Bass Discrimination

[palomorado]

in my main band i play my Alembic, Chapman Stick, and my passive/fretless Fender Jazz with flats.
 
very different sounds between the two but it really gives me a full tonal pallate to choose from.  
 
i used to play a fretted jazz as well but when i brought the Alembic to practice the first time EVERYONE in the band (including the SINGER!!!) was amazed and said that the Alembic is the bass for the band.  
 
with the Stick, the fretless, and the Alembic i have many unique sounds and none of them can be replaced.

[alemboid]

Lazy narrow minded soundmen are the ones that whine when something other than a Fender is used in sessions. Overall, the reaction is good when I use my Sadowsky in the studio, but I can't remember ever plugging in my Alembics and not getting a Wow! What kind of bass is that? or Cool, we got a sound (moments after plugging in).  
 
The whole Vintage is cool market is still going wild. So, to be in, playing a 70's or earlier Fender gives you cool points in some occasions, regardless of your ability, again, in some cases.  
 
A friend of mine plays a Sadowsky on a late night show here in New York. What's kind of funny is he has several Sadowskys, but only one really delivers the sound that the audio tech really likes, and for that matter, is noticeably better sounding than his others. Nothing against Sadowsky, but Alembics seem to be a bit more consistant, even though the woods can alter the tone. Like Susan says- a lot of bassists record with Alembics and play the stage with the in bass or their endorsement piece.
 
There is more to life than Alembics, but in life, it's hard to beat an Alembic!
 
Alemboid

[willie]

Alemboid
It sounds like you might be friends with Will Lee, is that who you are referring to?
Willie

[willie]

Wow after posting that I realized our names sound alike, Will Lee or Willie, probably more so than our basses sound
Willie

[richbass939]

Alemboid,
Assuming you're talking about Will, have you seen or maybe even played THE BEATLE BASS?
It's kind of a surprise that only one of his Sadowskys sounds that good.  I'm sure he's one of their best (at least most visible) customers.  They're just right across the bridge from Manhattan, so they're not inconvenient for him.
Rich

[alemboid]

Yes, I am referring to Will Lee. Willie, you could pass for him, at least in the pronounciation! lol!  
 
I first met Will when Roger Sadowsky, asked me to tech/liason for him. At the time we were at 1600 Broadway, a 5 minute walk from the Ed Sullivan Theater. I've seen the Beatle bass, and it finds its way up on stage occasionally.  
 
Will has a few Sadowskys that float around: his sunburst standard 4 that sounds terrific (by the way, it has 1978 Fender Jazz pickups in it), a black standard 4 (that is used as a spare), a 24 fret 5 that is always on stage, his new P Bass with jazz pickups in Warwick Thumb Bass positioning (personally, not as nice sounding as his sunburst 4) a lake placid blue vintage 4, a sunburst vintage 4, a sunburst vintage 5, and several Yamahas, Musicmans, Hofner, Peavey, Carvin, Ricky etc.  
 
Don't get me wrong, the other basses don't sound bad, it's just that his main bass is his main bass because it really sounds so good. The same way Marcus Miller's 77 Jazz sounds so good. Did every 1977 Fender Jazz come out sounding like Marcus' bass?  
 
Will's main around town gigging bass is a custom Yamaha 4 with Jazz pickups. Funny, Ibanez built a Verdine White signature model, but Verdine always played his Yamaha TRB-4p. These guys could play anything, and they choose what they choose.  
 
Marcus Miller is Sadowsky's first spotlighted bassist, as Roger did the mods on the 77 Jazz. Will I'd say is the next, as his exposure on the Letterman Show showcases the Sadowsky.
 
Will doesn't make it over to the new Brooklyn factory much at all, and since I left Sadowsky, a friend named Mike is taking great care of Will.
 
I see Will and his wife here and there, and occasionaly go to check out local acts. He is a true professional and a monster player. He's been at it in New York since 1972, and ripening well at 53.  
 
He vows to always play the bass for the gig. So he'll show up with whatever is appropriate- Fender like, or not.
 
Alemboid

[richbass939]

Thanks, Alemboid.  It is always interesting to hear about what these guys are actually playing and how the basses are set up.  
I read a while back that Will has played the Beatle bass on The Late Show.  Did he leave it as a lefty and learn to play left.  I suppose he could have it set up as a righty in such a way that it could be changed back with no permanent changes.  How cool to play the Beatle bass on the stage where Paul first played it in the US.
Rich

[s_wood]

Great thread!
 
Like some of the earlier posters (Godoze and Willie), I live near Philadelphia, and play there frequently.  There is absolutely a bias against multi-string basses, particularly six strings...six will get you fired is what my bass buddies and I often say.
 
There's no doubt that engineers and many band leaders prefer Fenders, and I am convinced it's because they are a known commodity.  Every engineer with a couple of months on the job knows how to get a tone from a P-bass or a J-bass, whereas with other basses, including Alembics, they might have to work a bit.  That said, whenever I have had a project leader bitch about my Alembic and I have been able to convince him or her to let me give it a try, they have always  been happy with my tone.