Author Topic: My alembic Series I v.s. My Boat Oars (Jazz basses) (Read 210 times)

dannobasso · « **Reply #15 on:** March 27, 2007, 05:55:57 PM »

I feel that other players find out very quickly that their technique is not what they thought it was. As Glocke stated, people who do not understand Alembics are put off by them. Others resent the cost and quality compared to what they view as a great instrument. I may ask others what they like about other basses, but when I'm asked why I play Alembics, I reply Because I choose to. Boat oar or no.

rami · « **Reply #16 on:** March 27, 2007, 09:19:57 PM »

When I acquired my first Alembic, I was shopping around for a fretless 4. I stumbled upon my Excel 4 by chance. It was selling for $1499 - brand new! I couldn't get over the fact that I was getting THIS much Bass for as much as an American Jazz Bass. I immediately started thumbing my nose at everything else for a long time. After I got my head out of that glorious Alembic cloud, I remembered that it's not the instrument that makes the musician or his sound. It's his/her passion, inspiration and technique. Everyone of my influences and idols play different makes and models of Basses - and they all sound great. We play what we love for the music that we produce through it - the instrument is merely a tool. An Alembic is an exceptional instrument, but if it's not in the right hands it won't shine. A Jazz Bass in the right hands sounds pretty damn impressive - there are literally thousands of examples throughout it's 47 year history. Let's not disrespect it. Sure, it's not made like an Alembic, but I doubt if it would have made any difference had Jaco played an Alembic instead of a Jazz Bass - he would have still been the same icon.
I can't part with any of my Jazz Basses either - they're part of the family.

Rami

rami · « **Reply #17 on:** March 27, 2007, 09:40:47 PM »

I just think that to compare with words like Better or Worse is meaningless. An instrument can reflect one's taste, style, personality, or status. The factor that ultimately determines how good it really is, is the person behind it.

Rami

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #18 on:** March 27, 2007, 10:50:38 PM »

Hear, hear, Rami. While there are instruments I like & ones I don't, if I find myself thinking in terms better & worse, I stop and think about what David Lindley does with Valcos and Teiscos. It's all according to whatever it takes to make your boat float.

Peter

terryc · « **Reply #19 on:** March 28, 2007, 01:25:31 AM »

Rami, don't you think though that when you get to play a quality instrument that it inspires you to play better because it is easier to play, has a multitude of sounds and oozes craftsmanship.
I don't knock j or p basses as they are extremely versatile basses and have proved their mettle and now they offer active and custom options and I am sure everyone in there early careers wanted one.
It is a case that maybe when we were young and listening to bass players that someone caught your ear, for me it was Stan, for others it was Jaco, McCartney, Bruce, Squire etc. It was Stan that etched the Alembic sound on my soul and after that and a 22 year wait I got what I wanted

rami · « **Reply #20 on:** March 28, 2007, 03:32:50 PM »

Hey Terry,

I feel the same way. I've always dreamed of owning an Alembic most of my life and when I finally did, I was definitely NOT disappointed. They're everything I dreamed they would be and more; outstanding quality, beautiful looks and playability, and of course, incredible sound. But I never lost my love for and loyalty to the Basses whose sound inspired me to want to learn the Bass in the first place. They all sound great to me, just different. Many of the world's top professional players who could easily afford Alembics still choose instruments that reflect their personal tastes better. An Alembic is a fine crafted work of art that definitely complements the musician who plays it, but if you find your groove on something else, that's fine too. I believe the sound is in the musician as much as the instrument-whatever that may be.

Rami

somatic · « **Reply #21 on:** April 04, 2007, 11:54:44 AM »

It's usually my Steinbergers that get called boat oars (or cricket bats).

jbybj · « **Reply #22 on:** April 05, 2007, 09:48:05 PM »

All this talk of Jazz basses made me get out my old '69 and thump her up a bit. Though very different from my Epic, she still sings sweetly, I'll never give it up. It's not just the tone, it's the 31 year relationship that can't be replicated. I love bass guitars.............

