Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Introductions => Topic started by: zach on April 21, 2007, 09:37:10 AM

Title: Hello all
Post by: zach on April 21, 2007, 09:37:10 AM

hi, i'm zach, only 17 so unfortunately for now i can't quite afford the two grand needed for an alembic.  At the moment i'm still just playing my humble rockbass.  It's ok, i've only been playing for a year so i don't think i deserve an alembic quite yet.  Thought i might as well register since my dream (for the moment at least) is to own a custom alembic.
so yeah, thats the short version about me!

Title: Hello all
Post by: the_8_string_king on April 21, 2007, 10:46:17 AM

Hey, Zach, I'm 44, but I was only a year or two younger than you when I began playing electric bass.  Stanley Clarke -and the sound of his awesome Alembic bass- was an inspiration to me, and I'll always remember the first time I went to Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center and actually managed to persuade them to let me pick up and play a stunning Birdseye Maple Series I bass.
 
I never forgot the sound, and knew I'd have to get an Alembic eventually... it took a long time.
 
Of course, the two grand you mentioned would only be able to get you a used model... but there are plenty of worthy specimans out there.
 
If you really love -or come to really love- music and bass-playing, you can save up.  In the meantime, practice on whatever you have, and practice well.  Learn as much as you can... your ability and understanding are the most important thing.  Music is a language... work on your vocabulary and understanding.  Work on listening and speaking.  Work on understanding the things that you hear, and forming concepts.
 
With the modern world, and the internet and other resources, there has never been a better time for anyone/everyone who wants to learn to be the best they can be.
 
You're young... so use your youth.  Practice dilligently... be ambitious... the sky's the limit.
 
When I got my first bass, I practiced as much as I could.  I worked my way up to 6 hours a day.  Within a year, I had people in my high school -who were held in high esteem by others- telling me I was the best in the school.  This means nothing, of course, and meant nothing... other than, if you work hard and practice well, you can accomplish a lot.
 
So best wishes, work hard, study, learn, and enjoy playing.
 
My last piece of advice is to study as much as you can, as many different styles as you can.  As human beings, we have a tendancy to seek what we're used to and avoid things we're not familier with... and it can limit us.  Try and broaden your horizons and become familiar with a broad range of music and musical styles.  Try to listen to everything, and branch out.  Rock and blues are great for a foundation.  Classical and Jazz are usually best for overall technique and musical vocabulary.  But you can study Country, Reggae, Raga, and even Gospel -and learn something from everything.  Get CDs from various styles and listen and play along with them.  Get yourself a couple of instructional booklets and learn what you can from them.  Most of them are junk or half-assed at best, so know this up front... but you can still learn from them.
 
The picture you have in your mind -the understanding- of music is like a jigsaw puzzle.  Seek to always get more pieces and connect the pieces you have to one another.
 
Welcome to the club, Zach.  Thanks for introducing yourself, and good luck with your musical journey.  This club is a wonderful resource full of nice cool people who can help you with/on your journey.
 
Take care!

Title: Hello all
Post by: 57basstra on April 21, 2007, 02:14:48 PM

Welcome, Zach. You can get an Epic for about $1,000 or so and they are great basses.  
 
David

Title: Hello all
Post by: olieoliver on April 21, 2007, 03:15:37 PM

Welcome Zach. I think you'll find this forum very helpful in your journey to Bass-Virtuoso.
 
There is a wealth of knowledge wrapped up in the minds here and the guys are more than happy to share.
 
Olie

Title: Hello all
Post by: zach on April 21, 2007, 03:43:25 PM

wow, don't think i've had such a warm welcome in a forum! pretty amazing.  thanks for the encouragement, unfortunately i don't have much money saved up, although hopefully i shall be getting a summer job which might just help me move up to a used alembic.  As you said Mark, I have been practising for about average two hours a day, although unfortunately school tends to get in the way...
hadn't thought about trying classical pieces much, although i did try to transcribe that moonlight sonata piece to piece, didn't manage it though.
thanks again for the warm welcome
 
Zach

Title: Hello all
Post by: pauldo on April 22, 2007, 05:45:28 AM

Hello Zach -
I thought I could never afford an Alembic also,,, fortunately for me Ralph Hanzel's music had a layaway program so by the time I was 20 years old I had my own 84' distillate!  
 
