Author Topic: The last brand I'll ever buy! (Read 313 times)

angelboy · « **on:** January 24, 2004, 01:29:19 PM »

Well well well..........you lot have been keeping this a little 'quiet' haven't you?
I mean........you play bass, tweak the settings a little.......not a bad sound, in fact, quite a good sound...........have a bit of a play.

Simple.

I enjoy playing bass......I enjoyed playing MY bass..........I ENJOYED playing my Musicman bass......................how 'simple' I was!

Today, I've plugged in and played the last brand of bass I'll ever play. I................am................astounded!

My bass is dead, long live my bass!!!

jazzyvee · « **Reply #1 on:** January 24, 2004, 02:26:33 PM »

I know just how you feel mate. I have a musicman Sterling and since getting my alembic its basically redundant. I keep it as a spare until I can afford another alembic to replace it.

angelboy · « **Reply #2 on:** January 24, 2004, 02:55:20 PM »

Sounds like a plan I'll be following!

eastcoastepic · « **Reply #3 on:** January 24, 2004, 08:29:50 PM »

Paul,
Yes, you will be following jazzyvee's plan...you have to, it's not a option. Once you contract the Alembic 'illness', your desire for another cannot be cured. Don't fight it, just watch the credit limit on the plastic cards(!). I bought my first Alembic last year, and within 60 days I spent serious (VERY serious) money for another. I do not regret it, although I am a bit worried that I may soon weaken and acquire another!! (Anyone know a good therapist out there??) Enjoy.............
Chris

dannobasso · « **Reply #4 on:** January 25, 2004, 08:39:20 AM »

Good luck to you all. I am up to 10 in 20 years with more to follow. I just went to the NAMM show and saw some interesting and unusual basses. I was not tempted to pick any up for some reason. All has been made possible thanks to the Wickershams. (plus I don't drink, smoke or do drugs! Think of the money I saved to buy basses!)
Danno

thebass · « **Reply #5 on:** January 26, 2004, 02:02:53 AM »

Hi Jazzyvee,

we are sharing the same configuration. But I still have situations were I prefer my old Sterling. If I want a sound which serves a more supporting role in the background the Sterling is still usefull for me. My MK STD cannot be tamed to serve a role in the background ;-)

palembic · « **Reply #6 on:** January 26, 2004, 02:30:53 AM »

Hi Brothers,

I think I'll be the renegade in here by being not SO fanatic as you all.
Of course Bonnie is good to me and a VERY versatile instrument, Although I can imagine myself buying other basses for a certain purpose.
My aim for and Epiphone Jack Casady must be seen in that context. My Squier JB-Broomstick will never be on stage put still serves some purposes at home.
I would LOVE to have a Sadowski 5 string in maple once. Or a Rob Allen fretless.
Would II like another Alembic?
Of course, but that Alembic will be a very pure instrument. What I have learned by playing a lot of different instruments I will combine in a completely me instrument. THAT instrument can only be made by Alembic. It's waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-ay tp early for that but I know it will be a fretless 6 string.

Paul the bad one

jazzyvee · « **Reply #7 on:** January 27, 2004, 12:13:10 PM »

5{e my sterling mainly for rehearsals and if I have a gig in a pub/bar or other dodgy place. As sometime the audience is a bit too close and I wouldn't want to find myself confronting someone for daring to put their filthy mitts on my Alembic.

jazzyvee · « **Reply #8 on:** January 27, 2004, 12:18:31 PM »

5{e my sterling mainly for rehearsals and if I have a gig in a pub/bar or other dodgy place. As sometime the audience is a bit too close and I wouldn't want to find myself confronting someone for daring to put their filthy mitts on my Alembic.

smokin_dave · « **Reply #9 on:** January 27, 2004, 11:48:40 PM »

Funny,in 94 I bought a Musicman 4 and got rid of it within a month.In my mind it was totaly worthless with ho-hum tone.As soon as I sent it on it's way I stopped in a music store by chance and they just got a shipment of Epic's in.I pulled one down,played it and started clinging on to it like somebody was going to snatch it out of my hands and buy it out from under me,almost to the point of snarling like a mad dog at anybody that even got near me.I was so taken away by it that I bought an SF-2 superfilter along with it.The best equipment/musical decision of my life.Now I wonder if I can someday afford the holy grail,a custom series 2.I won't rest until I make that happen.

alemboid · « **Reply #10 on:** January 29, 2004, 09:46:42 AM »

After playing many basses (I used to work at Bass Northwest & then for Sadowsky) I must say-the most even tone string to string and the best quality pots (compare the volume taper of your Alembic to your Fender) and so on...is from the Alembic. Think about the name! Its a refined/distilled design that has lept light years ahead of Leo Fender's original idea. Don't get me wrong, I love 60's & 70's era Fenders, but when it come to what I will use to sound my best, and what will inspire me by its beauty, I will always turn to Alembic.

My Mark King Deluxe 5, balance point with side LEDs and hybrid Signature/Rogue electronics in cocobolo is tops in tone. I'll admit, if I find the right old P bass, I'd buy it. Just to have something to give me that vintage vibe.

Bottom line: To me Alembic is everything...almost :-).

David Houck · « **Reply #11 on:** January 29, 2004, 11:40:01 AM »

That's a wonderful bass in every respect. Between the Cocobolo and the hybrid electronics, your tonal pallet must be inspiring indeed.

alemboid · « **Reply #12 on:** January 29, 2004, 11:51:24 AM »

Thank you, Dave-
I love this bass, and it has become my main instrument. The B string is so clear, its tone is as discernable as the g string. By selecting the neck pickup, rolling off the neck filter just beyond half and boosting the bass, I get a vintage P-bass sound that no one can tell from a real P-bass! Funny thing is- with Q switches off and both pickups on, it sounds amazingly like a Jazz bass. When I dig in, its all Alembic. Sadly, my other basses haven't been played much since I got the MK5.

I am truly satisfied with this bass (but I'd still fall for the right old P-bass!)

Bryant