Author Topic: Your first Alembic... what was it like? (Read 1376 times)

terryc · « **Reply #15 on:** February 22, 2009, 03:48:23 PM »

I bought mine when I was in New York, it was an absolute bargain at $1800 but my credit card would not stretch that far, Rudy Penshur took $200 off it.
It wasn't until I got home that I realised what I had..I had been waiting 20 years for one and now I had one..it is in the showcase section as under Signature basses as Mark King 93.
It took me about 6 months to master the tones and get used to the heavy weight but since I am the only one in Teesside to own one it turns heads and sounds excellent. I addition it made me play better, an inspiration to do more than is normally achievable with any other bass. I wonder if Alembic incorporate this magic when they are building the instrument??

Does anyone know where we can get those Alembic pins that our late friend Paul had??

olieoliver · « **Reply #16 on:** February 22, 2009, 08:04:51 PM »

MY first Alembic to play was around 77 or 78 and belonged to someone else. My first one to actually own was in March of 2006.
Why so long to own one? I got married in '79 at the ripe old age of 17 became a father less than a year later. After raising 2 daughters, school & college (for the girsl), weddings..yadayadayada...I rewarded myself with my baby below (which I do believe Danno has been having lustful thoughts about lately.LOL). Anyway. Bought this bass off of eBay in March of 06, and when I first played it I thought, DUDE I wasted a TON of money. RF interference, fret buzzing all over and when I tried to get funky, which I Luuuoooove to do, my slap and pop was more, shuck and jive.

Well after speaking to Mica and Val I sent the electronics in for an upgrade which took care of the RF noise. I cleaned up my slap technique, set up the neck and action and she purrrred like a kitten.
While she may be a little large for me, large body-extended-upper horn-and 35 scale. She was my first and plays and sounds so awesome she will remain with me.

So just like when I got married as a kid at first I thought what have I done later turned out to be one of the best things I've ever done.

OO

olieoliver · « **Reply #17 on:** February 22, 2009, 08:27:01 PM »

And by the way this is what she rebirthed (playing the one in the 70's planted the seed this one rekindled the fire)....numbered in order of obtaining.

And while I'm at it I would like to toot Mica's horn a moment. When I called Alembic after buying this bass Mica was SO helpful in getting this bass up to date assessing the RF problem, and I'm here to tell she KNOWS her stuff. So a big and hearty SALUTE to Miss Mica.

OO

edwin · « **Reply #18 on:** February 22, 2009, 09:29:41 PM »

I'd wanted one since seeing the Dead in '76 and hearing Stanley Clarke around the same time. I didn't manage to get my '78 Series I until '95. Someone had it in the WantAd in Boston, listed at $1200. I went out to look at it and finally admitted it was beyond my price range, as all I had was $750, so I didn't want to insult him and I was sure he'd find a buyer pretty quickly. Three days later, he called me up and told me we had a deal!

Last year, it finally went back to the factory for a refinish and carve. Sadly, the weight has resulted in rib and muscle problems, so I can't play it nightly.

I did covet Andy West's Series I that was at Cambridge Music for a while. I was seriously trying to scrape up the cash for that one, but couldn't manage it.

Edwin

hendixclarke · « **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2009, 11:42:57 AM »

Man, who need Bass magazines, when the best minds, in the world, share and discuss their humble beginnings with the undisputed baddest basses in the world (compared to everything that is, and were).

kenbass4 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 23, 2009, 12:05:00 PM »

My First:

My Second:

..and my third:

Needless to say, they all sound incredible!

811952 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 24, 2009, 11:56:51 AM »

Olie, I played your first bass when it was at Guitar Center in Indianapolis shortly before they put it to auction. I knew it just needed to be setup, and was blown away that they would hang an instrument (ANY instrument) on the floor setup as poorly as that one. It's a beautiful bass!

John

olieoliver · « **Reply #22 on:** February 24, 2009, 12:03:46 PM »

Thanks John, you should play it now, she'sA like butta!

OO

bsee · « **Reply #23 on:** February 24, 2009, 01:04:24 PM »

My first Alembic was a Spoiler I talked a friend into buying new in the mid 80s. It was maybe $800-1000, and was easily the best playing, looking and sounding instrument in the shop. This guy was a Fender player/Beatles fan, so it was a stretch for him. It was just so sweet compared to everything else that he couldn't resist.

My first owned Alembic was a Spoiler/Exploiter that I borrowed in the late 90s from a music store where a friend was the GM. I could have owned the caseless bass for about $800 with a soft keyboard bag for transport. I played it for a few weeks and took it to a couple gigs, but my shoulder was always killing me after playing because of the way I leaned my right elbow on the bass for support. I returned it and my bandmates were pissed because they loved the tone and my playing was even better with it than a regular bass.

After that, I actually bought a Persuader five string. This one had purpleheart in the neck and it was a revelation. The tone was just so much thicker than the basses with only maple. The 32 scale B string sounded more musical than 34 or 35 instrument I had played before or since.

Hard to say which was my first. I suppose it depends on how you look at it.

-bob

pauldo · « **Reply #24 on:** February 24, 2009, 04:19:25 PM »

84' Distillate (see profile for pic) got it at Ralph Hanzel's Music Store... great guy.

