Alembic Series II Demo on you tube.

[jazzyvee]

After a few requests from here and on the Alembic Bass & guitar forum on Facebook to do a demo of my Series II Europa I spent a bit of my afternoon today knocking some video footage out. I hope I've got my facts right. I also hope the sound is ok as I recorded it on a digital compact camera so no audio processing at all going on and have not listened to it through proper speakers yet.
 
 
http://youtu.be/8wmycQUUDKs

[mtjam]

Cool video! Looking forward to seeing the other parts!

[moongerm]

Good work Delano. I like your adjustment method on 8 of 8 to dial in repeatable tone types. Your idea is insightful for quickly getting close enough as it releates to the tune you are performing then simply fine tune from there.  
 
I only have anniversary troincs to tweak these days. My approach to dialing in is more generalized. Things change so much in a live setting. So what sounds great at home may be completely masked when a full band is performing.  
 
Another approach to consider is to turn everything off or at its lowest setting then practice dialing in a tone type you are hearing, as quickly as possible. For me it forces a discipline to dial my way into any given situation swifty, without any preconceived dial position ideas. What's so great about these electronics is that it doesn't take that much to cut through and be heard in a pleasantly musical unique way.

[jazzyvee]

Yeah I have used the same approach as you. However, I particularly found it challenging and indeed frustrating in working out where to move the filters and switches to get to a sound I wanted to hear because the music I was playing live required radically different bass tones. So I used my knowledge of Stanley Clarke's music as a reference and worked out the settings that got me close to the tones he was getting and from there found tones I wanted to use myself. Which is when I noticed where the the indicators were on the controls in relation to others so used them as guides which gave me a number of memorised pre-sets to aim for.  
You are absolutely right about the difference between live and home sounding. I can hear a lot more at home sometimes than on a gig so need less use of the Q to hear it's affect when practicing but on a gig I have to be careful not to use too much Q on anything because whilst may not hear it on stage it certainly gets through to the sound guy and into the room if its a backline only gig. Anyway it's a process that showing benefits for me  and the video's may help another struggling new user.  :-)

[moongerm]

Your bass sounds great by the way! Especially when you were performing on the last two videos. To find one of those gems used in the condition you have is next to impossible, at a decent price.

[flpete1uw]

Jazzy,
  By Jove I think you've got it! A very informative series of shorts and will no doubt help present and future Series Bass students. (Like me  ) Your Bass looks and sounds amazing. That quilted maple is mesmerizing.  
  Of course topping it off with the British accent certainly will not Anti Clockwise anyone.
Outstanding work!
Peace,
Pete
 
(Message edited by flpete1uw on March 10, 2015)
 
(Message edited by flpete1uw on March 10, 2015)

[terryc]

Jazzy...looking for a job with Alembic as a demonstrator ?? LOL!

[jazzyvee]

Yep director of Worldwide construction Operations outside USA. :-)   its quite a cushy job.  :-)

[terryc]

I just want to work there, sweep the floors, make coffee all day, I don't care as long as I am in the place with all those basses!

[David Houck]

Just finished watching the series; nicely done!

[mario_farufyno]

Thanks, Jazzy

[FC Bass]

Awesome vids, thanx!
 
Right from the lazy mode, copy 'n paste from Facebook :-)
 
Represented just right, you can really hear the tonal authority over the activator equipped Alembics in these vids.
That is imho vs my Alembics which I (obviously) find extremely amazing sounding instruments.  
Those Series electronics do provide that push over the Cliff which you would think is impossible after playing a non Series Alembic. (and have no experience with them)
Though the Ebony neck Lams might also be responsible for some of the tonal authority in these vids?
 
I tried some Series Basses and this is how I remember that experience, absolutely amazing sound!
 
(Message edited by fc_spoiler on March 14, 2015)

[jazzyvee]

FC It took me a while to start to understand what I was hearing when I play that bass. It is still hard to describe accurately in a way that makes complete sense to me. I just know that playing it gives me the the most enjoyable and rewarding bass sound I've ever had.  
When I got my series I bass which is pretty much the same body construction apart from pickup placement and ebony neck lams, maple top and back with a mahogany core, I was able to then hear what the difference between them was and in some way relate it to the construction. Before that though I made a cardinal sin and started to hear some overtones Mica warned me not to learn to hear so I hear them a lot when I'm using the higher frequencies. The S2 sounds much more HIFI and has more sustain in the fundamental than the S1 which has a much warmer bottom end and less brightness at the top. The attack is much more punchy in the S2 as well and even with the Q off has a greater sparkle and clarity and seems to produce more sound density for any given note.  
 
The year before last I used it on a few Irish & funky folk music gigs and it fitted in perfectly and sounded superb with acoustic guitars, drums and vocals so I can see why it works superbly for JJ with JT.
If you have the chance I would recommend getting one. As I've mentioned before, a set of fully open filters on an all maple Elan, to me sounds pretty close to a series bass with the filters full open and no Q. Once you move the filters..... different game.

[rraymond]

Very nice series of videos, Jazzy. You certainly have command over those controls.

[mica]

Supercool, Vince!