek an has weird notions of rhythm ...he's always off LOL!
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Hey Randy, welcome to our asylum. I'm another mid life rebound bass player. I stopped about '84. A couple of years ago I was messing around with a classical guitar and thought I sure missed my bass. Three basses later I'm an Alembican (?)
One day someone besides the dogs will hear me.
Yes pictures, your bass, your amp, your garden, your family, heck even yourself
Sam
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I stopped playing music in 1979. I had a few Jazz basses lying around but had not even looked at them in 20 years. I never thought that I'd ever do it again, but a few days after my 49th birthday, I got hit with the "bug", tried out an Excel in the music store and purchased it. I knew within a couple of days that this would not be the end. There's nothing like a good addiction. Less than 60 days later I purchased an '85 Spoiler from someone who was unknown to me, but part of this discussion board. So with two great basses, I needed an amp. My 1st choice (Carvin, great value) couldn't cut the mustard (guess that it wasn't such a great value), but my 2nd coice, Eden, cranks out 400 watts into 2 ohms, which is just enough to practice with, by myself. Enjoy the pictures. And from my experiences on a few other threads, thanks for making me feel welcome. Ellery
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/9026.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/9027.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/9028.jpg)
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Ooooohhhhh.....Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh,
Very nice!
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Ellery: Very cool basses!! My timing was almost identical to yours - I bought my Spoiler a few days before my 49th Bday. I, too had quit playing years before, but had gotten interested when my son started a band. Just a few opportunities to jam again and I was hooked...
Actually, when I was young, if I had consistently played with musicians with the talent and skill my son and his bandmates already have as high school juniors (No joke! They have both amazing talent and discipline.), I never would have stopped playing in the first place.
As it stands, I play a lot by myself and fairly often with friends (my own age!). I'm looking for something steady with more performance opportunities, but being pretty selective about this.
My dad, a banker, played piano all his life, belonged to the union, gigged regularly. But when he retired, he was always hooked up with at least 2-3 widely divergent performing groups. He played virtually every day. I think he was never happier. I plan to start earlier than he did. He's gone now, but I wish I could share with him my custom-built Alembic now underway and my renewed musicianship. I'm sure he'd get a kick out of it.
Of course, being a product of the depression, my Dad would dish me a lot of abuse for the amount I spend on all this. But, well...you know...
Bill
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Just keep on thinkin' that a medium-heavy smoker smokes 1 Excel every two years. I think the Alembic is a much healthier addiction.
Paul TBO
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Paul: As a medium-heavy smoker, I have already found and embraced that rationale. Therefore, if I quit cigarettes, I'd be up for a new Rogue every 2.8 years or a new Signature Del. every 3.5 years. Senior management has preapproved the plan. As soon as my new bass comes, I just need to find a way to stay quit from cigs!
Bill
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(Message edited by bassman10096 on March 27, 2004)
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i always smoke a newport while, staring at all these lembics on this site!
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Lowlife & Bare_Hands,
Welcome to our decadent little party. You've stumbled onto a very spirited and helpful group of guys and gals who have really bonded with their super quality basses and guitars. Your challenge is to have as much fun as we have been!
Peace,
James
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hey the term lowlife to me says that your life is centered around the 'low end' of the soundscope, meaning your a lifelong bassplayer, right?
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Good catch Keavin.
I guess that I am a life-long musician. This may ruffle a few feathers, but I truly believe that you can practice for years and still get nowhere unless you are born with IT. All of you have your own definitions of what IT is, but none the less you gotta have IT. IT can be honed, rocked, funked and blues-ed out, but ya still gotta have IT.
I started piano when I was 6 and I picked up my 1st bass when I was 12 (it was a WEM).
Lowlife refers to the low-end of the musical spectrum, and to some of the wild stuff that I did as a touring musician.
Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll; too bad that it's wasted on the young! All three sound mighty good at 49.
Ellery
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one thing about most of (us) musicians is that we all have a lowlife in our past,some of us are still wearing the name, but it dont take much to know on a 'musical term' that it would be refering to the bassplayer, well in that case were all lowlife,ive been thumping bass for 30 yrs also,starting at age 12, and been thumping on alembic#12 for 25yrs.
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Moder,
I suggest that we become friends in the two years after you buy your next bass
;-)
Paul (the bad one becoming greedy)
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I bought my first EVH Signature deluxe 5 string in 1990, when I was 25.
Two years later, I found the same bass but in cocobolo and with one string less :
I couldn't resist it.
I still love the differences of the wood :
exactly the same basses but one with flamed walnut laminates, and the other with cocobolo laminates, such a different sound colors !
