Stanley Clarke Bass

[somatic]

Quality basses don't need a nip or a tuck (if you get my drift...)
 
It depends on whether you revere them or use them. I see no problem with reversible mods on any instrument. I have the ability to do the mods I did and it improved the instrument to my mind and ears.
 
But if you got to carve it up, to make a statement
 
Who's making a 'statement'? Not me. I merely modified a tool, something that is done every day in countless fields. I can do without the hyperbole.
 
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.
 
Perhaps for you it would be, and in that I feel sorry for you.  
 
Perhaps Ron should never have modified the old Guilds.
 
The statement quoted above and many more of your here smack of a quasi-religious idolisation of Alembics. I have enormous respect for Ron and the others at Alembic, but not for one moment do I think of them as Gods.
 
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?
 
Gobbledegook

[somatic]

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.
 
As a general principle, I agree. However in about 1 hour I can replace my electronics with the originals and you would never know it had been done. I seldom condone radical mods, such as making it headless unless you are damn sure you know what you're doing and have the right skills and tools to pull it off.
 
I modded mine because I'm not willing to pay the price and shipping (+taxes etc upon return) to have it modified at the factory. $US2k is the minimum it would cost me and that's too much, when my mods cost

[hendixclarke]

You keep pushing that I have an idol golden cafe level of appreciation for Alembic basses. I understand, in order to make your argument stick, or carry weight, you must try to use an religious references to galvanize your justifications in 'personalizing your bass.'
 
The only inherit problem with personalizing a bass, including an expensive bass like an Alembic,  if you ever needed to sell them, this issue will become a serious trade-in value; meaning: the depreciation on customization on novice ideas for the bass will be a reality. And for someone like me and others on this board, would comb for closer even loser examination, and some wouldn't even have the spirit to take notice.  
 
Alembic has spent many years perfecting their basses, and when you alter them, you automaticly de-value them as fast as you drill the first hole.
 
For example:
 
I know guys who raise Pit bulls into universal lovable dogs. I also know people who take the same wonderful breed, and convert them into man(children)-killers biting anyone except, their master(s). This is customization too.
 
Bottom line... I don't trust anyone other than Alembic authorized personnel touching my bass. Anybody else doing something to the bass outside the scope, I would say: buyer beware.
 
The fact of the matter is, you can't keep anything forever. For those things that benefit you, should be passed down, to benefit others after you.  
 
This is a non selfish point of view.  
 
Do on to others, as you wish others to do onto you... This is a golden rule my friend and it is also an Altruistic message.
 
Nothing wrong with changing something if it's broken, or needs to be improved. I am in the business of making things better too, but as a Engineer myself, I know that some things need to be done by better minds than myself.
 
Rock on!

[somatic]

You keep pushing that I have an idol golden cafe level of appreciation for Alembic basses. I understand, in order to make your argument stick, or carry weight, you must try to use an religious references to galvanize your justifications in 'personalizing your bass.'
 
I nned no ones approval or justification to modify something that I own. However from the tone of your comments, you seem offended by it.
 
The tenor of your own posts proves my point.
 
The only inherit problem with personalizing a bass, including an expensive bass like an Alembic, if you ever needed to sell them, this issue will become a serious trade-in value; meaning: the depreciation on customization on novice ideas for the bass will be a reality.
 
Your assumption is that my mods are not an improvement. They are. And if you'd actually bothered to read my previous posts, then you would have seen that they are reversible with zero damage.
 
And for someone like me and others on this board, would comb for closer even loser examination, and some wouldn't even have the spirit to take notice.
 
I don't understand you point through the messy grammar.
 
Alembic has spent many years perfecting their basses, and when you alter them, you automaticly de-value them as fast as you drill the first hole.
 
Who mentioned drilling holes?
I would state who had done the refinish if I sell. To think that only the staff at Alembic are capable of stripping and refinishing an instrument again makes my first point. It is not rocket science.
 
As for them being perfect, far from it. Very good? Yes. Perfect? No.
 
I know guys who raise Pit bulls into universal lovable dogs. I also know people who take the same wonderful breed, and convert them into man(children)-killers biting anyone except, their master(s). This is customization too.
 
Straw man.
 
The fact of the matter is, you can't keep anything forever. For those things that benefit you, should be passed down, to benefit others after you.
 
So only in it's factory state woiuld my bass be of benefit to anyone else? Ludicrous.
 
Do on to others, as you wish others to do onto you... This is a golden rule my friend and it is also an Altruistic message.
 
