What's the better bass if Alembic was not around?

[hendixclarke]

The cold hard facts is, Alembic is a business and businesses can go out of business and many guitar businesses had bit the dust.  
 
Although this question was posted with tongue & cheek and mainly to discover other great companies out there, and with (of couse) an open mind.
 
As a Alembic owner/player since 1983, I sold my first Series I during 1990 (a bad economic period for me) and kept my Ibanez roadster because it was my very first bass and I had it since 1979.  
 
The Alembic bass was a better bass, and it was worth more money which I needed at the time. On the other hand, the Ibanez was not worth $50 bucks but it was still a standard bass.  
 
For those people who said they wouldn't be playing a bass, if Alembic was not on the market, I am most sorry because this means you are somewhat a snob. Heck, look at all the true musicians who played other basses before switching to an Alembic. A future was still available for their bass techniques and they were still some great basses before they'd discovered Alembic basses. This same goes for electric guitars although, Fender Strats can't be beaten there by anything with six strings when it comes to the Leo Fender family.
 
There's my take on the issue. Again, if Alembic never was... I would still be jamming. But for those people who can only play with Alembics, then I question your character as a true bass player.

[juggernaught]

Hey, don't get so serious  I'm sure any of us who said they wouldn't play anything else in that hypothetical situation *would* play something because we all love to play.  But with Alembics in out hands, its fun to pretend that we wouldn't!

[hendixclarke]

Yeah, I know... People are loyal to Alembic, and I understand why maybe more so, than the next person. But wait a minute... Bass hardware is only a small component compared to wanting to play.
 
If a bass player can make an non-alembic sound good, they can make an Alembic sound even better. However, because Alembics are so damn beautiful, a listener would manly focus on the bass and less on the player anyway  
 
When you see someone playing a jacked-up bass like the late Jaco Pastorius did, your focus is more on the sounds He really tamed that beastly ugly bass into an musical expression of something even Alembic can't replicate. If Jaco had played Alembic on the other hand, we would see a bass in his name right today. Because, he would most likely create sounds, we have not heard.  
 
Its the player who rules.

[hendixclarke]

The Alembic is the Mac Daddy of electric basses and will be long after we are gone. The loyal players are perhaps even stronger than Apple Computers. Hey, we are talking California, therefore many of the same fans, own Apple computers too.
 
All n all, I just wanted to heat things up and take notes from you very special people. Who I know for a fact, are people of great means and tastes. So, don't bubble up... or take this the wrong way...
 
My 1976 shorty, will stay with me until the end. I want an Alembic even in the after-life too as my first choice.
 
Peace.

[juggernaught]

Going off-topic, but in my experience, awesome instruments are harder to play than not so awesome ones.  An Alembic will really show where you're groovin, but will also make where you're sloppy all too obvious.  I agree though that if you're playing right (at least on the inside), anything will sound fabulous.  And even better on a high end.  As far as I can tell, there really isn't any disadvantage to playing exclusively on a high end.  I know that if I pick up a lower-end I'll be able to make it sound good no worries, but a high end I'm not used to would take me some time.  Maybe the way to solve the bass vs player dilemma is to trash an Alembic up

[hendixclarke]

When I think of crappy instruments, and in this case basses, I think the crappy ones have very few sound choices and they sound dull. I had a toy bass from sears that sounded like donk, donk, dang  
 
But there are people who could take this same bass, and play the heck out of it... This is a true master. S/he can find the beauty of the sound, and bring out the best from it. Although, there are only a few things they could do, they still accentuate the soul beauty of the instrument.
 
Why 5 string bass over 4?
 
4 has been the standard but because, we are high on LOWER LOWS AND HIGHER HIGHS, sound is evolving as basses. A 5 string bass player has more options and if they are true masters, they could still play the hell out of a Kmart special by Mattel.
 
Alembic basses sound good even if you play one note. Two notes even better. On the other hand, playing ONE note on my ?close to being played as broom stick,? or fire wood, sounds bad for anyone unless you are a true master.

[elwoodblue]

a shoebox and a big rubber band...and alot less ego.
 
whoops..I'm guilty of having an ego
 
wave on...