You can do it - if there is a will there is a way.
 
I just want to know how some of the members here have 3 or 4 Alembics whilst having a custom one in process - ! :-D

Title: Hello all
Post by: richbass939 on April 22, 2007, 08:19:54 AM

Zach, welcome to the club.  Very sound advice that Mark (8 string king) posted there.  As has been mentioned here, you don't have to start out at the top of Alembic's line.  All of the Alembic models are excellent instruments.  You can always work up to the model that you ultimately want.  You can read the advice of the UK/European members about the unique challenges of getting an Alembic over there.  They don't seem to be quite as common.  
I think anyone who appreciates Alembic deserves to have one or two or more.  Good luck to you in fulfilling your Alembic dream.
Rich
BTW, your profile says you're 27.  Typo somewhere, I guess.

Title: Hello all
Post by: dtrice on April 22, 2007, 08:35:20 AM

Do it Zach. Save some money and get yourself an Alembic. I'm 20 and I got my Spyder last year (so I was 19).  I don't have the history of playing like Mark or Oliver, but man has it given me a real boost in playing.  It has obviously improved my tone, but also it is so comfortable to play I play more than I ever did! But I warn you, Zach. Alembics should be a controlled substance, because they are so addicting.  I'm already planning my Triple-Omega Series 1.5 .

Title: Hello all
Post by: zach on April 22, 2007, 09:00:37 AM

I think i'll follow your advice and try to save up for dare i say one of the more affordable models, possibly second hand if i can find a good one. also, excuse my lack of knowledge but what is a layaway program?
and Rich, thanks for pointing out the typo, that and suggesting i talk to other UK members, since I actually haven't yet been in a room with an alembic so I really must find a shop i can get too that stock alembics, the only london dealer listed on the alembic site is about two hours drive, and since i haven't passed my test yet (wow i must sound so young!) I don't think my parents would be willing to drive a two hour round trip for me to look at basses unlike myself.  
Zach

Title: Hello all
Post by: keith_h on April 22, 2007, 09:34:55 AM

Zach,
Welcome. A Layaway program is where a store accepts a deposit on an item and then sticks away somewhere. The person purchasing makes periodic payments and receives the merchandise after it is paid off. Quite frequently there is a limit on how long an item can be set aside on layaway but this is usually negotiable.  
 
Keith

Title: Hello all
Post by: adriaan on April 23, 2007, 01:00:22 AM

Zach, you do sound terribly young - I only got  my driver's license at age 40.
 
Welcome to the world of Alembics!

Title: Hello all
Post by: jacko on April 23, 2007, 01:24:10 AM

Hey Zach - welcome to the club from Scotland. If you want to try out a few Alembics, the Bass Gallery in Camden have a selection of Epics, orions and excels. (alternatively, come and visit edinburgh - there's at least 8 that I know of).
 
Graeme

Title: Hello all
Post by: zach on April 23, 2007, 09:59:26 AM

wow, thanks for that, suprised i wasn't aware of the bass gallery, shall definetly go check that out at some point in the next few weeks!  a layaway program sounds pretty good, think i may just save up my money first instead though.  sorry Graeme but i doubt i'll be visiting edinburgh any time soon, but if i do i'll be sure to tell you!
 
Zach

Title: Hello all
Post by: jacko on April 25, 2007, 07:44:20 AM

I'll be wandering round the London Guitar show this Sunday. look out for someone in an Alembic t shirt.
 
graeme

Title: Hello all
Post by: georgie_boy on April 25, 2007, 10:38:29 AM

Like a lost soul as usual Graeme??
 
Your Buddy
 
George

Title: Hello all
Post by: zach on April 25, 2007, 02:04:37 PM

Sorry graeme, but i don't think i'll be going this year.

Title: Hello all
Post by: keith_h on April 25, 2007, 03:24:10 PM

Graeme,
If you can arrange an emergency onsite visit for me at your place of employment I'll gladly accompany you to the show on Sunday (or the pub of your choice). The passport is in order and I'll even wear my Alembic T-shirt.  
 
Keith

Title: Hello all
Post by: jacko on April 26, 2007, 12:57:31 AM

Keith.
it's 500 miles from my place of employment to the show. You're welcome to sit at my desk while I'm away ;-)
 
graeme

Title: Hello all
Post by: David Houck on April 28, 2007, 04:42:41 PM

Hi Zach; welcome to the board!

