Author Topic: Alembic a Cheap Knock off of Fender? (Read 773 times)

willie · « **on:** May 06, 2015, 08:58:50 AM »

My Girlfriend ran into an old friend who plays drums. She told him about me playing Bass. He asked what kind of Bass I played and she told him that I Play Alembic Basses. He said Oh, are they like a cheap knock off of a Fender. She told him, Uh, No! Do you believe that? I know Alembic's are rare and not everyone knows about them but some people are really clueless!

keith_h · « **Reply #1 on:** May 06, 2015, 09:33:35 AM »

He's a drummer. Need I say more?

Keith

sonicus · « **Reply #2 on:** May 06, 2015, 09:37:56 AM »

In the rare posibility that the fellow who made that comment dd it with a straight face and knew what Alembic is all about and was just looking for a reaction from your girl friend , chances are that he might just be a good poker player !

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #3 on:** May 06, 2015, 11:27:23 AM »

Drummers...they hit things, don't they - ?

;-)

As bad as that was, check this out:

A few years ago, prior to playing my first Alembic, I asked a friend of mine who plays bass and has at least 75 instruments (many vintage) in his collection if he'd ever played or owned an Alembic.

His response:

Yeah, nothing to write home about, they're a lot like Fenders.

sonicus · « **Reply #4 on:** May 06, 2015, 11:45:31 AM »

He obviously really has no experience with Alembic instruments or he is of dire necessity of both an optical exam and a visit to a hearing specialist to get a confirmation of the high frequency cut off of his hearing and evaluation of his actual hearing loss .

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #5 on:** May 06, 2015, 12:00:45 PM »

Excellent - !

After having the pleasure of seeing, playing and now owning Alembic instruments - methinks BOTH are in order for him!

If I ever have the opportunity, I'd like him to play one of mine and A/B it to one of his vintage pieces.

lbpesq · « **Reply #6 on:** May 06, 2015, 01:40:22 PM »

Probably thought you said Olympic.

And, if one knows nothing about a particular brand of bass, but doesn't want to admit the ignorance, one can easily just say: like a Fender and be right most of the time.

Bill, tgo

(Message edited by lbpesq on May 06, 2015)

jalevinemd · « **Reply #7 on:** May 06, 2015, 01:48:53 PM »

Maybe you West Coast folks have had a different experience...I don't know. Seems most guitarists I've spoken with (and quite a few dealers as well) have never heard of Alembic. I think our perspective around here may be a bit skewed.

hifiguy · « **Reply #8 on:** May 06, 2015, 01:50:20 PM »

I think Bill hit the bull's eye here.

Drummers.......

oujeebass · « **Reply #9 on:** May 06, 2015, 09:39:50 PM »

Fender did invent the form factor, so he may be generalizing.

willie · « **Reply #10 on:** May 07, 2015, 08:19:27 AM »

I know that the club members are obviously more knowledgeable and aware of Alembic Instruments than the general public. I have had many soundmen and audience members and other musicians ask me What kind of Bass is that? It just cracked me up when my girlfriend told me about the drummers comment. But think about how many companies are copying what Alembic does with active electronics and multi laminate through body necks. I guess we can't hold it against people for not knowing about Alembic's. But I hate when a sound man or studio guy does everything he can to get That Fender Sound.! Uh, if I wanted that I would be playing one. I have them. But I prefer my Alembic's Thank You

edwin · « **Reply #11 on:** May 07, 2015, 10:11:06 AM »

I can't tell you how many times I've done recordings and the engineer thinks my playing isn't cutting it. I play exactly the same part with a Fender and they tell me I nailed it. Sigh. Some sound people just can't handle anything but a Fender. The good ones, though, love the Alembic sound. They know that there's more than one bass tone. A couple of weeks ago it was gratifying to hear one sound engineer (who has done a ton of pretty big tours, including Jason Bonham's recent tour) tell another how to get a good bass tone from me. Verbatim: You bring up the DI channel, you bring up the mic channel. Done.

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #12 on:** May 07, 2015, 10:26:55 AM »

Without exception, every time I used my 5-string Europa Royale during rehearsal with the project I recently left, someone in the rehearsal studio commented on how good the bass sounded.

These compliments were given additional credibility due to the fact that I used a wide variety of amps and speakers in different studios during my tenure with this project.

So - the Alembic bass and my fingers were the consistent elements.

sonicus · « **Reply #13 on:** May 07, 2015, 10:31:29 AM »

I recently played a bass track on a recently released album for a local song writer. I was not pleased when I heard the final version with the top end on my bass track cut and my Alembic sound equalized to replicate a Fender P bass tone. At some point I will post a link to that track on this site in a more appropriate thread .

jazzyvee · « **Reply #14 on:** May 07, 2015, 10:33:46 AM »

I was gonna comment earlier but thought I'd see how the thread develops. I do think we are guilty of assuming Alembic is a well known name amongst musicians. But over here in the UK really it's a bit like a secret club. Those of us who are in it know what it's about and enjoy that exclusivity. Most other musicians I've met, bass players included, have never heard of the name and the odd few that have, in the main have never seen one in the flesh never mind played it. Before I had mine in 2002 I'd never seen another one live on stage apart from Stanley Clarke's. I didn't even know they made guitars till I joined the forum.

When I'm asked about what bass I play I do everything I can to avoid the brand name coming out of my mouth first because it feels a bit like bragging. As I said usually musicians have never heard of the brand so I have to run through the usual names of well known players which sometimes helps. Any negativity I hear is usually in regard to the cost.

For live situations generally the sound guys have been good and come over to look at the bass during soundcheck or after the gig. No idea what they do out front though. :-) In fact after two large venue gigs I played last year the engineer came up to me after the gig and told me my series II was by a long margin the best sounding bass they'd ever had at their venue. (No comment on my playing though)

I do like to inform any interested musicians about alembic and I don't get offended if they don't know them or even like the sound. But I don't bother with ignorant people. For my main band Musical Youth, the engineer is great. A former bass player and is a perfectionist when it comes to his work and he understands what my bass is about and tries to keep as much as possible the sound I give him from my rig.