Author Topic: Alembic spotting  (Read 1326 times)

mint_bass

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Alembic spotting
« on: February 26, 2004, 07:14:49 AM »
heres an idea keep your eyes open on tv and at live gigs for alembics and we will have a list of where they can be seen  
 
i was thinking maybe listing music videos from mtv where Alembics are present i will start taking notes wen i c them  
 
i love alembic spotting its my second favourite hobby only playing is more fun

effclef

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Alembic spotting
« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2004, 07:29:28 AM »
I've seen an Alembic in the goofy beach band for the Univision show CALIENTE when tuning across the channel. Looks like a Spoiler four string.
 
Once in a GREAT while I'll catch one in a video. There are just mountains and mountains of Ibanez basses around, though.
 
I saw some roller rink band playing an Alembic in an awful early-80s teen slasher movie. I emailed Mica about it when I saw it but I don't remember the name. They never showed a great shot of it so I am not sure if it was a Fernandes copy or a real Alembic.
 
Supposedly Geddy Lee played an Epic on one song for MY FAVORITE HEADACHE - maybe that made it to the video?
 
EffClef

mint_bass

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Alembic spotting
« Reply #2 on: February 26, 2004, 07:49:00 AM »
ooohh i never saw anyone using an epic in a vidio before thanks for the info you no this could be kind of theraputic for alembicitis or maybe it will fuel the addiction ah well  

malthumb

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Alembic spotting
« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2004, 10:59:30 AM »
If you ever see Prince's Raspberry Beret video, Brown Mark is playing a white Spoiler.
 
Peace,
 
James
1987 Series I
2000 Mark King Deluxe / Series II 5-string

alembic76407

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Alembic spotting
« Reply #4 on: February 28, 2004, 11:11:01 AM »
I saw the U.S. Marine Corp band on T.V. a few weeks ago and the bass player was playing a 5 string Epic.
 
the video of the Allman Bros playing Whippin Post and their bass player was playing a Series 1

susan

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Alembic spotting
« Reply #5 on: February 28, 2004, 11:29:41 AM »
EffClef
 
Something to keep in mind.
 
All (25) Fernandes Alembic copies are in Pinstripe Zebrawood with birch cores. They came in the Standard point body, medium scale only and the small body short scale version.
 
-Susan

mattheus

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Alembic spotting
« Reply #6 on: February 29, 2004, 02:05:17 AM »
For all our Dutch readers and viewers:
There's a videoclip on The Box (Kinda MTV) which you can request,
The clip features one of the greatest, nicest, funniest, handsomest, etc., Dutch bassplayers playing his Alembic; i.e. ME and my Spoiler...... ; )
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you
 
 
Mathheus tDo

susan

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Alembic spotting
« Reply #7 on: February 29, 2004, 07:47:08 AM »
James,
 
In the Rasberry Beret prince video you'll notice that the Spoiler Mark is playing is painted in florals to match the stage and the Alembic logo has been removed.
 
You can spot another Alembic in a Prince Batman video from the first movie. This one is a metallic purple painted Spoiler with a Batman  logo hanging from the headstock. You'll also notice that he has removed the Alembic logo from it as well as all the other logos from the equipment in the video.
 
Prince bought a total of 4 instruments from Alembic including one with the first Roland synth we ever installed back in the early 80's.
 
-Susan

bracheen

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Alembic spotting
« Reply #8 on: February 29, 2004, 08:47:10 AM »
Susan,
I've seen Alembic basses in videos and heard them on records made pre video, ie King Crimson w/Greg Lake. I don't recall any guitars except maybe Jerry Garcia.  Are there examples of Alembic guitarists that we can look/listen for?
Thanks
 
Sam

palembic

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Alembic spotting
« Reply #9 on: February 29, 2004, 09:52:09 AM »
I can be wrong but I thought I once saw an Almebic Series I or II guitar (you know ...it's the shorter scale instrument with 6 strings that sounds hard and loud and high and can go screaming ...yes???) in a David Bowie video. Let's dance???? I'm NOT sure about that. There was 1 bassplayer and 2 guitarplayers in a row. The black guitarplayer in the middle had an Alembic.
 
Oh yeah ...and that something ant farm dude ...with the six string?? He was on video too with an Alembic 6 string bass no???
 
