What does a Series 1 or 2 sound like?

[Tracey Gholson (fretted4)]

Hello there, this is my first post, PROUD TO SAY, but anyways, ive been obsessed with the alembic history most of my bass playing life, ive played the epics, orions, and even a rogue, what im very curious about is WHAT DOES A SERIES 1 OR 2 SOUND LIKE? if somebody could email me a sound clip of what the series basses can do, maybe it will further help me in my planning to place a custom order alembic.  Can anybody help?

[mica]

Here's a couple of recording to get you started:
 
Almost everything you hear from Stanley Clarke is a short scale Series I. If you've got anything of his, you're hearing Alembic.
 
Buy this album: Neon by Flim & the BB's. Jimmy Johnson does an amazing bass solo as the first track Fish Magic and it's all Series II long scale 5-string and his immense talent.

[James L. Martin (malthumb)]

Some of my favorite Alembic recorded tunes (other than Stanley's stuff, which speaks for itself)
 
Car Wash (Rose Royce bassist has a Series I in video)
Strawberry Letter 23 - Bros. Johnson.  Louis sports an Omega Series I on the cover, so I think he may have used it on the album. Forgot to  ask him that when I met him this summer.
 
Mista Cool - Bros. Johnson.  Same album
 
Celebrate - Kool & The King (not really a favorite song, but you do hear Kool playing the Alembic)
 
Peace,
 
James

[James L. Martin (malthumb)]

Some of my favorite Alembic recorded tunes (other than Stanley's stuff, which speaks for itself)  
 
Car Wash (Rose Royce bassist has a Series I in video)  
Strawberry Letter 23 - Bros. Johnson. Louis sports an Omega Series I on the cover, so I think he may have used it on the album. Forgot to ask him that when I met him this summer.  
 
Mista Cool - Bros. Johnson. Same album  
 
Celebrate - Kool & The Gang (not really a favorite song, but you do hear Kool playing the Alembic)  
 
Peace,  
 
James

[gale barchus (gbarchus)]

Don't forget Phil Lesh (the Grateful Dead) in the 70s.

[Derwin Moss (bassdude63)]

Tracey, Jimmy Johnson plays a really nice solo on the ending of Panic Station on Allan Holdsworth's Metal Fatigue album. I think his tone on that cut captures the Alembic tone for me. Jimmy also plays on Allan's Atavacron album and I believe he's also on the Secrets album (although I can't find that disc at this time-where the heck did I put it!?!). I recently saw Jimmy playing with James Taylor and his tone was out of this world!  

[F. Michael Miller (fmm)]

Check out Starcastle's first album (also titles Starcastle), cut 1 Lady of the Lake.  I believe Gary Strater is playing a series II.

[Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)]

You can also check out the Live James Taylor cd that was released a couple of years ago.  That's Jimmy J playing his Alembic on it.
AMAZING!!!

[Kris Stewart (elwoodblue)]

hmmm....where's that Hot Tuna album?...,
...thinkin' there was an Alembic player on it,
 
Kris

[Jonathan Johnstone (stoney)]

Check out The Who Rocks America vide for John Entwistle's Alembic.
 
All in all I think the answer to the what does a series I sound like question is.....
 
Pretty much anything you want it to sound like.  That's the beauty of the Alembic.
 

[Brian Ceasar (bbe1020)]

I recently visited Stanley Clarke's website: www.stanleyclarke.com (the interactive section)and someone asked stanley how does he get his sound. The question hasn't been answered yet (he's no doubt just as busy as MICA)however, a few people gave input(myself included). When I stated that the sound is ALEMBIC series, I was immediately  bombarded with anti-ALEMBIC responses. Some of them even agreed that the sound was due entirely to stanley's technique, not the bass and that ANY bass could produce the exact SAME sound. One person stated that both of his fender and rickenbacker basses sound exactly like ALEMBIC's... Another person mentioned that fernandes; fab 170 and fab 180 basses are japanese basses manufactured in the 80's that are exactly like ALEMBIC series I and II basses, except in retail price. His fernandes bass was purchased for 600 euro's. PAUL, how much is that in U.S. dollars?  Take a few minutes and visit the site, there's some really GOOD info posted.

[Brian Ceasar (bbe1020)]

MICA, what can you tell us about the fernandes basses?
 
(Message edited by bbe1020 on March 01, 2003)

[Frank Goodrick (yggdrasil)]

Jack Casady from maybe JA's Crown of Creation ,Pointed head, Volunteers(I think he started with Alembic - modified Guilds around Crown of Creation time).I would guess Alembic #1 was used by Jack from 70 -72,so probably on Bark, LJS, 30 Seconds over Winterland, all or some of the first 3 Hot Tuna albums, Kantner's Blows Against the Empire & Sunfighter.I can't find definitive years for this - but I found that Baxter's was pre-Guild/Alembic, so what I've written above is likely close.

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Brian,
 
in theory ? is about = $. Assumed as a LOCAL puchase.
Those guys denying the Alembic sound are PARTIALLY right. I mean ex post = after the facts. In the time Stanley Clarke started it's playing the sound he wanted could only be achieved with an Alembic, guitar + filters. I agree that that sound can now be imitated fairly easy with a bass combined with the appropriate filters. However, it's difficult to get the Alembic sound if you keep the amp and filters as given. I mean: plug an Alembic in and tweak around with the knobs ON YOUR GUITAR and after that plug in the Suyawacko XL5 (or whatever) and start tweaking on that guitar.
You will never have the same sound.
And certainly NOT compared with a SI or SII.
 
Paul
 
BTW: I saw SC only two times on TV-registered performances. I never saw him playing an Alembic but although ...he sounded as SC.
 
PS: thanks for the web-info.
Hey all Alembicians, brother and sisters unite agianst Alembic denial (LOL)

[Wade Handy (oujeebass)]

Lets just say Stanley was able to cut through the band better with the use of filters/electronics that were pioneered by Alembic. The influence of those electronics was later found in other makes. School Days wouldn't be what it is without the Alembic. That is his Purple Haze