Author Topic: Jazz Bass Sound (Read 494 times)

spirit · « **on:** April 11, 2004, 03:47:25 PM »

Hi, after a dozen years of retirement, I'm in the market for a new instrument. Ever since I started playing I can't remember when I have ever NOT wanted to own an Alembic. Phil Lesh, John Entwistle and Stanley Clarke were my greatest influences in that regard. But my musical tastes have morphed considerably over the years and there is no doubt that the type of sound I want nowadays can be best described as Jaco: a la Weather Report's Birdland or Joni Mitchell's Dry Cleaner From Des Moines. OR Percy Jones' fretless Wal sound...

Now that you know the sound I want, is it possible with a fretless Alembic instrument? Yes, I could probably just go buy a stock Jaco Pastorius Fretless Jazz and get the same sound but I do not want the fret markers and I'm intrigued by the possibility of the noise-cancelling ciruitry to deliver a cleaner more defined timbre. Also, not all Fenders are free of dead spots. Has anyone tried this idea or am I blowin' smoke? Cheers, Jo

keavin · « **Reply #1 on:** April 11, 2004, 08:06:24 PM »

you can have alembic build a jazz bass model for you, or put some alembic guts (p/ups) in your fender bass,the cost for alembic jazz bass set up & electronics will run about $700.00 but its worth the sound.

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 12, 2004, 05:10:12 AM »

Hello Jo, Welcome to the club. I'm sure someone here will give you precise answers to your questions. I own a lined fretless Epic model, so my answer would not be as accurate as other members with Series, Anniversary, or Signature models. You could do a Search (use the button in the upper right corner) for Jaco here on the site. There was a brief discussion of this recently. I've been watching and listening to Joni's Shadows And Light DVD recently, as well as the original Word of Mouth recording and the Weather Rport Live and Unreleased' double CD, what an amazing, evocative talent!
Mike

marco · « **Reply #3 on:** April 12, 2004, 05:33:48 AM »

Hello Jo, welcome to the club.
This link shows an example of the Fender-type Alembic:
http://cgi.psstpsst.force9.co.uk/cgi-bin/php/pullbass1sub1.php
(Select Alembic and the first 2 bases are the one i mean).
But for a good fretless sound that sounds familiar in your ears, you can try the Orion fretless. This bass has a woody sound, warm tone and good punch and also a growl in it.
Regards, Marco

rami · « **Reply #4 on:** April 12, 2004, 06:03:12 AM »

Hey Jo,

My first Alembic was an fretless Excel 4 Walnut top. I was actually looking for a decent fretless when I found it. At the time, it was actually selling for the same price as a Fender Jazz!!! Here was the chance to own an Alembic for the price of a Fender!!!
It was simply the BEST sounding fretless I ever tried. The punchiest, growliest fretless ever. Yet smooth and defined at the same time. Simple, basic electronics (Volume, Bass & Treble) that have a surprisingly wide tonal range.
The new Fender American Series Fretless Jazz Bass is pretty good too, but the Excel, though now a bit more expensive, just blows it away. It also sounds better than any other active fretless bass in it's price range and higher.

One of the best fretless basses I ever played - equaled or bettered only by (significantly) more expensive Alembics.

I believe that it's impossible to truly get Jaco's sound. Alot of it was in his technique.
But that Excel comes pretty damn close.

Rami

basstard · « **Reply #5 on:** April 13, 2004, 03:28:09 AM »

You might order an Excel with 2 p-ups in Jazz positions, and an alder body (the body of Jaco's Bass of Doom Jazz was made of alder, wasn't it). Or you might go with mahogany (that's what most Wals are made of, I believe, although I don't know about the one Percy Jones plays).

rami · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2004, 07:32:03 AM »

Hey Jo,

Here is my Excel. Simple, elegant and perfect. I'd be perfectly content to have this as my only Alembic. As is!

effclef · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2004, 07:40:51 AM »

Wow! The walnut and pau ferro REALLY complement each other.

