Jet,
thank you. I know they are great but when see all those great basses I would like to have them all. Especially of course JE owned basses.
A bass I\m really sad that I had sold it was a 54 Gibson EB1 violin bass. Mint with case and telescopic pin. This is a real collector item; but not playable. This can only be a collectors piece. But I will go on the hunt for original JE owned pieces.  
 
Everybody calls me the quiet one, you can see  
 but you can?t hear me
This might be true in my normal life, but with my Spyders not, believe me.....
 
Oliver (Spyderman)

The first Alembic I ever saw in person was a JE-owned bass.    
 
This was at a guitar show in Valley Forge, PA (USA) circa 1996.  I don't remember much about the bass (no one was allowed to touch it).  It might have been a triple-omega or exploiter, but I'm not sure.  Although I was a huge JE fan, I hadn't been biten by the Alembic-bug yet.  There was a huge crowd ooo-ing and ahh-ing around it so I didn't get the chance to inspect it up close.  
 
At the time I was craving a 6-string F-bass, which I never bought.  Funny how our tastes change.  I still think F-basses are really nice, but I can't imagine owning anything other than Alembics now.  
 
Since the topic of this thread is how many basses  ...  I'll add that my current stable consists of two.  A '03 fretless Brown Bass and a '96 Custom 5-string.
 
Kevin
 
(Message edited by goatfoot on January 15, 2004)

Currently, my stable is:
 
'00 fretted Rogue 6 (the wenge one in the current catalog)
 
'01 fretless Rogue 6 (Growling Tiger)
 
'03(?) Dean Rhapsody 8 string (the need for an 8 isn't frequent enough to justify the cost of an Alembic)
 
1880's German flatback upright, maker unknown
 
gone but not forgotten
 
Klira Hofner copy
 
'72 Fender P-bass, which I Frankensteined 6 ways from Sunday
 
70's Rick 4001, on which I replaced the neck PU with a Hi-A (early Bartolini)humbucker.  Enlarged the cavity with spade bit and chisel, sa e method used on the above P bass.  I'm still doing penance....
 
early 80's Ibanez Roadstar, the one with the push-push coil tap switches on the volume pots, from which I learned that basswood has a lovely weight, but sounds like poop.
 
late 70's Guild B301
 
Steinberger XM-4 (I think) graphite neck and full body
 
Travis Bean
 
'63 P bass
 
Turner Electroline fretless
 
MJ Jazz 5 string
 
Warmoth wide 5, body with urban camouflage finish--flourescent pink, green, yellow, and block in a camo pattern--hey, it was the 80's.
 
'77 Music Man StingRay
 
early Clevinger electric upright with enormous rectangular telescoping endpin
 
Ibanez Musician 8 string
 
'95 Epic 5
 
'98 Orion fretless 5
 
probably more that I can't remember at the moment.
 
When I got my first Alembic (the Epic 5), I owned 5 or 6 other basses, and for a while I was carrying 3 or 4 basses to all my gigs.  Pretty soon I noticed that when I was playing the others I was constantly tweaking knobs trying to find a sound.  When I strapped on the Alembic, knob twiddling ceased and the other basses would spend the rest of the night on the stand.  When I had the privelege of working at Alembic I got to play LOTS of them (whatta gig, eh Val?) and learned that, as much as I loved my Epic, I would someday have to own neck-throughs.  Switching to 6 string was my justification for getting first my fretted and later my fretless Rogue (plus, I *had* to have that 35 scale!).  I still check out other basses, but none of them ever comes close as far as I'm concerned.  That's why I love the Club--y'all Get It!
 
Kent

Kent, that Growling Tiger Rogue of yours is really something else.  I still enjoy looking at it in the Custom Archive.  Did you ever find the strings you were looking for it?
 
I really dig those LaBella nylon flats on my Evil Twin Rogue.  Despite what it's been through...it's become my all time favorite Bass.
 
Rami

The original Paul the John one,
Oops.  My bad.  I suppose that makes me Paul the John one two or some such.  Maybe I can just use PtJ12 though it doesn't have nearly the class of PtJo... ;-)
PtJ12

Oh yeah I got the LaBellas (thx Mica!) a few months back and they are so fabulous on Tiger that I'm tempted to try them on my fretted (never named it--but maybe I should call it Cat given its history and the thematic tie-in with the fretless!).  I'm happy with the DR HiBeams I've been using and I'd have to replace the low B saddle to accomodate the taper core low B of the LaBellas.  BTW, if you ever get up[ Santa Rosa way, my shop is right on the way to Alembic--be glad to arrange a visit with the Tiger if you wish.
 
Kent

Thanks Kent!  I'd love to.  I'll bring my Rogues as well.  
You're also welcome to try out my current (still under construction) Black Byrd Rogue, while it's still there.  
 
We're putting the LaBella's on that one too!  
 
Cheers,  
 
Rami
 
(Message edited by rami on January 15, 2004)

PtJ12,
 
LOL!! Perhap using Roman numerals will add a touch of class? PtJoII? Where's Paul TBO to sort this out?
 
JP

Jet,
Then I can be like the fingerboard of Entwistle's bass.  Mmmmmmmm... Entwistle's bass....
PtJoII

I'm jealous of all your collections.  I'd like to play the basses listed in this thread.  Here's my deal:  I played a lot in my teens and 20's, then took a loooooong time off, only playing here and there.  In the past year I've been playing again and enjoy it more than I ever did!
 
I'm within weeks of ordering my first custom Alembic:
5 string Mark King Dlx  
Cocobolo with Mahogany core
3/4 balance omega  (see Kevin's bass in Factory to customer)
Medium scale (short fingers)
Anniversary electronics/Fatboys
Prepped for S2 upgrade
 
Currently:
'88 Spoiler 4 string (Bubinga Vector body - In Showcase) - My 1st Alembic - May sell to finance upgrades to my rig (for new Alembic)
?? Black Ibanez Soundgear 5 string - Really nice bass for very low price - I tried 5 string, liked it
 
Till recently:
'75 Black Jazz Bass - Owned 25 years  
?? Black Epiphone Jack Casady - Fun bass, but wasn't playing it enough
 
Years ago:
'73 Rick 4001 Jetglow - I miss it so...
?? VOX Cherry semi-hollow with built-in distortion and tuner! - Wild, fun bass with 1.5 in wide, super fast neck
Assorted Japanese semihollow imports
 
Bill

Here's a home pic of the "Evil Twin"  this was to be the orginal "Dark Prince".  I've developed a real attatchement to this Bass - my favorite!      

   

   If you ever wondered whether or not a Bass could be described as "Sexy" - here is the answer!   (Message edited by rami on January 15, 2004)  (Message edited by rami on January 15, 2004)

Rami,
 
That Macassar Ebony is so stunning. Both, this one and the other half of the twins are the most beautiful basses I've ever seen. Thanks for the picture. I wonder how they sound.
 
Manfred

Thanks Manfred for the kind words...
 
These Basses sing...and sing, and sing!
 
I'm always happy and proud to offer a try to anyone who asks.
 
 
Best wishes,
 
Rami

Hi Rami,
 
Just curious, what strings are you using on the Evil Twin?  The effect of the black strings on the Macassar Ebony is stunning.  How do the strings sound?  I'm looking for a good set of short-scale flats for my BB.
 
I notice that you have 36 scale on both ET and DP.  I play a 36 custom 5 string.  Isn't the B just the greatest?
 
Since I'm asking about strings ... what are you using on DP?  I'm using DR Highbeams now and I like the way they sound but the B string is a little too short and the windings end just at the nut.
 
Kevin

 
 
(Message edited by rami on January 16, 2004)