Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Introductions => Topic started by: dtothec on March 07, 2015, 07:32:48 PM

Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: dtothec on March 07, 2015, 07:32:48 PM: I found it! about a month ago after many discussions with Mica and Susan I purchased one of their pieces of art. A walnut topped 1998 Rogue 5. It is one fantastic feeling, sounding, playing bass. I want to thank both Mica and Susan for taking the time to help me figure out what model would suit my needs. I also want to thank the members of this site, because over the past 6 or 8 months I have been reading threads on the site and have gained a wealth of knowledge about Alembic. I love it so much that I'm looking for another one either another Rogue 5 a Europa 5 with LED's. If anyone has one for sale please let me know. I tried to post a picture of my new addition but the file was too big, if someone can tell me how to do it I will post a picture. Thanks!
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: dtothec on March 08, 2015, 06:29:11 PM: I finally figured it! Here she is!

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/397/207304.jpg)
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: rustyg61 on March 08, 2015, 07:17:57 PM: Wow Darrell, that is gorgeous! Welcome to the club & the family of Alembic owners! You will find the nicest, most knowledgeable people on the planet here. Don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have about your Rogue, or anything else for that matter. Everyone here is always willing to offer advice & answer questions.
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on March 08, 2015, 07:53:17 PM: Love that Rogue
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: moongerm on March 08, 2015, 07:56:13 PM: That is a beautiful instrument! Enjoy and Congratulations! You don't see too many of those beauties for sale. Welcome to the club Darrell.
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: moongerm on March 08, 2015, 07:56:24 PM: That is a beautiful instrument! Enjoy and Congratulations! You don't see too many of those beauties for sale. Welcome to the club Darrell.
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: dtothec on March 08, 2015, 10:20:49 PM: Thank you! What made me want an Alembic is about a year ago I bought a bass that was built by Bob Malone who built basses for Alembic back in the 80's. It is built just like the Alembics beautiful cocobolo top and LED's. It originally had series electronics but someone took them out. I love that bass and figured it was time to step up and get an Alembic for the sound. Now that I have this one I'm spoiled by the LED's on my other bass that's why I would like to find another 5'er with LED's. I love the sound and still playing around with the Q filter.
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: rustyg61 on March 08, 2015, 11:29:57 PM: I have these aftermarket LED's on a Schecter bass & they work great!

https://fretfx.com/ (https://fretfx.com/)
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: jazzyvee on March 09, 2015, 03:23:22 AM: I have the same FretFx on my standard Europa 5 string and they are great. Two brightness settings.
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: dtothec on March 09, 2015, 05:00:00 AM: Layla53 on this site is a neighbor of mine and he has fretfx on one of his Alembics and last week I went over and checked them out, they are pretty cool. I think I'm going to order some, but I really want them built in if I can find a Rogue or Europa with them that is priced right.
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: edwardofhuncote on March 09, 2015, 07:03:03 AM: Welcome, Congratulations & Compliments. Very pretty bass!
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: 5a_quilt_top on March 09, 2015, 12:12:23 PM: Welcome, Darrell.

I own a Rogue 4 and it is a joy to play.

I know you'll get a lot of enjoyment out of yours - plus it's a nice piece o' eye candy - !
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: dtothec on March 09, 2015, 01:43:14 PM: Thank you, it is fun to play, sounds incredible and is so well balanced! What a great group of people on this site!
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: hieronymous on March 11, 2015, 11:02:15 AM: Welcome! You've been bitten by the bug! ;)

I would suggest that you post in the Wanted or Wishing section - more people will see!
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: dtothec on March 11, 2015, 02:44:36 PM: Thank you, I already have posted there.
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: hieronymous on March 11, 2015, 06:12:07 PM: How the heck did I miss that??? (*0_0*)

What kind of music do you play?
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: dtothec on March 12, 2015, 07:02:01 AM: I play mostly R&B, Funk, Motown, 70's to current. I was a music major on upright bass my first two years of college but ended up getting my degree in communications. I quit playing for over 30 years. My wife surprised me on Christmas three years ago by having the Gibson Ripper I bought new in 1974 restored as a Christmas present. I rediscovered my passion for music, and the rush of seeing people expressing themselves by dancing, or just patting their foot because of my musical expression. I have since developed a real bad case of G.A.S. I have had up to 12 basses at one time, I currently have 5 amps, 6 cabinets, wireless systems, effects, you name it. At one point I was playing in two bands, but pared it back to one. I am thinking about joining an additional group that plays a different type of music to expand my musical pallet and abilities. Knowing that there are only 12 notes, and with them you can play anything from Jazz, to country, to symphony, to the Polka. Those 12 notes open up an infinite world to explore! It's big fun!

