Anyone here care to share their opinion??

[oujeebass]

Alembics are magical. I remember the first time I ran across one. There was something about it. On my first chance, I got one. Even if it is a seemingly lowly Epic,it still has that something about it,and it plays and sounds so good. I can imagine that Alembics have the same effect on owners and non owners alike. You can end up not thinking straight if you don't accept the fact that these a great intruments,and that you should leave it at that.  
 
(Message edited by oujeebass on November 17, 2006)

[olieoliver]

WOW, this got reeaaall deep.  
My 2 cents worth, a good player will sound good on ANY brand of instrument, a not so good player will sound not so good on any brand...
Is Alembic the only good instrument out there?, NO but it is what, I assume, we all here prefer.
 
Synopsis; It?s not what you play but how you play. The question being is your playing up to par with am upper scale (i.e. Alembic) instrument.  
 
SO, with that out of the way?.?how ?bout them Cowboys?.  
 
Much ADO over nothing

[dannobasso]

I agree with the mythic moniker. After hearing RTF I was forever changed. The only model I could swing was an 83 Koa Spoiler. I got it home and put on the Romantic Warrior lp. I could get some of that tone and response. (esp. on bends and vibrato) As time went on my collection grew due to love and sacrifice of other things. Didn't get married so the prices I paid continued to go up. (with no senior mgmt. to object) I have always received awe and flack about my precious children but that's not why I play them. Great instruments made by a great company that have treated me with great care, grace and generousity. When I lost my Mom and had her name inlayed into the custom Excel I had on order at the time, the care and sympathy Susan, Mica and the whole staff showed me went beyond any expectation I could have entertained. I have 14 Santa Rosa children because of their quality, the joy I get when I play them, and the great emotional attachment I have for the Wickershams and the artisans that they share their dream with. They demonstrate time and again that they are deserving of the price of their instruments and the patronage of those who get it.

[hifiguy]

I fully agree with Wade's comments.  There is something magical about an Alembic.  For some reason his comments reminded me of the topic of Kirlian photography.  It is as though those attuned to the Alembic mindset can see and feel things about the instruments that mind-blinds can't.
 
Can't let Danno's comments go by w/o adding my own they went the extra mile story.  A few months after I bought my SCS the neck went all wonky in the low humidity of a Minnesota autumn.  When I called the factory my call was immediately directed to Mica (!).  She took ten+ minutes to chat, explaining the effect of humidity on Alembic necks and said, most charmingly, that the wood isn't used to being a bass yet and requested that I send the bass back for a heat reset of the neck.  I did, and my bass promptly reappeared with a better case than the one I'd sent it in, the tools Guitar Center had misplaced and an extra set of strings.  Try getting that kind of service from anyone else, or from the pirating vintage instrument dealers.
 
Long live Alembic and Alembic Nation!
 
Paul

[richbass939]

I guess I'm lucky in several ways.  
1)  I have loved Alembics for a long time.
2)  I finally got one and then another.
3)  Nobody busts my butt about playing one.  I'm kind of the bassist that local folks call first when they have a recording project or need a sub bassist for a gig.  I've never had anyone ask Don't you have a Fender that you can bring?  First off, I don't think anyone had heard of Alembic until they asked what I was playing.  Only one person has asked me what they cost.  He said Wow more because he was surprised than impressed (impressing him wasn't my point anyway).  I like to just go in and play.  If people like it, fine.  If they don't, well that's too bad.  I am who I am and I play what I play.
If someone told me to bring a Fender I would just say I don't own one.  Do you still want me to do the gig?  If they said No. then I guess I would just leave.  I have never had anyone complain about my sound.  
Last summer I played a gig with some guys (one is Laytonco in the club) warming up for a very good band.  The bassist said Nice bass to me.  We talked bass for awhile and he said that his bass is just a Fender P-bass.  I definitely wasn't trying to one-up anyone.  He's the only person that ever seemed to know anything about Alembics.
Brands can be like religions.  Some people are so into their own thing and so defensive about it, there is no point in arguing with them.  If people want to get on a bass forum and slam Alembic then I guess that is their right.  However, it really makes me wonder why they are so passionate about something they say they would never want to own.  
Rich

[lg71]

Hence my quote: Only dead fish follow the stream!
 
And as some of you here mentioned Fender, I, never understood how someone would want to pay some $10K for a rotten bass, really, I'll give an example: one of my friend had a US Fender P 1979, nothing real vintage here, I played it, sure enought it sounded nice and I really like the tone, you see, I ma bass lover and I can appreciate the different sound that different bass can give you. BUT, I had a close look at his bass;  
- The neck moved, you could physically move it because the wood thread was worn, really bad, the bolts were loose!
- The frets were so bad that it needed a serious re-fret (too late for a crowning...)
- The finger board looked + felt BAD! really worn too  
- The tuners were rusty, so were the screws!    
- The bridge, saddles and screws were rusty too!
- The finish on the body was gone/looked awful...
 
Then, I said to him: My God, this is what everyone is after?      
 
Well, I started to realized that this whole Fender vintage snobbery was a total joke. Unless you are a fanatic or collector, and want an instrument that was played by Jamerson or Jaco...
I really don't understand how one could pay some much money for such a piece of junk! Why? Because by the time you rstore the instruments... there is nothing Vintage left!!! LOL + LOL X 10... = MASSIVE LOL!
 
Anyway, who is the Boss? (after me )
It's Stanley, he will teach a lesson to every bassist out there...
What does it play? Alembic, and nothing but Alembic, and that's probably why 80% of the Alembic players out there are playing Alembic. Period.
 
As for wanting the Fender sound P or J, anyone can afford it, so I'd rather spend the money on the more Special Instrument (in my case it was second hand parts, as well some new PUs), and if I really wanted a J or P bass, there are millions of cheap copies out there that would satisfy me.
 
