Hi Kevin,
 
Those black strings on ET are LaBella's (Deep Talkin' Bass) nylon flatwounds.  They are the smoothest, clearest, and best singing nylon flats I ever tried.  I'm totally in love with them!
 
On Dark Prince, the strings are Ken Smith Rock Masters.  Part of their visual effect is the purple wrapping that looks awsome with the Purpleheart wood.  They sound really clear and brite.  At first, I found them a little too aggressive, but I grew to really like them.  I call Dark Prince the king of sustain!  With the Ebony and Purpleheart neck, it rings like a bell....and doesn't seem to want to stop.  Awsome Bass!
 
My next project is an all Ebony/Purpleheart Bass like Dark Prince, but fretless and featuring Series II electronics.  Can't wait!
 
Rami

I don't have as many basses as I used to.  I have been through a lot of them.  Mostly Alembic Series 1 instruments.  I have had some Alembic Distillates, Spoilers, and Series 2's as well. This is what I am down to, but probably will change as I decide to sell another.  
 
1972 Alembic 72-16  
1973 Alembic 73-30  
1973 Alembic 73-47  
1974 Alembic 74-49  
1981 Alembic 81-1814 (Series 2 Graphite neck)  
2000 Alembic Custom - Retro Appeal!!!
   
Non Alembics, but have a connection:  
1979 Hyak - Medium scale, and was used as the factory demo. I have had 2 other Hyaks that I have sold over the years.  
   
19?? Becvar - No serial number, year unknown, but I suspect it is a 1978 (Stars hardware, 2 truss rods)  
   
1980 Turner Model 1.    
   
Some Alembics I used to have (That I can remember anyway)  
 
1972 Guild/Alembic  
1973 73-33  
1974 74ao13  
1974 74-62  
1975 75A0492nd  
1975 75-229 (very fancy brass pickup trim rings)  
1976 76A062 (Small body, Long scale)  
1976 76-??? (Omega body, Medium scale)  
1976 76-??? (Small body, Long scale)  
1977 77-??? (Small Standard in walnut)  
1978 78-1058  
1978 78-1168  
1978 Series II(Don't remember the serial)  
1979 79-? (Small Standard in Birds Eye Maple)  
1983 (I think) 5 string Graphite neck Series 1  
1989 89-AMpp001 (Anniversary Model)  
Distillates  
Spoilers  
   
I am sure that there are lots more, but this is what I remember for now.  As I remember more and dig up pictures, I will edit my post.  Some of these Alembics I had for years, some for just a few days.  Here in New Orleans, there are a bunch.  It is not that uncommon to see them advertised in the local classifieds.  
 
(Message edited by dela217 on January 16, 2004)
 
(Message edited by dela217 on February 23, 2004)

Kent:
 
I don't get too shook up about wood, but you're right:  Basswood (poplar) should be prohibited by federal law!
 
J o e y

89  Alembic 20th Anniversary  
62  Fender Jazz (re-issue)  
66  Fender Precision (fretless w/J bridge PU)
80s Schecter  PBass (Telecaster style)
80s Yamaha BB5000
90s Danelectro Longhorn  
90s Washburn AB40 (acoustic/electric fretless)  
90s Azola Bugbass (EUB)  
60s Kay upright
 
(Message edited by gbarchus on February 28, 2004)

Hey!
 
Now that's a lot of Alembics you've had! My current basses are:
 
87-Series II Long scale 4 string Coco Bolo
75-Series I Short scale 4 string (I guess made of walnut)
Status Graphite II, headless 4 string
Jaydee 4 string
SDGR 4 string fretless
Aria Pro II 4 string
 
Waiting to get my hands on the brand new 10 string Chapman Stick arriving this spring!
 
All the Bass
Jan

Brother Jan the Boat one,
 
have you read: I was next to your boat a good month ago. So there were your ALembics hiding. There was a Christmas tree and lights on deck so I thought there was someone on board.
Didn't get the nerves to knock. BEsides there was a snowstorm goin' on.
 
How is your trip around the world??
 