Joining the Alembic family has been really cool, being able to talk with people with a like interest. It's awesome knowing you folks are there if I have any questions or need advice!
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: dtothec on March 12, 2015, 07:05:10 AM: Harry, what type music do you play?
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: hieronymous on March 12, 2015, 05:38:10 PM: oops, double post!

(Message edited by hieronymous on March 12, 2015)
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: hieronymous on March 12, 2015, 05:39:11 PM: Basically rock and R&B - I played in kind of a Grateful Dead mode during and after college, but I listen to a much wider variety of music - progressive rock, heavy metal, jazz, electronic, etc. Then like you I took time off from playing (though only 7-8 years) - came back to it in 2002 and also like you started collecting! Glad to hear that you have a band to play with - I am bandless at the moment, though not for lack of trying!
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: dtothec on March 13, 2015, 04:02:20 AM: Have you checked the music tab on Craigslist in your city? It has listings of bands looking for members or musicians available to start a new band.
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: hieronymous on March 13, 2015, 01:43:02 PM: Yeah, I started a band a few years ago via Craigslist - it was so much fun and rejuvenating! But then the drummer left. He came back last year, we started another band, it was so awesome - and then the drummer freaked out and left again.

One problem is that I'm on-call 24-7 - I rarely get called but when I do, I have to drop everything, so gigging is not an easy proposition. Plus I can't dedicate that much time to it, so I need to find people with similar commitment levels.

I will say, however, that it makes me appreciate that much more the joy of playing music and I have great respect for people, such as yourself, that make time to make music!
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: dtothec on March 14, 2015, 07:58:58 PM: I was blessed and able to retire so I have more time now. Don't give up the dream man. Where there is a will there is a way. One solution could be to find a great keyboard player that could handle the bass parts if you had to dash during a gig. The keyboard player in my last group was that good. I never had to dash or miss a gig, but if I would have, he could have done it no problem. Shoot for someone like that, It's a cool insurance policy, and it will get you back doing what you enjoy! Another solution might be to post for a jam band, not a gigging band just to keep your chops up, and then go from there. I've seen post like that.
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: lbpesq on March 14, 2015, 09:44:05 PM: Harry:

I've been putting Dead-type jams together every now and then, usually on weekends, with rotating personal - sort of Bill & Friends. You're certainly welcome to sit in on any instrument of your choice. I've got bass and guitar amps and a drum kit in my studio, so you don't have to schlepp anything. I've even got an Alembic bass, an Essence.

Bill, tgo
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: smokin_dave on March 15, 2015, 07:31:37 PM: Congrats on that beautiful Rogue.I remember years ago at a local music store they had a Rogue 5 and I picked it from the wall and played it hung it back up and repeated this a few more times over the next few weeks.Man they got tired of me and I knew this but I just could not help my self.Couldn't afford it but I knew that one day I would have one for myself.That day came 10 years later and it was the best bass purchase I ever made.Still in love with my Purpleheart Rogue 5.
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: dtothec on March 15, 2015, 08:27:55 PM: Dave you don't see too many purple heart Rogues, I know it's beautiful! I'm just 100 miles from you in Cincinnati. I came over to Indy for the Stanley Clark concert in January, were you there by any chance?
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: dtothec on March 15, 2015, 08:37:13 PM: Dave does yours have LED's? I would like to get one with LED's if I can find one that's priced right.
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: smokin_dave on March 16, 2015, 06:03:00 AM: Nope.No LED's but I did have FretFX LED's on for a while and I did have to miss Stanley here but I did see him at a local club years ago for a phenomenal double bill.At one point he started wandering around in the audience letting fans pluck his strings while he fretted his Alembic.Great show that was.
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: dtothec on March 16, 2015, 01:20:50 PM: He put on one heck of a show in January. He only played maybe 3 songs on his Alembic and the rest on his upright bass. It was just a trio him a 18 year old pianist from Russia and a 20 year old drummer from Dallas and those two kids were two of the best musicians that I have seen. I had an invite to meet him before the show but wasn't able to get to Indy in time.
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: hieronymous on March 17, 2015, 10:02:52 PM: Music is always there, whether I'm the one listening or the one making the music.

Bill, that sounds like fun I'll get in touch via email! It would definitely be fun to play with other people - definitely different than playing alone or along with recordings!
Title: I purchased my first Alembic
Post by: dtothec on March 22, 2015, 03:16:01 PM: Dave what did you think of the FretFX when you had them?