How many basses do you have

[palembic]

Brother Adriaan ...thanks ...I was just about to ask ok ...and what's a tendon?? I am gonna buy a on board dictionary I think.
 
Paul the bad one

[David Houck]

Thanks Adriaan; I did for a few minutes try to find a translation, but was unsuccessful.  Sorry Paul; I should have tried harder!

[adriaan]

Dave, don't try too hard, you might get ...

[palembic]

In the case I should have the money to spend (yeah ...right) I think I would definitely think about an Alembic 7 string with 36 neck ...wouldn't that be something?
 
Paul the bad one

[lbanks]

Hello Palembic,
The GT7 is actually fairly easy to play, but is heavy as heck. The neck, though wide is thin. The only complaint I have, other than weight, is that the fingerboard is very flat. I'd like a little arch. I've not used it often, in public. I've found that the Orion and Jazz Bass make guitar players less nervous.

[palembic]

Brother Larry!!!!You-hou ...I LOVE to make guitarplayers nervous. You know ...even Bonnie has that effect already on those!!!!

[811952]

I used the 7- a lot for a year or so.  I particularly enjoyed making guitar players nervous.  Mostly, though, I used it with a carribean band consisting of 2 steel drums, drum set and sometimes keys and congas (and no guitar).  When I did use it with a guitarist, I stayed off the first 2 strings out of professional courtesy.  In truth, I really didn't enjoy playing high notes at all... except occasionally a little slide with a beer bottle... but I digress...  I never really noticed the weight, because it's nicely balanced and I'm used to the Series I weight.  Reaching for the bass notes was a chore for me though..
John

[kipknee]

1983 Alembic Spoiler
1976 Alembic Series I
199? Alembic Essence
Custom Jazz Bass with Lindy Fralins and J-Retro
 
The Spoiler was my first real bass, purchased used in 1984 for $500.  Still my go-to bass after 20 years.
I acquired the Series I a couple of years ago.  Beautiful instrument.  I love it, but afraid to take it on some gigs. I need to get over that paranoia 'cuz it definitely deserves to get played more.
The custom Jazz bass is nice when you just need that kinda tone.
The Essence is still a question mark.  I got it a couple of months ago and it's just not working for me.  The body feels too small and it just doesn't fit me for some reason.  I'm probably going to end up selling it.
 

[beatlejuice]

Rami,
    I'm not sure if I can post pics using webtv. If I can figure out how to do it, I will. Might take a while. If I can't do it through webtv, I'll have a friend with a puter do it for me. Might take a litle longer, so be patient. And yes there is soft place in my heart for that old Jazz. I still pull it out once in a while. Sounds like a kazillion bucks.   Paul, back in the 70's, I worked in a music store. We carried the SD Curlee line, but I made so little money, I couldn't even afford to pay attention, much less buy a Curlee. After the store went under, I spent the next 20 years trying to find one. When the one I have came up on eBay with a BIN, the wait was over. They do have some interesting characteristics (neck bolting on about 2/3 of the way into the body with the pu's attached to it, and the PBass Dimarzios with one reversed stagger). They used to be referred to as a poor mans Alembic. Now that I have one of each, I can say...not. And I like the Curlee, but it just isn't in the same league as an Alembic. If I ever get around to the pics, I'll try to put both of them with the Jazz.
The Juice  

[poor_nigel]

84 Series II that is always the first bass I pick up.  
 
89 20th Anniversary that I love the neck on and use when I want a very bright tone.  
 
SN #635 Tobias Signature five-string with an omega cut. The asymmetrical neck is truly great. I have been wanting to play an Alembic five to compare necks. I am not happy with the electronics, as they just don't cut it. It is being sent off to Martin Simms in two months to have a complete LED job done, side and front. After that, I want to play an Alembic Mark King or better five string and then I will either replace the Barts & preamp on it with Alembic gutz, or I will sell it and find an Alembic to replace it with.  
 
Everyone should have a Steinberger XL-2. This is a given.  
 
I have a 69 Gibson Les Paul, which is actually a 70, as all these are actually 70's, just like the one I bought brand new back in 70. It weighs as much as both my Alembic together and has incredible sustain and a good E on it. The electronics are actually very good, and they are low impedance.  
 
I have this funky history of the bass book that calls it a 69 (Every one does . . .) and says it was just made because Gibson made a bass model to every guitar model them made then. Well, this is probably true, but it is an excellent bass, and I really like it - though the neck feels very Mickey Mouse. I used to play it through an Acoustic 371, double-bottomed rig, and it sounded great, even indoors - because of the short scale, probably.  
 
I have a 65 EB-0 that I bought to cannibalize for the Les Paul. It sits in the corner and I have not touched it in years. I consider these awful basses, but some people like em, and to each their own.  
 
I used to have 27 basses back in 75. From old P basses to Thunderbirds. I think I am done yakking, so . . . .  
 
Hold on thar. That bass book goes into Alembic's history and being started out with a strange connection to Osley (Spelling? You know, Mr. LSD) in SF through the Grateful Dead, blah, blah . . . . The next time I feel like immolating a sexretary, I will type it up and post it for everyone's amusement. True or false, it is interesting.

[palembic]

Brother Bill,
 
I'm STILL in love with those Curlees. Although I never played one with Dimarzio PJ combination. I played one with 1 big square cream-colored PU with small holes (screws???) in it (also Dimarzio???)
There was one in a musicshop in Brussels that I passed by coming from school. Th shop owner knew me and let me play on it when I payed him a visit. One day it was gone ***sigh*** that time I couldn't even DREAM of spending that much for a bass.
Maybe we'll be reunited once!
 
Paul the bad one
 
 
Oh ...in that store I played also a Haymann bass. Never seen one afterwards.

[811952]

Paul TBO,
I played an old Haymann in a music store in Newport, Rhode Island a little more than a year ago.  I don't remember the name of the store.  The bass was funky in a never-been-maintained sort of way.  I thought it was a Shergold at first.  I recall it was the opposite of an Alembic in pretty much every respect.
John

[palembic]

Brother John ...you got THAT right!
The bass I played in the store some 30 years ago had darl-smoked-PLEXI handrest alla Jazz-Bass over the PU's!!!! There was a hole in the headstock with a plexi plate in it that hold the letter H. Weird-weird-weird.
I even remember what  I had to play on that bass: Nights in white satin fo cryin'out loud! The shopowner gave a demo afternoon for his 3 (three!!!!) Mellotrons. You remember them???
 
Paul the bad one

[811952]

Paul,
The Haymann didn't seem to have been designed by a musician at all!  Strange bass...  My little brother would have killed for Mellotron until a couple of years ago.  Being an old fan of progressive rock, I love the way they sound.  Time to break out my old King Crimson CDs again... :-)
John

[kenbass4]

John,
 
Yeah, Mellotrons sound great...for about an hour. They're such a PITA to maintain though. The new synths may not quite have the warmth of the mellotron, but you don't have to worry about the tapes breaking in the middle of a song :-0
 
Ken (TEO)