Come to thing of it, in sharing this information... both Louis and Stanley joined forces on Stanley's Album Rock Pebbels and Sand; title cut: We supply (all your funky needs).
It was Alemibc slap-popping, fast fingering, and vocals. It was so good, it was BAD. Those guy's were both in their prime-time and it was at this time, I was wanting an Alembic very badly. The recording of that jam was done so well, I could hear the actual differents (distinctly) of both the Music Man and Alembic basses from each other. It was like, these guys wanted the audience to hear the differences. The Music Man Stingray sounded Glassy bright and basically a sound most basses could copy. Therefore, when I said it was a stingray, I am really guessing the brand, but Louis was really slang the hell out of the Music Man's at that time, so this was only a hunch or a educated guess on my part. However, on the other hand, even if Stanley Clarke was not playing the other bass on the track, I knew it was an Alembic.
This kind of bass duel was done before it got popular. Now you can hear Vic, Stan and Marcus (Three bass sounds) and run comparisons today.
Yet still, after all those years, Alembics sounded different, while the others (regradless who's playing), sound the same as any other good bass(s). Honestly, I couldn't tell you the kind of bass it Louis was play on the cut, but I knew damn well, it was not an Alembic with Stanley standing there .
As to Louis yeilding his playing of Alembic basses, I often thought; he may have felt he needed a good axe to distinguish himself from others with other famous bass players and their basses.
I am sure pretty sure, Louis would have been the first to grab an Alembic bass, if Stanley was not first.
If I am correct, Louis could had felt a bit withdrawn from his original Alembics because he may have been tired of people saying: Louis, you got the bass Stanley Clarke plays... or, Man, that sounded like Stanley when you did that...
Therefore, I think this is why he simply stopped playing them in public. Thus, The Musicman Stingray basses was the direction which would set him apart and prove effective and it appeared to work. Mst people identify LJ with Stingray basses. Therefore, problem solved...?
-Wrong-
Now, I don't see Louis playing Stingray basses anymore. Therefore, now I am lead to believe, he ran a ground as it related to Music Man's Stingray quality and possible corporate consistency. It appears now, Stingrays were more of a prop than anything else.
Everybody knows, pound for pound, Stingrays don't hold a candle next to Alembic basses and I am very sure, Louis knew it too.
So, what lesson is learned here?
Louis should had just kept playing his Alembic. If he did, he'd been eventually identified as the guy who plays Alembic too. Sure, this would had put some greater pressure on Stanley Clarke, he couldn't claim or corner the market.
In otherwords, if Louis kept his Alembic, I am not saying he would be any better or worse, but what I am saying is, Louis would had eventually been in Stanley's mind: wonder what Louis would do in this situation...
Louis was in back of Stanley's rearview mirror and with the Alembic bass as his ride, musically speaking, he was in the race. Also when you look at the times (back in those days), Louis Johnson had a far bigger audience than Stanely Clarke too.
Louis Johnson in the long run made a bad mistake switching for inferior product to distinquish himself. Now, LJ is not even playing Stingrays basses anymore. Go figure...
Also when you look at the times (back in those days), Louis Johnson had a far bigger audience than Stanely Clarke too.
