Author Topic: Stanley Clarke Bass (Read 726 times)

elwoodblue · « **Reply #30 on:** February 12, 2008, 08:32:52 PM »

Walking them thru a pawn shop doorway should be up there with the BIG SINS ,maybe even the thought,
(unless you are on your way out with one to give it a home).
I should have been homeless and angry with my alembic under my coat...learning is living...sigh.

smiles to y'all

pauldo · « **Reply #31 on:** February 13, 2008, 08:01:09 PM »

I know a guy around Milwaukee that had a Series I that took a dive off a stage - lost its head. This was probably 20+ years ago.

He said he sent it back to Alembic and they used a hypodermic needle filled with glue and plenty of patience - it was as good as new afterwards. Don't fret about losing your head - they can rebuild it!

somatic · « **Reply #32 on:** February 14, 2008, 09:47:58 AM »

jacko sez: Rule #1. You paid for it, you own it, you do whatever you want with it.

'Tis the truth. I'm going to get my S1 refinished by a local luthier and have some repairs made. I know and repect his work and it'll cost less than the shipping to and from California.

As for moving the strap pins on a small body, mine balances better for me with the changes. The repairs above will fill in the original hole.

81distillate · « **Reply #33 on:** February 15, 2008, 11:53:48 AM »

I have to agree with somatic, Im a player, not a museum curator, so if I move the strap buttons to get a better balance, I like to pretend as if Im R. Wickersham, or R. Turner back in the 70's finding new ways to make old ideas work better for me. What you do with your instrument is your business and if it means a lower resale value, who cares, cause Im not selling it anyway!

somatic · « **Reply #34 on:** February 15, 2008, 12:47:05 PM »

Cheers 81D (my second bass was an 83D: 83D2915). If people think moving the strap pin is a big deal, perhaps I shouldn't mention swapping out all the PF6 for my own design. There are no sacred cows around here.

hendixclarke · « **Reply #35 on:** February 15, 2008, 12:55:30 PM »

The human mind is a wonderful thing to invest in. It asks so little from us, and it gives back more than anyone could imagine...

I am blessed as many people to realize some things you don't touch after its made.

1. A balanced body and mind.
2. A balanced Alembic Bass.

I am smart enough to know, I should never alter the state of either things, and it is blessing within it's self; to even know this...

Who would buy an original Piccasso and add their own paint to it?

I am not calling any one out on this, but... think deeply on this before reaching to personal rights and I'll do what I damn please... arguments.

For true bass enthusiast, we are just highlighting and dicussing some hidden rules, or codes of ethics to honor, as Alembicans.

Who agree or disagree with me here?

somatic · « **Reply #36 on:** February 15, 2008, 01:40:48 PM »

I am blessed as many people to realize some things you don't touch after its made.

1. A balanced body and mind.
2. A balanced Alembic Bass.

An Alembic bass is like any other bass: it s a tool. If it needs to be modified for the purposes of the craftsman then so be it.

I am not calling any one out on this, but... think deeply on this before reaching to personal rights and I'll do what I damn please... arguments. I did and all my mods are seamlessly reversible. However the instrument performs better and more closely aligns with my wants and needs now, so by definitition it is 'better'. FWIW, I'm an EE with a lot of years of audio design behind me. I respect Ron's work, but he himself has moved beyond the cct in the PF6 and I took that as a benchmark for experimentation. If you cannot do so yourself, continue to worship.

I am not calling any one out on this, but... think deeply on this before reaching to personal rights and I'll do what I damn please... arguments. It's may bass and I'll do whatever I damn well please to it. If it offends your sensibilities, then so what?

For true bass enthusiast, we are just highlighting and dicussing some hidden rules, or codes of ethics to honor, as Alembicans. What rules? My bass, my decisions based upon a lot of thought and experimentation.

Who agree or disagree with me here?
I do. You sound like a brainwashed cultist.

82daion · « **Reply #37 on:** February 15, 2008, 02:04:05 PM »

I'm with Somatic-there's no mythical quality about an Alembic that makes it somehow immune to change or modification.

In the end, it belongs to the player, and although some decisions to modify Alembics are made in what might be considered poor judgment by others, if they bring the instrument more in line with what the player wants, then so be it.

