Alembicized Guild M-85 II

[growlypants]

Wow! VERY cool!!  (I haven't played in front of an audience in quite a few years, myself.  Congrats on, what seemed to be impossible circumstances!)

[edwardofhuncote]

I'm curious Harry, as you transition to playing the fretless out more often, do you find yourself using, or trying out alternate settings on your fretted Alembics? (can't quite tell from the pictures where the pointers on your witch hats are...) 


My own recent personal experience with both my fretless Alembics has led me to favor the bridge pickup about 60/40, roll the filter down even lower to about 30% open, and engage the Q-switch. Generally, these settings are opposite what I would start with on the fretted basses.

[rv_bass]

Nice photo, Harry, glad it all worked out, hope to hear how it sounds!

[hieronymous]

My own recent personal experience with both my fretless Alembics has led me to favor the bridge pickup about 60/40, roll the filter down even lower to about 30% open, and engage the Q-switch. Generally, these settings are opposite what I would start with on the fretted basses.

Interesting question! So are you going for a similar sound but by different approaches or are you going for something different with fretless?

So far, I feel like I'm going for a basic fat, round sound without much high-frequency information, whether on fretted or fretless, and it's basically neck pickup with filter turned down - hmm, halfway? Though I think the neck pickup on the AleM-85 is much closer to the end of the fretboard than on my Stanley Sig² - I should measure to make sure.

One more rehearsal with this group before we go on hiatus for 6 weeks or so - I think I might take a fretted bass. The AleM-85 lived up to expectations, but it takes a lot of work to play fretless! I think I might take a break this time since we're not building to something, though I do want to try and keep it up too. Fretless is do or die - with each note! Or maybe I'm just too much of a slacker rock bassist lol

[edwardofhuncote]

"Interesting question! So are you going for a similar sound but by different approaches or are you going for something different with fretless?"

I'm not sure exactly how it happened, but my perception of what I like fretless tone to be started to evolve. The fretless Distillate and Custom wih E-M-W controls are very similar, and so, can be made to respond in kind. I've found that favoring the bridge pickups, closing the filters, attenuating the Q, and boosting the bass has revealed a new happy place. By contrast, with the fretted basses I typically have favored the neck pickup, left the filter about 50-60% open, toggled the Q off, and left the eqs flat or even cut.


All part of the adventure I suppose. 

[sonicus]

With my fretless playing and exploration I have applied some of the acquired technique to my fretted playing as well . I have a propensity to strive for Jaco like tone on fretless . In this pursuit I tend to favor the bridge pickup and apply my plucking hand / fingers close to the bridge area. As well I go for more lower midrange growl then Earth shaking bass response because of the articulation that I am trying to achieve. In the early 1990s I was fortunate to get some coaching and guidance from both Michael Manring and Mark Egan who remain as my living mentors on fretless playing . I recently attended a show on 6/2/18 with Michael Manring playing as a  solo act and was grateful to have another conversation with him after the show . We reopened our previous topic of string gauge and tension  . Both Mr.Manring and Mr. Egan were guided and coached by Mr. Jaco Pastorius whom I met briefly in the 1980s .

[hieronymous]

I'm not sure exactly how it happened, but my perception of what I like fretless tone to be started to evolve. The fretless Distillate and Custom wih E-M-W controls are very similar, and so, can be made to respond in kind. I've found that favoring the bridge pickups, closing the filters, attenuating the Q, and boosting the bass has revealed a new happy place. By contrast, with the fretted basses I typically have favored the neck pickup, left the filter about 50-60% open, toggled the Q off, and left the eqs flat or even cut.

All part of the adventure I suppose. 

Very interesting. East meets West is part of the equation that I don't have. I was very happy with the sound I got from the neck pickup into my tube compressor into my GK amp with the controls fairly flat, recorded with the Shure BETA52A. I need to post it soon!

With my fretless playing and exploration I have applied some of the acquired technique to my fretted playing as well . I have a propensity to strive for Jaco like tone on fretless . In this pursuit I tend to favor the bridge pickup and apply my plucking hand / fingers close to the bridge area. As well I go for more lower midrange growl then Earth shaking bass response because of the articulation that I am trying to achieve. In the early 1990s I was fortunate to get some coaching and guidance from both Michael Manring and Mark Egan who remain as my living mentors on fretless playing . I recently attended a show on 6/2/18 with Michael Manring playing as a  solo act and was grateful to have another conversation with him after the show . We reopened our previous topic of string gauge and tension  . Both Mr.Manring and Mr. Egan were guided and coached by Mr. Jaco Pastorius whom I met briefly in the 1980s.

Thanks for the insights Wolf! I've been blown away by Jaco a few times in my life, also appreciate Mark Egan's playing on the first couple of Metheny Band albums, plus I had his Mosaic solo album. Michael Manring is amazing - very cool that you've encountered and connected with him a few times!

I've definitely got a few approaches to the bass - aggressive with a pick, deep round r'n'b sound with fingers, fat distortion/fuzz - depends on the bass and the people I'm playing with I guess.

[rv_bass]

Since speaker type can infuence the sound, I’m just wondering what size speakers you fretless players are using?  I’m using a 12-6-soft tweeter cab with my fretless (jazz band so not terribly loud).  So far so good, but I was thinking of trying it with a 15-with tweeter cab to see how it sounds.

[hieronymous]

Here's some audio! This was recorded and mixed by the drummer, so I'm not responsible if the bass is too loud lol

There are some blatant intonation errors when I go up the neck but wanted to share for the sound. The fill leading in at the very beginning is from my DI recording, the rest is from the mic on my GK MB-112.

http://hieronymous.us/music/reflectionofthesun_edit3.mp3

[sonicus]

I like your Groove . Those Alembic pickups and electronics sound great !  I remember both the drummer and guitarist as being fun to play music with ! Please send them my best wishes .

[hieronymous]

I like your Groove . Those Alembic pickups and electronics sound great !  I remember both the drummer and guitarist as being fun to play music with ! Please send them my best wishes .

Thanks and will pass on the wishes!

[gearhed289]

Thumpy! Sounds great, really.

[hieronymous]

Thumpy! Sounds great, really.

Thumpy - that's definitely part of the sound I'm going for. On certain basses like this it feels like I'm trying to plop the notes in the right space for the groove.

I put a louder version of the jam on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/hieronymous-seven/reflection-of-the-sun

[hieronymous]

I haven't used the AleM-85 at the past couple of playing opportunities - I think I needed a break from fretless - partly the continued realization of how much work it is to have good intonation. And then I had a brilliant idea - check the intonation! It was way off on the D & G strings    I worked on it, I think it's better, have another jam session this week, think I'm going to take it!


(At the last rehearsal I took my Gibson Les Paul Triumph - it worked well but we played for about 3 hours and I definitely felt the weight by the end - and later that evening!)

[hieronymous]

Quick update (though nothing exciting) - at the last rehearsal the strap pin by the neck pulled out again, so my toothpick/Elmer's glue fix didn't hold. I think it needs a longer screw, going to have a friend help me. I don't have any tools other than a few screwdrivers & allen wrenches. It's kind of frustrating to look at the bass and know that I can't pick it up and play it! Well, I could play it seated but I prefer to practice with it the same was as when I play it out, so I'm resisting.