Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Community => Gatherings => Topic started by: hieronymous on April 01, 2007, 07:41:23 PM
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The results of the OK, Enough!! Time to get a Bay Area/Northern Ca. Alembic Gathering (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=3618) thread.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38246.jpg)
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Some ALEMBICS!!!
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38251.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38252.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38253.jpg)
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Those pictures have induced a bout of tenesmus...please excuse me.
WD
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A couple more:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38269.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38270.jpg)
I also have some pictures from one of the jams that I'll post in a bit...
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I've got a bunch of photos to share. I tried to get at least one of everybody that got up and played. Here's the stage area, l-r it's Matt, Ken, Bill (in front of Will) and John on harmonica:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38283.jpg)
Our gracious host Will on drums:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38284.jpg)
Matt playing the Electrum that I think he's getting from Bill:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38285.jpg)
Organizer Bill with his Series I:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38286.jpg)
Ken with his Excel:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38287.jpg)
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Before anyone started playing, the instruments started lining up. Here's Bill's collection:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38292.jpg)
Erik and Harry's joined soon after:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38293.jpg)
Ken's basses next to Bill's guitars:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38294.jpg)
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Gee Bill, you look sleepy!
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My dad talking electronics:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38298.jpg)
My husband, Bill, doing most of the video taping:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38299.jpg)
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Harry showed us how to play a doubleneck:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38309.jpg)
Ken brought out his Rogue bass:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38310.jpg)
Bill belting it out on some Dead tunes with his less-than-one-day-old-to-him 12-string:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38311.jpg)
Harry, Doc and Ken:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38312.jpg)
John:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38313.jpg)
Matt taking a lead and Ken with his Series II:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38314.jpg)
Eric and his Orion:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38315.jpg)
Bradley trying out the fretless I brought fromt eh Showroom:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38316.jpg)
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Before the instruments migrated over to the sofas for the big shot:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38320.jpg)
And after the migration, the big group:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38321.jpg)
Bill and Will did an awful lot to get the gathering together, and it was great to meet folks in person and their families too! Everyone had a great time.
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Incredible! You guys are so lucky to be that close to the mothership. Kudos to Bill & Will, and I'm not worthy....
Mike
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That rogue was a seriously sweet bass.
Black hardware, fretless, killer neck (mahogany, purpleheart, ebony). Sounded like butter.
In 5 strings, and with a knobby headstock, my wife and I would have been having marital difficulties. Definitely sick.
James showed me some examples of his work with the new engraving tool, and it looked very nice. Anyone up for metal inlays?
Bradley
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Wow, Mica, those pictures are great! It was awesome to meet you and your dad and everybody else! Also, the chance to play with a bunch of people was really fun too. Here are a few shots (again, taken by my wife Mika) of one of the jams. It started with me and my friend Greg DeGuglielmo on drums, who was visiting me from Boston for the week:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38328.jpg)
Matt and Ken joined in, while Doc set up his gear:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38329.jpg)
Doc disappeared, but there's Bill!
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38330.jpg)
Greg and I have recorded a lot of duo stuff over the past few years, so it was nice to play like that in front of people, and then to get to play with a bunch of other people was great too! I have to say, I had a really great time - thanks Bill for coordinating!
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Awesome!
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Awesome indeed! Boy do I wish I'd been there.
Mica, you say your husband Bill did some videotaping. Is this going to be a production we'll see on the forum sometime?
Graeme.
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wow what an amazing day!! tis so great to see james and the Wickershams there. fantastic.
20 beautiful basses! Val's bird of prey was the first i noticed. that fretless did look amazing also. what a great room to jam in! just beautiful,everyone in cali. is so lucky. what a treat to have been there i'm sure. thx for the pics
cheers to many more ladies and gents!
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20 beautiful basses! ?????????
Well EXXXXXXCCCCCCCUUUUUUSSSSSSEEEEEEE ME!
I go to all the trouble of helping to put this thing together and I still don't get no respect! (O.K., that's two comedy catch phrase references - thanks Steve and Rodney). Look closely and you might notice there are several NOT basses. These are called GUITARS! I know it can be difficult to tell the difference, but there are some obvious clues:
1. While they may look alike, upon closer inspection you will notice that GUITARS have STRINGS - usually 6 of them, while BASSES have thick industrial CABLES and are not consistent as to amount, though usually 4, 5, or 6;
2. GUITARS are far more attractive to the fairer gender;
3. GUITARS can be played through nice compact amplifiers. Most BASSES are played through stacks roughly the size of the Chrysler building!;
4. GUITARS are usually owned by people with less back problems!
Seriously though, this was a blast. It's a lot of fun to put faces to the names we all read around here. The collection of instruments was nothing short of stunning. A big thanks to everyone who came from not only Northern California, but as far away as Seattle! A a very big thanks to Mica, Bill, and Ron who not only graced us with their friendly smiles and words, but even brought along goodies (cups and pins) for the attendees. Jamming was great. Improvising with 3 or 4 basses going was a unique and enjoyable experience. Next time you guys should really work up Spinal Tap's Big Bottom! LOL
During one of the breaks I swear I could hear the sound of a beer bottle banging on a table wafting in with the breeze from the east. Paul???? hehehehe
Bill, tgo
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Anybody on the East Coast interested in putting something together?
