Dazed and Confused

[toma_hawk01]

Chuck, from a Alembic sound check perspective, I heard Alembics played by the following bassist during the 70's and 80's:
 
Marvin Isley - (Isley Brothers - Funk),  
Louis Johnson - (Brothers Johnson-Funk),  
Rodney 'Skeets' Curtis - (Parliament Funkidelics-Funk),  
John Entwistle - (The Who - Rock&Roll),
BrownMark - (Prince and the Revolution - Funk),  
Jimmy Johnson - (Allan Holdsworth - Fusion),
Reggie Hickman - (Brick - Funk),  
Lequeint Duke Jobe - (Rose Royce - Funk),  
Stanley Clarke - (Return to Forever - Fusion),
Mark Adams - (Slave Band - Funk),  
Mark King - (Level 42 - Pop),  
Robert Earl Kool Bell - (Kool and the Gang - Funk) and
Jermaine Jackson - (The Jacksons - Pop)
 
From the 70's through the 90's, my ears grew up on artist playing Alembics.  
 
The 70's, was the decade electric basses were put to work over-time, double time, swing-shifts, graveyards, weekends and holidays like no other time in history.  
 
I can honestly say, when I played Alembics for myself, it was as if someone poured an entire pail of ice cold water over my head while having a fever. It felt very good.
 
I acquired my first Alembic at the age of 18. I didn't care if it was used, I just wanted that 70's sound of artist who laid their tracks before me.
 
However, since I acquired my new bass, I make sounds I never heard.
 
Peace and Love,
 
Hal-
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on July 28, 2010)

[chuckc]

Interesting perspectives, all. I guess from my frame of reference I have seen a number of Alembic players live, but during those times, since I orginally started out at a very young age as a percussionist, I don' really think I spent too much time focusing my attention on the bass players, other than if the overall tone was either good or bad I do recall seeing Greg Lake, Andy West, John Entwistle, Jimmie Johnson, Phil Lesh, Tiran Porter play live during their Alembic days. John and Andy seem to stick most in my mind as having a really strong presence with their sound.  Jimmie was probably one of the most tasteful and in the pocket players I ever heard. But I have to say in all the various live venues I have been in during my time I do recall the best and worst sounding bassists. Chris Squire had one of the most amazing sounding basses I think I ever heard and I've seen him more than once. The worst has to go to Rick Laird of the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Great bassist but terrible sound. Not sure if it was his amplification, the venue (a former movie theater) or that Ampeg Plexiglass/Lucite bass. Obviously now I concentrate almost exclusivily  on the bass players. Thanks to all for the feedback.

[richbass939]

I don't know for sure but I read recently about why John Entwistle switched away from Alembic.  Supposedly, he was having trouble with the stability of the wooden necks with all the traveling and humidity changes he encountered.  He liked his action really low and got tired of fighting the necks.  He switched to graphite necks so he didn't have to deal with it anymore.
Other members know a lot more about John than I do (Oliver comes to mind).  They can probably give you more information.
I saw RTF in June 09.  The sound was outstanding for all of the instruments, including Stanley's Alembic and upright.  On a side note, Stanley has been promoting another brand of bass recently.  It was onstage last summer but it sat on its stand the whole night.
I have two Epics (4 & 5).  I run them through an Alembic SF-2 filter.  I know they aren't the top of the line Alembics but they are great sounding basses.  I am not rich (other than in name) but I got great second-hand deals on both and couldn't be happier with them.
Rich

[88persuader]

I think it was 09 when I saw RTF in Boston and Stanley's sound was all clicky. I swear when he played you could hear the string strike the frets! He and the band were brilliant but the clicking sound was bothersome to me. Almost like the bass wasn't set up properly or he lost his technique which of course he hadn't. Perhaps it WAS an issue with his sound coming to the house mix? I'll never know for sure!  
 
In regard to my feelings about Epics, no disrespect intended to those who disagree with me, we're all entitled to our opinions. I'm happy for you that you like yours and got them for a price you're happy with ... honestly!

[jazzyvee]

I was at the RTF gig in in London in 2009 and I know the clicking sound you are talking about there but I didn't find it distracting as It was only audible when he was digging in or slap/popping the strings which was appropriate at those times. In fact it is something I've noticed in his sound on a video recording from back in the early 80's with the Clarke Duke Project that I recorded from the BBC. That clicking is quite evident when he is digging into the strings. So I presume it's a sound he uses for effect when the need arises.
 
