Author Topic: Alembic Versus Fender (Read 501 times)

sonicus · « **Reply #15 on:** July 09, 2009, 11:24:45 AM »

I LOVE MY ALEMBIC BASS'S __ They sound the best_ :but here is my Confession ___ My 1980 maple neck ,ash body ,USA Fender Jazz Bass has Bartolini 9W4 pickups (wired passive) and a Schaller bridge and graphite nut ; It's just a tool in my tool box of Bass's_______

There we have it____just another tool to make 'em happy__
for just another crazy bird__

(Message edited by sonicus on July 10, 2009)

funkyjazzjunky · « **Reply #16 on:** July 09, 2009, 02:31:20 PM »

See...

We can all get along!

briant · « **Reply #17 on:** July 09, 2009, 02:53:14 PM »

From the post about the Mike Lull hybrid, can you just use the Alembic pick-ups with existing electronics or do you need the whole electronics package?

Activators, baby.

If I ever did it I'd get the Activators and then have Mike build me a bass and install them straight away.

dnburgess · « **Reply #18 on:** July 09, 2009, 02:55:49 PM »

Vive la difference.

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 09, 2009, 03:16:35 PM »

you can use alembic electronics with other pickups, i have tried this and it worked, also, i put an alembic p in my Ibanez to make sure it worked, passive bass no other pickups on, tone control counterclockwise, sounded amazing, so it's your call

glocke · « **Reply #20 on:** July 09, 2009, 03:51:09 PM »

I started out on jazz basses, but after playing alembics I really have a hard time going back to them.

As to Alembic vs Fender, Im not going to get into that, except to say that I know many people who swear by fender jazz and p-basses, but they also have their basses tricked out with replacement pups and badass bass bridges...

georgie_boy · « **Reply #21 on:** July 10, 2009, 05:22:33 AM »

I play a 75 Fender P bass now at most of my gigs.
I've got a 76 Series 1....but get too scared to take her out to some of the redneck places we play. I get a thrill from both of them!!
They both do the job perfectly!!!...just sound different!

dnburgess · « **Reply #22 on:** July 10, 2009, 06:10:56 AM »

A question for you guys with Fenders with Alembic pickups. What do they sound like compared to regular Fenders? Alembics?

dannobasso · « **Reply #23 on:** July 10, 2009, 07:09:51 AM »

When I was 15 I started out as a Gibson guy for no other reason than the guys I played with had Les Pauls. Not being able to afford a LP bass I got a Ripper. I then bought a hybrid fretless bass that had a Fender neck on it. That neck moved more than anything I've ever encountered so I replaced it with a Kubiki one, new emg's badass 2 bridge, Schaler tuners and I was off. In 1983 I scrounged, scrimped and saved for a BC Rich Mockingbird bass but was disappointed and then got my Spoiler. ($900.00 no case 1983) I must say it was the beginning of an addiction that continues to this very day as I'm have another Alembic built. I do enjoy my Korean Equire Scorpion, Japanese Strat with Fernandez Sustainer and American Strat Deluxe with emgs. ( I always replace the tuners with sperzels and the pickups)

At this stage of life all the gear head distraction is only needed in small doses for me. Out there in the wide world, who the h-e double hockey sticks really cares? Get out there, play, created, entertain or simply be a weekend warrior and experience the joy of playing your instrument in the basement, garage or whatever. You worked for these instruments, enjoy the fruits of your labor and play. Every manufacturer has their following and devotees. I'm a fan of other makes, just not a fanatic like I am for Alembic. There is space in my collection for Ovation, Gibson, ESP, Stambaugh, Warwick, Hamer, BC Rich and Fender (just no basses as of well, forever but never say never right)
Life is so fleeting and the precious time we actually get to spend in contentment and joy is even more limited. So my prayer for all in this community is to be happy, make music, hopefully make some sort of cash from it if you can and let me know where your cds can be purchased and I'll do my best to support you.

(I can actually get Fenders at cost through a friend and still don't have a Jazz)

bracheen · « **Reply #24 on:** July 10, 2009, 09:15:31 AM »

Funkyjazzjunky, you left one subject off the list;
Tubes vs. solid state

chalie_holmes · « **Reply #25 on:** July 10, 2009, 09:20:15 AM »

Yo Danno,
succintly, and elegantly stated!
Much Love to ya brother of the low frequencies!
Chalie

lbpesq · « **Reply #26 on:** July 10, 2009, 10:53:50 AM »

Tubes vs. Solid State?

Until recently I would have been as strongly opinionated on this one as the Polish engineer who recently posted on another thread how Alembics suck. Now I'm talking guitar amps, not bass amps which are a different animal altogether. After 40 years of swearing by tubes only, I recently tried a Pritchard Amp. HOLY TRANSISTORS BATMAN!!!! This thing really rocks. It not only sounds like a tube amp, it sounds like a killer tube amp, actually several killer tube amps. (Fender, Marshall, Vox, Mesa, Acoustic, etc.) Combo 1x12 with two horns that kick in when you set it in the acoustic mode. Variable wattage from a few to 90 clean, 180 dirty. Built in attenuator for practice and bedroom play. Weighs less than 35 pounds!!!! At the recent Alembic Northern California Gathering, Ken's brother brought his Marshall double stack. My little amp sitting on a chair looked ridiculous next to the British Behemoth. Yet, at the end of the day, Ken's brother came over to tell me how good my amp sounded. (As did a couple of other attendees). I never thought I'd ever say this, but I'm now convinced that solid state can work.

Bill, tgo

tubeperson · « **Reply #27 on:** July 10, 2009, 11:03:29 AM »

I remember Bob Carver, then with Carver Corporation, created a stereo amplifier that sounded like a tube amp for home stereo use. At the end of the day, the editdor and staff of Stereophile magazine conceded that Mr. Carver was successful. So why does he still use tubes to this day? I suspect that over a long listening period, you begin to sense annoying distortions through solid state that you do not hear through tube equipment. It reminds us as to why over time CD's sounded harsh as compared to LP's.

I use both, just when push comes to shove the tubes win the day. ust my vote, no wrong or right here

sonicus · « **Reply #28 on:** July 10, 2009, 12:11:53 PM »

The 'harsh CD issue has many variables in the equation.
The Quality of the Analog to Digital Converter and the resolution. is a large part of the equation . Regular audio CD's are still only 16 bits @ 44.1khz . Converters have come a long way since 1982.

57basstra · « **Reply #29 on:** July 10, 2009, 05:15:05 PM »

Among the Fender basses I do have (and Alembics, and Gibsons, and Kramers and Rics and etc.) I have a relatively new American Fender Jazz with S1 switching and this is one bad boy. Is it an Alembic? no.

It is very light, the neck is fast and the guitar is beautiful (in my opinion.) This is a new American Fender and I think it is a great bass. I have several older Fender basses.

My motto is how many guitars (or basses) does a person need? One more!

(Oh, for the guitar side) I bought an Eric Johnson Strat in March from a local Music Store that had it for a while and could not move it. Also, I scored a Gibson Angus Young SG on Craigslist within the past two weeks. Very, very nice additions to my guitar arsenal that is spearheaded with an Alembic Series I '78 6 banger.)