I Dont See The Point......

[toma_hawk01]

By the way,
 
With all those basses Stanley played, or own in his well earned and deserved collection -- not one of those basses were designed for the efficiency of FUNK tactics. But then again, if you are blessed with the anatomy of a large person, you probably wouldn't need much help anyway.
 
So, I say again... Thank GOD for the ELECTRIC BASS, because I just don't have enough room for anything up-right, but a up-right vacuum cleaner...
 
 
 
Peace and Love,
 
Hal-

[jazzyvee]

Hal, I hope you haven't misjudged my comments.  I was not trying to insult,  you or your bass at all.  
 
I was merely using the name as an example in an attempt to say that fact a bass  named after something, does mean that it has to be a replica it's how the bass does the function it was designed for that matters. The original object is merely represented by the shape.
 
Hate is not something I embrace, Innovation is why I have alembics.
 
Funk is it's own reward.
 
Apologies if I have offended.
Jazzyvee

[eligilam]

I'm starting to get that sick feeling again...

[toma_hawk01]

It's cool Jazzy.
 
Honestly, I never trip on the truth of something, for this is what I live my life for.  
 
It's games people play, I don't like.  
 
I think, if we were to someday meet, our music would be SLAMMING!
 
I believe this to be true too.
 
Peace and Love,
 
Hal-
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on July 15, 2010)

[mike1762]

I had honestly never even heard of Mark King before I started hanging-out here and I'm STILL not sure of EVH's claim to fame (no offense intended).  I'm REALLY ashamed to admit that I didn't know Les Paul was a person until I was in my 20's... I just thought it was a cool name for a guitar!!!  I guess my point is that sometimes a name transcends the person... it comes to stand for something else.

[pace]

First navigating this site, (approx 10 years ago!!?!!), I had a hard time sorting through the SC/MK/standard/deluxe/sig lingo when it came to identifying some Alembics. Just like how every now or then a Small Standard Europa gets listed as a SC standard, or a Series I gets listed as a MK deluxe....  
 
I like Bob's idea of the website having an Authentic recipe spreadsheet!
 
-Mike

[slammin]

I think the Don't hate, innovate. is the rain cloud, this time.  You accidentally mis-read a good vibe from Jazzy, aimed at you.
 
Still, amusing to read, so I guess amusing for me to participate, if one would call this participating, lol.
 
Really, poetry is not my strong point.  Reading it, or professing anything I need to say.  It's never poetic.  But, I do recognize it.
 
Hal, will you write my marriage vows, should I ever decide to marry again?
 
You have such a very profound way with words that I think the best divorce lawyer would have a very hard time building an arguement against.  I mean, it would be a tripnotic experience to have your words be the glue that ties me to my next ex, lol!
 
Again, all in good fun, because I love hearing folks' minds, and Hal, you are an open book! That is compliment, and warmest given.  I feel ya!

[toma_hawk01]

Jay didn't have to apologies for anything.
 
I was reading his message, and then all of a sudden, the dynamics changed, after my bass came into the discussion for the first time.
 
Hey man, you can talk about me, but my basses are off limits...  
 
Jay, knows I am cool with him, and I hope he feels the same way about me (which I am sure he does...).
 
 
Peace and Love,
 
Hal-

[oddmetersam]

When I pull my MK Sig Deluxe out of her case and tell the goggle-eyed onlookers she's an Alembic (which I repeat very slowly to make sure they hear the company name properly), the actual model designation is obviously irrelevant to most of them at that point!
 
Mainly, I look at it this way: All of us have our own (Your Name Here) Signature basses, since no two are identical and they become magical extensions of ourselves in ways that are so different than any other instrument we could possibly own.
 
Kinda like the mind-meld between the natives in Avatar and those flying creatures they ride...minus the meshing of tail tendrils!

[toma_hawk01]

Honestly, I wouldn't know a Stanley Signature from a Standard Small Body bass, nor a Mark King Standard long scale from a Series 1 -- unless you told me. I know the symbol, and that's enough for me.  
 
What if the artist does something stupid like Mel Gibson, Martha Steward, and/or Tiger Woods alleged or proven?
 
I Just want the best bass made by a company without the commercial name. Keep it simple and original.
 
Peace and Love,
 
Hal-
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on July 18, 2010)

[dfung60]

I don't know any of the inside story of the Signature models, but it seems to me that they probably exist because people were asking for copy versions of these players' instruments.  The players whose names grace the Sigs have all been very notable in their spheres.
 
