Doing my Alembic Am-bass-ador role today

[jazzyvee]

Im popping out to a midlands bass bash this afternoon. Doing my bit to expose the virtues of these basses to more bass players. So taking a few basses and maybe a guitar. Series I Europa, SC deluxe and Classico. Im still not comfortable putting my basses in the hands of non alembicians so this will be a stressful afternoon. But hopefully change some negative views on our beloved basses. Will feedback later.

[edwardofhuncote]

Sounds like a good time Jazzy. 

It can be a little anxious handing over your Alembic, but my experience thus far has been that other great players have respected the quality instruments and been gentlemen with them. Just the other evening I took my vintage Series I to a studio where a friend of mine's band rehearses. I knew their bassist (have known him for quite a few years) was a huge fan of Grateful Dead music and by extension, Phil Lesh, but had never played an Alembic. I put #77-621 in his hands and just stood back, letting him ask the questions. Just watching the expression and knowing what that experience was like made it worthwhile.

Good on you, representin' over there. 

[goran]

Yea that's a great idea, I brought my Alembic to a bass bash and that changed some views, give us a feedback how it was

[David Houck]

So, how did it go?

[jazzyvee]

Hey, It was daunting and incredibly stressful for me as from day one as a musician I have never ever been good at letting others play my guitars or basses regardless of price tag. Nor for playing others for that matter. I don't hide it well either. ha

But I took the basses noted above, and mesa boogie walkabout and barefaced Big Baby 2 cab.
Most people who came over to me were incredibly impressed with the Classico as they had no idea alembic even made them. About 4 or 5 people played the classico and I played it in my novice way for some others.

Everyone loved the sound of it, one guy said he thought it had too much sustain and sounded more like a fretless bass rather than a double bass.
One guy said the attack sounds really double bass like but along with others felt the sustain was a lot more than you would get from a double bass and makes it sound different from a double bass. A couple of guys own one of those Ned Steinberger basses and felt the experience of playing the classico was more like a double bass because you have three places of contact with the instrument wereas the stick ones you just have two and so the feel of playing it is not as intimate.
One of the guys who tried it later came round when I was playing it and said. Yep sounds like a DB.
What probably didn't help is I had the walkabout still on the same settings It was on when I used it for a reggae gig recently so was definitely bottom heavy.

The workmanship of all the basses I took were praised highly though no-one played the Series I 5 string. One guy braved up and tried the signature bass, he normally plays a fretless Wal.  So whilst I had a lot of visual interest and a lot of discussions with people about them, (including the cost), I didn't get many players but I did play them, demo the sounds and explain the elecronics setup to a lot of people which I guess is part of the reality.

All in all it was a good day and at the end of the day I had more people coming up to me saying they wanted to play them but they were scared to because they know the prices are really expensive.
One really lovely old guy came up to me at the end and said he would loved to have tried them but as he guessed they were about £2000 that he would be far too worried, then he asked the question and I told him what the new prices were if he were to buy them today.  Let's just say he was flabergasted.
Right I'm off gigging tonight. :-)

[David Houck]

   

[StephenR]

Looks like it was a nice gathering. What is up with the bass that isn't finished yet? Did you see or play any other basses that impressed you?

[gtrguy]

You are a braver man than I am!  We did a gig 30 years ago in a gym with a great gospel band I was in, and I put my almost new BC Rich bass on its stand afterwards (we were playing at floor level). A lady with a 4 yo child came up to my bass while I was several feet away. She let her kid poke at my bass and the kid knocked it right to the floor. She quickly looked around and then scuttled with child right out the door as fast as they could move. I feel that dent (the only one) every time I run my hand up the neck.

[jazzyvee]

That there was a constant concern, if someone dropped it or it slipped off the stand. I held on to the bass till it was safely on them with the strap. The classico i tried to stay at a distance that was respectful and that i could catch it if it fell from their grasp. Im not sure my nerves would allow me to go through that again. 🤓🧐🤪🥶

[mario_farufyno]

I'm the kind of guy who asks them to take their belt off and not to play with a pick (not to mention when I punched out stage a drunk guy who got it while I was far... 20 years ago, I'm not like that anymore). You are a really nice person, Jazzy.

[jazzyvee]

I did expressly say no plectrums or clothing that will scratch them. All complied and no need to punch anyone out especially whilst they are holding my bass hahaha.

[jazzyvee]

I wonder if JJ let's anyone play his basses?