Harry, That was a really nice way to start my Friday.  Thank YOU.

I got a new truss rod cover for the Alem-85:



It was done by Frets On The Net - I think he did a good job, a Guild aficionado will notice that the truss rod is backwards but the traditional orientation won't fit with the replacement tuners (they were there when I got it, I actually really like the look, the post has a bigger diameter than the standard tuners of the time)

I haven't played this bass in a while! Been focusing on the AlFeMBoses...

Is that one of those fat finger thingies clipped on the top or your tuner. if so did you try it on your other AlFeMboses neck to get rid of the dead spot before getting the new neck?

Like the new truss-rod cover.    I recently had one made for an obscure Gibson bass that 'came home' after an extended loan-out. Philadelphia Luthiers Tools does custom engraving, and I've had them do a few for me. (they also have some great tools I use in my shop...)


I think this is my favorite of your basses. Although that doubleneck is pretty cool too!

Quote from: edwardofhuncote on November 19, 2024, 05:44:41 AM
Like the new truss-rod cover.    I recently had one made for an obscure Gibson bass that 'came home' after an extended loan-out. Philadelphia Luthiers Tools does custom engraving, and I've had them do a few for me. (they also have some great tools I use in my shop...)

I think this is my favorite of your basses. Although that doubleneck is pretty cool too!

Custom truss rod covers are a fun and cheap way to spruce up an instrument, huh? Although I've been favoring the AlFeMBoses recently, the ALEM-85 definitely holds a special place in my heart!

jazzyvee, it IS a Fatfinger™ - its effect is magical on this instrument - there was zero sustain on the 7th fret D on the G string - I thought maybe a groove had been worn in the fingerboard, it was that bad, but the Fatfinger™ has magically removed all dead spots that I can tell! I tried on my Precision Basses but with almost zero results, hence the graphite neck - though I have also been interested in them since the '90s when a couple of my favorite bassists used them - Oteil Burbridge with Modulus and Mark White of Spin Doctors with a graphite necked Jazz Bass.

Gonna try and start posting more - I used the AleM-85 with the band I've been playing with, all live improv in the studio, mixed later by me:



And longer audio of the first piece (can hear the bass better here - I'm on the bridge pickup by accident at the beginning, then switch - in hindsight, I love the bridge pup by itself here!)

Soundcloud audio

Sounds great - the bass, your playing, and the groove. I could listen to that for a lot more than 2 minutes, if you feel like uploading more
Are we hearing the bass direct, or is your rig mic'd, or both? And what are you playing through?
Glad you posted!

Nice jammin', Harry!   You guys sound great.  Cool video too.   Do you know what kind of camera your videographer was using?

Bill, tgo

Quote from: mavnet on July 08, 2026, 11:47:02 AMSounds great - the bass, your playing, and the groove. I could listen to that for a lot more than 2 minutes, if you feel like uploading more
Are we hearing the bass direct, or is your rig mic'd, or both? And what are you playing through?
Glad you posted!

Thanks! The bass is 99% direct - I am going thru an interesting rig, an Alembic F-1X into a power amp whose brand I forget, and two Bag End speakers. So nice rig! But I don't like to be too loud in the room so that I don't bleed into the kick mic (or not too much), so I record direct. My pedalboard changes from time to time - basically either CAE/CAJ V-Comp into Tech21 Geddy Lee SansAmp, or JHS Punchline, with MXR bass octave deluxe, often a 3Leaf Proton envelope filter, and lately an Earthquaker Devices Blumes distortion. The Punchline is basically compressor and amp sim with built in DI (also distortion & eq but I don't use those much). The pedalboard is ever-evolving, but I feel like I have a basic approach that works. 

More stuff on my YouTube & Soundcloud channels - been playing with this group for about a year, may have another session next week!

Quote from: lbpesq on July 08, 2026, 11:53:12 AMNice jammin', Harry!  You guys sound great.  Cool video too.  Do you know what kind of camera your videographer was using?

Bill, tgo

Hey Bill! It's an Insta360 360 degree video camera - I got the X5 last year. I set it up in the middle, it records pretty much everything! Then afterwards I can edit the video (with their app only that I'm aware of). The audio capture is pretty good, but I have also gotten audio recordings of the sessions and working on multitracks with Reaper. At one of the rehearsal studios we play at, the drummer has 90% of the kit mic'd and gives me multitrack recordings of the night (including direct bass and each guitar mic'd). At the guitarist's studio, I bring my Zoom H6, the guitarist has mics ready (usually kick, overhead, 1 mic/guitar & I do bass direct). 

Warning: video files are huge memory-wise! I maxed out the memory card - but what cost around 80 USD last year is something like 200 USD now! So I wiped the card and started over, hoping that I have what I need on a hard drive somewhere...