Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Community => Gatherings => Topic started by: smuprof on June 02, 2007, 05:08:25 PM
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I thought I'd get the thread started. Olie found out Christian was coming from Germany to pick up his new Alembic (the featured custom from May 2003 - Seismic Bass) from a collector in Ft. Worth and proposed a Texas welcome.
Well, any excuse to get together! Olie, Wayne, Christian, Mike, myself, and Pete the drummer got together for the second Dallas Alembic jam. Austin Brown joined us to add a little six string.
As before, everyone had a blast. Pics and possibly some audio to follow!
PS - We're making plans for late summer/fall for the next one, so let me know if you want to attend.
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Great, John,
I expected you to start the thread, but I did not expect it to appear that fast...
It is just breathtakingly coooool here in the DFW area (except for the weather, LOL). It felt like a family get together, although I only knew some guys through email conversations... Mike, you were right, I was very quiet this afternoon, but/because I was really enjoying this jam session.
Please let me be the first banging the beerbottle on the table, yelling... PICS, PICS, PICS ! ...oh, I took some pics with my camera, but cannot upload. I am using a public PC right now.
thanks everyone,
your Christian
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Christian - I'm glad you've enjoyed a big ol' Texas HOWDY! (including a run-of-the-mill 70 mph North Texas spring thunderstorm). :-D
It was a pleasure once again gentlemen. The jammin' in between made the load-in and load-out well worth the trip.
BTW - I don't think Olie's lost a single lick from his recent mishap.....
C-Ya..............wayne
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Well here are few pix that I took. I didn't get very many photos. I was too busy drooling over Waynes fretless. And by the way Christians new Seismic bass is SMOKIN'. It is one sweet axe. I love the size of it and the Zebra wood is WAY cool. All in all it was a great time for all I do believe. I'm ready anytime you guys are. It's really great to see and hear so much humble talent in one place. No egos at all. You guys are the best.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/40597.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/40598.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/40599.jpg)
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Very handsome family portrait. Sounds like you guys had a lot of fun.
Bil, tgo
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Sorry I couldn't make this time guys. I am looking forward to the 3rd one though. Hopefully Olie and I (and perhaps someone else)will have some new axes to share by then. I am looking forward to seeing those inlays Olie.
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[double post]
(Message edited by groovelines on June 03, 2007)
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All,
Once again another great time, a fantastic way ot spend an afernoon. And a word of caution to anyone thinkging about picking up an Alembic fretless: Unless you're really serious about it, don't play one, cuz then you will be. ;)
Jorge,
Stay tuned, another get together is in the brainstorming stages.
Christian,
Es war fantastisch, Sie in der Person schlie?lich zu treffen. Ich hoffe, da? Ihr Aufenthalt und zu Ihrem M?gen eventful war. Ich bleibe in der Note, besonders wenn eine Reise zu Europa verwirklicht.
das ganzes beste zu Ihnen und zu Ihrer Familie,
Mike
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This one was kind of last minute Jorge but the next one is already in the talking phase and we'll have plenty of advance notice.
I am looking forward to seeing the inlays too. LOL
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Jorge -
You and Dave were definitely missed . . . especially your basses Everyone spoke well of your medium scale zebra wood Spoiler and Dave's 76 Series I!
Getting to know everyone's instruments, it seems like something's missing when someone's out. Going to be tough for Christian everytime we get together though
We're talking about an all-day cook-out and jam for next time . . . hope you and Dave (and Christian) can make it!
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Sounds Great!
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sorry I didn't make it, but next time I will
it looked like fun, again
David T
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Hi, all,
this is my last day here in TX before I have to leave for Germany again. Thank you all so very much for all your help and care and the basstalks, it doesnt make it easier for me to leave Fort Worth though, LOL ! I will try to get hold of you today to say goodbye und Auf Wiedersehen. If i do not catch everyone, please feel hugged through this post.
have to come back here ASAP !
Christian
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Pictures from Dallas Hosts Germany. Christian with his new Seismic bass!
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/40833.jpg)
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Pictures from Dallas Hosts Germany. Mike and Christian struggle with which bass to play first . . .
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/40836.jpg)
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Pictures from Dallas Hosts Germany. Mike and Christian sit down to think because it is such a difficult choice. Wayne and Olie hold down their respective rigs to keep them from accidentally moving . . .
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Pictures from Dallas Hosts Germany. Mike and Christian finally make their choices and start jamming . . .
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/40842.jpg)
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Pictures from Dallas Hosts Germany. Basses to the left . . .
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/40845.jpg)
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Pictures from Dallas Hosts Germany. And basses to the right . . .
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/40849.jpg)
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Pictures from Dallas Hosts Germany. Christian (with Olie's Series I) and Wayne . . .
