Author Topic: Alembic Owners Full time Pro's or Part time Musicians? (Read 920 times)

howierd · « **Reply #15 on:** December 30, 2005, 10:08:21 AM »

I started playing bass guitar when I heard the beatles play on the Ed Sullivan show. I used a six string Kent guitar as a bass. I was 12 yrs old. At 14 I bought a used hollow body Harmony bass. It was the real thing. I had a sears silvertone bass amp with 1 15 speaker. My band played at all the kids parties and at the intermediate school dances and battle of the bands in the northern Va area. At 15 I was playing keyboards in a soul band every Fri. and sat. nights. Sunday night we played at a club in D.C. called groovies near the Cellar Door. Most of the guys in the band were 18 or 19. The bass player was 14 and I was 15, but we looked older so we got away with playing in clubs.We also cut a 45 in a studio in Maryland in 1968. We always made $400 to $600 a night as a band divided 5 ways plus management. I quit the band in 1970 to went to college to play Football. I kept playing bass and after college I play in a rock band and then joined a 3 piece jazz rock fussion group. Bass, drums and keyboard. I was using a Gibson EB3 and a Fender Jazz and a Ampeg SVT. We didn't make much money but we had fun playing tunes by ELP Tony Williams Billy Cobham RTF etc. We played at small clubs in Northern Va for about 10 yrs. I aways had a day job and made good money. In 1978 I found my Series I at Giant Music in Falls Church Va. for $900.00. It was a yr old, and that's all I have played since. I stopped playing for a few yrs in late 90's due to Hep C and in 2002 I had a Liver transplant. Now I'm back to 100% and have been playing every day since. Now I'm looking for a band to join full time. I just want too play.
Howierd

jalevinemd · « **Reply #16 on:** December 30, 2005, 10:16:45 AM »

Bill,

What is busking?

bassdr · « **Reply #17 on:** December 30, 2005, 10:22:04 AM »

My story is very similar to the rest of you. I started playing semi-pro in about 1967 while in high school. I could never make enough moeny playing music so I always had a day job. By 1975 the music scene got real thin here in Ann Arbor due to the disco craze that I stopped trying to play and went back to college. I continued to amuse myself playng the bass and played in an ensemble during the end of Med school and residency. Again playing bass sporatically until 5 years when I started playing at church in the praise band. Three an 1/2 years some friends and I started a secular band and again I am in the semi-pro ranks again. At this point I imagine I will continue to play until i am physically unable to do so! I agree: play for fun- esp. when you play - an Alembic- Michael (Flame Koa Essence)

David Houck · « **Reply #18 on:** December 30, 2005, 10:43:40 AM »

From the Cambridge International Dictionary of English:

busk
verb UK
to play music or sing in a public place so that the people who are there will give money

gbarchus · « **Reply #19 on:** December 30, 2005, 10:54:19 AM »

I did nothing but play music from 1970 until 1982 when a record contract fell through (we didn't want to sign!). I lived on a few couches during that time. Since then I've been an English teacher, playing on the weekends. I fell in love with the Alembic sound in 1971 when my mostly original band also played some Grateful Dead tunes (Merle Haggard's Mama Tried, Playing in the Band and Bertha). At the time I couldn't afford an Alembic and messed up my '66 PBass by putting a Jazz bridge pickup and active electronics, trying to get an Alembic sound. I settled for a Rickenbacker with Rotosound flats. Teaching English in Japan, I could finally afford to get my first Alembic, which was a dream come true. I'm trying desperately to get back to my first love, playing music full-time. My kids are just starting college so I have four years to prepare.

(Message edited by gbarchus on December 30, 2005)

lbpesq · « **Reply #20 on:** December 30, 2005, 10:59:11 AM »

Dave's got it right, just open your case (maybe throw a few bills and some change in to chum the waters, so to speak), and start playing. Sproul plaza at U.C. Berkeley was always fun. Sometimes we'd get a little band going. If I was lucky I'd make enough for coffee, new batteries for the pignose and even meet a few girls! I still have my original sign that fit in the top of my opened guitar case:

Though it's true that music can cure all ills, even a musician must pay his bills

Bill, tgo

bigredbass · « **Reply #21 on:** December 30, 2005, 07:33:14 PM »

AJD

THANK YOU for your service to us all ! !

Your post made me remember my days in Pensacola in a band that played lots of clubs 'on post' at the many Navy bases around NW Florida:

We'd play the 'O' Club (Officers' Club for you civilians!) and it was always like Muzak: All white ice-cream suits and wives and bigger brass around: No one had ANY fun! Then we'd play the NCO (Chiefs') Club and it was just great: These guys would let their hair down, didn't care WHO saw them and had a blast. But we NEVER played the Enlisted Club. I asked the BandLeader about this one night, and he said We don't EVER play in there, they're animals!!

J o e y

ajdover · « **Reply #22 on:** December 30, 2005, 10:14:15 PM »

Joey,

No need to thank me, though I do appreciate it. I'm just doing my job, like other service members here. It's what you and every other American citizen expects us to do.