88persuader · « **Reply #23 on:** April 05, 2007, 11:19:34 PM »

Well i have to chime in. I've owned 10000 different basses throughout my career.(as most of us have) 3 Have been Alembics, An 88 Persuader, a 95 Epic 5 string and My Stanley Clark Standard. I LOVE my Alembics or i wouldn't be a member here but I'd be lying if I said they were the only basses for me. I LOVE Fender Jazz basses, I've had three of them and they were my main AXes for over a decade. I currently don't own one but i know someday I'll buy one again ... it's like an old friend! Right now my BAR bass is a John Patatuchi (sorry about the spelling) Yamaha 5 string and for a bass i got for under $1000 I think it's amazing. And I'm crazy about my Modulus Q5 Fretless. So i guess MY point is we're very lucky, our lives are full of wonderful instruments to pick from and enjoy. Is a Fender Jazz bass as well made and flexable as an Alembic ... no way. But I never bought an Alembic for under a grand either! NOT apples and apples!

dannobasso · « **Reply #24 on:** April 06, 2007, 12:16:35 AM »

As a point of reference, i was selling a Tbird signed by some dark music notables to a collector. The sale is pending due to financial issues. So I had rehearsal for a recording and had to work so I used my Tbird instead of my Alembic 5's. The bass played and sounded like a _________ compared to my other basses. New ones are going for $1700. Neck dive galore, lifeless tone (even with fresh DR's) , drastic need of adjustment (I set it up a while back and it sat in the case). Yes there are apples and oranges but there is also Durian fruit too. I know I'm spoiled but I guess I needed to be reminded of it. I'm using the pending cash toward my latest Alembic in progress. Jimminy Crickets what a different experience a bass makes.

88persuader · « **Reply #25 on:** April 06, 2007, 01:08:45 AM »

You know Danno ... I've never played a Tbird ... but I do play my non-Alembics in a normal rotation with my SC standard and I may get blasted for admitting this on this forum but I get just as much enjoyment out of my production line Yamaha and Modulus as I do my high end Alembic. (Well Modulus is pretty high end too) The build quality is different for all 3 basses and the Alembic tops the bill when it comes to beautiful woodwork but all three have awesome tone (Yes I'm including the Yamaha I STOLE for $600 because it had a small nick in the neck) and playability. I'm PROUD to own my Alembic, the Yamaha is a kick around bass, but I'd be just as likely to use the Yamaha on a gig or in the studio as my Alembic. Of course ... in the Studio I usually bring all 3 basses and the 1st I pull out (if I don't need the low B string) is the Alembic. But on gigs I'm just as likely to use the Yamaha ... sounds and looks great and if a drunk knocks it over I probably won't have to kill them! :-) But honestly ... all kidding aside, sound wise they're all different but not one is crap compaired to the other. They ALL sound and play awesome and my bandmates like the sound i get from the Yamaha just as much as the Alembic. And when I have my Stanley Clark and Modulus Q5 fretless both on stage ... it's the beauty of the Q5 people comment about mostly, not the SC. ... That blows my mind.

OK .......... I've braced myself, I've dared compair the sound quality and playability of an Yamaha production bass to an Alembic .... let the stoning begin! :-)

the_8_string_king · « **Reply #26 on:** April 07, 2007, 07:38:29 AM »

Kill the heretic!!! Kill! Kill! Kill!

Stone the blasphemer! ...Oh poop, I'm all out!

88persuader · « **Reply #27 on:** April 07, 2007, 09:59:14 AM »

OOOOOOUCH ... I'm telling my Mother!!!

bigredbass · « **Reply #28 on:** April 07, 2007, 10:57:49 AM »

As much as I love my Alembics, I also rotate in the BB Yamaha five-strings. Really nice basses, but they always remind me they're not Alembics . . . which is just fine. I don't own anything that doesn't get played, and I can only play one at a time, so there you are. Anybody on this forum has 'other' basses, so this is hardly letting any cats out of the bag. Different horses for different courses, as they way.

I can say that the Yamahas don't sound as empirically good or clean as the Alembics, which usually brings me back to them. I CAN'T say that the Alembic tone makes me wish for the sound of the Yamahas, though. It's just the difference between really nice 'off-the-rack' instruments and the utterly different world of handmade instruments with features and execution just not possible when you're making several hundred a day. I'm just damn lucky to be blessed to be able to pick which one I feel like today!

J o e y

j_gary · « **Reply #29 on:** April 15, 2007, 09:39:33 AM »

Great stuff all. Very interesting.

Have been a Rick player for years, great basses.

Bought first Alembic a couple years ago. All I can say is, anyone want to trade their Alembic for a Rick? Gotta bunch, married to a few.