By virtue of their rarity and very high price though the years, Alembics are definitely the most famous instruments that most people have never seen much less touched.  You may never handle a pre-CBS Strat either, but there are plenty of replicas at all price ranges that you can get a sense of what a vintage Strat is like.  But even high-end Spectors, MTDs, Modulus and the like aren't much like experiencing an Alembic.  Extraordinary players like Stanley Clarke or Mark King never attributed their distinctive sound to their instruments, but it was hard to miss.  
 
Alembic would certainly have gotten requests for instruments like their visible players, and the answer for most people isn't very digestible - everything is customizable and (relative to most instruments) the prices are shocking.  So, I think that the Signatures are a shorthand for starting a buying discussion - an artist-approved configuration and a starting point for the discussion of what it takes to make a more authentic replica.
 
I do think it's a bit odd that the Sig models don't have Series electronics since that really is a signficant part of the sound.  I guess this is reflective of the pricing though.  
 
On a much, much smaller scale, you see this same thing popping up with Klein Electrics in past years.  There were only a couple hundred of these instruments made, all largely custom and a few in the hands of well-known players in their own spheres (Michael Hedges, Henry Kaiser, Bill Frisell, etc.).  You see mentions of things like BF models that have similar electronics configurations, etc, but they could just as well have had the initials of the person they were built for.
 
David Fung

[bigredbass]

David, it seems you travel in these circles . . . so what happened to Klein?  The electrics seemed to go away, and then there seems to have been some squabble vis-a-vis the Taylor bass . . . anything that can be said in public?  I can only imagine the difficulty obtaining graphite necks in those days of the Modulus/Steinberger legal maneuvers.  
 
As far as 'Signature' Alembics?  Kinda silly since I can not imagine in thirty-odd years there's no two alike, and besides, most players are really too fickle to use any one guitar all the time, much less their 'signature' axe.  Ever see Les' own Les Paul?  
 
J o e y

[88persuader]

Since we're throwing in our opinions, I don't believe in signiture models even though I owned one, unless it's to the EXACT specs of the original instrument used by the star. My SC standard was awesome but wasn't to the specs of what Stanley used (EVER) and the fact it was called his signature model and i know he never used those electronics never sat well with me.  
 
In regard to Stanley and Mark's carreers slowing down, I agree. Nobody stays at the top of their popularity forever regardless how well they still perform. They were on top in the 80s. Most young bass players of today don't even know who they are.  
 
Companies sometimes may make signature models to thank the artist however I believe the main reason they make a signature model in most cases is to cash in on the artist's name and fame. And in business there's nothing wrong with that, it's smart business.  
 
I think Alembic needs to promote their bass line by getting CURRENT famous bass players to play and endorce Alembic. KIDS (the adult buyers of tomorrow) generally don't know who SC or MK are. SC and MK are bass heros of OUR generation not theirs and if you look at the respected bass players of today and look to see what brand they play VERY FEW play Alembics.

[darkstar01]

seriously? who cares? it doesn't make a difference. i've said before i don't care for stanley's playing or his music (and level 42 isn't exactly my thing,either), but i've owned a brown bass before (AND an MK signature). i honestly hope alembic doesn't give some buster player a signature model in the future, because it's pointless. these are custom instruments, and it seems to me the entire point of other companies having signature instruments is using the object of said signature to sell them. i don't care how much you like stanley clarke, i find it incredibly unreasonable to spend $5000+ just to play an instrument like him (and for no other reason than that).

[ajdover]

I view Signature instruments as a starting point.  Most that buy them are drawn to them because of the people most associated with them (Stanley and Mark).  I know I was (Stanley).  
 
This being said, if I were to order a custom SC or MK, it would in no way resemble what those two artists would prefer.  Why?  Because I'm not SC or MK.  This being said, I'd at least have a template from which to deviate.
 
I am the owner of a Series II.  It is (as close as we can get, anyway) a replica of the Alembics John Entwistle played.  Even if I ordered it as a signature model, it would never meet the requirements I have .. e.g., a radius as opposed to a flat fingerboard like John's basses.  In this sense, I used John's basses as a template to acquire something that was more my thing.  And it is.
 
To each his/her own.  If a signature model works for you, cool.  If not, order a custom.  That's what makes Alembic such a great company if you ask me.
 
Alan