I am still hunting for a Series II, my day will come, even if I am already retired :-)
Cheers
Jan
(Message edited by janriviere on March 28, 2003)
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I was 22 when I got my first Alembic. It was 1976
and I bought it out of the Brady St.Alembic store which happened to be the Grateful Dead's studio from Ron Armstrong.I got one of the few that were made a long scale small body serial # A076 ( who has this bass now?)I bet you I was the first bass player to play an Alembic in a punk rock band
called the VKTMS in S.F.
If you have it I want to know! I had to sell it for financial reasons 5 years ago. I just ordered a new one because I told myself I'd buy one again
when I had the chance. If you have my baby I want it back!
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I owned my Alembic for 20 years and I played gigs with it with bands from the Ramones in Petaluma
to Black Flag in LA, the Psycadelic Furs,Stranglers,
Flipper, Angry Samoans, X, Billy Idol, Dead Kennedys etc. I played thru an Ampzilla an F2B and 1 18 alembic cab and a 15 Alembic Cab. I always got great reviews for my bass sound. I believe that almost any bass player that sold their Alembic and still played thereafter almost always regretted selling
their instrument. I sure did! I always ended up buying other basses half heartedly and would just play just about anything, without any soul. but when you played an Alembic, it was just heaven! you know... that excitement!... I think you know what I mean...But anyway I bought another one and I can't wait to get it when it's done.
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Thanx for the welcome, Paul. It's good to be aboard, and even better to have the reason (my first Alembic). I recieved it on friday, then left on vacation saturday (it went with me).I wasn't about to drool over what I was missing. I saw a reference to the Evil Empire Outlets, Valentino. Would this be the Roman Empire ???
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No Bill, it's the more recent one, Guitar Center Old joke at my old store made up by former GC employees.
Valentino
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Hey Moder,
i could be wrong but (I have to stop doing this)weren't you in for a new bass? Please don't take this the wrong way, I thought I read it somewhere in the club that you had a bass-work-in-progress?
Paul TBO
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Funny you should mention that, Paul
I do have a bass-in-progress; I am currently waiting for Mica to call me to tell me it's done. We spoke on Friday, and it's kinda of 'any day now'; I'll be out the door on the way to Santa Rosa about 30 seconds after she calls me. I'll post pictures as soon as I can & I'll try not to get a ticket on my way there.
Valentino
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I really don't remember exactly how old I was but it was somwhere in the area of my late teens. I do remember the circumstances though.
I was working for a music store at the time and was at the NAMM show in Anaheim CA. I was the only bass guy in the store so the owner wanted me to go around checking out high end basses. There was one particular company (who will remain nameless) who refused to talk with me or even aknowledge my presence, basically treated me like a jerk, and I owned a couple of their basses!!!
Well that night, my boss told me to swing by Alembic, I thought can we afford to do Alembic. He told me that they were making some more affordable models now like the Spoilers and the Persuaders that might go well in the store.
I couldn't believe how nice Mica and Susan were to me. When I asked about having a bass built for me, I'll never forget Mica's words we'll build you anything you want. Of all the builders out there, Alembic could have had the attitude of the afformentioned company because they do build the finest and most beautiful instruments, but they didn't!!! They treated me (a teenager at the time) with the same respect as someone who would order a 10k bass. I miss seeing them at the NAMM shows, I wonder if it's because I wouldn't leave Mica alone that they stopped displaying (just kidding Mica, I do realize just how expensive it is to display at these shows)
When I got back home, I ordered my first Spoiler with a flame maple top. It came and I played it on many gigs, up until I sold it for the money to buy my 5 string Elan which has been my main bass now for 11 years!!!
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I can remember clearly. It was 1984 and I was 24. I bought a used 1983 Alembic Spoiler for $500. (Included an Anvil flight case.) Now, almost 20 years and over 25 basses later, this Spoiler is still my main and favorite bass. Just last year, I picked up a 1976 Alembic Series I, so now my Spoiler has a Big Brother. :-)
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I have to look into my crystal ball to answer this one... seems like the number is 48. I was trying pretty hard to make 47, but time's just about up.
Valentino, congratulations! I know exactly how you feel. When I eventually get to the any day now stage, the car will be gassed up and I'll probably be hanging up on anyone who tries to keep my phone tied up for more than about ten minutes. I wonder though, is the anticipation more or less of a problem after you've already had one or two of these gems?
Sadly, my custom seems to be drifting in the any month now stage - any week is apparently still a little too optimistic. But we'll get there, and I'm pretty sure I've got the age right.