Next time I listen to the 2009 RTF DVD from the tour I will check out his tone there.
 
In actual fact I recently saw him in London and didn't hear any of that click sound.
I know if I play my alembic sc with the brige filter wide open I can get that type of effect in my playing which I quite like for some tracks.
 
 
Jazzyvee

[jos]

Hi Guys!
 
Stanley has several basses and plays different instruments from time to time but he always returns to Alembic. Once you get used to that nice clear and punchy high end and the massive bottom plus all the stereo possibilities there is no other bass that can create those things?at least not the way Alembic do it.
Technically I don?t think there are any other bass guitars on the market that are on the Alembic level (series one & two) that does not mean that the others are not good ?there are many fine basses Fodera, Ken Smith old Fenders and so on. If you like a clear, big, full range sound with a lot of attack that can be used in stereo then Alembic is it.  
I do not always use Alembic even if I like it a lot; sometimes I use Fodera or something else depending on the gig.  
There are many reasons why bass players do not use Alembic. Mostly people do not know about them. People buy what is advertised or great players use or instruments you can try out in shops. Also if you try an Alembic Series One somewhere and no one shows you how it works you can get lost?its heavy and have a lot of knobs.
I did recently a tour with the legendary bass player Paul Jackson (yes we both did play bass) and I was using the Alembic quite much. I also did use the Alembic for most of the recording session we did. Paul played his passive bass and sounded really good?.he do not like Alembic mostly because its too heavy and too many knobs but that is OK too not everyone have the same taste or needs.  For me Alembic is a great bass for finger style or any style to play??..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyOHwE-49Z4
 
All The Best,

[slawie]

Jan,
I really enjoyed your clip.
Nice playing nice groove and nice sound.
 
I agree with your comment about stereo series'
and the capability of being able to dial it in
when a person may try it in a shop.
 
I have had my series 1 for 22 years and I am
still getting new sounds through some gear jiggery-pokerie.  
Not effects but amplification.
 
slawie

[serialnumber12]

jos good clip/chops man!....how does it feel to play with a Bass Legend?...& what kinda bass was paul playing a lakeland?

[jos]

Thanks! Yes its just soooo great to play with a legend like Paul. Its like having a free lesson onstage?Paul, Louis Johnson, Stanley Clarke and Jaco Pastorius was my heroes in the -70\s and I still love to listen to them?today the list includes many more bass players (of course) like Jimmy Johnson, Armand Sabal-Lecco and the African guys?they are just killing!!
Paul has a friend at ESP guitars that build the bass for him?it has 28 frets and is passive?. ??..and he still has his old Telecaster bass as well?
 
All The Best,
J-O-S

[David Houck]

Very cool video Jan!

[Glynn]

I had a Fender 1968 Jazz from new.  It was great but had earthing probs.  It was stolen and with the insurance money I bought an Alembic Orion 4.  I had it Simms LED'd.  It is fantastic and I play it in rough pubs and top venues.  It is not a myth - the bass is superb.  It holds its' set-up year after year.  Best ever.  Glynn -UK

[terryc]

Welcome Murray to the club, rough pubs eh, ever played up at Teesside..we have some right rough ones here.

[Glynn]

To terryc - Best I can do is played bass for Morris dancing in Whitby (going to Folk Fest on 20 Aug)and singer of my now defunct function band is from Newcastle and so is son-in-law - I know... but it is still the North East. I originate from Dudley so what do I know!  Was very, very tempted by the SC (Quilted Maple) in B'Ham Bass Centre at time but agree it was neck heavy so I went for Orion.  As to heavy....have you ever held a banjo?.....many jokes spring to mind.  Alembic works well with my Markbass combo and EBS rig.  Am told it was a dream to record direct by a bloke who did a/the CD for us.  Strange thing is that many non-bass playing people have still not heard of Alembic. They know of A..Fender and think you are saying A..Lembic. Hey-Ho.  Glynn Murray

[terryc]

murray..MarkBass is really nice gear( a tad expensive) I recently bought a Ashdown 30O EVO, nice amp at a nice price.
If you are up at Whitby on 20th give me an e mail and we could meet up(e mail is in profile, just click on my user name)
It is not very often Alembic club members meet up.
Heavy..my MK Signature weighs in at almost a stone!

[Glynn]

Terry - hope to look you up.  We are taking bikes up there as well as car so very mobile......Glynn