Paul the bad one

http://www.sonofthor.com/images/basses1a.gif  
 http://www.sonofthor.com/images/basses2a.gif  
Isn't there a way to post a link to an image so it will display???  
 
This doesn't show my other upright, cello, sitar, sarod, tabla, soprano sax, rhodes piano, micro moog, tama drums, what else I forget...  
 
(Message edited by Son of Magni on January 18, 2004)
 
(Message edited by Son of Magni on January 18, 2004)

I now have one less bass than I had a few days ago thanks to some lowlife thieves who broke into our studio last week. $20k worth of recording gear and microphones and a $6k DW drum set and all they took was my St. Blues Jazz bass and a cheap Peavey Guitar from my guitarist. At least they left the cases. That's why I never left an Alembic there. Thank God. If an Alembic had gone missing I'm certain I would be sick over it. My heart goes out to those who have lost an Alembic in this fashion....
 
I guess I'll get to know every music store, pawn shop and 2nd hand store in the tri-state area.
 
JP

Scumbags.  I hope you get all the gear back when they catch the crack heads.

Gosh ...a horror story.
My world would collapse completely if thos happened to me. Okay ...there is insurance but anyway ...it's a (girl)friend for over years you loose. And ...I only have one!
Well ...I hope they catch the bassnappers.
 
Paul the bad one

Back in 1979 my Series 1 got stolen from our studio while we were out having a bite to eat, I took off the next 3 days off to take pictures to all the music stores and three weeks later I get a call from a music store and was told my Bass had just came in for repairs,(the batterys were dead and they didn't steal the power supply) he said he fix it and it would be ready the next day, so it was left there. when I got there 17 mim later(after a 130mph drive) I ID the bass and locked the case. when the person came in the next day to pick up my bass he was met by 4 Policemen and hauled to jail. The Police did keep my bass for 9 months however the case was still locked and nobody could get at the bass they tore up the case,and I still keep my bass in that case. When we were ripped off they took my bass in a new case and another guitar in a new case and left a 1958 strat in a ratty looking case.
 
the moral of this story, Never put Batterys in your bass and Amp rack your power supply,and don't worry about what your case looks like and NEVER leave your Alembic anywhere , I WAS LUCKY, I got mine back
 
David T (the loud one)

Brother David TT,
 
I never thought of keeping the batteries out of the bass. I thought they were ALWAYS needed for something in the Series??
Well ...you'll never too old to learn!!!
 
Paul the bad one

i had a close call a couple years ago at a studio.
went to a recording/rehersal studio to practice with a band a friend knew. turned out to be about 6 guitar players, 2 drummers, a couple of
singers & myself. after the jam i went packed everything up and was ready to leave, went to the bathroom and when i came back the case sitting next to my speakers was not mine. i flew to the parking lot just in time to catch 1 of the guitar players trying to leave with my europa. i stopped him told him to open the case and it was my bass not his guitar. he of course tried to say it was a mistake. all i can say is he was lucky to leave there alive thanks to my friend pleading for the guys life. moral of the story: never leave an alembic unattended.

JP, I bet your drummer is sick.  DW is like their version of Alembic.  How do people live with themselves?

Sam, all - We were lucky that none of the recording gear or drums were even touched other than the dust covers removed to reveal what was under them. I was surprised that with all that expensive gear in the room all they chose to take was two relatively cheap guitars while leaving behind the cases. It could have been much worse. The guy who has the room next to ours, an artist, didn't lose anything but his room was totally trashed. The drummer wasted no time getting his DW's out of there and leaving the 'cheap' Ludwigs.... I visited a lot of music stores and pawn shops over the weekend. No luck. Next up are all the second hand shops. That's going to be a pain.
 
How do they live with themselves? Good question. My hope is they get an overdose from the heroin they exchanged the instruments for and choke on their own vomit. Or someone elses' vomit. Doesn't matter as long as they choke to death slowly. Heroin has been a growing problem in this area as of late and the local police departments have been blaming it for the increase in crimes as of late. Personally, I think it's a combination of drugs and economy but that's a thread for an entirely different forum, eh?
 
John Paul