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Bob,
even though this is my third custom order, the wait does not seem to get any easier. I'd say I'm more impatient for this one, possibly because it's my first Series bass, and also because I think it's gonna be my favorite. Plus I've actually seen it and held it already before it went into spray. Somehow that makes my hands itch even more. The other two I did not see until they were finished.
Valentino
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Aha ... I knew there was one more of the friends who was also pregnant in his last days/weeks/months: brother Bob N.(geez ... there are more of those Bobs around ... hmmmm .... Brother Bob -the tweaking one ?????)
Moder and Bob ....how does it feels being surrounded by about 550 midwifes watching your baby being born.
AAAAUGH!
Paul - the bad one
PS: don't forget the pictures!
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Paul (TBO),
Let's not get started on the Bobs, okay? Trust me, this is much more of a problem for us than for people named Paul, at least in this part of the world. I was once at a workplace where there were four Bobs, all on one hallway... even we got confused sometimes.
Your pregnant analogy is pretty good, I think. I don't have any kids, but it seems to me the people in this group are even more demanding of baby pictures than most grandparents would be. And in a similar vein, every one of them is absolutely and unconditionally beautiful...
Seems a little excessive/obsessive, but what can you do.
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Agree on the pregnant analogy...I've felt like that...
Funny as this may sound, I even went through a strange sort of post-partum depression both times I got my custom instruments. Call me silly, but I missed that kind of happily expecting feeling. LOL . Of course I got over it pretty quick. And started planning the next one. All you have to do is play the instrument, look at it frequently, and repeat it's mine, mine, mine!. That usually takes care of it.
Paul, as far as being watched by everyone, the feeling is similar I believe, to that of a woman who's been trying to give birth for half a day and is so exausted and out of it that she couldn't care less who's watching as long as the baby comes out as soon as possible and ends the agony...
Valentino
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Geeeeez ...you two are definitely in labour guys!
Doctoooooor!
BTW: I said it maybe in another thread, BOB is the name we give in Belgium (AND the Netherlands) to the one from the gang who will not drink alcohol when going out at night with a car.
So the evening starts here saying:
okay .... who's Bob????
NO JOKE!!!
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Just ordered # 9 at age 40! This is my own 20th anniversary with Alembic. This will be a custom Excel 5 with 2 fatboys and spoiler guts, nearly transparent black, solid mahogony, ebony board and custom Doomtree T cross inlay, side led's in red. God bless Mica, She's a good sales rep. Hope Cowboy BeBop was all you thought it would be! Ron is the DaVinci of the Bass World. Also thanks to Susan for your artistic vision and muse to Ron.
The consumation was great and may the gestation be easy.
(Message edited by dannobasso on April 06, 2003)
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Got me my first custom Alembic when I was 42. Since then I have purchased six other older Alembics. My second custom order is in progress as you read this! I will soon be 49.
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1974 September we met and have been together since. A walnut and maple body and long scale neck Series I (s/n 74-75) and we are still playing together. An Alembic F2B preamp drives a Chevin A500 power amp connected to two single-15 Bauske custom cabinets with a JBL D-130 and D-140 drivers. This has been my basic rig for over 25 years and it still brings compliments from other players using more contemporary setups. Ultimately, the sound starts from the source: my Alembic. For me there is but one bass... the Alembic Series 1.
Aloha!
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Timothy,
a full-heartly welcome in this club.
Enjoy the people (the brothers and sisters) and please don't be shy: we Alembicians are not curious AT ALL but we like to know everything about your bass so PICTURES-PICTURES is the thing to do.
So hop to the appropriate department and post us some things to drool our keyboard over huh???
Paul the bad one
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Thanks for your warm welcome. I've only recently discovered the club and I'm so grateful Alembic has managed to still be there through all these years. Speaking of years, I forgot to tell you I was 25 back in '74 when I got my bass. I'll be posting the photos soon!
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back in 1976 went I got my Series 1, I traded a 1961 Fender Percision and my 1966 Hofner Super Beatle plus $1000,and at todays prices, I wish I had them both back so I could sell them again and buy another new Alembic.
David T (tornado Dave)
PS; I did swap a new Fender Jazz + some cash for my Epic, Fender's make such great trade's
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19 - First alembic I ever saw (in person), first one I ever played, first one (and hopefully not the last!) I bought.
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tylere, welcome to the club, how's about some pictures
(Message edited by alembic76407 on July 04, 2003)
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Currently cameraless I'm afraid...
Just imagine a Walnut-topped, 6 string lined Fretless Epic with 5pc maple neck.
