Author Topic: It finally happened (Read 379 times)

paulman · « **on:** October 03, 2006, 10:16:07 AM »

We were playing in Chicago at the Emergenza Festival (more like a battle of the bands) and I used the Further -> F1-x rig.

While we were playing I noticed these kids (maybe 19-20) who played before us (they were awesome) whispering to each other and pointing at me while we were playing.

After we were done and I was packing up they approached me and said Is that an Alembic? and proceeded to awe and wow over it, claiming they never ever thought they'd seen one in real life. I was a little embarrased (if I'm off stage, I'm kinda introverted to strangers) but I thought of the club here, and all the others that have posted this kind of experience.

Usually I get one or two people commenting on what kind of guitar is that?, Oh an Olympic, cool (yes I stopped correcting them hah) but this was the first where I was grilled about how it works, what to do the switches do, why are the humbuckers so weird looking etc.

I told them to be patient, and someday they too will have their Alembic

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 03, 2006, 10:24:52 AM »

Atta boy, Roger!
Keep spreading the word.

Mike

57basstra · « **Reply #2 on:** October 03, 2006, 12:43:39 PM »

Great story! Thanks for sharing, Roger!

bigredbass · « **Reply #3 on:** October 03, 2006, 03:35:32 PM »

Isn't it fun? It's like a UFO sighting, they know they saw and heard something extraordinary, they just can't put it into words! 'They never thought they'd see one', yeah, it's priceless wielding a legend.

See my post in 'Ignorance is NOT bliss'.

J o e y

paulman · « **Reply #4 on:** October 04, 2006, 07:45:19 AM »

Mike I'll make it out to the Jam one of these days. Rehearsal is on Thursdays 9pm til whenever still though.

But, our drummer is pregnant so soon I'll have some more time. Looking forward to it!!

I know how those kids felt! I went into a store once and asked to see a guitar like Jerry Garcia's. They looked at me and mentioned something that sounded like Olympic, but I didn't understand what they were talking about. This was way pre-internet and before all the nice books about the Dead's equipment (a standard I have always aspired to) so I had nothing else to go on until the fateful day I bought Skeleton Key and Alembic was defined.

I don't want to play like Jerry, but I do want his damn equipment! Which brings to another thread I'm gonna start right now

bracheen · « **Reply #5 on:** October 05, 2006, 03:26:01 AM »

I've never seen an Alembic guitar in real life. The only Alembic bass I've seen here in town is mine. I do know a guy that uses a F-1X with a custom Pedulla. That's not counting Stanley's when he comes through. They're pretty rare in the smaller markets so a certain amount of ignorance is expected. I guess that's part of the mystique and part of the fun.

Sam

(Message edited by bracheen on October 05, 2006)

811952 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 05, 2006, 05:52:57 AM »

Back in the late '70s a lot of players in the really hot Indianapolis bands (Light, Roadmaster, Henry Lee Summer, etc.) that came through my area had either Alembic or Modulus basses and Bag End cabinets. Even though I was only in high school at the time, J.T. Corenflos and I could usually get into bars when these guys were doing their sound checks because they all knew him (he was like 14 at the time), and I almost always got to touch and play their basses. The necks on those early basses were so small I couldn't imagine where there was room for a truss rod!

I don't think I was aware so much of the Dead connection as I was Tom Fowler and whoever it was that played for Manfred Mann at the time, who I think I saw on TV with one, and of course Stanley, then JAE. I finally made the pilgrimage to Vic's and was blown away by what that (insert interesting adjective here) guy had in stock. Dozens of Alembics, Turners, Modulus (at one point the 18-string monster bass that I actually almost bought), and everybody who worked there knew their stuff inside and out. He was more than happy to have a 17-year-old kid from the sticks spend as much time as he liked playing and drooling over whatever he had in stock, and the other musicians who would come in would always let anybody play their instruments and we were all ever so careful with them. It was a different world back then...

I played in a band with a guitarist who had an Electrum for awhile. It was during that decade where everybody used chorus on everything, so I have no idea how it sounded.

Ironically, when I lived in L.A. and Nashville the only people who knew what an Alembic bass was were the smiling engineers.

John

jazzyvee · « **Reply #7 on:** October 05, 2006, 11:19:32 AM »

Alembic guitars seem to be more rare than basses out there on-stage.

The only Alembic basses I've seen live is either Stanley Clarkes or my own, oh yes and one other I saw at the Salmon Arm roots & Blues Festival this summer in Canada.

The only alembic guitar I've only ever seen is mine. :-)
It does generate quite a bit interest from other guitar players in the audience after my concerts. I guess it stands out because it looks pretty striking to say the least and not a standard strat or gibson based guitar.

It's nice to be different. Individual.
Jazzyvee

811952 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 05, 2006, 11:44:59 AM »

I guess it stands out because it looks pretty striking to say the least and not a standard strat or gibson based guitar.

-And it probably sounds incredible!

John

lbpesq · « **Reply #9 on:** October 05, 2006, 12:12:39 PM »

... probably sounds incredible?

And the the sun will 'probably' rise tomorrow! I've said it before and I'll invaribly say it many times more: There is nothing like an Alembic. Period.

Bill, tgo

Added later: O.K., O.K., I fixed it. But, thinking about it, I'd have to say that AFAIK, there is nothing like an Almebic either!

(Message edited by lbpesq on October 06, 2006)

jacko · « **Reply #10 on:** October 06, 2006, 04:00:01 AM »

There is nothing like an Almebic

I don't even know what an Almebic looks like ;-)

graeme (the ever so slightly pedantic one)

georgie_boy · « **Reply #11 on:** October 06, 2006, 05:16:21 AM »

An Almebic looks very similar to an Olympic, except that they were built in different factories.According to Bill, one is very difficult to live with for one week out of four---that is the Almebic, as he states there is nothing like an Almebic period--I feel sorry for the owners of these instruments. he fails to extall the virtues of the other Olympic brand however
George (the Geek one)
D'oh!!

bracheen · « **Reply #12 on:** October 06, 2006, 06:14:20 AM »

Graeme, would it be pedantic of me to suggest one can't be slightly pedantic?

George, Huh?

As rare as Alembics maybe I think pregnant drummers may be rarer.

Isn't Cuban coffee a wonderful thing?

Sam the wired one

adriaan · « **Reply #13 on:** October 06, 2006, 06:57:10 AM »

would it be pedantic of me to suggest one can't be slightly pedantic?

Do not insult our slightly deeper sense of judgement. Of course one can.

But you can't, obviously. ;-)

haddimudd · « **Reply #14 on:** December 07, 2006, 01:03:54 AM »

I think pregnant drummers may be rarer.

I don't know which are rarer, but I have (or had) both. My wife was a pregnant drummer when our kid was on the way. Now she is neither pregnant nor a drummer really, but a mother with a regular job. And I am not much of a bass player anymore but a father owning an Alembic, Olympic or whatever it is (have to look it up)...

Now we have to wait until the kids don't need anymore babysitting and then we parents will jump right into our musical lives again.

Oh yes, they're out there...

Hartmut