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East coast of which country? ;-)
Graeme
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Hm, we only have west coast here.
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Oh, did anyone think to bring a guitar?
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Since no one seems to be mentioning it, I feel I have to - beautiful dog!
Peter (who also shares his home with a Golden)
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That's Thor, the caretaker's dog. Very friendly. And he lays down a pretty good beat when he's lying on his side on the wooden porch while wagging his tail.
Bill, tgo
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Thor admiring my Alembic t-shirt:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38344.jpg)
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Well, better late than never, I suppose. We got to the cabin right around 2:00 on a gorgeous day. I promptly added my basses to rather sizable guitar collection that Bill had emassed.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38362.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38363.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38364.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38365.jpg)
We then got down to some serious jamming, when Harry, his wife and drummer friend showed up
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38366.jpg)
Eric joined in
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38367.jpg)
Then Valentino and Bradley arrive to add to the collection
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38368.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38369.jpg)
Bradley discussing setup with James
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38370.jpg)
Then Doc arrived, and the jam was full on
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38371.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38372.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38373.jpg)
Then we had the big picture
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38374.jpg)
All in all, it was a GREAT TIME. Thanks again to Bill and Will for all the work that went into this.
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Cool pics Ken! I like the way everyone's pictures are a little bit different, giving different views and angles on the instruments (and people!)
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Bill, is that 12'er the one that's been listed F/S for a while now?!?
if so, Im glad to see it go to a club member & someone who will put it through it's paces....
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Mike:
I bought it off of ebay on the second go around. It is an amazing guitar - it plays as easy as a sixer!
Bill, tgo
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Bill, is that your Daion in the pic above? I remember you saying you had one or two.
I really like my Daion Basses, I also have my mom's Daion Gazzelle.
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Olie:
Sharp eye! You can see it best in the above pic where it is to the right of my black Fender Strat 12 (w/ Alembic PUs), my blue Fretlight Tele (w/ Alembic PUs). It is indeed a Daion Power Mark XX. Definitely Alembic inspired and, IMHO, the finest production line guitar ever made. I have two of these, along with a Daion 555 Headhunter (ES335 type, also an outstanding guitar), a Power Mark X, and two Daion Carribou acoustics (wanna buy one?). As you know from your basses, Daion made excellent instruments.
Bill, tgo
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Best eye's money can buy. LOL
I agree, Daion is a very nice instrument indeed. Definately Matsumoko's best work. I played Daions all through the 80's until I switched to Kubicki's. I love the Gazelle I have, great player and impressive sound.
Really wished I could have made the gathering, with all those toys there.... sigh...maybe next time.
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Sorry people,I was referring to the East Coast as in New York. I thought most members would have drawn from EAST MEETS WEST. My bad. So again I ask, does anyone have an expression of interest to have a gathering here on the aforementioned East Coast as in NY,NJ and Conn.area?
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Barry:
You might want to post this on a new thread in the Alembic Basses & Guitars section. That's how the North Cali gathering came to be. More members may notice it there.
Bill, tgo
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Might be a good idea to be more specific than East Coast - there's more to the east coast than NY/NJ/CT...
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Thats true. Plus its hard to get fried green tomatoes and ocre at a diner here in Joisey.
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Im up for an EC gathering...... I can think of at least a half dozen club members within the MA/RI/CT/NY/NJ/PA corridor.... we should make a go of it!!!!!
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One thing I noticed at the end of the day was that there were no 8-string basses. When I said this to Mica, she pointed out that there were no 5-strings either!
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Cool !!!!!!!!
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Didn't Yamaki produce Daion, not Matsumoku?
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I've heard it both ways.
Bill, tgo
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Same here, I've heard both ways. Either way they are great instruments especially for the price.
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First, I have really enjoyed seeing the pics and hearing about the Alembic gatherings. Reading and seeing is the NEXT best thing to being there. (I guess unless you are next door or down the block listening, lol).
I had not heard about Daions until I read you guys' posts in recent months (now years). They look great and I'm sure sound great.
I know a bit about Matsumoku and I'm always on the lookout for a nice one (I have studied up on Uncle Matt a bit and have never heard or read Daion as a brand from Matsumoku.
I have a (Matsumoku) Vantage Artist series 6 string guitar, neck through, string through body, brass nut, coil tap, that is one very nice guitar. Also, my main bass in my Rock and Metal heyday of the 1980s early '90s was an Aria Pro II SB 900. (I bought it because I was told it was an Alembic clone and back then I sure couldn't afford an Alembic. You reallycouldn't find one around my part of the world back then. I still have that bass.) I'm also working on a Mat Westone Pantera that is a really nice ax.
Anyway, I like the idea that other brands of instruments are welcome at the gathering and are put into the sound mix as well.
Thank you all for posting the pics and info. I am hoping that an Alembic Gathering can be worked out in this region so I can possibly attend.