Only downside is that at some point the previous owner (before the music store I got it from) replaced the original Alembic pickups with a pair of EMG's. Not that I don't like EMGs, but...
Doesn't seem like I could buy just the pickups to replace them either.
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tylere, there's hope!!!! you can get a one time camera's and have the photo's put on a CD for downloading. and Alembic will sell you just the pickups or any other part you may need to restore your bass, pickups are not all that high, just drop Mica a line here or call her at Alembic
David T
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Did the previous owner replace the electronics too or are they still intact?
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hoesly I'm note sure.
Just opened up the control cavity, and I don't see anything that would confirm or deny that they are the originals. Control setup is still volume / pan / bass / treble.
Lemme desribe what I see.
From the picups there are 4 wires. Two red, and two white, slightly thicker.The two reds kinda merge, and then go to the battery. There are two small red 'boxes' (capacitots?) that say 'S2A 104k' on them. The two white wires go to the volume and pan.
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I don't have a bass with Epic electronics, but I just pulled the cover off an Essence and the pots all have Alembic stamped on them. So I'm guessing the electronics have been changed. Like David T said, depending on the condition of your pocketbook you may want to email Mica about the price of replacement Epic 6 pickups and electronics. One other thing to consider is whether the previous owner had to make any modifications to the body to get the EMGs in. By the way, what part of North Carolina?
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*curses silently*
Drat.
As far as money goes... well let's just say I'm a college student and leave it at that.
Eastern part (Greenville)
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I have a loose wire in my head on chronological matters. I would guess I bought my first Alembic around 1979 or 1980, over the phone from Susan (Age would have been 25 or 26). A friend of mine owned a music store and let me order one at dead cost as payment for working the place for free (who wants money to work around cool stuff?). So I ordered a Macassar ebony Series I, with walnut core, bird's eye maple and purple heart neck with graphite rods inlaid to make it more ridgid, side LEDs, gold logo (I think?) and an Anvil flight case that Susan did not want to order. I guess they were having problems with Anvil at the time. The bass was so beautiful that I used to stare at it more than I played it.
I moved around a lot back then (This is why I have no real idea of when I bought it), and when I took off where my bass could not go, I sold it cheap to a kid who I knew would cherish it, as I did. I finally replaced this bass last week with a Series II I found that is it's equal. Happiness comes back around, if you look hard enough I guess.
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45
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Now ...that's a straight answer to a straight question!
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19. a few months before my 20th birthday.
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25 - Mark King Deluxe
26 - Series II
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Thirtysomething...
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36 and expecting my first shortly
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I was 18 when I got my Epic. I am and will still be 24 next week when my new Elan Plus arrives!
Matt
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now I know there's a story behind all these short come backs, lets have them!!!!
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Hey all, I know it's been a long time since I've posted anything here but I have some much needed vacation time and I'm taking advantage of it.
I was 33 when I got my first bass an Alembic Stanley Clarke, what an exquisite bass. I couldn't ask for a better bass, it gives me all the tone and range I've ever needed and has never let me down.
Now I just have to work on getting Little Stan a new custom baby brother so he'll have someone to play with!
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At age 20, I bought a slightly modified '85 Spoiler from Bass Northwest. Ooooh boy what a bass, especially after years of thinking Fenders were all she wrote. That started The Disease...you know what I mean. Like an idiot, sold both Alembics I managed to obtain (the other was a maple '84 Spoiler Exploiter made for Mark Andes, then playing with Heart), but am holding out for a SSBS1 or similar.
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At the time I was the ripe old age of 19. I had a year of college under my belt and I had just come to know who Stanley and Jaco were.
My music instructor was telling all his students that there was a guy who owned a music store in a nearby town that was selling his Alembic for next to nothing. He was considering getting it himself but he was hooked on his ken smith 6 and he didn't want to buy a 4.
I called the guy up and went by that same day. He had it at his store. The guy pulls out a Series I that is in perfect condition and tells me that he got it a couple of years ago and that it's sat in his closet because he couldn't imagine taking it on the road with him. He had an old bar used Series I that he used for gigs.
After I picked my jaw up off the floor I pulled every favor I had and managed to get up the cash for it.
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I just got my first - its a '91 SC Deluxe and I am uh, well, er, uh, 48
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I was about 27 or 28 when I decided that I wanted to learn how to play bass. My roommate was a bassist and the bass guy at a local music store so we headed down there to shop. The first thing he put in my hands was an Alembic which I'd never heard of. Looking back I think it must have been a series 1. At that moment I had a near spiritual experience. I coveted that bass, unfortunately my bank account didn't agree. I ended up with a Guild B302 and a 15 Peavy combo. I've thought about that bass all this time and would tell myself one day.