 
 
Paul the bad one

susan

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Alembic spotting
« Reply #10 on: February 29, 2004, 10:42:39 AM »
Sam,
 
Sometimes my mind goes blank when asked that question, don't ask me why. I keep meaning to make a list of players of both basses and guitars but keep putting it off in favor of making them. Offhand and in no particular order except how they popped into my brain here is a list of guitars and some utillizing the electronics:
 
David Crosby Guild with Series Electronics since 1970 &  F2B preamp
 
Donovan 6 & 12 string Series guitar since  the 70's he still uses them & F2B preamp
 
Carlos Alomar 70's Series long scale guitar and F2B preamp played with David Bowie, now a record executive
 
David Gilmore Blastors and F2B preamp since the 70's
 
Jimmy Page 70's Series 6 string  guitar & F2B preamp, He also owns a Series I bass
 
Johnny Winter 70's custom guitar carved openwork Dragon guitar with abalone flames coming from mouth
 
Richard Betts 6 string custom Series from 70's with 1 high Richard Betts inlaid up the fingerboard in mother of pearl, heart shaped peghead with sterling nails & F2B Preamp
 
Bo Diddly Alembic electronics installed in his guitar
 
Stevie Ray Vaughn some Activator electronics as well as Blastors in some of the guitars
 
BB King Series electronics installed in one of the Lucille's
 
Steve Miller 13 years ago featured them on the album Wide River bought
Spectrum-6 Baritone in coco bolo long scale w/side LEDs
Spectrum-6 long scale coco bolo w/side LEDs
Spectrum-6 Baritone coco bolo w/ side and front Laser LEDs
Spectrum-6 long scale in coco bolo w/side and front Laser LEDs
California special-6 long scale flame maple with clear Emerald green with tremolo
Orion-6 flame maple, he bought this one as a gift for a friend of his
Oh  yes, he also bought an upright Classico-5 string bass for his studio.
 
Henry Kaiser Series custom-6 from the 70's see Custom archives Bloodwood guitar
Buckeye Beauty Baritone guitar custom archives and pretty much every guitar Henry owns has Alembic pickups and electronics in it
Henry also has a custom Tribute neck through in Pink Ivory wood and Macassar Ebony
 
Marmaduke Series- 6 string Long scale guitar New Riders of the Purple Sage
 
Neil Young Series I  from the 70's
 
Stephen Stills Series I from the 70's
 
Jorma Kaukonen- electronics, Blastor & F2B
 
Todd Rundgren Series-6 string since the 70's & F2B preamp, the guitar was stolen  sometime in the 80's  
 
Katsumi Watanbe Series-6 string Japanese jazz guitarist & F2B preamp
 
Peter Frampton Series 6 string & F2B preamp
 
Chet Akins- first bought a bass for his bass player then a Series guitar for himself
 
Stanley Jordan- used Series I 6 string
 
Monte Montgomery Orion Baritone 6 string in coco bolo. He's currently Ron's favorite guitar player, he actually goes to his concerts and he never goes to concerts. You can check Monte out at montemontgomery.com I agree with Ron and Mica, he's an awesome player and singer.
 
We have made a couple thousand guitars but you rarely see an Alembic guitar for sale. Their owners just don't part with them.There are also thousands of Alembic Activator pick up electronics sets as well as Alembic Blastors that are in guitars.
 
Oh yeah, last year Paul Reed Smith bought two Alembic Blastors for a personal project. He sent me an email later stating he really liked them and was using them in a project. Wonder where that will lead?
 
BTW-Many times if the sound you hear live doesn't quite match what is on the recording, it's probably because endorsements aside (which we don't do) when it comes to laying down the tracks that prosperity will remember you by, that old Alembic comes out of the case and goes into the studio. This is true for basses as well as for guitars.
 
Uh, guess the offhand list is a little longer than I thought.
-Susan

bracheen

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Alembic spotting
« Reply #11 on: February 29, 2004, 11:48:40 AM »
Wow, that's a pretty good list, thanks.  I guess it didn't occur to me that non Alembic guitars could have Alembic electronics.  Makes sense.  Sometimes I just don't connect with the obvious.
That would explain why my Strat doesn't sound the same as David Gilmore's or Stevie's.  That and the talent thing.
 
Sam

lembic76450

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Alembic spotting
« Reply #12 on: February 29, 2004, 01:06:38 PM »
Susan,  I remember one of the guitar players in Cher's band back in about 1976 played a Series I. I forget the name of the band, but he was from North Attleboro, Ma.  He bought it from one of your early dealers, Tony at R.I. music in Pawtucket, R.I. That is where I also got my Series I bass. The store is long gone as is Tony, a wonderful man, may he rest in peace. He was a Leo Fender type of guy, couldn't play a note, but, you would not want anyone else to set-up your instrument.

dnburgess

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Alembic spotting
« Reply #13 on: March 01, 2004, 02:14:44 AM »
Do DVDs count? If so, there's all the Who stuff, of course.
Led Zep DVD, Knebworth concert, JPJ plays 4 & 8 string Alembics. James Taylor, Pull Over concert - Jimmy Johnson.
 
Any other DVDs?

dnburgess

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Alembic spotting
« Reply #14 on: March 01, 2004, 02:30:59 AM »
Do DVDs count? If so, there's all the Who stuff, of course.
Led Zep DVD, Knebworth concert, JPJ plays 4 & 8 string Alembics. James Taylor, Pull Over concert - Jimmy Johnson.
 
Any other DVDs?