I was walking on clouds, couldn't stop touching it and posing it for pictures!!! :-D

It was love....

mike1762 · « **Reply #25 on:** February 24, 2009, 05:15:07 PM »

I think I would have bought anything that said Alembic on it... I was bound and determined to have one. My first wound-up being a really nice Spoiler I found on-line at Atlanta Bass Gallery. I had worked all night long at the hospital (in Knoxville) then drove to Atlanta and claimed my prize. It was a really proud moment in my life. The longer I've had the Spoiler, the more I appreciate it. Rather than the typical Koa, it has a Mahogany body with a Maple laminate and a Bocate top. The medium scale really fits me and this particular bass just feels good in your hands. Within a few months a SC and a Series I were sitting next to it.

aquaman · « **Reply #26 on:** February 26, 2009, 06:31:04 PM »

Alan,

Your first Alembic was Spoiler Exploiter 1984 Zebrawood. Coincedently, I own one, too. Wonder if they are the same? Was yours in mint condition (as is mine)?

dela217 · « **Reply #27 on:** February 26, 2009, 07:46:27 PM »

My first Alembic is one that I bought new in 1978. It was a medium scale bass with the point body style. I remember opening it's case like it was yesterday!

I orderded the bass from a local music store that sold very few instruments, but had pro sound gear and some stereo equipment. I just asked them one day about Alembics and they said Sure we can order you one. I Put half down to order it and paid the other half when it came in. The total price with tax and everything came to $1550.00 total. I still have the reciept somewhere.

When I ordered the bass I had no clue. No clue at all about woods, or even that you could choose options. I knew I wanted one, everyone in town was playing them. I played a few and loved every one of them before I ordered mine.

A day or so after I ordered it they called me to ask me what kind of wood I wanted, a light one or a dark one. I chose a dark one.

It came in just a few days later, probably a week or so. When I opened the big blue case, the bass was incredible. I quickly got a course on what the woods were. In the case was the paperwork with an operations guide, what woods were used and who made it. The bass had a purpleheart top and back, mahogany core, purpleheart stringers, and zebrawood veneers. The bass also came from Alembic with Pyramid Gold Flatwound strings installed.

I played the bass for a month or so until I put my hands on a small standard. I just had to have one! It fit me so much better. I called Alembic and spoke with Sam Fields. He and I talked for a while and he agreed to take back the bass. He did not hesitate at all. He wanted me to be completely happy with my Alembic purchase.

I sent the bass back and some time later my small standard arrived! I have not been the same since. Sure I have had some large bodied Alembic basses since then, and I really appreciate them for what they are. But for me it is small standards all the way.

I wonder what happened to that original Alembic I had. It was serial number 78 1058.

adriaan · « **Reply #28 on:** February 27, 2009, 04:27:50 AM »

The first Alembic that I ever played was an SC with Spoiler electronics. It played wonderfully, but I couldn't figure out why such an expensive instrument had a p/u selector instead of a pan pot (two extremes, and a mellow intermediate sound) plus the filter and Q switch were somewhat confusing to the uninformed. And I hated the sound of the Trace Elliot stack at the store - no brightness whatsoever.

Flash forward a couple of years to 1994, to a music trade show in Amsterdam where Wils had a nice selection of Alembics in their booth. After staring at the basses for a while (they also had some tasty Pedullas) they suggested I go to another booth where one could try out Bag End speakers - with an Epic and an SF-2 - interesting choice for a demo setup. The first ads for the Epic had already set me dreaming, and this only confirmed it - I had to get an Alembic!

A friend at a music shop arranged for me to visit Wils a couple of weeks later to try out some Epics and Essences. I was thinking of buying a fretless, and they only had one of those, an Essence which had the filter with the Q always on - which I really, really dislike - and it was slightly over my budget. One of the fretted Epics was mighty fine, and the flame koa top was a no-charge upgrade, so I settled for that (thank you very much).

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the Epic is the same one that I had tried out at the trade show.

hendixclarke · « **Reply #29 on:** February 27, 2009, 07:13:06 AM »

In San Francisco, where I was a freshmen at San Fransisco State U living at my Aunt's house on Broad St in 83, there uses to be a Guitar Centers downtown off 5th and Mission.

Anyway, I always wanted an Alembic but there was no way in hell, I would never think I would just see one hanging up in the show-room there. So, just going in to buy some strings for my Ibanez 79 Roadstar Black Bass which was a very funky bass (I still have this bass too.) and BAM! It hit me just like that!

The Alembic poison got me.

It cost me a pretty penny, but GC had a lay-away program.

Man, every pay day, it would be a joy heading to GC... It was pure joy in my heart, to pay down on on my Alembic. It took me a college whole semester to finish paying for it; and on that wonderful, faithful, glorious day of my last payment, it would be mine, to take home.

I was the most happiest person on earth. I felt the Angele of justice and fairness (if only for a moment)... I will never forget it either.

Now I could relate, when my Father paid for his first White on White Cadillac back in 72.

Man if I want my father to smile in his old age, all I have to do is mention his 72, and the whole visit would be right for the angel's in heaven.