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/40852.jpg)
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Pictures from Dallas Hosts Germany. Olie laying down his inimitable groove with his favorite bass (Mark King 3/4 body spalted maple?) . . .
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/40855.jpg)
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Pictures from Dalas Hosts Germany. Pete the drummer laying it down for quad basses (why just split your pickups when you can have four basses at once ) . . .
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Pictures from Dallas Hosts Germany. Wayne with my new bass rig. A little background - I started looking for a very small, very portable bass rig that would work with a five string (low B is just slightly below 31 hZ). Wanted 2 10's, looked at everything out there, tried several. The problem with most that have the frequency range is that they are very inefficient (Acme's B2 is only 93 dB 1W/1M), and I didn't want to carry a kilowatt amp to power my small rig. Finally settled on Eden's XST cabinet (30 hZ, 103 dB 1W/1M) with an Eden WT300 amp (and an extra 18 hZ in low frequency response compared to their standard XLT cabinet). Very loud, very efficient, very low! Feeling very pleased with myself until Wayne shows up with his new Eden WTX-260 amp (similar specs at about 4 pounds instead of 16 pounds for my WT300). Wayne's amp is the little box that looking like an effect sitting on top of my amp - oh well, another toy to add to the wish list - Father's day is next Sunday!
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/40861.jpg)
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Pictures from Dallas Hosts Germany. Four players and two specials - Christian on the Seismic Bass, Mike playing Wayne's special The Dark and The Light, Wayne on his 20th Anniversary special and Olie on his Series bass.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/40864.jpg)
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Pictures from Dallas Hosts Germany. One more of the four bassman of the apocalypse . . .
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Pictures from Dallas Hosts Germany. Supicious characters - watch your Alembics very carefully if you spot these guys (although Pete the drummer on the left, and Austin the guitarist on the right are probably safe to hang out with)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/40871.jpg)
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Pictures from Dallas Hosts Germany. RARE photo of Olie playing an instrument other than a bass . . . and it's not even an Alembic! I personally think Olie picked it up by mistake, thinking it was a very short scale, 6 string piccolo bass with light strings . . .
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Pictures from Dallas Hosts Germany. Austin our token guitarist . . .
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/40877.jpg)
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Picture of our recording control room. Focusrite and Groove Tubes preamps, compressor and Fostex MR8 digital recorder fed by a couple of large diaphram condensor mics . . .
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/40880.jpg)
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Thanks for sharing all the great pics. It is great thing to have a love for these instruments and to get together and share the experience. Not to mention all the toys that go along with it! I really like my 002 unit. The Blue Mics are also a nice touch. Where would the economy be without guys like you?
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I agree with Danno; great pics!!!
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Hey Danno -
I believe you're holding your own contributing to the economy (cool myspace page) Let us know if you're in the area - we'll have another get together. With all of your Alembics, we might surpass the collection from the California gathering!
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It is my dream to get to everyones village and hamlet with Doomtree.
(but the shipping would kill me so my road basses [4 max] could make it)
Flax brought Wolf by when he was buying an Acme. Thats as close as I get to a gathering. First balance K I ever held. A comfortable, beautiful and unique bass indeed.
Thanks again for sharing.
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Hey Guys,
Austin here. I know I don't have an alembic, but I aspire to get one someday...that qualifies me doesn't it? Anyways, I just wanted to say that it was a pleasure meeting all you guys; I had a blast. And, I can't wait till the next one. Here is a link to my myspace page, so you guys can see what I've been working on musically for the past year: www.myspace.com/theaustinbrown (http://www.myspace.com/theaustinbrown). John should be uploading the mp3 some time today.
-Austin
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Cool pics John, thanks.
But why did you photo-shop all that gray in my hair? LOL
I did hear from Christian, he and the Seismic Bass made it home fine. I knew he'd have to stop playing his new toy and write us sooner or later.
I'd love to hear the MP3's too. Maybe email some clips.
Thanks again guys for a great time and I am looking forward to the next
T.A.B. (Texas Alembic Bassfest)
Olie
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hey did you guys 'Youtube' anything?......or can you?
(Message edited by keavin on June 11, 2007)
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Olie -
I think my camera is defective - my hair has a distinct grey tint to it also - but when I adjust it to blonde, everything else looks strange
MP3 is about 6 meg, which I don't think we can post. We'll have to find a place to post and link it - maybe youtube.
JFT
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John, email it to me and I'll upload it to my personal web page.
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doesn't everything look strange to blondes anyway?
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thanks danno
glad you liked it
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I see the camera didn't work on Mike or Wayne, hmmm what's up with that?
(Message edited by olieoliver on June 11, 2007)
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Hi Austin; welcome to the board! And yes, I would imagine that being around all those Alembics might whet your appetite.
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ya John , your camera made me look fat, its all your fault!!!!!!!!!