EffClef

spirit · « **Reply #8 on:** April 13, 2004, 09:12:51 PM »

Hi, thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions and pointers.

Rami, that bass of yours is one killer instrument!! Aesthetically, it fits me to a T. And you can get that Jaco fretless mwah sound? If so, I'm saving my pennies!! Did that walnut top cost you more since it seems the stock Excel comes in maple?

How's the pau ferro as a fretboard, say, compared to ebony, in terms of hardness? is it more tightly grained than rosewood?

And basstard, I gather ordering an Excel with a double J-pickup configuration would make it a custom order? i.e. higher price.

Cheers,
Jo

spirit · « **Reply #9 on:** April 14, 2004, 04:47:04 AM »

Hi Rami, do you mind if I ask you how old your Excel is? and what you paid for it? At musiciansfriend.com, the American Fretless Jazz is going for $970 - 1000. So nowadays the Excel 4 would be a bit more than this? I checked out Alembic's price list and I see the stock Excel at $2600. Am I misinterpreting something?

And to any Alembic luthiers on this list or to anyone who has requested a custom configuration of a stock model, would it be possible to order the Excel with symetrical horns? Thanks, Jo

rami · « **Reply #10 on:** April 14, 2004, 06:34:58 AM »

Hey Jo,

I believe it was made in 1999. I paid around $1400 for it brand new. At the time, it listed for $1899.99. The dealer was liquidating his stock to make room for the newer models. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. I don't think you'd actually pay the list price at the dealer.

The walnut top is one of the standard no charge options for the Excel.
There's something about it's construction, woods, and electronics that make it exceptionally punchy and growly sounding. Even more so than some neck-through ebony fingerboard models. Also, Alembic used very high quality select walnut, maple and ash to build it. It's the closest naturally Jaco-sounding fretless I ever tried.
I said earlier that I'd be content to have it as my only Alembic. In fact, I'd be content to have it as my only Bass!

I Just love it!

Rami

effclef · « **Reply #11 on:** April 14, 2004, 11:20:54 AM »

Spirit, the list price is not what you'll actually pay. You have to order new Alembics through a dealer (see the list on Alembic's site) and when you do, there's a discount applied. You'll save whatever-percentage from List. (I don't know offhand and some dealers are better than others.) This also applies to customs which require a special quote to order, too. But the list price is someplace to start for a ball-park price range.

Symmetrical Excel - would you want it with two long or two short ones? Neat idea. I like the Excel shape a lot. I read someplace that it was Mica's design. I later read that she missed her Hyundai; funny to think one of the lower priced Alembics was named after a lower-priced auto! (If that was the case.)

I also see that new Excels have more comfort carving in the body, have two pickups, and the low-pass filter (Essence electronics?).

EffClef

spirit · « **Reply #12 on:** April 14, 2004, 03:09:07 PM »

Rami, well, you got me sold! I had considered zebrawood before but your bass with the walnut/pau ferro combo is utterly fabulous. And it gets the sound I want (although it would be real nice to be able to walk into a store and check out something similar). I am now going to save my pennies...

Is it relatively heavy?

What other Alembics do you own!?

EffClef, I'd want it with two short horns AND an aligned waist as opposed to the offset. If not, I wouldn't do anything to it. Basically, I love the shape of the Stanley Clarke Deluxe.

Cheers,
Jo

lembic76450 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 14, 2004, 03:20:35 PM »

Spirit,
Just a heads-up, Rami is an Alembic nation unto himself. He will explain.
Kenn R.

rami · « **Reply #14 on:** April 14, 2004, 04:16:10 PM »

Hey Jo,

I've seen Zebra Excels. They're gorgeous too. You have to go with what turns you on the most.

It's not too heavy, about the weight of a Jazz Bass. I can also tell you that it balances beautifully. I think that's due mainly to its long upper horn. Those horns serve function as well as form.

I own a few other Alembics.....

But don't sell the Excel short. I love it as much as any other Alembic. It's got a great simple formula for simplicity and monster tone.

Rami