Famous 70's players playing Alembic series 1's

[Mlazarus]

Can you recognize all of these players? I know you recognize the basses! Having the Alembics were a
huge trend in the 70's. I'm always proud to play them. I'm on my second one since 98'

[Mlazarus]

Another one.

[dela217]

It looks like THE zebrawood on the Marvin Isley bass.    I wonder what is going on with that tailpiece.   Reflection?   I remember that Go For Your Guns album.

[jazzyvee]

Alphonso Johnson had a series short scale alembic when i saw him on bass with Santana in the early 80’s

[lbpesq]

John “Marmaduke” Dawson (New Riders of the Purple Sage) played a long scale Series 1 guitar, as did Carlos Alomar (David Bowie’s band).

Bill, tgo

[Mlazarus]

I remember Alphonzo Johnson. I like the Louis Johnson pictures up top where he is playing the Omega series 1.

[Mlazarus]

LOOK WHO I FOUND!

      JIMMY JOHNSON! Nice 5 string Omega Jimmy!

[Mlazarus]

Another Jimmy Johnson. Great picture. Look at the finger spread. Do you remember what you were doing Jimmy?

[JimmyJ]

Funny!  I joined the team in 1975 so I guess I qualify for the timeframe, just not the famous part.

No idea what I was trying to play in that 2nd picture - looks like an almost low-C together with a G on the D-string.  But that doesn't make much sense so it may just be a captured moment of weirdness.   

Stanley is still playing the heck out of his Alembics but I've often wondered how much Louis Johnson used his and what recordings they might be on.  Of course he would use it for the album cover - you don't pose with a Yugo you use a Rolls Royce for that!

Jimmy J

[Mlazarus]

Louis Jonson played the Brothers Johnson hit "Strawberry letter 23" with that Alembic series 1 omega. Listen to the song on youtube.

[edwardofhuncote]

John McVie played a few nice Alembic basses back then. These were the two that shaped my ideas of bass.

[Mlazarus]

John Entwistle played Alembic series 1 basses.

[flavofive]

Parliament/Funkadelic went big into Alembics in 1978.  Bassist "Skeet" Curtis played (I think) 2 different small body / short scale Series 1s in '78 alone:






Lead guitarist Michael Hampton played a Series 1 guitar in '78-'79, and in some appearances after that:






Their 1978 live show was my very first VHS bootleg as a 17-year-old back in the 90s, and you MIGHT say it had some influence on my instrument collection years down the line... 

[JimmyJ]

Louis Jonson played the Brothers Johnson hit "Strawberry letter 23" with that Alembic series 1 omega. Listen to the song on youtube.

I don't know how to break it to you but most of the videos of those guys playing that song were not actually live performances.  (WHAT?!!)  Instruments not plugged-in can be a clue.    But I did find one 1976 Midnight Special performance of "I'll Be Good To You" - which I'm pretty sure was live - where Louis plays the Alembic.  Nice snappy top end to the bass tone too.  He used the 1/4" jack with a straight plug.  HAHA!!  It seemed like every time I saw a picture of him he was playing a different bass so I'd still be curious to know if he used his Alembic on any of the albums.

P.Funk, Entwistle and McVee were all amazing Alembic players.  Also Mark King for a while in the 80's.  Great individual voices from all these folks.

Jimmy J

[Mlazarus]

Its funny you mention how players perform on stage without being plugged in. For one thing, as one can
Imagine, the producers want them to have the "Album" sound" 2. They don't have to worry about screwing up the notes and perhaps because some of them are probably drunk or too high to perform the way they are expected to. Ha ha. Could be a reason. Not to mention, the crowd usually
won't notice if their hands and fingers don't  line up with the notes and frettboard position. Only a real musician would notice if they are faking it, but damn, if you are going to fake the real sound, you can atleast make sure you put your hands in the right position and " try to be honest. I watched Louis Johnson online once playing " Stomp" as he was playing i noticed he was dancing more and flapping his hand on the frett board, but his frettboard  fingers weren't moving in sinc. Ha ha. It's all show once they get on stage. Why waist your valuable chops!? Save your chops and skills for the serious studio recordings. On stage. Just party for the nieve crowd. Lol.