Anthony Jackson's Journey To 6-String Supremacy

[funkyjazzjunky]

I read the BassPlayer article about Anthony Jackson's Journey to 6-String Supremacy last fall.  I am amazed that after playing a Carl Thompson 6 (beautiful to look at but unplayable), a Ken Smith 6, and 9 variations of Fodera 6 string basses, he did not have the bass he really wanted until Fodera built his current model (AJ Bass # 10)
 
I would think that Alembic would have gotten it right with one or two tries at the most.

[tubeperson]

Remember though, Anthony is an East Coast guy.  So am I, but I have found the exceptional quality of Alembics worth the trip.  We must constantly educate the other players why we lust after our own.  When was the last time Bass Player did a writeup of an Alembic Series?

[hieronymous]

I thought that was a great article with incredible pictures of some of those historic basses. A lot of people complain about Bass Player magazine but lately they've had some good articles, especially that Anthony Jackson article. Been listening to his playing too on Chaka Khan's Naughty - love the bass line on Clouds!

[dannobasso]

Anthony was the true inspiration for me to move to 6 string bass in  87. The shot of him with that Smith playing with DiMeola just hit me. I called Fodera to build me a six in the Jackson model, a friend of mine was an endorser at the time and the guys completely blew me off. But I must say they were great when the string sets I was using always broke on the B string windings. They sent me replacements and 2 full sets. I met Vinnie at a AJ seminar at Sam Ash with Mike Pope and Matt Garrison. I mentioned about them blowing me off and he said you can't win em' all. BTW Anthony didn't play a note he just discussed gear, care of your axe, learn to do your own adjustments and using hifi cables and isolation coasters for your cabinets.I mentioned I loved his sound on Electric Rendevous and he said it was a Fender.

[white_cloud]

Even though this is the Alembic club I feel its a little disrespectful to to hint that Alembic would have perhaps done a better job than Fodera. In fairness I believe that credit must go where credit is due!  
 
Fodera have captured the imagination and endorsement of a lot of very fine and extremely talented players recently - Anthony, Matt Garrison, Hadrien Feraud etc - for the very simple reason that they build gorgeous, playable basses with a simply superb pre-amp.
 
Its a shame that very high profile players of this moment in time are not choosing Alembic - but I am sure that they are all very much aware of Alembic and have chosen not to use them for a specific reason...wether we like it or not... one mans meat is another mans poison.
 
John.

[dannobasso]

No endorsement policy may be a factor, maybe not. I spoke with the Epifani guys at NAMM and we discussed about how brands can get too associated with one type of player. Many Fodera cats use Epi but they are not household names despite their amazing talents. I use Epifani amps and UL cabs for heavy music but I think I'm in the minority. If Fodera built me my bass maybe I wouldn't be on my 9th custom Alembic order and 2 refinishes but the Wickershams have been adding to the quality of my life since 1983 so they get the nod. I'd still love a Fodera but Susan and Mica always take good care of me. Maybe its the female touch?

[funkyjazzjunky]

John,
 
I am not a little disrespectful, I am very disrepectful.
 
But in all fairness, it did take Anthony Jackson multiple tries with multiple vendors before he had the instrument that he truly wanted.
 
 
 
(Message edited by FunkyJazzJunky on February 23, 2009)

[olieoliver]

I think Danno is right about the no endorsement policy. I think a lot of big name players choose their gear on the basis of who gives 'em the most. Not knocking them mind you, I'd do the same thing were I in their shoes.  
 
In fact I am accepting offers for endorsements now should there  be any vendors reading this thread and I swear you're product is the best
 
OO
(I'd still own my Alembics though, after all they are the best)

[82daion]

I suspect that the reason AJ has been through a few Foderas in his time is rooted more in his highly discriminating and/or changing taste rather than any fault with the instruments themselves.  Phil Lesh has been through numerous basses over the course of his career-is the fact that he moved away from Alembic the fault of Alembic, or is it because Phil's taste as a player changed?
 
From reading the article, it seems as though Jackson has remained loyal to Fodera as a result of them being some of, if not the first builders to consider the 6 as a legitimate instrument and their willingness to accommodate his ideas and changing tastes as an artist.
 
It's impossible to speculate as to whether Alembic would have built him a better instrument-Jackson's current bass, a singlecut with a single pickup wired straight to the jack, is unlike anything in the Alembic line, and it seems unlikely that Alembic would ever build such an instrument.  
 
I'm just glad that we have so many great builders to choose from. Their co-existence is not mutually exclusive, and the great variety of luthiers now practicing their craft means that players are more likely to get a bass that truly suits them, be it from Alembic or from someone else.

[olieoliver]

I was a charter subscriber to BassPlayer magazine way back when they started. I cancelled my subsrciption when the gear reviews started to become very biased toward their advertisers and the ads out numbered the articles.
 
OO

[dannobasso]

They built 3- 6's, 1- 7, 5- 5's and 1 -4 for me with a 10 in the works.  
They will build what you want as long as it is a sound and usable instrument. Note the Alembird, SG, Tribute, Exploiter, and a myriad of other projects. I'm told that they are completing a bass with the guts outside the bass for a customer as we type. Never say never. I appreciate a number of makers and will in time when my finances dictate get a Warrior, or Fodera or other such bass and it will be a six fo' sho'. Unless I can manage a series 2.....