Anyone here care to share their opinion??

[adriaan]

I would respectfully like to ask the person who thought Jimi Hendrix had the option to play Alembic about the chronology of things. Hendrix died in ...? The first musical instrument built by Alembic dates ...? (Gosh, aren't we getting old.)

[lbpesq]

Adriaan:
 
You're not thinking outside the box.  As everyone knows, Hendrix was Superman.  Therefore, if he wanted to, he could easily have flown very fast around the earth in the direction of its rotation until he flew into the future where he could easily have obtained an Alembic and brought it back to his own time by flying very fast around the earth in the counter direction of the earth's rotation.  So there!  You want further proof that Alembics suck?  None of the following played them: Django Reinhardt, Buddy Holly, Charlie Christian, Charlie Jewish, Theodore Roosevelt, Mahatma Ghandi, Sam Spade, Diver Dan, Ed Sullivan, Crusader Rabbit ... the list is endless.  LOL
 
Bill, tgo

[oujeebass]

Hendrix wasn't one to worry about what kind of guitar he was playing,just as long as it stayed in tune. I do feel confident that he would have been a prolific user of technology if he had lived,which would have included Alembic. I wonder what he would think about what we have available to us today.

[precarius]

Bill- I actually think Theodore Roosevelt had an Alembic. He just kept it hidden from his wife.

[jsaylor]

Yeah Hendrix died right when Alembics were coming out, but I was just going for an example. Alembics don't suck, ibpesq(I take it that was scarcasm?), But not many high profile players use Alembics. I love that Alembic doesn't endorse anyone though. The point I was trying to make it, best sounding is an opinion. Eric Clapton could have used an Alembic, but decided that the Stratocaster was his sound. Just because its regarded as better doesn't make it better. Music is an opinion. I could say punk is better than metal am I right or wrong, no, just different. Look at Jean Baudin for example, He owns an Alembic, but his favrote bass is his Ken Lawrence. Thats just his preference.
 
Now some of you may think that im hateing on Alembic, but I'm not. I really like what they stand for as a company and If I ever get the money, I'll purchase one. However I'm poor so that may not happen anytime soon.

[richbass939]

Back to artists (Flea was mentioned) who say I'll endorse you if you give me a stable of instruments.  I don't blame Susan for telling him No.  
The way I heard the story about Flea's '61 Jazz (I think) is that he was looking for a vintage Jazz and a fan presented him with the '61.  So he didn't have to pay for it either.  I'm sure he would have bought it if he had found it first.  He probably isn't hurting for bucks.  
Back to Hendrix and endorsement, give me a bunch of free stuff, type of people.  I read a story that Jim Marshall (amp people) told.  He said that people were constantly telling him I'm the best guitarist in the world.  Give me an amp and you can use my name.  He said that Hendrix (unknown at the time) came in and said I would like to buy one of your amps.  Humble as can be.  He wasn't looking for a handout just a sound.
Rich

[lbpesq]

Jordan:
 
I guess you haven't been around these here parts long enough to have developed a taste for my admittedly slightly twisted brand of humor.  Let me put it this way - Alembics suck so much that I own the following guitars: a '76 Series I, '83 Electrum, a Custom Further still under construction, as well as a highly modified Fernandes Masterhand with Alembic pickups and electronics, an Optek Fretlight Telecaster modded with Alembic pickups/electronics, and am currently in the process of installing Alembic pickups/electronics into a Fender Strat XII.  Oh yea, I also use an SF-2 in my rig and have been playing around with an F-2B.  I wish all my other equipment sucked as much as Alembic!  LOL
 
Bill, the guitar one

[chuck]

Appoligies if my statement caused any discontent out there,It was ment to be spectulation only.---------chuck

[jsaylor]

Chuck,
Sorry if my tone came off wrong.
 
-Jordan
 
Lbpesq,
Wow, how can you afford all that?
 
(Message edited by jsaylor on November 19, 2006)

[rami]

My first ever Alembic was a '99 fretless Walnut Excel 4.  I bought it brand new for $1500.  At the time, I was shopping around for a fretless 4 when I stumbled upon it.  I was blown away by EVERYTHING about it and I couldn't believe that this much Bass was selling so cheap.  I kinda went nuts after that and bought every Alembic I stumbled upon since.  I bought most of them as my dealer was liquidating his stock.  Mostly under $2000.00 for Excels (4 & 5 strings) and a couple Essences.  I have a few for wich I paid full current price.  I love them all and I have no regrets.  Barring any unforseen financial emergency, I would never consider selling them.  With the current prices however, I remember something an old friend and mentor told me once, Never get rid of something you can't replace.

[rami]

It's kinda funny to think that my first and last Alembics were both fretless 4 string Excels; '99 Walnut ($1499.99) and '03 Vermillion (liquidated at $1899.99). I puchased it last fall '05.  I haven't seen any Alembics there since.
They're still my favorite Basses.

[bigideas]

Just a note about Jean Baudin. Unless he's recently taken it back to stock, his Epic has had it's electronics replaced with EMG. While i realize EMG's are prefered by some, not having Alembic electronics in it does somewhat defeat the purpose of having an Alembic. I'm not saying he'd switch to  Alembics if it had original electronics, but who knows. Also, considering how high Alembic prices are, imagine the cost of a 12 string fan-fretted one.

[lbpesq]

Jordan:
 
You ask how can you afford all that?  
 
Working hard for many years and keeping my eyes open for bargains.  For example, I recently found an Epic 5 with superb flame walnut top for only $650 on craigslist.  All it needed was to have the pickup leads reversed and a good cleaning.  I passed it on to the bass player in my band at the same price as I've always wanted to hear him on an Alembic.  The Custom Further is my 50th B-day present to myself which should arrive before my 52nd b-day.  As for number of Alembics, I'm just a piker compared to Rami, Danno, and some of the others around here.  But give me some time.  I suspect this is a lifelong addiction!  LOL
 
Bill, tgo

[jsaylor]

lbpesq,
Ill have to look on craiglist. Thats an aswome deal.
 
bigideas,
Like I said earlier, different people like the sound of different things. Maybe Jean didn't like the Alembic sound.

[tbrannon]

Baudin's bass had the EMG's in it when he bought it.
 
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3361157&postcount=5