New owner in the UK

[Dave Sep]

Hi all, Finally achieved a long standing ambition today when I bought myself a used Epic bass.

I've been playing bass for about 45 years, currently play in a couple of bar-circuit blues bands and more nationally oriented Grateful Dead covers/tribute band, so the Alembic bass is just right! Hoping to use it for the weekend's gigs.

Not sure how many Alembic basses there are in the UK, never seen one in the flesh until I bought mine. I live near Oxford, if anyone is interested.

Cheers, Dave Sep.

[edwardofhuncote]

Welcome to the Alembic Club, Dave, and Congratulations. 

There are quite a few fellow Britons here... though I am not (for 16 generations or so) they'll chime in on occasion.

We love pictures around here, so when you have some time, post a few of your new-to-you Epic over in the Showcase section. http://club.alembic.com/index.php?board=699.0

[the_home]

Welcome Dave! As many Britons as there are here (only 2 generations removed myself, grandfather from Silverdale), there's at least as many playing in GD cover bands. You are in good company.

[StefanieJones]

HI Dave, welcome aboard! Enjoy your new/old bass. They're so much fun to play and addicting.. .too )

[rv_bass]

Welcome, Dave, “...so glad you made it!” 

[jazzyvee]

Welcome aboard Dave there are a few long term brit alembic owners here jaco up in scotland, geepee london based, murray and myself based in the midlands , terry up in the nort east to name a few. There is a strong contingent of us in the UK though i have only seen them on the odd few at gigs outside of Stanley Clarke and Jimmy Johnson. Me and my other half travel a fair bit for gigs so Oxford is not a great distance so post your gigs especially any in the west midlands and we will try to show up at some. I only gig with an alembic bass so if you turn up an one you will definitely get to see and hear one in the wild.
All the best with your new epic and a first alembic gig report would be good to read plus pictures. Im gigging mine at two festivals over the weekend.

[Dave Sep]

Thanks for the welcome, guys. Jazzyvee, I think we are also both on Basschat UK as well. The GD band I play is based in Leicester, so I am often up in the Midlands. I only joined the band in January, so still finding my around the material. I am told we sometimes have gigs/parties at the rehearsal studios in central Leicester, I'll let you know when the next one is planned.

I'll try to get some pics of the bass today, and hopefully some at the weekend as well.

[jazzyvee]

Ok Cool, yeah I am on Basschat usually defending/clarifying the negativity and  misconceptions expressed against alembic by bass players who I doubt  have ever put their hands on one of these fine basses.
 I was doing some gigs with a band from Leicester last summer a Drifters tribute band called "Soul Kinda Wonderful". First time for me doing that kind of stuff so it was good fun.

[Zut8083]

Congratulations, Dave!  I hope you enjoy your new Alembic greatly.  Cheers.

-Zut

[jacko]

A belated welcome from Scotland Dave. (I'm actually an ex-pat Geordie).  Vee has listed most of us UK players but there's also Georgieboy not too far from me in Falkirk and Mike Pisanek in Edinburgh but neither post here much anymore.  Playing an Alembic at a UK pub gig certainly garners some attention from those in the know.  I was also in a GD tribute up here for a few years but it fell apart over disagreements about Scottish Independence. Shame as I loved the freedom I was allowed on the fretboard. Also on Basschat - if you're needing a Mesa 212 cab let me know

Graeme

[Dave Sep]

Thanks, Graeme, I didn't know there had been a Dead tribute in Scotland, I'll ask the others in the Grateful Dudes whether they knew about it. I don't think I'll risk the Alembic in the tight confines of the pubs around here - take a Fender for that sort of thing, keeping the Epic for the gigs I get on decent stages.

I know what you mean about the freedom that the Dead's music allows on the bass - in fact I have just ordered a six string (cheap Ibanez) to see if my fingers can adapt ofter 40 plus years of 4 string! If I get on with it, I'll be on the lookout for an Alembic six instead.

Real shame that politics caused your band to split - I aways say politics and music shouldn't mix. In fact politics, and especially politicians shouldn't get mixed up with decent people at all!

Dave

[jacko]

Wildflower Seed Dave.  there's a thread in the community section. http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=9897.0  Financial issues was another reason for the split.  the moral - don't let the keyboard player handle the dosh when he's stoned.

Graeme

[soflbass]

Welcome Dave, and congratulations!

[Dave Sep]

Wildflower Seed Dave.  there's a thread in the community section. http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=9897.0  Financial issues was another reason for the split.  the moral - don't let the keyboard player handle the dosh when he's stoned.

Graeme

Ah, right, yes, I have heard of the Wildflower Seeds, I think some of them played with the Shakedown Street guys at the recent Summer of Love party in Kent (Pretty Things headlined main stage Friday night, Grateful Dudes on Saturday).
I'll read the other thread.

[StefanieJones]

The Pretty Things are still alive and kicking? I loved them so much back in the day. Didn't imagine then playing anymore. Wish I could have been there.