This year that day came. I'm 49 and the proud papa of a near mint Alembic Epic. I feel as if a major life milestone has been reached.
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i bought my first alembic 1 moth ago i am 19 now and iv been playing since i was 17 its an epic and i love her to bits
andrew
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Back in 1998, I was 42 when I bought a new 5-string Orion from Bass Northwest. Two weeks later they had used 5-string Epic for sale, so I snapped it up. The Jones bit deeper and two months later, I ordered a custom build 5-string Orion with a standard point body and Essence electronics. My addiction went into temporary remission, only to resurface a year-and-a-half ago. Since that time I've acquired an '80 Series 1, an '85 Distillate and a '95 5-string Elan. I have to confess, I've been searching the web for Alembics this morning. I can't make it stop! Is there a 12-Step program for this? Hi, my name's Reid and I'm an Alembic addict! Like most here, I'm a big Stanley fan, he was the first I heard play an Alembic. Another favorite Alembic player from the 70's was Andy West of The Dixie Dregs.
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I bought my SC when I was (I think)38. I was so proud; I remember getting home with it and just sitting there staring at it into the early hours. I couldn't believe I'd finally got one after 20 or so years. Upon reaching 40 last November I decided I owed it to myself to get the Triple Omega I'd always wanted (currently on order); unfortunately the SC had to go to help finance it.
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Hey Guys:
I was 22 when I bought my first (and to date only Alembic) a Small Standard - or Brown Bass Serial Number 74 - 52. I purchased it April 4th 1974. I had wanted one since I saw Stanley Clarke play one with RTF the previous year. And when I walked into Gary Gonters Bandstand Music in south Tacoma there she was! I was blown away needless to say and just HAD to own it. The reciept I still have says I paid - get this - $1250.00 base price plus taxes and finance charges of $138.15 bringing my Grand Total for this incredible heirloom to a whoppping $1388.15!!! Wow. How
times have changed, eh?
Jeff
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/7612.jpg)
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Hi everybody, I'm new to this board.
I bought my Epic 5 string in 97, I was 22.
I get alot of compliments on the craftmanship
and sound quality of the epic, but saddly most of them have never heard of Alembic.
I'll try to post some pics when I get a chance.
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Hi Henri,
glad to have you here!
Don't bother about the people never heard about Alembic: just concentrate on how people react hearing you play with the band on your instrument.
Thsoe pictures: let them come. We just have the appropriate department to post them and you will see: a whole lot of wacko Alembic-lovers will gather around you and give comments. You'll love it (just beware for Elfs ...they are sweet persons but they can enthousiasticly burst out in a completely ununderstandable wabble).
Anyway ...I'll see you there with the other Paul's!!!!
Paul the bad one
PS: sorry to ask but , what's Shirt Illustrated???
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Hi Paul
Shirts Illustrated is the company I just purchased, we do screenprinting and embroidery and it's located in Salem, MA.
I would love to get Alembic as an account, that would be great.
Thanks Paul.
Henri
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Hey Henri!
Welcome to our little family/support group ;) Are you any relation to Tony Lopes of Salem???
Paul The Good One
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Welcome Henri! Let's see some pictures.
Bill
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Mmmmmmmm ...the Alembic logo embroided on a burgundy polo ...I'd like that. We have to mention this in the things we would like to see from Alembic section. In some cases I like embroidery more on clothes than printing. It IS more expensive, I could understand that but it has something ...valuable over it. Something more linkable with Alembic itself.
Paul the bad one
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Hello Henri, it's always good to meet a fellow Epic guy.
Sam
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I was (and still am actually) 27 when the first Alembic (Orion 4) came into my life...
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I agree with Paul - embroidered logos are definitely nice. Of course printed logos are fine for t-shirts and sweatshirts - just different and sometimes worn different places. I'd definitely buy a logo-embroidered sweatshirt.
AND, I was the advanced age of 48 when I got my first Alembic.
Bill
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I agree with Paul - embroidered logos are definitely nice. Of course printed logos are fine for t-shirts and sweatshirts - just different and sometimes worn different places. I'd definitely buy a logo-embroidered sweatshirt.
AND, I was the advanced age of 48 when I got my first Alembic.
Bill
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Fifty, ah but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now.....
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Let's hear it for the ancient ones among the group!!!! We are living proof that things can still work great, even with a little wear. Vintage instruments, that's what we've become!
Bill