Navy officers being uptight? Say it isn't so! :-)

Funny, in all the years I've been in the Army, the only function I've ever played was a gig in Korea where a lot of folks who attended a going away party for someone showed up afterwards. A three-star general got out on the dance floor with his wife, and he looked like someone one who'd drank too much whilst having a horrible muscular dysfunction. And I would have to agree with the NCOs knowing how to have fun - NCO clubs are usually much more loose than the Officer's Clubs.

Thanks,

Alan

P.S. Anyone want to send me an Alembic to play? :-)

suikishell · « **Reply #23 on:** December 30, 2005, 11:43:38 PM »

I find this posting most appropriate and very interesting..its great to hear from all the owners. when i first got an alembic i thought kind of snobby but i'm warming up. i started my music career on violin at the ripe young age of 12 and at 16 and having to defend myself(physically) for being in the orchestra (in '74) and realizing the bass was cool, i quit and got a bass. now after playing mainly for fun and church ive added a 57 precision and a 64 t-bird IV to my collection i just look at my alembic and its not the same. it calls to me. play me...as for playing to pay my bills..ah well life in so cal and home prices i dont think are really feasable. cut my teeth on stanleys first album zep, who, trower, allman bros. and now its all the rest..chilis,etc marcus???sometimes too much to handle..but the main thing is i felt like wow an alembic for just at home? with the price?? just knowing that theres a lot of guys (or gals) plugging in alembics for the sheer joy of it and more makes it well..sweeet.. so many styles and techniques..still love my flea vcr starlicks sessions with flea instructional video with river phoenix (respctfully RIP)will hopfully be back with a worship team at some point ..until then,,whats so funny bout peace love and understanding...

jlpicard · « **Reply #24 on:** December 31, 2005, 12:01:48 AM »

I played full time for many years starting back in the mid Seventies only picking up the odd day job here and there when things were slow gig wise. Joined an original progressive rock band ( read Yes/Rush/Genesis) that morphed into a Las Vegas lounge band in order to make a living?! Played the casinos in the early Eighties untill another original project called me away. Even played for Elvin Bishop for a while in the mid Eighties. Then I fell in love with someone that I eventually had to become a care giver for, and at that point I had to make a choice between my career and that person, so I took on a full time day job and I have been a weekender ever since. The upside of the the whole thing is that I had coveted an Alembic ever since Stanley hit the scene but as my meager musician income rose, so did the price of Alembics so my dream never became a reality untill 98' when I was able to use a 401k loan to purchase my first Alembic. I am now working on #5 and a custom to boot!! Never could have done it without the day gig!

jazzyvee · « **Reply #25 on:** December 31, 2005, 12:26:25 AM »

$401,000 for an Alembic....!!!!!!!!!!!
Which options did you select in the quote generator.........lol

I must have missed the options for solid gold top and back laminates, ebony neck with platinum laminates and diamond encrusted nut, bridge and knobs.

LOL

Jazzyvee

bigredbass · « **Reply #26 on:** December 31, 2005, 12:40:55 AM »

S'Shell

Growing up in East Texas in the 60/70s, I took LOTS of grief from my testoserone-laden friends for having to go home and practice my piano while they were in football practice.

But you know what? NONE of them ever made a dime playing football, and I can still make money playing music!

J o e y

bracheen · « **Reply #27 on:** December 31, 2005, 06:33:42 AM »

Joey/Alan, I got thrown out of a Marine Corps banquet that I crashed on Jeckyll Island. Does that count?
To answer the question, other than occasional jams with friends or my son in law, I'm strickly a solo at home player. The gear shares a room with some exercise equipment that my wife refers to as the Toy Room. One day I'll work up the gumption to get on a stage. There has been discussions with a local musician/bar owner about doing something at his place.

Sam

george_wright · « **Reply #28 on:** December 31, 2005, 07:34:50 AM »

J o e y said quote:Your post made me remember my days in Pensacola in a band that played lots of clubs 'on post' at the many Navy bases around NW Florida:

Dang, Joey, that takes me back to the Sherman Field O Club in 1967. All of us new ensigns were required to join the O club, so.... Might as well use it, right? Don't remember any music, but I do remember the picnic tables set up in the ballroom on Friday afternoons, seeded with salty snacks. I remember ordering mixed drinks by the pitcher! (Sure can't do that any more, I'm happy to say.)

But to get back on topic, I've never been a pro musician. If asked, I call myself a hobbyist. I've played with the same band for ten years now, filing a Schedule C to cover the ~5kUSD that this brings in annually. (For you non-US folks, a Sched C is the US tax form that covers non-day-job income.)

Tonight we're playing a NYE gig at a Baltimore hotel. Could have had a free room, but my wife's working the 3--11 shift (nurse), so... :-(,

2400wattman · « **Reply #29 on:** January 01, 2006, 09:18:46 PM »

I became a full timer before my Alembic aquisition and that bass WAS NOT NEW by any means. I'm not in the doctor/lawyer high roller crowd so my dream Alembic will probably remain that. It only hurts a little... ha ha ha! Playing music and not punching somebody else's damn clock is more important, so I shall build my retirement with my frugal attitude, Roth, and without my dream bass! Damn that stinks!