1985 Distillate

[jeffbass4]

Art,
 Thank you so much!  I just love them all (the basses) because they are all unique in their own way!! But at rehearsal this week after playing the BC Rich and Flea Bass for a couple of days, I took the Alembic with me yesterday and I was just thinking to myself...it was like coming home. Its just the best!
 The Flea is one of the 1st ones and it has the no longer available Lane Poor pickup. It really does sound great and the pickup it super responsive to nuances. You can't play sloppy on this one either. Some players have said they just don't like the sound of the graphite neck. The BC Rich electronics were improved by Mike Lull and that is a really good sounding bass now too. Inside the control cavity was a mess when it was new.  :-(
  By the way, I talked to Evan and he has in the past owned an Essense 4-string and a 4-string Exploiter. Steve Fossen, the original bassist for Heart works there also and a while back he sold several of his basses thru the store that were aquired during the hayday. There were some Alembics in that group. Nice guy too.
Anyway, cheers everyone. Happy 4th of July!!

[artswork99]

Happy 4th to you too!
If you speak with Evan again would you mind asking him to speak with Steve about the Hyak brand. I had always heard that Heart played on Hyak gear for a bit during the companies short existence.  I've had one of the basses since 1980 and there is so little in print anywhere about them.  I like to hear stories behind the gear if possible.
Best, Art

[David Houck]

There are some previous threads about one or more Steve Fossen basses on the forum; a search on Steve Fossen should turn them up.

[artswork99]

Thanks for that info Dave.  I'll do that search too.

[peoplechipper]

Try to find Neil Peart at a bike shop or motorcycle shop before the gig; he is quite the two-wheel fan...my brother met him at a bicycle shop he worked at years ago...I think he's more motorcycle these days...Tony