Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Introductions => Topic started by: ajdover on February 07, 2004, 07:27:35 PM

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: ajdover on February 07, 2004, 07:27:35 PM

I finally took the plunge and finished the transaction to acquire a Spyder 4 through Bass Central.  Oliver (Spyderman) has corrupted me, and I just had to have one!  I should have it within a week.  No pics yet, but I'll post when I get it.  Oliver, it's all your fault!  If you hadn't posted pics of your Spyders, well, ... you get the idea.  If I'm ever in Germany, I'll look you up, and we can swap Spyder stories!
 
    Mica, Susan, Ron, thanks for making the best basses in the world, in advance.
 
Regards,
 
Alan

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: senmen on February 08, 2004, 08:21:29 AM

Alan,
many congrats to your decision in buying a Spyder 4. You will see that this is one of the best basses ever.
Plse post some pics when you have em.
Maybe we should establish a Spyder Owners Club within the community here?
 
Take care
Oliver (Spyderman)

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: palembic on February 08, 2004, 12:16:39 PM

Goooooo-od
We had already a interior-alembic-elf-speakers-club.
Now we got the attack of the spyderman coming.
Oh-my-oh-my...
 
Paul the bad one

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: ajdover on February 08, 2004, 02:10:26 PM

Paul,
 
In response, the below lyrics are sung to the tune of the theme to the Spiderman cartoon ...
 
First verse
 
Spyderman, Spyderman,
Oliver said get one if you can,
Maple top, walnut core,
Had one Alembic, now got one more,
Hey there, Al's now a Spyderman ...
 
second verse
 
Is it here, I can't wait,
Anticipating the delivery date,
purpleheart and maple neck,
makes other basses look like they're wrecks,
hey there, there goes the Spyderman
 
bridge
 
At the gig just last night,
Between sets at the time,
The LED's did light,
My neck down the side ...
 
third verse
 
Spyderman, Spyderman,
Friendly neighborhood Spyderman,
thunderous tone, can't ignore,
Spyder owners are hard core,  
Look out here comes the Spyderman
 
outro
 
To him, life is a Spyder hang-up
Wherever Alembics show up,
You'll find the Spyderman
 
Not only do we have our own language, we've now got our own theme song!
 
Regards,
 
Alan

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: palembic on February 08, 2004, 02:20:37 PM

***sigh***
 
oh well ...
 
but you forgot the beer in the last verse!!!
 
 
Paul the bad one

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: bracheen on February 08, 2004, 02:47:29 PM

Here's to the Alembic Arachnids!  Slainte!
Congratulations Alan
 
Sam

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: senmen on February 08, 2004, 02:52:44 PM

Wow, really cool....
Alan, didn?t know you?re such a good composer.
I take it with one of John?s songs which speaks right out of my heart:
Everybody calls me the Quiet One, you can?see, but you can?t hear me...
Except when I am playing bass........... :-)
 
Oliver

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: eastcoastepic on February 08, 2004, 05:37:58 PM

Excellent arrangement! It brings back memories of childhood (late '60s,early '70s) when Spiderman, oops, I mean Spyderman, was my favorite superhero. Glad to hear that you're 'expecting'...I hope delivery goes well!!! (remember, patience is a virtue...)

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: jet_powers on February 09, 2004, 03:23:45 PM

Oh boy! Another one for me to be jealous about!
 
Congrats Alan!
 
JP

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: ajdover on February 09, 2004, 05:44:37 PM

 
 
(Message edited by ajdover on February 09, 2004)

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: ajdover on February 09, 2004, 05:46:26 PM

JP,
 
    Hey, there's a lot of folks around here with beautiful instruments to be jealous about ... Hell, Oliver has a Spyder 8!  I have not yet begun to fight (with apologies to John Paul Jones, the sailor, not the bass player)!
 
    Appreciate the congrats.  However, I'm already planning my next Alembic (when I save the money) ... an Europa 4.  
 
Thanks,
 
Alan
 
P.S.  As soon as I have pics, I'll post them.  Beaver at Bass Central asked the good folks in Santa Rosa to take pictures to post on the Bass Central website, so he might have them sooner than I will.  You can get to the Bass Central site via the dealer link here on the Alembic site.

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: jet_powers on February 11, 2004, 09:13:25 AM

Gee.... you'd think I'd be satisfied with my own 4 Alembics. What an ingrate I am! Still, there's something about those Spyders.... I especially groove on the ones with the V headstock. I've expressed my jealousy for Spyder Ollie's collection before in these pages. I even offered him all four of my Alembics for his two, but he wouldn't bite! And I don't blame him. Not one bit..
 
