Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Showcase => Classico Upright Basses => Topic started by: to_81_0190 on December 25, 2009, 04:17:59 PM

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: to_81_0190 on December 25, 2009, 04:17:59 PM

I could make one of my dream come true!  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/74648.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/74649.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/74650.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/74651.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/74652.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/74653.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/74654.jpg)
  This is the first upright bass for me. So the way would be long,winding and steep but I'm sure it's worth to go.  Toshiaki

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: gregduboc on December 25, 2009, 04:58:32 PM

Congratulations!!
I was hoping for one of those for Christmas, but I guess Santa missed my tree.
That Classico looks outstanding...
Have fun with it! (Like if there was any other option!)
 
Greg

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: chalieholmes on December 25, 2009, 07:27:23 PM

Man, That is one georgeous bass! I'm really happy for you!
I love playing the upright. Once you get into to  thumb position, you'll really fly around on it.The action looks to die for!! Please take a side photo of your bass!
KUDOS!!!!!!

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: to_81_0190 on December 25, 2009, 07:56:00 PM

Hi Charles,
This is the only side pic which I took last night. If you want any other angle pics, let me Know.
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/74665.jpg)
Toshiaki

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: sonicus on December 25, 2009, 08:06:04 PM

Very nice.

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: chrisalembic on December 26, 2009, 02:00:16 AM

This bass has so much wood it must have taken a whole tree to build it ;-)  
Enjoy the Bass!!

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: pauldo on December 26, 2009, 09:45:04 AM

Toshiaki -
The upright is a different beast altogether, creating many different opportunities.
 
Your Classico is beautiful and should provide you great joy.
 
I got a 'traditional' upright 6 years ago and am still learning on it. Here is one tip I can offer (as obvious as it may seem) if you find yourself getting frustrated while practicing - STOP! Take a break and walk away from it. Eventually the instrument will start to feel natural to you and then the true Toshiaki can express himself through this instrument.
 
ENJOY!

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: to_81_0190 on December 27, 2009, 05:50:27 AM

Hi Paul,
 
Thank you very much for the good advice. As you say frastration would not make anything. I beleive that keep on enjoying is good way for steady progress if it would be a hard work.
 
Toshiaki

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: senmen on December 27, 2009, 07:53:26 AM

Hey Toshi,
congrats to that beauty.
How is the beast tuned, classic acoustic bass style?
 
Oliver (Spyderman)

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: to_81_0190 on December 27, 2009, 04:07:17 PM

Hi Oliver,
 
The bass is tuned EADG. Now I'm not enough skillful for upright bass to try other tuning.
 
Toshiaki

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: hydrargyrum on December 27, 2009, 07:57:28 PM

What an incredible instrument.  I am especially intrigued by the piece that extends over the electronics cover plate.  Is it original from the factory, or a customer modification?
 
Best wishes for your health and happiness while playing it.

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: to_81_0190 on December 27, 2009, 08:46:39 PM

Hi Kevin,
 
I was surprised at it's beauty of the body rest piece too. The wood grain or laminate construction of the piece seems to be Alembic quality so I think it must be factory origenal.
 
Toshiaki

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: senmen on December 28, 2009, 10:27:44 AM

Toshiaki,
many thanks for letting me know.
Well, then I could also play that beast....
It grows on me.....
Oliver (Spyderman)

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: to_81_0190 on December 29, 2009, 04:56:01 PM

Some interesting pics here (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=4857)

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on December 31, 2009, 01:33:51 PM

What does it sound like?
 
VMG

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: to_81_0190 on January 02, 2010, 04:55:16 AM

Hi Vann-Di
 
I feel the sound is just ELECTRIC UPRIGHT BASS. It's not so like as acoustic upright bass and it has certainly Alemic sound. To explain the sound in words is very difficult so I would like to upload a sound file someday.
 
Toshiaki

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: chalie_holmes on January 02, 2010, 07:40:21 AM

A good book to  get is By Michael Moore Soloing in the Thumb Position It is really informative on technique. In addition it will have you work on arpeggios from the top down, not the traditional root to whatever ie; 1-3-5-7.
Let's not forget Simandl Books coupled with Bille (sp). These few books will provide you with much needed information to get a solid foundation as well as expanding your range on playing your Classico. I'm confident that with daily practice, within 1yr (or less) you will be very, very , comfortable playing your Classico. I'll be waiting to hear the download of the bass so I can hear what it sounds like in comparison to my acoustic bass. Good Luck!!!
Chalie Holmes (please call me Chalie)

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: to_81_0190 on January 04, 2010, 10:53:02 PM

Chalie, Thank you for the info. I searched for Soloing in the Thumb Position on Google immediately but the result was Melodic Playing in the Thumb Position. Is this it?
Toshiaki

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: charles_holmes on December 29, 2012, 10:53:40 AM

Yes that's it!

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: charles_holmes on July 30, 2014, 06:46:16 PM

Toshiaki,
Are you comfortable playing the Classico yet?!
I purchased an NS Design EUB about 2 months ago so I do not have to carry my Double Bass which is a lot more bulky to carry around on a gig. The NS is very sensitive, so I'm trying to back off on how hard I pluck the strings. In addition, I have to be really accurate position-wise & where I place my fingers because the NS is very unforgiving intonation-wise Anyway, I was just checking in to find out your progress.
Cheers!
From Chalie

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: charles_holmes on December 25, 2015, 08:00:01 PM

Hey Toshiaki!
Are you comfortable playing your Classico yet?

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: to_81_0190 on December 26, 2015, 12:34:12 AM

Hi Chalie,
Oh! I'm verry sorry for forgetting to reply for your last year post!
Classico sounds great but my upright technique is not so improving as I expected.
The mountain is high and the road is steep so I'm walking very slow like turtle.w

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: charles_holmes on December 26, 2015, 11:37:32 AM

I understand, I got my 1st upright in 1979 then in 1983 when I started playing the double bass seriously I took lessons from Carl Torello (Ret. Phila Orchestra). He immediately instructed me to get the Simandl new method for the double bass In addition, Mr. Torello directed me to play pages 83-85(Scales 2 8va) daily & 104-105 (exercise in broken chords). Needless to say it was very labor intensive and drove me nutty!!! But I recommend just to pick out some jazz tunes that you like, Try So What  by Miles Davis and All Blues and just play!! Close your eyes and go for it!! Good Luck Toshiaki!!!! Happy New Year to you!!!

Title: 93CB7776
Post by: sonicus on December 26, 2015, 11:47:40 AM

Those Miles Davis tunes are wonderful ! They are most definitely on my list of top tunes for any reasons .  
 
 Wolf