Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Fun Stories => Topic started by: senmen on September 10, 2003, 02:03:48 PM

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: senmen on September 10, 2003, 02:03:48 PM

Hi Guys, just wanted to let you know that I am now also a proud father of a Spyder 8. I don?t have it here yet but it is finished and was delivered to my dealer. Many many thanks again to Mica and the great staff of Alembic to make this possible and of course many thanks to the great guys of Basscentral. And yes, it has the same string setup as John  had in those days with the octave strings before  the bass strings.  Many greetings Oliver Baumann  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/5965.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/5966.jpg)

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: palembic on September 10, 2003, 02:22:24 PM

...  
 
Paul the bad-ly speechless one again
 
 
PS: Oliver, I always thought that they were sisters??  
 
(Message edited by palembic on September 10, 2003)

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: mikedm on September 10, 2003, 02:29:50 PM

Uuuuhhhhh...geez, Dad, wow, congratulations, Oliver.
 
So, when can we expect the 'Spyder 12'?
 
Mike
 

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: senmen on September 11, 2003, 03:43:58 AM

Hi Mike, hi Paul,
 
thank you for the congrats.
No I don?t think a Spyder 12, but what
about an exact Spyder 4 like John had with  
the pointed headstock, the complete electronics
and the exact fingerboard inlays
(each note inlaid in gothic script in silver?)
And then there is also the Alembic Flying V bass
John had.......
Or I should ask the Hard Rock Cafe if I could buy
the original Spyder they have?  :-)
No, just kidding....
But what I really would like to know is who bought the original ones from Sothebys?
 
Many greetings
Oliver  
 
And by the way:
thank you John for giving me this great
inspiration!!!
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/5985.jpg)

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: stoney on September 11, 2003, 04:16:08 AM

Congratulations Oliver. Just Beautiful.
 
Stoney

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: senmen on September 11, 2003, 04:47:26 AM

Hi Stoney, thank you very much. As for the Alembic Flying V bass I found this rare shot where John is playing 'em. Not very good quality, but worth to see....  Many greetings Oliver
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/5989.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/5990.jpg)

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: senmen on September 11, 2003, 04:49:54 AM

Hi Guys,
when I take a close look at the two photos it seems that these are two different basses.
Take a close look at the space between the last fret and the pickup....
 
Many greetings
Oliver Baumann

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: jet_powers on September 11, 2003, 08:07:14 AM

Oliver,
 
Congratulations to the proud Papa!
 
Once again you have made me envious. The instrument is beautiful. Even if were never played you could hang it on a wall and call it high art.
 
How do you plan to use it?
 
Cool JAE pics too!
 
John Paul the envious one

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: adriaan on September 11, 2003, 08:10:18 AM

In the picture on the right, it looks like there's some sort of a pickup mounting ring, probably wooden, which isn't showing in the picture with JE holding the bass. There the 'neck' pickup sits further away from the neck, in what must be the original pocket.
 
It's certainly not the most attractive Alembic ever made.

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: mattheus on September 12, 2003, 05:17:37 AM

When Oliver keeps up this speed, then Mica & co will have to make a 20 string in no-time...
 
Looking great, hoping to hear them for real once..
 
Mattheus

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: senmen on September 12, 2003, 05:29:29 AM

Hi Mattheus, hi guys,
 
no I think 8 strings is enough!
As said I have still something in mind like the V bass and an exact Spyder with all the details.
Who knows....
Mattheus, I hope that we will meet some day to make a big european Alembic day.......
In the meantime, plse take a look at this photo:
How many Alembics can you see?  :-)
 
take care
Oliver (http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/5993.jpg)

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: palembic on September 12, 2003, 10:02:26 AM

Big Alembic day???
I'm working on that!
Anyway, Oliver we'll meet soon (not next saturday) but Mattheus, Adriaan, Oliver, Jan, Steven, Roger, Werner ...I'll try to coordinate so you can expect a mail soon. Ill try to get Roger (Dragonwing) and Oliver (4+8) as rare items + de regular thinsg here!
 
Paul the bad one

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: rogertvr on September 12, 2003, 11:02:20 AM

Oliver,
 
Congratulations my friend!  Your new Spyder 8 is stunning!  Any other words escape me.  I think all I can say is that I think Mica will be getting an order from me for a Spyder 4 at some point in the future (don't know when though)!
 
