Author Topic: The "Alembic" effect (Read 246 times)

thebass · « **on:** July 18, 2004, 03:04:17 AM »

I am not sure if this is the right category but since it was live this might be the place. My band (6 piece rock band) had on open air gig with two other bands yesterday. We were playing as the last band as the main band for this gig. I brought my MM Sterling and my Mark King Signature for the soundcheck and started with the Sterling. Everything was ok and I checked again with the MK. I played only for a few seconds before the soundtech talked back to me: forget the Sterling, it can not compete. He had never heard of Alembic neither seen one before. After the gig the soundtech came back to me: man, this was the best and most defined bass sound I ever worked with, it was a pleasure, what brand/model are you playing ?. I cut down here, the full discussion would be too long here, but this Alembic effect hasn't happen to me the first time.

keavin · « **Reply #1 on:** July 18, 2004, 05:46:05 AM »

Man!! it happens every time!

dannobasso · « **Reply #2 on:** July 18, 2004, 08:01:55 AM »

It's funny but I've never really come across soundmen that prefer to use the Alembic sound or the DI from the F1x. I've actually been asked if I had another bass to use. The ones around the NYC area are very used to the passive, mike the cab thing and are not comfortable with the difference. I'm glad you got a guy who really cares about his craft. Making the band sound the best I can is what I strive for. Hard when everyone turns up all the time after a few adult beverages! (BTW, that has not been the case in studios, they love the signal).
Danno

thebass · « **Reply #3 on:** July 21, 2004, 03:30:09 PM »

Here are some pics from that gig BTW

If you like to see more, see here http://www.afterwork-music.com/body_pic_gig_01_01.htm

palembic · « **Reply #4 on:** July 21, 2004, 11:20:27 PM »

Brother Werner,

VERY nice picture-serie! I really enjoyed!!!
BTW: weren't you all turning seasick on that truck?? It happens to me: when someone moves the whole truck start to rock back and forth ....bweuh!!!! Hum ...maybe the concert organisers who put bands on truck should also provide those small bags you also find on airplanes (LOL)

Paul TBO

thebass · « **Reply #5 on:** July 21, 2004, 11:42:26 PM »

Seasick ? Yeah, sort of. We had 40 liters rain per square meter within only 45min. The main power supply was completely soaked and we had to switch of anything to prevent lethal electrical shocks. The place literally swam away. All in all we had a delay of more than 2 hours but luckily most of the people stayed. We should have better played on a boat ...

alemboid · « **Reply #6 on:** August 07, 2004, 12:48:49 AM »

Sadly, there seems to be this all bass players strap on a fender, low around the knee region attitude in the village in New York. These guys don't set up their basses, they strum with picks like guitar wannabes and crank their SVT's to 11. The soundmen seem burned out, and when you show up with an Alembic/Alembic system, they all the sudden get cranky because the bass player actually cares. Studio- no problem. Stage- fussy depending on venue.

All the big gigs are cool, generally there are not more than 3 acts, and the odds are that the other bassists aren't playing Alembics. The sound guy usually gives a thumbs-up when sound checking with the Alembic, and after, the other band's bassists try to tweak their sound to be as present as the Alembic sound. Funny, I get more and more calls for work when I play the MK 5 out compared to the Sadowsky.

Alemboid

the_mule · « **Reply #7 on:** August 07, 2004, 12:57:25 AM »

In The Netherlands there's some strange consensus about Alembics being great in the studio, but they suck in a live situation. I've discovered that this has something to do with some influential bass players that have made that claim on the internet, and I guess a lot of people feel the need to 'parrot' them. When I move on from being a bedroom player to gigging musician, I'm prepared for some discussions with the soundman. I hope the Alembics prove me right...

Wilfred

karl · « **Reply #8 on:** August 09, 2004, 02:56:44 AM »

Hi Wilfred,

That's weird - although I do once recall Mark King saying in an interview that he found his Alembic heavy for a long gig and always had trouble with the controls in a live situation - too many options, not enough time between songs to tweak the sound as he wanted. I guess this is one of the reasons why he's now using his Status KingBass for live work - they're tiny little things, very light and with very simple controls.

As for me, I have the opposite situation: I often find that I need a warmer, gentler sound in the studio (the Alembic can be so bright it can be a bit tiring for the ears, and on a recording you really want a sound you can listen to over and over without getting tired), so I end up using something else. But live, while I've tried a few other things (Status, Stingray, Jaydee) I keep coming back to the Alembic because nothing else cuts through the mix and gives that live energy like an Alembic.

Karl
www.harambeuk.com

thebass · « **Reply #9 on:** August 11, 2004, 05:11:47 AM »

Hi Karl,

you described exactly my experience. It's only live when I need the full brightness. The Alembic has the best energy loaded (a)live sound I have ever heard. While recording I cut the highs and boost the bass and bass-mids after recording my tracks.

BTW: Harambe: cool site, cool band and killer music, I love it. Are you touring Germany, Cologne area perhaps ?

(Message edited by thebass on August 11, 2004)

jazzyvee · « **Reply #10 on:** August 12, 2004, 07:20:23 PM »

In response to the Mark King experience,

It is heavier than basses I have used previously but not uncomfortable. I do agree somewhat that when I first had my SC Signature it was very difficult to find a particular sound as I really didn't understand what the controls were doing.

Agreed the Signature basses don't have the same degree of tonal variation as the series basses Mark uses and getting to the sound you want should be easier.

Nowadays I can get there quickly then occasionally the need to tweak in minute quantities to fine tune it.

The thing I like most about the alembic is you always get a great sound wherever you turn the controls.

whearas most other basses I have tried just have the one good sound that defines the bass and moving away from that seems to make the bass sound less exciting.

keavin · « **Reply #11 on:** October 03, 2004, 07:25:09 AM »

the ALEMBIC EFFECT makes all other basses 'sit down' and listen to DADDY!

dgcarbu · « **Reply #12 on:** January 05, 2005, 02:17:03 PM »

jazzyvee,

I had the same fine-toning problem with my Series I the first few gigs of using it. It did take a bit of getting used to having that kind of flexibility. But I'm dialed in now. When I get my Brown Bass, (shopping), I hope I'll be less intimidated with it.

Darrell