[alembickoa]

Interesting thread...Now, this comes from a FOG (fat old guy) who has played a LOT of gigs and played and seen a LOT of different basses. A few things pop into my head now and again over time and here are some things that I am lucky enough to remember...
 
I swore one day (this is back in the EARLY 60's...don't ya just hate that term) I would have a Fender. Then I swore one day I would have an Alembic S1. After a myriad, mish mash, and multitude of gigs, the S1 happened and I swore I would be buried with it. After another 3m's (see above) of gigs with my S1, someone asked what would happen if I ever lost the S1. Go back to a Fender, I suppose, was the reply. Of course, along the way I swore a lot of other things, one being that I would never ever end up homeless. Can you picture a homeless guy...me...trotting around the streets and sleeping in the bushes with an $18K bass just waiting for someone to clunk him over the head so they could trade my Alembic for a quarter ounce of crank??? Sold it...something I swore I would never do...and now am playing an old P Bass given to me by an old friend.
 
I guess the morals of the story are...a P Bass is a very wonderful instrument but sure as shootin' ain't an Alembic which are the best basses imaginable, and don't swear.

[funkyjazzjunky]

Carvin makaes great basses (and gear)

[hendixclarke]

Basses back in the day, were designed to support the bottom and STAY IN THE BACKGROUND.
 
Then Bass Players started a revolt, and some even started there own bands. (This was very risky at the time...) Fans listened, and loved what they heard and a market was born.
 
It took people taking that old Fender Jazz or P bass to kick-off the need for a better sounding bass. After this period it was manifested, was perfect for a company like Alembic to execute for the bass.
 
However, as for the lead guitar market, people were already in tune on the sounds of a Strat's, Gibson's,  and thus, the Alembic Lead guitar had much more work to do.  Gerry Garcia as the only front man, was not an idea picture for me to be inspired to pickup an alembic lead at all. Not after seeing what other choosin in their camp. Seeing Jimi kill a Fender, was inspiring and it started the age of Fusion Rock/Blues. But to think of Gerry killing an Alembic Lead, is un-thinkable.
 
The bass broke out in the 70's ...probably after the death of Jimi Hendrix.

[alembic76407]

I would still be a drummer

[elwoodblue]

what?? who??
huh???!!
 
gerry,hendix...too much LSD?

[hb3]

There is Alembic...and there is this. Nothing else.  
 
http://youtube.com/watch?v=rkgkp1PCQuE

[bigbadbill]

Quote - Fish, you're my new hero. In my guit-army, the general is the Alembic and the ground troops are Rickenbackers.  
 
Me too! I actually play my Rics far more than my Alembic (they fit my band better, plus there's a well-documented weight/bad back issue), although I have to say my Alembic is the best bass I own, if there is such a thing.  
 
If I couldn't play Alembic it would be Rickenbacker or Sei Bass, built by Martin Petersen at the Bass Gallery in Camden. Great basses, and Martin is a fantastic bloke. Have to second Graeme's comments about Chris May too, although I tend to find most Overwaters a bit conservative both tonally and visually (but that's the intention so I have no problem with that). I also like Pedulla. Never played a Jerzy Drozd or Benavente, but I certainly like the look of them. I had a Wal once but it didn't suit me like the Alembic; I actually p/x'd my Pedulla MVP for it and regretted it soon after.

[bigbadbill]

Quote -Going off-topic, but in my experience, awesome instruments are harder to play than not so awesome ones. An Alembic will really show where you're groovin, but will also make where you're sloppy all too obvious. I agree though that if you're playing right (at least on the inside), anything will sound fabulous. And even better on a high end. As far as I can tell, there really isn't any disadvantage to playing exclusively on a high end. I know that if I pick up a lower-end I'll be able to make it sound good no worries, but a high end I'm not used to would take me some time.
 
I actually find the opposite. I can hardly play at all on cheap basses. I play (both pluck and fret) very lightly indeed, and require a very responsive instrument that's set up perfectly. Put me on a cheap bass and 9 times out of 10 I sound pretty poor. One of the things I love about the 2 Alembics I've had is how much easier they are to play well, and to sound good on. But hey, that's probably just me.