Title: Hello all
Post by: zach on May 08, 2007, 01:10:04 PM

thanks dave.  you might not actually find my posting very much, so far i've just been trying to absorb the rediculously vast wealth of knowledge on this forum, its amazing how much people on here know about basses and bass construction, don't worry, i'm learning though!

Title: Hello all
Post by: mauibassplayer on May 16, 2007, 11:57:25 PM

Zach, i think you are getting into it, I have learned so much by reading all the various posts, links to different websites, lots of youtube players, overall, a wealth of information is at your fingertips.  A sincere welcome to the club my friend.
Aloha, Ken

Title: Hello all
Post by: zach on May 17, 2007, 12:29:04 PM

Hi Ken
I know what you mean, can't remember whether or not its from these boards that i found them but i now keep listening to jaco patitucci and richard bona.  tried to play portrait of tracy but i could manage neither the harmonic chords or the crazy artificial harmonic requiring a 5 fret stretch!
there certainly is a wealth of information, i guess its just as well i'm a quick learner or it'd take me several lifetimes to take it all (hopefully it'll just take me the one).
Zach
p.s. Mark, if you read this, I'm slowly getting more fluent at the language of bass, just trying to master the past tense at the moment =P

Title: Hello all
Post by: olieoliver on May 17, 2007, 12:32:40 PM

I think you mean JACO PASTORIUS.  
 
John Patitucci is a smokin player too though.

Title: Hello all
Post by: zach on May 17, 2007, 12:34:30 PM

woops, forgot the comma, was meant to be jaco, patitucci, and richard bona.  Sorry, I'm a mathematician at heart, i'm not good with grammer.  The good news though is that I emailed the guys at Bass Gallery and they said I could actually play on their alembics if i were to come down!
 
(Message edited by zach on May 17, 2007)

Title: Hello all
Post by: dadabass2001 on May 17, 2007, 06:13:37 PM

Zach,
You gotta make the pilgrimage. You'll never forget the experience of the first time you play an Alembic.
 
Mike
 
P.S. Welcome to the forum.

Title: Hello all
Post by: mauibassplayer on May 18, 2007, 12:37:19 PM

Hi Zach, this is what it is all about.  We all only have one life, learn as much as you can from everyone you come in contact with, we all have something to offer you.  I got my Spoiler when I was living in San Francisco from a friend, I was playing in three different bands at the time, it was crazy, but when I started to play the Alembic, somehow I became more focused and started to do away with all the unecessary distractions, got it down to one band, and kept my eyes and ears open to my bandmates, the more we listen while we play the better we all will be.  Playing is all about listening.
Much Aloha, Ken

Title: Hello all
Post by: zach on May 25, 2007, 10:43:51 AM

Hello
 
well I finally did it, I played on an alembic!!!  once I worked out what the nobs do (and that only had four! all i'm used to is two pup's and a tone),  ooooooo, was superb.  Played two status's afterwards, and whilst they were good for slap they just couldn't match the tones i was getting.  Oh yeah, i should probably mention it was an epic which is on sale for ?1200.
Think this calls for a summer job...
Zach

Title: Hello all
Post by: mauibassplayer on May 25, 2007, 11:15:48 AM

Excelent Zach!!! It is a great thing to play such a fine instrument, it is da best!!!  Get the job, get the Alembic!!!
Cheers!!
Ken.

Title: Hello all
Post by: kimberly on May 25, 2007, 11:34:27 AM

Hi Zach and a belated welcome to the club.    
 
  Congrats on finally being able to play an Alembic.
 
  I know for me it was one of those moments that I doubt I'll ever forget.  Heck, truth of the matter be known I was sold before I played it.  The mere presence of an Alembic was all it took.    
 
  Best Wishes,
 
  Kimberly  
 
  PS.  I own an Epic I bought used.  I'll never go back.  ;)

Title: Hello all
Post by: zach on May 25, 2007, 01:35:17 PM

Howdy
 
When I came home I told my sis that i'd played a ?1200 bass, her reaction was 'why would you spend that much on a guitar?!?', I was lost for words...
 
I think that as you say kim, it'll take me a while to forget playing that bass, although it won't compare to when i actually buy one!
 
Definetly gonna make job requests tomorow
 
Zach