First double neck by Alembic

[john_judge]

I don't know if anyone has seen this Bass & guitar combo before but back when my Bass was being built this picture was sent to me as a sort of sample, before I started designing the layout for my Bass to be used as a guide line, we didn't have internet back then, so I had to send drawings and messages by letter and phone calls to Alembic. Larry Robinson who was with the company at the time was a great help to me and is well known for his master inlay work. I was told that this was the first double neck ever by the company but don't hold me to it I was never able to verify that nor did I have a need to anyway,  it's an old photo enjoy John....Mica please feel free to correct me if I am wrong or to ad anything about the history of this doubleneck, such as, was it built for anyone in particular, serial number etc...and also a warm hello to you Mica, thanks John Judge
 
(Message edited by John Judge on April 17, 2009)

[artswork99]

Nice piece of the history John.  Thanks for the addition.

[keith_h]

It looks like Harry's bass to me.  
 
Keith

[terryc]

That is one awesome bass, I remember the first time I saw it.
Must weigh a lot but then again it must have sounded great

[artswork99]

Sure does look like Harry's bass... I was also wondering what is different by the 1/4 jack.  I thought that might have been a brass plate but looking at it enlarged didn't help.
 
(Message edited by artswork99 on April 17, 2009)

[olieoliver]

Very cool John. I always thought yours was the first. I remember way back when seeing the ads with you and your bass and loving the double neck.
I've had the chance spend some time with the current owner of your old bass and can most definitely vouch for the fact it is in good hands. Unfortunately I didn?t get a chance to play the bass.  Christian is a class act and a good friend.
 
 
Peace,  
OO
 
(Message edited by olieoliver on April 17, 2009)

[artswork99]

whoops, double post
 
(Message edited by artswork99 on April 17, 2009)

[artswork99]

Funny, I went 400% and now see that what appears as brass is actually a stain on the photograph

[john_judge]

yes it might be harry's guitar bass combo
anyone know what the serial number is on it
 
Thanks OO I know Christian is taking good care of my old bass (Goliath) but I am working on a new design almost complete that is going to really shake it up electronically and visually for sure. Since we are on history what everyone may not know that I personally met with Bob Moog back in the day and we discussed about building a synth attachment for my Bass prior Midi and Bob's company was called big Briar, at first I was quoted about $5000.00 but after some experimenting with trying to get a frequency follower/pick up he was not happy with the delay in the transmitting of notes so we scraped the idea.
And a answer to a question that was asked , did John Entwhistle ever see or play my doubleneck bass, the answer is yes! for a brief 5 minutes after a show in Madison Square Garden we were in the dressing room in a small practice amp and I brought it there to show it to him.  Shortly after the band's manager walked by and took me to the side and told me to wrap it up, because John was a compulsive buyer of Basses and he didn't want to have to deal wit that. Did I ever play any of John's No! and I would never ask to,  John was very soft spoken and very protective of his Bass and I respected that, but he made up for it on the stage very loud standing next to his amp's.  I loved talking with him and the time we got to spend together, we had a lot of the same view's on music and bass, may he rest in peace.
 
(Message edited by John Judge on April 17, 2009)

[olieoliver]

That's what I was thinking Art.

[john_judge]

Yes  
Olieoliver,  My bass was the first double neck Bass 4 & 8 string, buyt not Alembic's first double neck guitar the one in the picture is a combo 6 string guitar with a 4 string bass where mine of course is both necks Bass

[olieoliver]

I am anxious to see the new axe John.
 
Loved the story about JE, I was somewhat of a compulsive instrumemnt buyer way back when but I'm feeling much better now.  
 
 
OO

[hieronymous]

WOW!!! That is totally mine - I put mine in parentheses because I consider myself more of a guardian or caretaker than owner - same with my cat. ANYWAY, thank you John for posting that picture and information, I don't really know anything about the early history of this amazing instrument.
 
Apparently the upper neck was a 6-string bass a la the Fender Bass VI - i.e., tuned EADGBE. A previous owner who has been posting and gave me this information changed it to a baritone guitar tuning - check the link to my showcase thread above, he posted about it near the bottom. It is currently tuned A-A, between bass and guitar, but I am seriously considering turning it back to E-E, since it is a full 30 short scale. So both necks are really basses - a short scale fretted and long scale (34) fretless.
 
Thanks again John! I've been enjoying your posts and the history of your AWESOME doubleneck!

[rami]

Last year, I awoke from a restless sleep and started this thread.  It resulted in one of the wildest Doublenecks since the John Judge!
 
http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/49807.html
 
I'm still waiting to see if Oliver gets this baby off the ground.
 
I think John would be proud!
 
 
 
(Message edited by rami on April 17, 2009)

[rami]

Here's the thread:
 
http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/49807.html