Author Topic: Why I think Alembics are wonderful basses... (Read 365 times)

dnburgess · « **Reply #45 on:** December 26, 2007, 01:25:21 PM »

Mike - I also saw and played my first Alembic at Pro Audio and fell in love. This started a journey which lead to the opening of Bass People in Annandale in Sydney on 15 December 2007.

Alembic has pride of place with eight basses on display.

811952 · « **Reply #46 on:** December 26, 2007, 02:48:35 PM »

Some P-basses and J-basses are wonderfully inspiring. Problem there is that lots of them are not.

The Steinberger L2A I owned, and which my brother now owns, is a wonderful instrument. When the battery is about dead, that thing absolutely sings in a Mel Schacher kind of way. No dead spots either, anywhere on the instrument.

Musicman basses fall into the same category as P and J basses for me as well, though more of them are inspiring than not imho. Same goes for G&L. Go figger.

I've always loved B.C. Rich basses, though their sound is not spectacular anymore. The one's built in the '70s still are wonderful instruments though.

Gibson RD Artist basses sound wonderful. I think you could shave off half the neck though and it would still be big. I really like the '76 Thunderbird I owned also.

Alembic is obviously (to us, at least) the best for myriad reasons, not the least of which being that one Series I can be tweaked to sound like virtually any other bass, with the simple system of just two filters and two Q-switches.

John

jbybj · « **Reply #47 on:** December 27, 2007, 12:07:06 PM »

I think one's appreciation of an instrument is not a concrete, quantifiable metric, but very dependant on one's relationship with that instrument. I love my 69 Jazz bass, in part because I've had it for 31 years. I have many associations and experiences wrapped up in that instrument. If the exact same bass were hanging on the wall of Guitar center, and I met it today for the first time, would it inspire the same response in my hands? I doubt it, but that doesn't make it any less fun to play. Falling in love with my Epic was instantaneous though :-)

rockbassist · « **Reply #48 on:** December 31, 2007, 10:49:12 AM »

My Epic was the first bass that as soon I picked it up I had that this is the one feeling. I only played it for about 30 seconds before buying it. The tone, feeling and comfort are second to none. I also like my 78 Fender Jazz and 76 Precision but my Epic 5 String is my main bass.

hendixclarke · « **Reply #49 on:** December 31, 2007, 11:23:48 AM »

It's magic.

tcube · « **Reply #50 on:** January 05, 2008, 10:28:57 PM »

I sold my 1969 Telecaster bass (pink paisely!) to buy my an Alembic Essence 5. I played it for 13 years. One day, I got the urge to play a 6-string, and, I wanted to know what else was out there. So I switched and played, for one year each, a Warwick Thumb 6 and then a Roscoe SKB3006. Compared to the Alembic, the Warwick has a stiff mid-rangy sound that I fought. The Roscoe is beautiful to look at, easy to play, and has a great slap tone, but the level of the D-C strings is weak in pizz, no matter how much tweaking I do. So, long story short, I bought a 6-string Essence -- I have come home.

hendixclarke · « **Reply #51 on:** January 08, 2008, 02:46:40 AM »

First of all, let me say: Happy New Year Everybody

As the years go by, I find myself listening to more music related to an era gone of complete quality. The kind of quality which provides the perfect balance and minimal-ness.

For example, I was listening to a 1966 original recording of Astrud Gilberto Who Needs Forever. OMG, the arrangement and the music still sends chills dowm my back everytime I listen to this track.

Stan Getz adds one short sax solo, and I swear, it was so lovely, it pulled a tear of emotion from my eyes.

Music is magic and it heals and what a song to kick into the new year!

Anyone who could appreciate such music, is a precursor of owning such wonderful bass as an Alembic.

Quality, Quality, Quality!!!!

keavin · « **Reply #52 on:** January 08, 2008, 03:34:26 AM »

hendixclarke is this your bass???http://youtube.com/watch?v=JC001Z3XWKE

hendixclarke · « **Reply #53 on:** January 08, 2008, 04:54:55 AM »

If you look at the video, you will notice Stanley's bass has a top-hat pick-up selector cap switch. Mine has the original tear-drop cap switch.

But, wow it does have a strong resemblance and it would be my guess, both basses were created, during the same period in the mid 70's.

Thanks for sending the video. Those guys were clowning around for the fun of it

Honestly, I felt Stanley jive-playing school daze jam never hit a cord to my heart. I never cared for this anthem which was so successful for him. It's funny, like Sammy Davis Jr's The Candy Man. I hated that song, but it was what put him on top... Go figure.

To me, The Return to Forever band for Stanley, is like the Band of Gypsies for Jimi or Brand X for Phil Collins.

The members of those groups mentioned above, made Stan, Jimi, and Phil play at levels, that blew me away and made me gasp for air!

Stanley, please no more school days, its just too simple for anyone to duplicate. I love hearing the stuff I wish I could do...

hendixclarke · « **Reply #54 on:** January 09, 2008, 03:44:36 PM »

Keavin, one other thing about the knobs on Stanley Clarke's Alembic in him using the top-hat tone/volume as a selector switch...

My theory is: Stanley removed the original tear-drop switch was an intentional act, to prevent the video camera from learning too much about his control positionings.

As you may know, the the original tear-drop switch shape shows, and conveys pickup positioning, and the top-hat is just round, and it conveys no pick-up positioning.

Stanely believes he has something to hide. No comment. :|

Pssssss(quietly)... Alembic players secrets are safe...with us.

811952 · « **Reply #55 on:** January 09, 2008, 06:45:36 PM »

Or maybe he sliced his hand up one too many times... Been there, done that!

John