While on vacation in the Santa Rosa area last week, my wife and I made arrangements for a tour of Alembic.
What a fascinating and pleasant experience!
Everyone we encountered was very hospitable and we were made to feel like family in no time - a further reminder that this business operates in a unique and personal way, especially in today's business climate where numbers are king and moving units is all that matters.
After we shared a few war stories, anecdotes and historical tidbits with Susan, Mica took over and provided us with a thorough tour of the Alembic facility from the raw wood storage area to the room where the finished instruments are set up and prepped for shipping.
Along the way, we saw the tools of the trade and learned about the techniques and processes that make these extraordinary instruments so special.
Of particular interest to me was the way the labor is divided between man and machine. Machines do only what they do best: repetitive tasks requiring consistency of execution and precision. Human hands, eyes and talent touch everything else.
In this shop, slower traditional methods of hand craftsmanship are preferred to faster ways of accomplishing a given task because it's the best way to ensure every instrument has a one-of-kind custom feel. There is simply no substitute for taking the time to do the job right. And by right, I mean perfect.
Bottom line: seeing all of this in person was a bit overwhelming but it made me appreciate why it can take a long time to complete an instrument. Of course, this doesn't make the waiting any easier, but it is reassuring to know why the result will be worth the wait.
Speaking of instruments, I would guess that there were about 150 (+/-) instruments on site in various stages of completion - some new and some visiting for a little TAC (Tender Alembic Care). No two exactly alike and every one remarkable in its own way.
Here is where I need to insert a gentle parental advisory: DO NOT visit Alembic unless you come prepared to deal with a massive and unavoidable G.A.S. attack.
Trust me, there are so many fabulous opportunities available that even the most staunch and well-prepared individual will find it nearly impossible to resist temptation.
Even though I kept my wallet on a leash while at Alembic, I found myself spending the rest of my vacation contemplating my next project...
So you've been warned.
All in all, visiting Alembic is a little bit like riding a scary roller coaster - the danger is part of the fun!
