So I got my new Series II 5 string last week. It's beautiful, of course, and it plays great and sounds even better. Once I got over the intial shock of how amazing the bass was in every way I noticed that there was an extra control knob! The bass was supposed to have a master volume, pickup pan, and a filter and qvc for each pickup - 6 knobs in all. However, there were 7 knobs on the bass.
I spent the whole rehearsal trying to figure out what the extra knob did, but no matter how I tweaked things I couldn't hear any difference in volume or tone. Finally, bewildered, I just turned the knob to its full off position and gave up. Almost immediately, I noticed that I was playing past the limits of my ability. I had chops like Stanley or Wooten (well, almost) and a harmonic sense like Coltrane. I figured it was just the killer tone, perfect neck and the whole Alembic vibe - but then I rotated the 7th knob back to its middle position and I was me again. With the knob in the full on position, I was still playing like me - but it was the version of me that comes out with no sleep and 10 beers!
Suddenly, I realized what the 7th knob was -- it was a suck knob! Turn it down, and I sucked less. Turn it up, and I sucked more! What will those magicians at Alembic think of next? Susan later tried to convince me that it was a dimmer for the LED's, but I know better!
(Message edited by s_wood on May 23, 2005)