John Paul the envious and ungrateful one
 
(How many more of the seven deadly sins do I need to acquire?)

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: ajdover on February 13, 2004, 03:21:29 PM

Folks,
 
Spyderman, Spyderman,
Al's officially a Spyderman,
Oliver's happy, as is Al,
Now they'll be the best of pals,
Hey there, they are the Spydermen ....
 
(sung to the tune of the theme to the Spiderman cartoon)
 
I'm having a huge amount of difficulty in trying to get pix posted.  The 150K max size is killing me.  Anyone got suggestions?  I've tried resizing it a zillion times, but I can't get it to where it needs to be, and I can't remember how I did it last time (for my Exploiter and other instruments).  Suggestions?
 
Alan

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: mica on February 13, 2004, 03:36:55 PM

Glad you got the bass! Try this - resize so the longest edge doesn't exceed 800 pixels, then save with more compression (usually a lower quality number - around 5 or 6).
 
Otherwise, email me the pic and I'll resize it for you.

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: senmen on February 13, 2004, 03:57:50 PM

Spyders of the world - UNITE !!!!
 
Oliver (one of those Spydermen)(http://club.alembic.com/Images/397/8220.jpg)

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: senmen on February 13, 2004, 04:03:12 PM

And here is Alan with his new Spyder!
Alan, welcome to the club.... :-)
(Is it ok for you that I posted you pic?)
 
Oliver (http://club.alembic.com/Images/397/8223.jpg)

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: ajdover on February 13, 2004, 04:19:38 PM

Oliver,
 
    Absolutely, no problem.  I was having trouble getting the pic sized anyway.
 
Thanks!
 
Alan

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: senmen on February 13, 2004, 04:26:26 PM

Alan,
it fits really good to you!
So let?s wait and see how many other Spyder owners now will turn out here.....
 
Oliver

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: ajdover on February 16, 2004, 04:35:07 PM

This is for Mica ...
     
    What gauge strings were put on my Spyder?  I know they're Alembic Strings, but I normally use Rotosound RS66LC's (.40-.90).  Wanted to know because I'm not the greatest at setting instruments up.  If it's going to involve a proper set up job, it's better for me to take it to a professional, unless someone can give me tips on how to do it right myself.
 
Thanks,
 
Alan
Spyder 4, no. 7 of 50
 

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: bassman10096 on February 16, 2004, 05:25:27 PM

Alan,
 
It's a great looking bass.  Something exotic about those Spyders.  Congratulations and welcome to the brotherhood.
 
Bill

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: valvil on February 16, 2004, 05:45:11 PM

Hello Alan,
 
your bass was strung with 45-105 strings, so changing gauge that radically  will mean having to have the instrument re-setup.
What you  will need to do is to loosen the truss rods, because it's more than likely that the lesser tension of the 40-90 strings will make the neck bow backwards, the way it's set up now.  If that's not enough then the bass might need a heat bend to accomodate the new strings (not difficult and nowhere near as scary as it sounds).  When the neck is the proper position, then you might need to adjust the saddles for optimum intonation.
 
Here's a link on how to adjust the truss rods  : http://www.alembic.com/support/care.html (http://www.alembic.com/support/care.html)
 
If you do not feel comfortable making the adjustment yourself, by all means take it to a good luthier/repairman.
 
 
Valentino

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: ox_junior on April 29, 2004, 05:07:32 PM

I am the latest Spyderman now!!!  Oliver, Alan, and now me!!!
 
Alan, I've had fun talking to you, but I just discovered this thread and your photo with your Ohio State shirt on.  You're a cool guy and a fellow Spyderman, but my blood runs Michigan Blue, buddy.  Points off!!!
 
Just kidding!!  All Spydermen are cool, even if their football loyalties are misguided somewhat.  Besides, the Spyderman song lyrics above made me laugh out loud.
 
Cheers!  Mike (Newest Spyderman and dang happy about it)

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: dnburgess on April 30, 2004, 02:55:28 AM

Just for the record - I think I was the first Spyderman in the club. Not that I'm one to boast about it.
 
David B.

Title: Just took the plunge - awaiting my Spyder 4
Post by: senmen on April 30, 2004, 04:00:49 AM

Of course David,
you are not forgotten..... :-)
When did you get your Spyder8?
 
Oliver (Spyderman)