That said, I can't find anything about the design of my Series I that I'd want to change, but I understand that the things I like about it might not work for someone else.

hendixclarke · « **Reply #38 on:** February 15, 2008, 02:05:52 PM »

No my friend, I am not a cultist.

My message is more in line with Altruism. Go look it up.

A cultist harbors more of the individual and selfishness. My approach is just the very opposite.

Think on this...

hendixclarke · « **Reply #39 on:** February 15, 2008, 02:13:18 PM »

I have seen some Alembics where I had literally thought it was something else...

No, I am not talkin about simple modifications.

I am talking about The Michael Jackson definition of change on Alembics.

somatic · « **Reply #40 on:** February 15, 2008, 02:19:37 PM »

My message is more in line with Altruism. Go look it up.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/altruism

I did. I don't see how it applies here.

hendixclarke · « **Reply #41 on:** February 15, 2008, 03:44:26 PM »

My Alembic, will be preserved in its native form.

This action, is not even close to what you called me a cultist.

It just so happens, to fit the definitions of Altruism. (and... I asked you to look that up, and you still didn't get it for some reason).

I am not cultist. Alembic fit the definition of an art. Some basses are just objects of pure science.

I'll give you one more try here, before I close up my thoughts on this issue altogether, because I was making a small mole hill discussion, which turned into mountain.

I respect your views, but you calling me a cultist is wrong and totally un-nessary. You don't know me and I would never call some anyone a derogatory term to make a point.

somatic · « **Reply #42 on:** February 15, 2008, 06:35:05 PM »

I looked up the definition of 'altruism' and you do not fit it, especially around Alembic basses.

My Alembic, will be preserved in its native form.

Good for you. I prefer to modify my tools to fit me and do not have judgemental reactions towars others who decide to make similar decisions.

This action, is not even close to what you called me a cultist.

I am not cultist.

Your tone towards what is a tool makes me believe you are.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cultist
See 1c.

Alembic fit the definition of an art. Some basses are just objects of pure science.

To me they are bass guitars, and therefore tools. Very nice tools, but tools none the less. To ascribe any higher quality to them is indeed worshiping.

I'll give you one more try here, before I close up my thoughts on this issue altogether, because I was making a small mole hill discussion, which turned into mountain.

Your point was 'things which are not allowed to be done to an Alembic'. This is NONE if it's a bass you have paid for. Anything else is a lot of judgemental self righteous crap. You obviously don't like being called on it.

I respect your views, but you calling me a cultist is wrong and totally un-nessary. You don't know me and I would never call some anyone a derogatory term to make a point.

This is the last defence of a victim. Sad and pathetic. It is simply descriptive based upon what I have read.

hendixclarke · « **Reply #43 on:** February 15, 2008, 08:54:03 PM »

Now, we have a discussion...

Quality basses don't need a nip or a tuck (if you get my drift...)

But if you got to carve it up, to make a statement, go a head my friend. It is your bass.

For me to do this, would be like me rapping and stripping away the identity of its core engine and purpose and removing others from knowing the origin of its whole. I would not like to inherit something that is no longer the true heritage of its original forms. There feelings are of value, for how do you preserve the quintessential and essentials if no man can keep anything forever?

briant · « **Reply #44 on:** February 15, 2008, 09:32:27 PM »

This is obviously a very passionate discussion. Personally I like to buy instruments because they sound a certain way - and they MUST also feel good in my hands. If both of those criteria are not met I won't buy the instrument. If I find a particular instrument that feels really good but doesn't quite make the sound go that I'm after I'll modify it so it does. That said I have only one instrument that is strictly because I can't get that sound from an Alembic (thus far) and that is a Musicman Stingray 5.

I've owned a lot of high end basses over the years and this is just my experience. It does make me sad when I see an Alembic that has been stripped of it's electronics that is for sale somewhere. It's like an experiement that went horribly wrong and would most likely be better off if nothing had changed in the first place. Though I can respect someone's desire and will to make changes to try and get the sound they are looking for.

Some people change amps. Some people change the instrument. Eventually it is a good thing when they find the happy medium. Some people never find the medium and forever search for a sound.

Would this be the wrong time to point out that a lot of your sound comes from your fingers and not the instrument? Maybe. I can tell you right now that I sound like me when I'm playing on an Alembic or a cheap Johnson Jazz bass knockoff that costs $125. A lot of sound is in the fingers.