What has that got to do with my own choice of modifying something that I own?  
 
Nothing wrong with changing something if it's broken, or needs to be improved.
 
Thanks. It was and I did.
 
I am in the business of making things better too, but as a Engineer myself, I know that some things need to be done by better minds than myself.
 
The electronics in an Alembic are far from SOTA, cutting edge technology, especially as mine are nearly 30 years old and the 5532 was surpassed long ago. It's just a couple of well implemented buffers and SVF's.
I'm an EE so it's an easy job.

[somatic]

PS: the hole from the neck strap pin being moved was there when I bought the bass, but it balances better for me in the new position so I'm leaving it where it is.

[hendixclarke]

I know a woman who needed glasses since she was 4 years old. She later become a Nurse and raised two sons to adult-hood.
 
One day, this woman in her 60's had a headache, and was later admitted to the hospital.  
 
The MRI xray showed she had a Aneurysm over her optic nerve; which had been blocking her optic nerve since she was a child, and was the bases for her headaches and the sole reasons of her needing glasses in the first place.  
 
A Neural Surgeon, told the woman, he could fix this Aneurysm so that it would not rupture. She accepts the proceedure, and the next day after the operation, she dies just like that.
 
This woman was my mother.  
 
In the same dramatic way, Kenya West mother dies from a lipo-suction surgery.
 
Both surgeries were voluntary proceedures.
 
Now, you might say, what does this have to do with Alembic basses... Nothing really. It just gives you a perspective of my personal life experiences, and lessons learned from people who say they are experts and could make something better. When you said this, it reminded me other the young doctor who also though he was good enough to make something better and it turned out wrong. Somethings you don't change. But will we learn?

[darkstar01]

honestly. i'd chainsaw my alembic in half if i thought it would get me a good sound.i use dremels and hammers and nails (oh my) on my instruments all the time for sound.
music has - absolutely. nothing.- to do with how well your instrument was crafted.  
be creative. period.

[somatic]

Now, you might say, what does this have to do with Alembic basses... Nothing really.
 
The first thing you said in that post that makes any sense.
 
lessons learned from people who say they are experts and could make something better. When you said this, it reminded me other the young doctor who also though he was good enough to make something better and it turned out wrong.
 
But it didn't turn out wrong in my case. I'm an experinced EE who does know what he's doing.
 
This last post of yours proves my earlier points;
1: you seem to have a worship of Alembic, their products and the belief that they are the only ones who can make or mod their instruments for the better.
2: that you cannot sustain the argument without moving off into strawman arguments or irrelevencies
3: That the people most likely to get caught up in cultish worhip of products and companies don't know how things really work. It's not just on this forum, but you sir are one of the worst examples I have ever seen.

[somatic]

honestly. i'd chainsaw my alembic in half if i thought it would get me a good sound.i use dremels and hammers and nails (oh my) on my instruments all the time for sound.
 
You Sir, are destined to the Hell Of WalMart Starter Kit Basses.

[hendixclarke]

I would love to hear some of your music. Please send me some of it.
 
I am very seriously interested. Put all the crap a side, do you have a mp3 file ore something I could listen to. Heck, you got me worked up to want to listen to your music now. Send me some music, can you do this?
 
Show me a picture of you custom Alembic. I would also love to see your EE at work too. Hey you got me very interested now. I have said enough. Let me see the wonder you had made.

[hendixclarke]

[hendixclarke]

 

  (Message edited by davehouck on February 16, 2008)

[hendixclarke]

My Alembic is 33 years old, and it still cranks. I'll strap this old-timer at any gig and kick up a few notches.
 
Although, I don't travel as much as I did in my teens, I do find myself recording alot. On the left, is my Strat-Godin Artisan. It sounds better than an any Alembic guitar I ever heard. Yeah, I said it... [I said...] It sounds better than any Alembic guitar I ever heard... and or anything else out there, as far as I am concern...
 
My first language is my guitar, basses are my second. So, again Alembics are not my cup of tea, for electric guitars and frankly, I am not interested. No worship here... I am just picky when it comes to electric guitars. Same goes with my basses. Alembic basses are the best for me for the music I play. One other thing, 100% stock [no nip, or tucks].
 
If I buy a guitar, and it don't give my the sound day one, it stays on the show-room floor. I don't want to do nothing to it unless it needs repairs.

[keavin]

that's a badass bike!

[hendixclarke]

Thanks Keavin.
 
You have a sweet Cad yourself. Keep it going...