Author Topic: Andy West interview (Read 150 times)

hieronymous · « **on:** September 14, 2011, 11:02:11 PM »

Someone on another forum pointed out a website with a bunch of interviews by Jas Obrecht - I remember him from Guitar Player magazine back in the '80s. This interview with Dixie Dregs bassist Andy West has some great references to Alembic!

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** September 16, 2011, 09:46:54 AM »

Cool interview; thanks!

jos · « **Reply #2 on:** September 17, 2011, 12:52:43 AM »

Andy West is one of my favorites a really great bass player!!!

edwin · « **Reply #3 on:** September 19, 2011, 05:16:38 PM »

Seeing Dixie Dregs in the late 70s and early 80s gave me the same reaction as seeing the Aquarium Rescue Unit in the early 90s. Best band in the world. Both had phenomenal bass work.

Andy's Alembic was for sale for a long time at Cambridge Music in Porter Sq in the early 90s. I played it a number of times, but was too poor to purchase it.

elwoodblue · « **Reply #4 on:** September 19, 2011, 06:34:43 PM »

Is there any info on Andy's bass here or elsewhere?
The two canon jacks are intriguing ; was there an extra to control his synth ?

Thanks for the link Harry,

hieronymous · « **Reply #5 on:** September 19, 2011, 09:06:47 PM »

Edwin - did that bass have crazing in the finish? I think I might have played it without knowing its pedigree...

edwin · « **Reply #6 on:** September 19, 2011, 09:27:16 PM »

Yes, it did. This is when Cambridge Music was in Porter Sq. upstairs. It also had no truss rod cover and only one trussrod.

However, I don't seem to recall the dual XLR output jacks. Maybe it was a different one? Of course, it's possible that I just didn't know anything about it.

They used to have great instruments for killer prices in the 80s. Strats were all less than $400, SGs between $350-500, Les Pauls around $500 as were 335s. Teles were really cheap and blackface Fender amps were also cheap and plentiful. Too bad I was so broke.

sonicus · « **Reply #7 on:** September 19, 2011, 10:35:03 PM »

Very interesting article ! I would like to find out more about the output configuration of the Alembic Bass as well .

oujeebass · « **Reply #8 on:** September 20, 2011, 07:56:59 PM »

I read/heard somewhere that his Alembic was damaged at a gig, and that's why he went to a steinberger at the tail end of The Dregs.

rustyg61 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 28, 2011, 12:25:48 AM »

I first saw the Dixie Dreggs in 1979 in Houston when they opened for Stanley & have been a fan ever since! Great interview, thanks for posting!