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

[88persuader]

For me it would be Modulus ... I own 2! :-) They do a great job on the body wood however nobody does wood like Alembic. But I LOVVVVVVE the Graphite necks! I wish Alembic still offered graphite neck basses.

[roberto]

Dingwall.
Even the cheapest model sounds good.

[foth]

My favorite non-Alembic bass is a Roland.  No home should be without one!
 

[hendixclarke]

What about the Ghost Petal? That's a keeper for sure. What you know about that?

[rami]

The question is subjective and irrelevant.  Is it about how an instrument looks, it's construction or it's sound?  Just about every company now can make you anything.  There's no Better or Worse.  It's what you like - may not be what I like.
The point is that an instrument is a tool, what you get out of it comes from what you put into it.  A good musician can do alot with a modest Bass.  Another Bass can look pretty on a stand, but without a good musican behind it, it's worthless.  Better, worse - totally meaningless.

[hendixclarke]

Since I asked the question, then I will respond...
 
First of all, I agree with most of what you said. If you had a chance to read other comments, you would had read me say my question was irrational. It was just for fun...  
 
Secondly, I said a great musician can pickup any bass and play the heck out of it... Correct again. Alembic is only a nice cut of wood to those people who own one, and can't play the thing. Sure they have the coolest bass around, but it?s real sad to hold such a great bass, and can't even play the thing. This is why it amazes me when people say if Alembic was not around, they wouldn't play the bass. How crazy is this? This why I asked such a question in the first place... to see what silly comments even mine would appear and just for fun. I know well and well, many of people's first bass was not an Alembic. They probably started playing a cheaper bass until they had the opportunity to get an Alembic. What got them to get an Alembic and preach the gospel behind them, had to be based upon a proven testimonial from having played other basses.  
 
Music is purely emotional, as what we think sounds good or look good.
 
You make a good point, and of course I agree with you...

[ajdover]

Since I asked the question, then I will respond...  
 
First of all, I agree with most of what you said. If you had a chance to read other comments, you would had read me say my question was irrational. It was just for fun...  
 
Secondly, I said a great musician can pickup any bass and play the heck out of it...  
 
Yes, they can.  That's why they're great musicians and the vast majority of us are hobbyists ... most of us can't pick up a base instrument and make it sound good - the truly gifted can ... which of course is what makes them truly gifted in the first place.
 
Correct again. Alembic is only a nice cut of wood to those people who own one, and can't play the thing. Sure they have the coolest bass around, but it?s real sad to hold such a great bass, and can't even play the thing. This is why it amazes me when people say if Alembic was not around, they wouldn't play the bass.  
 
I played bass well before I ever got my hands on an Alembic.  In fact, I never played an Alembic until 2003.  I started as a bass player in 1977, wich tells me I spent 26 years without an Alembic.  I guess I was truly deprived then ...
 
How crazy is this? This why I asked such a question in the first place... to see what silly comments even mine would appear and just for fun. I know well and well, many of people's first bass was not an Alembic. They probably started playing a cheaper bass until they had the opportunity to get an Alembic. What got them to get an Alembic and preach the gospel behind them, had to be based upon a proven testimonial from having played other basses.  
 
Music is purely emotional, as what we think sounds good or look good.
 
You make a good point, and of course I agree with you...
 
Bottom line - if Alembic wasn't available, I'd still be playing bass.  Perhaps not as well, or not enjoying it as much, but playing nonetheless.  As the owner of 6 (going on 7) Alembics I can confidently say the following ...
 
Alembics make me play better because their electronics are so unforgiving of mistakes, I have no choice be to play better.
 
Because they are so beautiful (to me, at least) I am inspired to play my Alembics more often, and hence practice more. Practice makes perfect, and hopefully better.
 
Alembics generate more curiosity than any other instrument I've owned in a Guitar Center.  Why?  Because they not only look amazing, they sound unlike anything else in that store, regardless of price and player.
 
For these reasons alone, I'm glad I'm an Alembic owner.
 
Alan

[rami]

I realize that this is all in fun and I certainly did not mean to appear to scold.  The Bass market is just so huge and the choice is dizzying.
 
I love all my Basses individually for various reasons.  My instrument is my dance partner, lots of give and take.  Sure I want it to please me visually, and I love exploring every nuance of it's wood combinations, but it's how I feel after getting through a long and difficult piece that counts the most.
 
Which ever Bass I have in my hand at that moment is my favorite Bass. The greatest Bass in the world.

[tbrannon]

Rami,
 
Not to hijack this thread, but I've been meaning to ask you about that Carvin B1500 head you said you were ordering.  I tried to find an email in your profile, but no luck.
 
How do you like it- I've got two Bag End S15D's to power and I'm itching to pull the trigger on that B1500.  Lots of bang for the buck from what I've heard elsewhere.  
 
Sorry again for the hijack.
 
Toby

[rami]

Hey Toby,
 
It's just incredible.  It actually drives my EDEN D410XLT cabinet better than my EDEN amp.  Big, powerful, crisp, full tone.  Lots of really well thought out features.  Definitely worth the price.  You'll be very impressed - guaranteed.
 
Rami

[tbrannon]

Thanks Rami- you just pushed me over the edge.  
 
Toby

[bigredbass]

Thought about this some more . . . .
 
Besides the TUNE, if I were going to build my own bolt-neck, it would look a lot like Matt Pulcinella's axes (www.mpguitars.com).  Built by a working player, Matt's long on what works and short on what doesn't when the 'red light comes on', my kinda guy.
 
One of the few Japanese home-market axes (Bacchus in Japan) available on THIS side of the pond, I'd really like to see/try a GodLyke (www.godlykebass.com).  Interesting neck joint on the set neck ones, and gee I'd like to have a 10-string (octave/five) one day.
 
Why don't I ever want something normal?  Now, where's that Atlansia listing . . . .  
 
J o e y

[somatic]

I like my Alembics a whole lot, but they're not the ultimate. No bass is, and I'm just as happy to be playing anything as nothing. The Alembics are just another tool in the box.
 
That said, if I had to select a new high end bass, it'd probably be a Status Kingbass, a Sei Flamboyant headless or a Modulus.
 
Secondhand / older there are a number oncluding my old Peavey T40's, Kawai's and 80's era Ibanezes all of which I enjoy equally as much.

[somatic]

Forgot to mention my Steinberger XL2, which gets more playing time than anything else I own.

[hendixclarke]

I like my Alembics a whole lot, but they're not the ultimate. No bass is,...
 
I strongly disagree with your statement. Alembic, is the the ULTIMATE BASS. Can you think of a better bass? I'll answer this for you, NO.
 
Now, I don't want to sound like a sounding board for a company. Alembic don't own me. But, if anybody is going to shell out thousands of dollars, they ain't thinking about a second rate bass. They're thinking and knowing from many years of playing basses, that what they attemping to own is pure, solid, and of quality at the highest emotional and rational level. From this perspective, no bass could get you to that level, than the ULTIMATE BASS we know and love...Alemebic. The name even starts with the letter A as in 4.0, A+ grade.
 
You can't show me a better bass. Now, what you can do is, tell us what is the best sub-bass, as this  post questioned. In other words, the other bass.
 
It's cool, don't read me the wrong way, it's all good conversation around the coffee table bro.
 
Keep on groovin...