Author Topic: Classico In concert (Read 1236 times)

ghost · « **on:** January 15, 2008, 01:48:20 PM »

Alembic Classico being played by Malcolm Windett in the British folk rock band 'State of Undress' (www.stateofundress.com). Note this Classico is as far as I know one of only two with a stereo setup. (Note the six pots) There are Peizo Pickups set into the bridge as well as the Alembic one. I dont know but I think this was one of the first to be built as it has no serial number. Maybe Mica could throw some light on its history. I think it was customised in germany by a swiss luthier.

jacko · « **Reply #1 on:** December 30, 2009, 02:39:19 AM »

Nice bass malcolm. I'm also very impressed with your other alembics 9as seen in your website). The only bad thing is that you never seem to get much further north than dorset ;-) How about travelling up to Scotland sometime? We have an annual 'Celtic connections' festival in Glasgow every january that would suit your music perfectly.

graeme

mica · « **Reply #2 on:** December 30, 2009, 08:48:27 AM »

How did I miss this?! If this was the first Classico (which I think it is), it was originally owned by John Giblin. I know he had it customized with a piezo pickup and that the work was either done in Germany or Switzerland. Neato!

Look for the serial number stamped on the ledge of one of the electronics cavities.

ghost · « **Reply #3 on:** December 31, 2009, 12:08:48 PM »

Mica

Thanks for the email. I bought the Classico from a bass player in Switzerland (I believe he played for Abdullah Abrahim) and was under the impression that he had worked with a German luthier and said that two were modified. I think they were both modified at the same time and so this may or may not be John Gilpin's (he was the person who first inspired my fretless bass playing when he was playing bass for John Martin). It is a marvelous bass and turns heads whenever I use it at major venues. The serial number is 93CB7985 and I would love to know more of its history. If it was not the first let me know what number it was and who owned it. How many Classicos have you made?

I generally use a five string Elan which was my first Alembic and a Washburn fretless accoustic with my main band 'State of Undress' www.stateofundress.com . If you check the photo section you will see I also have a six string custom Alembic with series 2 electronics which I mainly use for recording as its sound is stunning. I use Phil Jones Bass amps with my basses as they are very transparent and let the quality of the Alembics shine through.

Malcolm

ghost · « **Reply #4 on:** December 31, 2009, 12:22:38 PM »

Jacko We tend to play around the South of England as there is alot of demand for us here (40 gigs for 2010 confirmed so far) but we do venture north into Scotland when we are touring. In 2009 did Berwick on Tweed, Edinburgh, Lanark, Dumfries and Troon as part of our autumn tour. We will be in Scotland as part of our spring tour and so far we are booked to play again Sat 15th May: Inn at Lathones, Largoward, St Andrews, Scotland. Sun 16th May: Henry Travis Room, The Maltings, Berwick-on-Tweed. and are possibly going to Montrose on the 14th May (still in negotiation). We may add another date on the 13th if we could find a suitable venue. Keep an eye on the website www.stateofundress.com for dates. If you get to a gig come and say hi.

We will try for Celtic Connections 2011 as we became aware of the festival when we did a radio show for Celtic Radio in Glasgow last summer. We are not well known in Scotland so getting into festivals there is not easy, if you have any good contacts with the festivals give us their details ( Malcolm@windett.com )and we will send them a promotional pack.