Why would anyone do this to an Alembic?

[James L. Martin (malthumb)]

You don't need a sanity check, Joey.  Now me, on the other hand......
 
I just have this thing about wood.  I have hardwood floors, a humongous wood deck,  A lot of wood grained furnishings.  I occasionaly have cars with wood grain interiors.  If something is wood, then doggone it I want to see the grain.  And it had better be a nice grain.
 
If (and that's a mighty large IF) I were to have a painted Alembic it would have to look something like this...
 
 
 
Peace,
 
James

[Daniel Tracey (dannobasso)]

Everyone has a preference for finishes. I truly love figured woods. I've got some babies in quilted, flamed maple, fleme koa, figured walnut ,koa and coco bolo. But there are some musical styles that don't lend themselves to these finishes. Like it or not, some fans won't accept the look of these kinds of instruments. Warwick has made some inroads to having a wood bass appear normal in videos and print ads. I had an excel 5 made with almost black finish. It's kind of like the Gibson Joe Perry model Les Paul. I'm waiting on my oldest (battle worn) spoiler to be reborn in it's new black coat. Oh Blackie where are you?  Jason Newstead had some Alembics finished in black for Metallica. That band's fans may not take to an ornate bass for the dark music that Jason Produced. You can't get around the fact that image has a lot to do with the business of music. No matter what it looks like, underneath it all it's still an Alembic.

[Earl Schreyer (eschreyer2)]

Thanks James, that's my baby (the human too). That picture is a little dark. Actually you can see through the finish a lot better depending on the light.  
Thanks,  
Earl  
 
 
(Message edited by eschreyer2 on March 10, 2003)

[David M. McKenney (david_mckenney)]

I like the original picture better: Daddy? Can I go to bed now?;

[mica]

This bass was a pretty one, I remember it. I think the old distributor in Norway used it in a magazine ad. I'll fumble through the files someday and see if I can't find out this bass' true face for you all.
 
You gotta love Norway. They have the higest percentage of strange finishes from the factory. We made one Spoiler as a Slimeburst chartreuse at the center bursted to a bright kelly green, all metalflake.  
 
Another one was the mother of bowling ball shell of a bass drum converted to a Spoiler top (drummer migrating to bass).
 
My favorite shipment to Norway included a bass that was to look like a Harley (there go those motorcycles again) that had been in an accident. We painted it all black with lots of chrome hardware.  Then, we tied it to a Fat Boy and drove it down the street. It got scratches, gouges, a pebble or two imbedded and was just what the customer wanted.

[Russ Carreiro (zappahead)]

I do like to see painted, colorfull Alembics. I absolutely love the woodgrains and the natural finishes on most instruments from Alembic, but I also love to see the various bursts and colors as well. In my experience the instruments that are finished in a color are more interesting sometimes because they tend to be rare as most Alembics I see simply chose to showoff the wood instead of painting over it.
 
That being said, Gold sparkle rates pretty low down on my list of colors Id like to see on an Alembic. I would like to see more burst colors though, they really seem to do a great job on them. Id also love to see some custom paintjobs. Ive never seen a custom, factory job from Alembic that I can think of.

[Frank Goodrick (yggdrasil)]

Bass NW has had an interesting painted Alembic on their site for awhile , described as  a contoured Mahogany body and a custom Blue Steel Chrome Illusion finish which is one of the most incredible finishes that we have ever seen. It changes color when you move it in the light. The bass also has matching continuous Blue Steel Chrome Illusion backplates and Chrome plated hardware.  
 
The pix is currently at:
 
http://www.bassnw.com/New%20Exotic%20%20Basses/alembic_custom_contoured_4_st_blue_steel.htm

[Valentino Villevieille (valvil)]

I had the luck to hold that bass in one of my visits to Alembic.  The contoured body curves in the back, much like a Spector NS bass, so that it tucks very well against your body. I remember Susan saying that the top laminate had to be about twice the thickness of a standard one to get the contour body thing happening.  The paint job is pretty awsome, even if it does cover up the wood.

[Russ Carreiro (zappahead)]

That is a really attractive bass Frank. They really do some nice work and they seem to have some nice color schemes available. What a choice, keep the wonderfull woodgrain appearance or get a custom paint job. You have to love Alembic.

[Gerald E. Greene (flash)]

hey mica: on the harley dragged bass, did you have to rework some of the stuff in and on it because I can't beleave that thing made it through that type of abuse with out something going wrong with it? what a wierd request for someone to ask for!!
 
peace
 
Flash

[Michael Delacerda (dela217)]

Someone wanted a bass dragged through the street BEFORE they got it?!? Oh my! I have visions in my head of all the folks from Alembic coming outside to cheer it on and laugh at it. Mica, I hope you have pictures of that!  I'll bet it was fun.

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Hi brothers,
 
coooo-cooo I'm baa-ack!
Brother Dino Of course I defend you (but not so wild as normal because I'm still on the flu!)
 
About the gold bass?
I like it!
It's an Alembic on the first place!
It's a show-tool secondly.
If I would be so lucky to go on a tour and I could afford me some Alembics I certainly would ask in some coloured ones.
I remember Armand SL playing a nice red SII SS.
I like reddish/amber colours where the wood-grain comes through.
However: in a situation I am now I could only afford 1 (or 2 - ahlalla those dreams) Alembics I prefer the natural look and the colour-tones of the wood. Even then one can go pretty extreme I guess.
But yes ...I like colours ...as extra.
 
Paul
 
Dino, don't touch your Elan with that can chrome-silver spray paint, keep it for your Harley ;-)