David T
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First I get blamed for Olie's grey hair, then I get blamed for Mike and Wayne's lack of grey hair, now Dave is blaming me for looking fat and he's not even in the picture!?!?!
Y'all be nice . . . you'll scare off all the other players for our next get together . . .
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John I give all the credit for my gray to my wife and kids. LOL
What?s to be scared of, we?ve established that we are, for the most part, a bunch of gray headed ?circumferencely? challenged, medium aged, appreciators of fine instruments.
Totally harmless., heh heh
Olie
PS I had to edit the original post, after reading it back my descriptive word didn't come out like I thought. LOL
(Message edited by olieoliver on June 11, 2007)
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A message about the audio post Olie is posting on his personal web page (Olie, you may want to copy this for the post with the link).
We had some nice grooves going the last time we got together, so this time we set up a small recorder and recorded some stereo tracks. Blue condensor mike with compressor and Focusrite preamp on the left, and an AT4040 condensor and Groove Tubes Brick preamp on the right. No particular mike placement, other than the AT closer to the drums, and the Blue mid-room equidistance from the three amps and drums.
We turned the recorder off and on and various times and just let it run in between, so this was not an organized recording (about 3 hours of raw tape). Austin took it home and edited out a lot of extraneous talking (although Wayne's story of explaining his first Alembic purchase to his wife just after he got married was pretty good) and general plunking.
The result is the recording which is about 6 meg and about 7 minutes. The first minute is pretty quiet nature sounds with a little dialogue, then some bass tracks with some nice transitions created by Austin. Most of what you hear is two, three and sometimes four basses, typically playing a bass line, a solo and either duplicate lines, harmony or chords. Pete does a great job drumming as always.
Obviously not a studio recording (not even anything direct to the board), but better than videotape with some interesting grooves for those who wonder what multiple basses sound like.
Next time we'll try to get a little more organized and make some better recordings - My new goal is to create an Alembic bass band recording with 4 or 5 basses playing simultaneously!
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Sounds interesting; let us know when it's up.
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Ummmm, John, I've just been informed that my lovely wife wouldn't mind hearing that recording of my story about the first Alembic.
Think you could defrag that part of the hard drive??? :-)
C-Ya.....(on the Tollway).....wayne
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Here is the MP3 Austin made. It's a large file and may take a few sec's to download.
Raw Audio (http://home.roadrunner.com/~olieoliver/BassJamFinal.mp3)
(Message edited by olieoliver on June 13, 2007)
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Cool!
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Very cool clip olie. Wish i'd been there.
graeme
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Hey Mike, thanks for sending me the link. And thanks for putting the audio file together, Austin!
Just wanted to say I enjoyed jamming with you guys! Nobody believes me when I tell them, I jammed with a bunch of bass players last week.
We funked out with Olie and Wayne while Mike had fun with melodic lines and Christian rocked the house. It was a pretty cool combination.
Looking forward to next time!
Later,
Pete (the drummer)
...that's my name now. First name Pete, last name the drummer. I like it!
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Hey, Pete!
I wondered if you'd make an appearance. Everyone meet Pete, Pete meet everyone. For the record, Pete is the best drummer I've ever had the pleasure to play with. And the fact that he doesn't mind spending an occasional Saturday afternoon with a bunch of bassists says something, too. Not sure what it is, but I'm sure it's something...
Mike
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Here here . . . I'll second Mike's endorsement of Pete the drummer. Thanks for hanging with us.
JT
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Yes Pete. I will third that. I really enjoyed jamming with you at our first gathering and I look forward to repeating that in the near future. Thank you!
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So Pete, I notice you have the same last name as Bill the drummer from the first Dead album - you kin?
Peter
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Let's see.... We have about 1192 bass players, 200 guitar players, and 1 drummer. If we could find a keyboard player we could start a band.....
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Hah! That's pretty funny. :-)
I don't know, I may be kin to Bill the drummer.
There's a couple of Bill's and at least one other drummer in my family. So, maybe...
And I know a good keyboard player...
Later,
Pete TD
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If I can I'd like to make to a gathering. Maybe if Mike (Dela 217) is back in town I could bum a ride. Hmmm...
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We've already talked about maybe a fall event. I'll keep you posted.
ANd if you're ever in the DFW area let me know and maybe we could hook up for an afternoon jam.
Olie
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I was just there for the Rush conert. I didn't think about it.
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Are you guys planning to make it a seasonal thing? Maybe every 3 months or so? I'm actually intrigued by the idea of a multiple Alembic bass band. I would take part in it, if nothing else for the posterity. Ha, let's call Guinness and go for the world record for most bassists in a band, and most basses on a recording.
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Of course, we would have to do a cover of Big Bottom from Spinal Tap.
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I always ready to play.
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I too !!
;o))
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Call Guinness? I'm there!