Author Topic: Alembicize a Guild Starfire ll (Read 5521 times)

speicky · « **Reply #45 on:** February 17, 2013, 12:34:43 PM »

Alembic is capable to do ANYTHING... speaking of knobs you could even control the drummer tempo

edwin · « **Reply #46 on:** February 17, 2013, 12:49:24 PM »

I don't need a knob to control the drummer tempo. With the drummer that I play with now (Christian Teele, who we're all very proud of out here in Colorado because he just got back from the Grammies where he jammed with Al Jarreau and DeeDee Bridgewater as the CD he made with them was up for a Children's Grammy. You can also hear him on E-Town, but I digress), I don't even have to look in his direction. By the end of a note with a tempo adjustment, he's locked in.

If you have drummer tempo issues, the only knob that will work would be on the end of a big stick, with which to whack him to wake him up and remind him that listening is more important than playing.

By the way, all this tempo/drummer stuff works great with my Alembicized Starfire!

jazzyvee · « **Reply #47 on:** May 22, 2014, 02:25:25 AM »

What about this for a custom starfire?

Jazzyvee

jazzyvee · « **Reply #48 on:** May 22, 2014, 02:37:10 AM »

What about this for a custom starfire?

Jazzyvee

sonicus · « **Reply #49 on:** May 22, 2014, 08:11:32 AM »

I like that Jazzyvee. Where did you find that one ? I like the position of the tailpiece to accommodate long scale strings. It would be interesting to know what the details of the electronics and wiring are .
I wonder who owns this one ? Nice !

jazzyvee · « **Reply #50 on:** May 22, 2014, 08:43:19 AM »

It was on the UK Basschat web site but no further information on it that I could see quickly. I just happened to find it during a picture search for J-type activator pickups.
http://basschat.co.uk/topic/12155-short-scales/page__st__20
Jazzyvee

sonicus · « **Reply #51 on:** May 22, 2014, 09:09:25 AM »

Thanks Jazzyvee ,

I find UK Basschat to be an interesting site .

pasewark · « **Reply #52 on:** May 22, 2014, 11:14:47 AM »

I acquired this 68 Guild Starfire a few months ago. I had the neck pleked and refretted (it needed it!) The electronics are passive, but the cavity has been prepped by closing it up, silver paint, etc. Ron thinks the work was done by Stars Guitars back in the day. I'm deciding what I should do with it. I'd like to get upgraded electronics and may be a new bridge and bring it back to a short scale string length. This hand made bridge is interesting, but it is off slightly. Looks like it's been around. With the neck fixed it plays really well.

sonicus · « **Reply #53 on:** May 22, 2014, 01:24:06 PM »

HI Don , very interesting. In my opinion I think that an Alembic bridge would be a good idea with a brass block . Why do you want to move up the tail piece ? How do those pickups sound ? I think that I may have seen this bass @ Stars Guitars back in the day as well .

pasewark · « **Reply #54 on:** May 22, 2014, 01:32:39 PM »

Hi Wolf,
The pickups are defintiely thin. My other Starfire has Darkstars in them and it sounds great, its also a passive instrument. Not sure about the short scale thing. Just thinking out loud. If I go forward with this project, I'll replace the pickups with Alembic or Bi-Sonics. There's a guy building the Bi-Sonics now and he'll wind them for Hi-Z or Low-Z. I wonder how the low-z would sound with series electronics. I'll also replace the bridge.

jazzyvee · « **Reply #55 on:** May 22, 2014, 02:13:52 PM »

Hi Wolf, I find the Basschat UK site a bit tired now. I went there hoping to increase my general bass knowledge but kind of felt I was one of the defenders of the alembic faith as there is a strong anti-highend bass /alembic contingent there. Alembics receive a regular price vs value for money bashing and now I don't post there much but still read some of the more interesting threads. i've now started reading participating on talk bass hoping to get some more open minded bass knowledge.

Jazzyvee

sonicus · « **Reply #56 on:** May 22, 2014, 02:38:05 PM »

Jazzyvee,
I respect your words regarding this . I have not had much experience there except that I once read an interesting thread there regarding keyboard players with a strong left hand playing in the bass players range and stepping on their chops and the how various bass players have approached problems resulting from such keyboardist. I remember that being quite entertaining .

count · « **Reply #57 on:** September 23, 2015, 04:29:57 AM »

Old thread, but Pasewark:
If your interested in parting with your moustache tailpiece I would be VERY VERY interested.

pasewark · « **Reply #58 on:** September 23, 2015, 09:26:19 AM »

Hi, Yes, the tail piece and brass nut are something I would keep on the bass!