I am sorry if what I am going to say is going  to sound a bit rude, but lately, when play with my customized Arialembic LG MK2, it nearly gives me powerful Er*ctions!

[jsaylor]

LG,
vintage instruments are just that. They get beaten up. Some say the vintage tone is due to the lacquer/ worn off and allows the wood to vibrate freely giving it a better tone. I wouldn't go spending the price they go for on ebay for one, but they sure are nice.
 
Rich,
Your completely right, brands are like religions. Take here for example. Most people here think Alembic is the only way to go, best etc. I think its all opinion. If a vintage Fender sounds better to you, then go for it. For example, Flea from the Chilli peppers uses a vintage Fender. Thats his sound. Les Claypool uses a Carl Tompson as his bass, thats his sound. Wouldn't music be boring if everyone used the same brand/sound?
 
Paul,
Whats the scs?

[the_8_string_king]

Most likely either Stanley Clark Signature or Stanley Clark Standard (model Alembic bass), Jordan.

[lg71]

Jsaylor, for instance, you didn't like the Alembic 10 and you find it ugly, fine... Now I am saying to you that I find those battered Fender ugly, period. I know exactly what vintage instruments are, and if I had all the money in the world, I would still go for the cleanest I could find, it would get played, and not hung on a wall. I can't see how one could enjoy playing a vintage rotten instrument, once again, by the time you restore it, it's not true vintage anymore... Do you get me?  
 
Now, on the subject, wether it vibrates or not, that's what you heard or read..., fine. I'll go beyond that; if it's true, great! because once again, as I already said, I don't like lacquer, I much prefer an oil finish, to me wood should feel like wood not plastic, so it suits me fine. I wouldn't find any visual pleasure looking at a old battered Fender, if I had one, I'd remove the lacquer completely.  
 
And of course, it would be boring if everyone drove Ferrari or wore Rolexes... same goes for anything else...      
 
For the sake of socializing, do you have a bass btw? what make/model is it,  and what would be your personnel  comment on it? Are you considering an Alembic?

[bob]

(took me too long to figure out what to say, and other posts have snuck in... I'm responding here to the comments a few posts up from danno and hifiguy)
 
Santa Rosa children. Well, I think that pretty much covers it, along with the something magical comment.
 
I'm not in a position to compare to a lot of other manufacturers, having only owned two prior basses and one fairly nice guitar. But I believe I can recognize quality workmanship, and certainly personal attention, and the people at Alembic simply cannot be beat. Others may come close, and perhaps for slightly less money, but when you consider the full package - from woodworking through electronics and full design consultation - well, who else really knows all this stuff, and will deal with you on such a personal basis to get it right, just for you?
 
Though I never intended to share this story, danno's comment pushed me over the edge. About four weeks ago, I had my (second) hernia repaired. Very routine procedure, nothing to be concerned about, but it was a good excuse to update my will, which was about ten years out of date.
 
Looking around - my house and furnishings, savings, some nice photography equipment, etc. - there was only one, single thing that I felt was truly special, close to irreplaceable, and of unique value.
 
So I talked to Susan about it, and the only odd thing in my will is that it leaves my Alembic bass to the people that made it. I was trying to be practical, suggesting they could sell it again, or reuse the electronics in another instrument (and maybe recover some of what they lost...), but as Susan said, No, we'd probably just keep it. You want it to come home.
 
And that pretty much nails it. Santa Rosa children, indeed.
-Bob

[jsaylor]

LG,
Yes I am a bass player. I own a Gibson Thunderbird. And yes, Beat up fenders are ugly, very ugly. If i were to spend that much, Id want it to look good, but I guess when you listen to music, you don't really care how the instrument looks.
 
I do plan on eventually getting an Alembic, but I'm not rich or anything, so I might not ever get one.
 
(Message edited by jsaylor on November 17, 2006)

[lg71]

Jsaylor, I heard good things about them, I never played one.
Would you have a little MP3 of yours that you could send me maybe?
 
Yes, I agree, when listening to music, if it sounds good, it doesn't matter what instrument it was and wether it looked good or not. Personally, I really hate the look of an instrument when it start to look scruffy because the lacquer start to come off, it's like a car (I don't have one thought), it could look great, but have a poor engine, or vice versa... to me a bass guitar as to look and feel nice, it's not psychologic at all, it's more because I am very neat and take pride in anything I do or feedle with, it has to look neat, and the best it can. Fo instance, my Arialembic LG MK2 looks good (to me) on the photos, but really, there are places where the lacquer as come of, and few dings as well... and I really look forward to the day (if possible) were the lacquer will be completely removed, and then reshaped/carved to some extend, then it will lighter as well, and would love to do some artistic carving on the body too... I hope that it will happen, will invest in a router + bits, and will make it look to my liking.

[jsaylor]

LG,
I agree. I like having my bass with a nice finish aswell. I polish mine after everytime I use it. Heres a clip http://media.putfile.com/1965-Gibson-Thunderbird-II  
Not mine, but it sounds kinda close. Mine sounds deeper, probably because it has more mass due to it being a 5 string. Extremely good sound, especially for under $2000. Ill try to get a recording of mine sometime.

[pauldo]

On the original posted link thread, one of the replies mentioned that an Alembic is a life time investment. I agree. My 84 Distillate will be handed down to my son when I pass.  
 
The price was high but just the tonal variety that can be achieved from the instrument makes it extremely versatile.  
 
It also helped me that Ralph Hanzel had a convenient layaway program :-o

[57basstra]

Olie, you think your 'Boys' could use this guy against Mr P this week?
 

 
T for Texas T for Tennesse's Too Tall Jones.