How old were you when you got your first Alembic ?

[hollis]

If I'd known I was going to live this long, I would've taken much better care of myself when I was younger!  But then again......maybe not!  It's sure been fun so far!

[henri_lopes]

Embroidery  is indeed a bit more expensive, but it looks great specially on sweats, hats and jackets.
 
to Paul the good one : I am not related to Tony Lopes of Salem, I live in scenic Gloucester, Ma. where the movie The Perfect Storm  was filmed.
Pictures coming soon. I left my epic at the rehearsal space, I know, I know ! That's a no no .
 
Henri

[bracheen]

I like that, I'm a vintage instrument.  Now if I were as sought after as a Strat from the same year, that'd be great.
 
(Message edited by bracheen on February 20, 2004)

[susan]

Hey Jeff,
 
Beleive it or not I recollect your bass 74-52. It was one of the first to sport one of my moustache tailpieces. She's a beauty. As to your vintage price that alone as you know is priceless.  
 
Susan

[bucky]

Hi Susan!
 
I am honored beyond words that you remember my bass. That is so cool. It is my understanding I have YOU to thank for it's beautiful design! And to know it was one of the first to have that tailpiece just makes my month! As you probably know it's in your shop right now and I was also thrilled to find out that Ron was going to be the one checking out my hum and short problem. WOW. .BOTH of you . .Mr. and Mrs. Alembic. . it's as if your child returned home for awhile, eh? I feel like I did the time I met Eric Clapton and got to talk to him after Cream played Eagles in Seattle Washington. You folk at Alembic are the greatest! And most definitely have YOUR place in Rock History too. Hopefully my Baby, Little 74-52 will be ready for her coming out at this years BajaProg 2004 ( http://bajaprog.com ) I would just LOVE to show her to the world when my band Glass takes that big Teatro stage on the 3rd of March.

[somatic]

19.
Sold it two years later due to poverty and illness to my bass teacher who I knew would love it.
 
Last week I finally got another Alembic, twenty years after buying the first.

[David Houck]

Brett; congrats on your new Alembic and welcome to the group.

[811952]

Bucky,
You should have them take a photo of the Wickershams with your bass.  Maybe even in front of the old quonset hut shop on Foley Street.  That would be cool.  We should start a movement to get Alembic into the R&R Hall of Fame.  Rock and Roll, that is, not Rest and Relaxation, although their instruments do provide all of the aforementioned...
John

[keavin]

I was 19 yrs old when i baught #12 in 1980, from guitarcenter in san francisco,for 2,000,bucs. now im 42.

[bucky]

811952:
 
Sorry for the delay in a reply - I've been at BajaProg 2004 (where I sadly was not able to premier my Alembics return to the stage - still waitin for Ron W to check it out, oh well) That's a GREAT idea and I'm going to suggest it to Valentine when I call for an update tomorrow! I'd LOVE a picture of the W's with my bass.  
 
Jeff
 
P.S> Ditto for the Alembic Hall of Fame! My choice for the First Player Member would have to be Jack Casady of course. Yours? Anyone?

[bucky]

811952:
 
Sorry for the delay in a reply - I've been at BajaProg 2004 (where I sadly was not able to premier my Alembics return to the stage - still waitin for Ron W to check it out, oh well) That's a GREAT idea and I'm going to suggest it to Valentino when I call for an update tomorrow! I'd LOVE a picture of the W's with my bass.  
 
Jeff
 
P.S> Ditto for the Alembic Hall of Fame! My choice for the First Player Member would have to be Jack Casady of course. Yours? Anyone?

[811952]

Jeff,
Believe it or not, I'm totally unfamiliar with Jack Casady's playing.  I've seen him in films and videos, but managed to never be able to pay attention to what he was doing.  I guess it's time to hit the used CD bin again.  It would be difficult for me to pick a particular player, since there are so many who have used Alembics in the studio whilst playing lesser instruments on stage.  I'm a big Entwistle fan, but also a huge Chris Squire fan (Trevor Rabin says Chris played his Alembic on Lift Me Up), a Stanley fan, a Phil Lesh fan, Mark King, David Hood, Tom Fowler...  You get the picture.  Speaking of the picture, I really hope you get one with the Wickershams.  That would be really, really, really cool, and indicative of the familial code of conduct they do their business by.
John whose bass is in it's 23rd year!

[dela217]

I too was unfamiliar with Jack Casady's playing.  All I know of him is what I heard on the radio, or recordings.  I finally got a chance to see him live a couple of years ago. What a monster!  He plays with such authority.  You really must see him perform to really appreciate it.  Now that I have seen his live performance, his recorded work takes on a new meaning to me.  Try not to judge him on his recorded work.  He is truly one of those players that you must see to fully appreciate.

[bassman10096]

I was fortunate to see Jack with Hot Tuna in '72, shortly following the Jefferson Airplane's heyday.  Monster is a great word for what I saw him do.  Using all five fingers on his right hand, he and his Alembic were their own band within the band.  I never connected with him again, but never forgot the impression he left.  That is, until a year ago Thanksgiving when I saw him with Jorma doing their acoustic Hot Tuna gig in NYC.  Jack played his Epiphone with much greater restraint, given the less electric genre.  But he did it again!!  Now with more maturity, but still INCREDIBLE power and subtlety!
 
Casady is definitely one of the unheralded great ones.  I agree with Dela, his recordings (while not bad) are nowhere near a complete representation of his performance.  My favorites are Water Song from Hot Tuna (Burgers) and almost any of the live tracks with the Airplane on Bless its Pointed Little Head (great Alembic sounds).
 
As for the Alembic Hall of Fame, I'd still elect Phil Lesh as first in, but I agree with all of the names 811952 mentioned.  I suppose I am a little conflicted about Lesh because he hasn't done anything with an Alembic for a while (I really do not like his Modulus sound!).  But the relationship between his Alembic sounds and his music was (to me) a perfect compliment.  
 
Sorry for the rant.
 
Bill

[811952]

There's a tune on Wake of the Flood with a bass solo (forgive me for not remembering the title) with a very unique timbre.  Smooth but with a hint of very bright pick sound.  Probably the Alembic is the only instrument that could even come close to creating it, since it sounds like flatwounds with an 8 to 10 kHz bump but no noise.  Very hi-fi, if you will.  And Phil's phrasing/structure of the solo is, well, very musical...
John