Bass Discrimination

[David Houck]

Hi Troy, welcome to the group; and congrats on your order!  Neat story; I should probably order that book.

[richbass939]

Troy, welcome to the club.  That's an interesting story.  Here's a sixteen year old who's not really in a position to argue with the old veteran.  
Obviously, he likes his Foderas but it sounds like he liked the Alembic too.
Rich

[jetbass79]

It's interesting that Victor Wooten was more impressed with the feel of the Fodera than the sound of the instrument. It's almost like the sound didn't actually matter in that case.  Vinnie must have been on to something since he's still in business...    
 
Troy, congrats on your first order...I couldn't get it out of my head...I kept saying Europa... to myself out loud (referring to the electronics in my bass) for months...

[karl]

That's really interesting about Vic Wooten switching (or being forced to switch!) from Alembics to Foderas. In a funny way, I'm kinda glad he switched: has anybody here seen his live show lately? His party piece involves throwing  his bass across the stage (yes, one of his Foderas!) and then dragging it back across the stage into his hands by the cable . . . yikes! It's bad enough with a Fodera, but I really couldn't bear to see that done to an Alembic.
 
K.

[bassplayer2106]

Hi why does he do that?.It reminds me of when I was at a clinic in London about 15 years ago, John Entwistle was there.There was a question put to him from the audience about the the worst thing that had happened at a gig.His answer was when his roadie handed him an Alembic bass for the last song of the set instead of an old precision or something.He spent all of the last song trying to attract the roadies attention but couldn't,come the end of the song with the audience going mad he had no choice but to close his eyes and smash it up.Can you imagine that !.I know he had loads of money and could easily afford another but he was an avid collector wasn't he he cared for his instruments.

[David Houck]

One of the members of our group posted about how he had met Victor after a show.  Victor told him that the Fodera was a much smaller bass than the Series I, and therefore was more comfortable for him to play.

[jetbass79]

I could see weight being an issue with a Series I...especially if you are playing for 3 or 4 hours...you'd need a truss rod adjustment for your back after that...

[57basstra]

I just wanted to add: I have a 1969 Fender Telecaster (American of course) bass that I have owned since 1981 and it truly has its own unique voice. I also have a 1984 American Fender Precison and a 2005 American Fender Jazz.  Alembics are King, but there are certainly some Fenders in the Royalty line (at least in my book).

[bassman10096]

The electonics alone out of a Series instrument weigh a good pound and a half or two lb.  Most of the Alembic electronics are pretty substantial, too.  Add to that any kind of heavy wood (particularly if the body is solid) and you definitely have a heavier instrument than many mahogany J basses.
 
Just goes to illustrate the old adage:  Don't go pointin' that Alembic at somebody, 'less yer plannin' to use it.

[alanbass1]

I guess it's all about what you want from your instrument.  I own a number of basses and I love them all, for different reasons.  My Alembic MK is up there with them all, but the other night I was depping in a straight ahead rock band and my 70's Stingray was just ideal for the gig; one growling sound that fitted perfectly and looked the part for that band.  The Alembic gets all the studio outing's and some gigs, but the others are fun and have their niche.

[christov]

I find the same discrimination with motorcycles too.  I ride a 2002 Triumph Bonneville, and I usually get the attitude from the Harley riders about Well it's not a Harley...  it's too small.....  After a good dusting of their ass, they usually change their tune.

[j_gary]

Hi Christov, please don't be too hard on those Harley riders,many are on their first bike and have never been on a Triumph. I own an Electra Glide and a Sportster and have my sights set on an 05 black and white,T100 Bonneville. I get the same poo while on my 883,Chick bike,when you gonna get a real Harley? (YAWN!) I think most of it is good natured, as anyone who has been around motorcycles for a while knows the performance history of Triumph. Those informed individuals know it would be foolish to mess with a Bonneville unless they have had some serious motor work. Those that don't, well after the beating, they can take solice in the fact they probably have more chrome on their engine than you. BTW, I think one of the coolest bikes ever made was the 1968 T120 Bonneville. Like women and basses, love em all.
 
Stay Low, Gary

[kmh364]

Hey Guys,  
 
This is a BASS discrimination thread, NOT a BIKE discrimination thread! LOL! J/K. I used to get that a lot on my old non-American (sic) bike, especially from the Harley guys. Now that I've been on a Harley for the last almost 7 years, I still get razzed by some of the Harley guys! You know: Yuppie Scum, Yuppie Biker, RUB, RUBBIE Biker, American Express Biker, yada, yada.  
 
It's all good. As a biker for the past 20yrs, a Lifetime AMA member for almost as long, a Harley devotee, and now a NJS licensed RiderCoach (motorcyle instructor), I don't care WHAT you ride, I just care THAT you ride! LOL!
 
Cheers,
 
Kevin  
 
BTW, take my word for it, anybody that buys a Harley to race around is on the WRONG bike, LOL!

[jubeas3eyes]

A couple funny storys:
 
I was going to play with a band as a favor to a friend.  So I show up and get out my bass and the  first thing the guitarist says is
guitarist- Oh man thats an odd looking Fender
me- umm its an alembic not a fender
guitarist- oh...oh wow are those emgs in there?
me- ummm no...
guitarist- oh man you should put emgs in that thing it would sound great
me- I think I really prefer these.
 It was kind of awkward after that.
 
The second time I was at guitar center with a friend just messing around playing a cheap cort bass for kicks and the head salesmen comes up to me and attempts to sell it to me, it went something like this:
Salesman- pretty nice bass huh?
me- It's ok I guess
salesman- (describing all the details about the bass and I was very obviously not interested at all) So you think thats the one?
me- No I already have the one.
salesman I bet we can find you a better one what kind of bass do you play
me- An alembic.
salesman- Oh..Is that like a knockoff of another company or something?
me- The cheapest bass they sell is 4 grand and is handmade out of the finest woods available.
Salesman- (he eyed me very oddly at this point, im guessing thinking i was full of shit) o...k...
  As a sidenote next time I came into guitar center I brought my bass in to try out different cords and showed it to the salesman. He was mildly impressed:-)
 
sean

[j_gary]

Hi Sean, welcome aboard. I had the opposite type of experience down here in the south part of the state. Run through Flint quite often on the way to Rogers City.
 
Ever been to Huber Breese Music in Clinton Township? It's a big store in our area, does not sell Alembic. Sells everything else under the sun, and is always jammed. Regularly does battle with GC.
 
I picked up a beautiful Series II last year, thanks Bill. It was set up for flat-wounds and I was changing over to round. I brought her up to Huber's for a set up as I was reluctant to touch her for her initial set up.
 
Their set up guy has a table near the front door and he has been there and done that. When he opened the case on my Alembic he started acting like a kid on Christmas morning. He was yelling, and I mean YELLING! at everyone in the store to come look at this bass. Even drummers, sorry guys, came running. I found it kind of embarrassing as I'm a hang in the back of the room type guy. I was amazed that this store full of weary musicians stood on their heads over an Alembic. About 50% actually knew what an Alembic is, a great instrument, the others just thought she was great looking.
 
Did I mention, thanks Bill!