Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Introductions => Topic started by: fenderbender on October 19, 2003, 05:51:08 AM

Title: Ahoy hoy
Post by: fenderbender on October 19, 2003, 05:51:08 AM

Hello Folks
 
I saw my first Alembic when I was 13.  I had video'd a tv show & there was a 30 second clip of some bloke called Stan Clarke playing this amazing little bass.  I was blown away, I'd never seen anyone play bass like that & I'd never seen a cooler bass.  
 
Some time later I found out the bass in question was an Alembic & spent the next 22 years dreaming of owning one.
 
On Firday night the ambition was realised, I'm now the proud owner of a 2001 Mark King standard with a wild, flamed walnut top.  
 
I have to say that my expectations proved well short of the mark, it is better than I ever dreamed a bass could be.  My beloved Surine Esprit is now sat in it's case, crying bitter tears.
 
My only problem with the bass is it's weight.  Can any of you good people recommend a suitable strap to relieve some of the strain on my shoulder.  After 4 years playing a featherweight Surine the Alembic has come as a major shock to my back & shoulder !
 
Thanks
 
Mick
 

Title: Ahoy hoy
Post by: elzie on October 19, 2003, 06:36:39 AM

Welcome to the club Mick!
 
Let's get this out of the way first: We want pictures of this fine bass!
 
Okay, back to the topic. I use a wide leather strap, but I am also used to heavy basses. How much does your MK weigh? Maybe it's just a question of getting used to it?
 
You are correct about your expectations falling short of Alembic's quality. Everything they make is quality. Just roam around the site and look at the pics of other's basses and even the show case they just made, and you will be amazed. I know I am.
 
 
You will soon be getting visits from more members, quite a few of them are Pauls. Anyway, enjoy your new bass and welcome aboard!
 
 
Paul TGO

Title: Ahoy hoy
Post by: stoney on October 19, 2003, 06:42:59 AM

Hello Mick and welcome aboard. Congratulations on finally getting an Alembic.  
 
I agree with Paul.  The wider the better. Also, if you can find one with a little bit of padding it will help. I have a strap with about 1/4 inch padding and it's great.  
 
Oh yea, did we mention that we want to see pics??
 
Stoney

Title: Ahoy hoy
Post by: senmen on October 19, 2003, 07:15:31 AM

Hi Mick,
welcome to the club and many congrats to your MK!
Also me I am totally infected with the Alembic virus and especially with all the John Entwistle Spyder basses.
I own a Spyder 4 and a Spyder 8 and what can I say: GGGRREEEAAAATTTT!
But also with them the weight (as also as the size) is huge. I use old-style Klondyke straps,
where you have a thin strap overall but only padded with a slide-on big shoulder part which is heavily padded. Very comfortable to wear.
But as with the Spyders, their body shape is the best one to have an exact balance.
 
And of course, like all the previous posters said:
post some pics!
 
Take care
Oliver

Title: Ahoy hoy
Post by: fenderbender on October 19, 2003, 07:32:22 AM

er, sorry.  I'll get the hang of this in a minute !
 
(Message edited by fenderbender on October 19, 2003)

Title: Ahoy hoy
Post by: fenderbender on October 19, 2003, 07:33:48 AM

Hi folks
 
Thanks for the warm welcome.
 
Not sure how much the Mk weighs but it seems a lot.  Having said that my Surine & Marleaux basses are both very light (the Marleaux is @ 6.5lbs !).
 
Here's a picture of the Alembic, if you want to see the Marleaux & the Surine (if that's allowed) just shout.
 
I'll have to investigate a wide/padded strap.  Any decent on-line retailers in the US I could try ? I live in a guitar deprived area of England where a Fender is a rare sight.
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/397/6288.jpg)

Title: Ahoy hoy
Post by: palembic on October 19, 2003, 07:58:51 AM

Hm ...I DO like Surine and Marleaux basses. Don't forget you came to the most friendly forum in on the internet and we love them all ...even Fenderplayers, or Warwick endorsers, or SSD trustees, from time to time we even like people who play Ken Smiths and Roscoes ... LOL.
Welcome my friend.
Bonnie has some weight (luckily she don't gain on weight getting older) and I use for 7 years now a broad leather strap (WAYCO I think), goes well!
 
Paul the bad one

Title: Ahoy hoy
Post by: rogertvr on October 19, 2003, 08:12:56 AM

Hi Mick,
 
Welcome to the madhouse!  :-)
 
That is a lovely example of an MK std - I really like the figuring of the wood, that has REAL character!
 
I'm from near Birmingham, my first Alembic is still in build.  I'm still playing (and will still be playing even after the Alembic arrives) my 4001 which is none too light, I have a leather strap (without padding - hate padding) that is 2.5 (6.5cm) wide to spread the weight.  I've had the strap for some years now but it orignally came from the Bass Place in Birmingham.
 
Where are you from in England, Mick?
 
Cheers!
 