Cheers!
 
Rog

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: alembic76407 on September 13, 2003, 05:24:58 AM

an Alembic bass with a wammy bar, that should drive the guitar players nutz

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: thebass on September 13, 2003, 09:11:15 AM

Hi Paul (TBO),  
 
regarding the EU Alembic day I recall Edwin's Shop in Hilversum was the place of your choice. Is that still the plan ? I have never been in his shop but Hilversum is just a little more than 2 hrs drive from my place and would be fine (at least for me) and rare opportunity to get in touch with so many Alembics (drool).  
 
Oh, btw: on Stanley Clarkes Live Album I wanna play for you he showed a collection of his basses at this time (yes, I still have them on Vinyl, brothers). They were all arranged at the entrance stairs of a nice house (his ?) I recall theat one of the short scale Alembics also had a wammy bar. I guess Mica knows the Model and more details.
 
(Message edited by thebass on September 13, 2003)

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: bishopqdog on September 13, 2003, 10:58:40 AM

Are Whammy bars an Alembic option?

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: zappahead on September 13, 2003, 04:44:01 PM

Ive seen Whammy bars on used Alembics and the California Special comes with a Floyd Rose I believe. Ive seen Kahler, Floyd Rose and Bigsby's on Alembics.

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: blazer on December 12, 2003, 07:54:49 AM

That's a whole lotta bass, you got there, congratulations.
 
But erm... isn't it awefully neck heavy? I used to own an Epiphone explorer bass and it was a pain to play because its neck kept diving towards the floor.

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: mica on December 12, 2003, 12:13:29 PM

Actually, the Exploiter shape is by far one of the best balancers - it doesn't look like it should, all pointy in the wrong parts. I think it's because the upper body point behind the tailpiece is larger on ours.

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: blazer on December 12, 2003, 04:26:12 PM

I guess that my Epiphone Explorer was an exception to the rule then.  
 
I know from experience that an Explorer guitar, I own a very funky Vox explorer copy fitted with Jazzmaster pickups, is indeed a very comfortable and good balanced instrument but as a bass with the longer neck (and as was the thing with my Epiphone) the heavier tuners it makes it very unbalanced.
 
On the other hand, the exploiter was first made as a custom Boris the spider bass for John Entwistle right? Prior to playing Alembics he played Gibson Thunderbirds and custom basses with Fender necks and Thunderbird and explorer shaped bodies. Even the current Warwick and Status Buzzard models still have that offset shape that Entwistle liked in the Gibsons he used to play and I guess with him strapping the bass up high, he pushes the bass down with his elbow keeping it well balanced.
 
At least, that's what I think.

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: mica on December 12, 2003, 05:08:19 PM

I actually only have experience with the Alembic version (I lead a sheltered life you see). I wasn't disagreeing with you about your own experience with the Epiphone (I've never played one (sheltered life again)).  
 
Since you specifically asked about an Alembic, I shared with you not only my own observation, but also the observations of a great many Exploiter owners I've personally spoken with. Most are very surprised at how well they balance. Most are not surprised about how heavy they are - they are BIG!

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: senmen on December 13, 2003, 05:53:02 AM

Blazer,
no I can tell you: the Alembic Spyders are fantastic balanced. You can keep your hands of off the bass and it stays in position. 100%!
As for Johns original basses: look at old concerts.
Mostly when John was announced to sing a song he put both hands of off the bass to have an arm wide open here I am position. Then you can see:
also the original Spyders were perfectly balanced!
 
Oliver Baumann (Spyderman)

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: senmen on December 13, 2003, 05:54:27 AM

Blazer,
no I can tell you: the Alembic Spyders are fantastic balanced. You can keep your hands off of the bass and it stays in position. 100%!
As for Johns original basses: look at old concerts.
Mostly when John was announced to sing a song he put both hands off of the bass to have an arm wide open here I am position. Then you can see:
also the original Spyders were perfectly balanced!
 
Oliver Baumann (Spyderman)

Title: I want to announce the birth of my Spyder 4?s brother, my Spyder 8
Post by: eugen on December 14, 2003, 12:11:55 AM

Big Alembic day?
Don?t forget me.
 
Eugen ( the Tattooman )