How I use my Alembic

[Stu Johnson (stu)]

I play in a 3 piece blues rock outfit in the North East of England (UK) before owning an Alembic I used a Fender Jazz but since I got a 20th Anniversary bass I use it and nothing else...Well nothing else come close does it... The power of this Bass is phenominal, the clarity of every note and the playability are extrordinary. Add to that the quality of tone and sound and it adds up to one hell of a bass. My rig consists of Ashdown amp and a 1x 15 and 4 x 10 cab.

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Hi Stu,
 
well I had to say that I'm in the same situation. I play a Blues-Rock band over here in Belgium (near Leuven) and I have a Jazz-bass and the SII 5 string. Purist always look a little puzzled when I got on stage with the Alembic. THey don't seems the looks as an instrument for blues and are waiting the moment I'm gonna take the JAzz-bass behind me. Well they think that until the moment I start playing: clarity, punch, drive, bottom ... you name it.
I also play a 1x15 and 4x10 from Glockenklang with SRW SM400 amp.
Keep playing!
 
Paul

[Mab OConnor (folkgal)]

Hi All.. I am new to the Alembic World.. Well NOT new to hearing about them.. but new about owning one.. I just bought a used 4 String Bass Alembic and I will be using HIM in my band playing Hippie rock... Our band plays music of the late 60's and early 70's.. Led Zep, Cream, Doors, Rolling Stones, Deep Purple etc etc..  
Once in a while we throw in a little funk dance music... So this is the type of music my new bass will be playing.
My bands web site is
www.yasgursband.com
I will soon be putting a picture of him on my site.  I am in the process of naming my Alembic DREAM Bass. Who ever owned this bass however had changed the pickups for some reason from the original to an Italian Brand..  
I might name him AL-E-OPP
This is by far the best looking and best sounding bass I have ever owned and cant wait to play out with him.
I am going to try to find out what Model he is on this site if I can.
Peace
Mab

[Michael Paskel (Mikey) (pookeymp)]

Hey Mab,
 
Welcome Aboard and congratulations on your new Alembic!!  I'm sure he will give you many hours of playing pleasure.  I also am fairly new to the Alembic world, purchasing my first Alembic back in September (notice I said first...I'm already dreaming about another one).  My baby is a she and I have named her Lyric.
 
While waiting for you to post pictures, could you tell us what kind of Alembic he is, body/neck woods, etc.
 
Mikey/

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Hey Mab,  
welcome also from my part of the world and enjoy the club ( the most friendly board in the world, for sure because bass-players are the most friendly people in the world!)
Brother Mikey, I didn't know her name!
My regards to Lyric!
 
Paul

[Mab OConnor (folkgal)]

Hi Mikey and Paul... I like the name you gave her Lyric...  
I am trying to figure out what year my new baby might be.. the serial number is on the 25th fret but is worn to where I can only see the last maybe four numbers of it....
Okay.. let me figure out how to add a pic of her here...
Someone changed the pic ups on her to Bartolini's
 

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Hi Mab,
 
that's a good one.
About the model.
That's tricky question because at Alembic they mix-up electronic configuration and design to name a model.
Anyway if it's a REAL Alembic (Mica can check that) is should be the old Spoiler model. I have the old catalogue here so I send you a scan (no a high quality because the bits allowed are not that high).
You can say that the electronic configuration is not standard for a Spoiler and that exceeds the fact of having other pick-ups.
Enjoy the playing.
 
Paul
 
PS: it was my first Alembic. I kept her only for 1 month and changed her for a Mark King signature.

[Mab OConnor (folkgal)]

Hi Paul and thanks.. How do I get ahold of Mica? I think it looks just like the curly maple spoiler... the one in the middle... What year did you have her?
 
Mab

[Mab OConnor (folkgal)]

Dumb me... I just pulled out my receipt from SamAsh and it says Custom Spoiler right on it...  
 
 
Mab

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Oh well ... I had the chance to open the old catalogue again.
Mica is a girl who is looking at us from above so, you simply ask a question directly to here.
I didn't own THAT guitar, I owned A Spoiler for 1 month about 10 years gao.
 
Paul

[mica]

Mab and I have exchanged a couple of emails this morning trying to pin down what her bass is. Now with the picture, I can say it sure looks the part of a Spoiler. I can't quite tell what the figuring of the Maple is though - I almost see Bird's-eyes on it, but it's a little hard to tell. When Laurel researches the build record, she'll solve the mystery!

[Mab OConnor (folkgal)]

Hi Again All and thanks SO much for all the help... Yes it sure does look like the Spoiler... I did register and hope Laurel will be able to track this baby down... I also Still have to name HIM....I also own a 5 string Yamaha Bass that I had named Froggiemotto and he has two pages on my web site .. LOL... other bass guitars have written in to him from the Internet... If you want a good chuckle go to my web site www.yasgursband.com and go to the link to Meet The Newest Member of the Band.... I will have to have My new Bass write to his brother ...and when I name my Alembic Bass he is telling me he also wants his own pages on my site...People are going to think I am Nuts.. I actually now own 6 bass guitars and after getting this Alembic.. I dont think I will ever be satisfied with playing anything else... This has really star struck me...Here is one last pic that might show the figuring of the Maple a bit better.
Band Practice is Sunday and I can't wait now...
 
Mabby

[Michael Paskel (Mikey) (pookeymp)]

Hey Mab,
 
Very Nice!!!  I can certainly understand how after playing this one, it becomes difficult going back to other basses...I have the same dilema.  But, as Brother Paul always eloquently states, Sometime in the future you may once again appreciate the characteristics of your other basses...they may not be an Alembic...but they each have their own special charm that initially drew you to them.
 
By the way...I had the pleasure of meeting Froggiemotto...a very nice chap.  Try not to desert him too long.  My son accuses me of abandoning my Tobias of 15 years after getting Lyric...so I'm trying to make up for that now.
 
Mikey/

[Peter Hess (locutusofborg10)]

I'm a weekend warrior and I've tried several heads in order to find the right sound.  Since I play mostly small to medium size clubs, I don't need high price heads.  I have an Acoustic 370, Gallien-Kreuger 800RB and a SWR Workingmans 2004.  The Acoustic is great for raw power but the quality of the sound is not there.  The Gallien-Kreuger was great on sound but seemed to overdrive my speakers. The SWR was the best of them all.  It has a multitude of sounds and has just enough power to fill the rooms I play in.  It also did not overdrive my speakers even at maximum volume.  My speakers are a Peavey one fifteen and a cabinet of unknown origion with 4 10's.  The combination of enough power and the multitude of sounds using the SWR with these bottoms has brought out, I think, the best my bass (an Epic 4)has to offer. I would recommend any of you players in my situation to consider the SWR heads strongly.  I hope this helps anyone out there who is is also in my position to find a head that really seems to compliment our basses.  

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

ts-ts-ts you put a 'gal' on the board and 'hop' : brother Mikey and brother Paul are there.
 
Brother Mikey,
 
what's eloquently?  
Is it a weird bass-player sickness?
Let's be honest: you can definitely write better what I meant than myself.
That's what brothers are for (haha - this line reminds me of the amusing scenne of the 4 vultures in the junglebooks Disney-movie - what again reminds me that I talk to much).
 
Peter: I also like my SWR amp. It's a SWR SM-400 and I use it fot playing bars and smaller venues. I use him in Bi-amp mode and in larger situations he hasn't the headroom. Except when bridged of course.
 
CU
 
Paul