Thanks All.
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David:
I was the lone non-alembic interloper, bringing 5 non-Alembics. Three of them have Alembic guts:
1. Highly modified Fernandes Masterhand (3 Alembic PUs, low pass filer, 3-way Q, RMC bridge piezos, 13 pin synth access, leaf & joint inlays by Larry Robinson);
2. Fender Strat 12 (3 Alembic PUs filter and 3-way Q);
3. Optek Fretlight Tele (Alembic telecaster PUs)
I also brought:
1. An Aria Pro II Rev Sound 850 - other than body shape as clear an Alembic copy as you're going to find. (18v system with humcanceller, filters and Qs) It's sweet, but it's no Alembic.
2. The Daion Power Mark XX - Alembic inspired hippie sandwich construction with 9 piece maple and rosewood assymetrical thru neck, rosewood core, ash top and back with wood (not continuous) backplates, passive elecronics with two humbuckers with coil taps (the most usuable coil taps I've encountered).
Bill, tgo
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Bill's non-Alembic-but-Alembic-equipped guitars were cool!
I've been toying with the idea of putting Alembic pickups in my black Rickenbacker 8-string - I would love to have been able to bring the lone 8-string to this past gathering! Maybe next time. (Hmm, wonder when the next Bay Area/NC gathering will be. Maybe I can get the Ric together by then...)
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Looks like you guys had an awesome time - as someone said, being near the mothership must be incredible!
Really, really wish I could have been there . . . although I feel a bit better that I see 14 Alembic basses (and 6 guitars) and we gathered 14 Alembic basses in Dallas (no guitars -in fact, no guitarists)!
We want to do it again in the fall - maybe we can get a few of ringers from the west coast to join us and push the total over 20 . . .
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John:
You're going to have to try harder next year. The 20 instrument count was of 100% Alembic instruments only. It consisted of 16 basses, 3 guitars, and Harry's Doubleneck baritone guitar/fretless bass. The five instruments I described above (April 5) were in addition to the Alembics making it a total of 25 instruments. BEAT THAT DALLAS!!!! hehehehehe
Bill, tgo
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For a Jersey area thingy I'm maxed out at 15 Alembics until the fretless is finished but I don't have enough stands. But I think a series 2 counts at least 2 or 3 of my excels so with the new math thats................round the 5............. carry the 1......................... oh the heck with it just get Rami there. That should be more than enough.
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Just remember, we have the factory in Northern Cali!
Bill, tgo
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I'm always up for a little competition
I'm pretty sure we can top the total instrument category with Olie's collection - some pretty exotic stuff there, maybe another dozen. I've got a couple more as well, and I know some of the others do.
Going to be hard to beat the factory, but I know there's at least one more on order for Dallas - we'll have to reach out to Houston - I know a cat there with four more - and there's more in N'awlins.
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Just to keep the tally straight, my Exploiter was tuned piccolo...
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38523.jpg)
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Actually John there was a couple of us in Dallas that play guitar too. Myself being one and I do believe Jorge plays guitar.
P.S.
It?s not nice to gloat Bill.
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Funny terminology, We. Like fans who refer to their teams as if they were on it. We're going to the playoffs! We just picked up Dawson in the draft etc. But in keeping in the spirt of fellowship, We are a very fortunate group of devotees.
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One more pic I've been meaning to post - this is the view looking up from the parking lot:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/38804.jpg)
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I must comment on one picture. It's the one with Ron talking electronics that really got me thinking. Here we have a living Father of Invention that has enriched our lives by offering instruments and audio products that give us better than-above average sound. To me he is in the same league as Leo Fender, Thomas Edison, Ted McCarty, and Henry Ford. Oh yes, and Enzo Ferrari. There's very few musical artists and actors that I would care to meet but men of vision and execution like these men are the ones I would love to. I'm sure as the sun rises and sets that that conversation about electronics would be way over my head, but I would've loved to have been there anyways.
Thank you so much to you Ron Wickersham your family and the entire Alembic crew.
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Hey,
What happened to the video tapes? Any chance we'll get to see them?
DVD?
Bradley
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Is it time to start thinking about a sequel?
Bill, tgo
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Hey Bill, keep me in the loop on the next one. If I have enough advance notice there is a good cahnce I can make it. I may not be able too bring my axes but I'd sure love to jam with you cats.
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WOW, I need to stop sipping the wine while I make my White Wine Butter Sauce for my chicken pasta!
That should read I may not be able to bring too many of my basses..... !
T B O
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Olie:
Bring that sauce! lol
Bill, tgo
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Sauce..or SaUca.. Daaaaaaay--oH. meee, say Daa-aa--aoh...HEHEHE
....and I wanna go home...
T B O
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Oh by the way....a moment of silence for my Cowboys...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Thankyou.
Go Chargers!...........
T B O
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Hey, Bill
I was just thinking about a repeat. Add me to the list, and let me know when we can do this again!
Let's do this!
Ken (TEO)
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I might be in, depending on date.
Bradley
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Hi Bill--
I would definitely be up for another N. CA gathering!
Eric