Rog

Title: Ahoy hoy
Post by: fenderbender on October 19, 2003, 09:29:18 AM

Rog, I'm from Teesside, just south of Middlesbrough.  I'll try the Bass Place & also the Bass Centre.  Heres the Surine, it's serial No. 001 so quite a special bass;  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/397/6293.jpg)
  And the Marleaux, very well built & much better than any Warwick I've tried;  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/397/6294.jpg)

Title: Ahoy hoy
Post by: palembic on October 19, 2003, 10:27:55 AM

Wow!!!
Nice basses. Let me put it this way: you have a hell of a good taste for basses ...yessir indeed sir! I always had that weak spoit for Surines (I HEARD YOU PAUL TGO!!!! I know I have a weak spot for any beautiful basses - I have the same problem with women ...but oooops wrong club!!!!)  
Just for my ears (nobody will hear us, they're all asleep now) can you telle me about the sound of the Marleaux? There is one PU but quite some knobs to tweak???
 
Paul the bad one

Title: Ahoy hoy
Post by: rogertvr on October 19, 2003, 10:58:07 AM

Ooooh yes, they're lovely Mick!  I can see a theme in shape between the two - is that a conscious thing?  The Mark King is a deviation for you in shape terms obviously.
 
Teeside isn't exactly up the road from me as you well know.  So a get-together could be a little awkward to arrange.  Anyway, I haven't got my Alembic yet!  In time maybe eh?
 
I do know one thing as I've spent all afternoon playing my 4001 - it's really easy to wreck your hearing!
 
Sorry - did someone say something............?

Title: Ahoy hoy
Post by: fenderbender on October 19, 2003, 11:32:34 AM

The Marleaux sounds like a seriously upmarket Musicman, slap & fingerstyle funk are it's forte's.  Control wise we have volume, middle, treble & bass plus an active/true passive switch & a coil tap.  The e.q. is made by Marleaux, not a massive range on each knob but all very usable & very quiet.  Build quality is exceptional.
 
It's actually for sale at the moment on ebay as the wife said I had to sell something if I wanted the Alembic !  To be honest I hope it doesn't sell as I do like it a lot.  I haven't touchhed it since the Alembic arrived though !

Title: Ahoy hoy
Post by: palembic on October 19, 2003, 12:04:25 PM

Mmmmmmmm ...hang on there is that small bank-office just around the corner here. I can take a nylon stocking of my wife and ... naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah ...
But ...tempting ...tempting.
Paul the bad one

Title: Ahoy hoy
Post by: malthumb on October 19, 2003, 02:40:45 PM

Everybody that's said wide strap is right.  Ditto the padding part.  Let me add one more dimension.  My 4 wide leather strap has fleece on the underside.  This helps grip onto my shirt to keep it in place.  Some of the fatigue from wearing a heavy bass comes from constantly shifting it back into the position.
 
My Mark King 5 string weighs a bit over 13 pounds and I can play it standing up for a couple hours at a time.
 
Peace,
 
James

Title: Ahoy hoy
Post by: alembic76407 on October 19, 2003, 06:08:17 PM

Mick, What you want is The Comfort Strap I got mine at The Guitar Center for About $35. Its wide and soft, it works for my Series 1, I can play it again
 
David T

Title: Ahoy hoy
Post by: thebass on October 20, 2003, 03:21:01 AM

Hi FenderBender,  
 
welcome to the club. There's a twin of your MK STD living in Germany. My MK STD recognized his brother immediatly. He wants me to show you some nice family pictures from him http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/3899.html?1048291661 (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8729)  
 
BTW: I use the widest leather strap available (approx. 10cm wide) to distribute the weight. Now I got a bit used to it and my MM Sterling now feels like a toy to me.
 
(Message edited by thebass on October 20, 2003)

Title: Ahoy hoy
Post by: fenderbender on October 20, 2003, 04:53:20 AM

Wow, that's one sweet bass & a Glockenklang rig too !  The guy I bought my MK from was using it through a Glockenklang.
 
I have to say I'm very impressed with the friendly response I've had & all the help re. a suitable strap.  I think I'm going to like it here !
 
cheers
 
Mick

Title: Ahoy hoy
Post by: thebass on October 20, 2003, 05:58:31 AM

Hi Mick,
 
well .. in fact the picture with the Glockenklang is the only one which was made by the previous owner of the MK Std. I used to play a Glockenklang too but - belive it or not - sold it for a SWR megoliath which I prefered after A/B-ing it vs. two Take Five cabinets. My MK Std goes into an Alembic F-1X Preamp, a TC TripleC Compressor (which I am using less and lesser) an finally a QSC RMX-2450. The Power from the QSC is absolutely overkill but the sound and the dynamic tops everything I've heard so far.

Title: Ahoy hoy
Post by: David Houck on October 21, 2003, 04:17:30 PM

James; interesting what you said about the fleece keeping the strap from moving on your shirt.  Interesting because I do move by bass from time to time to make certain fingerings easier and more comfortable on the fretting hand.  So I should probably avoid a fleece strap.

Title: Ahoy hoy
Post by: palembic on November 07, 2003, 10:06:17 AM

Hi MIck.
Did you mamage to sell the Marleaux??
Paul the bad one