Author Topic: Headless?! Are you insane?! (Read 1413 times)

jlpicard · « **Reply #15 on:** March 18, 2006, 11:19:57 PM »

As far as a headless Alembic goes, I say Blasphemy! Off with his head! (The player that is, not the bass)

Just kidding! I own a Steinberger but to me, there's just not much to love or be inspired by a form follows funtion instrument totally devoid of any pleasing aesthetics. My Alembics are not only a joy to play and hear but I feel it is like looking at a fine piece of artwork. The high level of perfection I see excites me in a very subliminal way and pushes me onward toward achieving my own modicum of perfection. In short the level of beauty that I hear and feel AND see reminds me of what is possible and makes me feel obligated to be the best I can be. Does that resonate with anybody? Pehaps that is why musicians have commissioned aesthetic embellishments of all kinds to their instruments since the dawn of Music. The headless bass may balance better but I need my headstock please, with everthing that goes with it, both good and bad. To me, asking Alembic to do headless is like asking DaVinci to paint Picasso's Three Musicians
P.S. what do ya know? I just made senior member with this post WOOHOO!!!

trekster · « **Reply #16 on:** May 12, 2006, 10:59:09 AM »

I've got to chime in on this (better late than never).. ok.. The headless desgin is interesting, and I *could* see an Alembic like that. However, that being said, I would only ask that you do NOT make it so that it has to use double-ball strings. Something that clamps a normal string at the headstock is much preferable. I have a mid 80's Yamaha BX-1 that does that, so I can use my preferred strings (DR's).

I have also heard that there are many who think the Steinberger's that were built later with the regular (full) body sound better.

One other thing too.. my Yamaha is probably the closest that would be to a Alembic headless..since it is solid maple and esentially a neck-thru instrument. I do recall seeing a pic of a BX-1 on ebay once that had it's black paint stripped.. actually had nice wood underneath.

Cheers,

--T

davr35 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 17, 2006, 09:12:28 AM »

I think headless basses should be left to Status or Steinberger but to each his own it would be very interesting to see

somatic · « **Reply #18 on:** September 10, 2006, 03:09:35 AM »

I'd love a headless Alembic or a Status with Alembic electronics. Best of all worlds.

georgie_boy · « **Reply #19 on:** September 11, 2006, 09:01:24 AM »

Just ordered a set of STATUS round core strings for my SERIES------30 50 70 90
I'll keep the club posted on the outcome, but the idea of a STATUS with ALEMBIC guts would be the ideal IMHO

G

bigideas · « **Reply #20 on:** September 11, 2006, 08:01:22 PM »

David King (www.Kingbass.com) builds very nice headless basses and lists Alembic as a pickup/eq option. His knowledge of Alembic products seems a little.. wonky. Then again, I can only find one bass in his gallery that has what appear to be Alembic activators. If you look at the bottom of the page it's the one marked Dann II. Still really nice basses.

here's a review of one:
http://www.bassplayer.com/story.asp?storycode=12430

edwin · « **Reply #21 on:** September 17, 2006, 06:57:45 PM »

I have one of David's early basses (a fretless 5) and it is the most comfortable instruments I have ever played. It also sounds simply amazing. I have 3 basses I will never get rid of: a 78 Series I, a '67 Starfire and this fretless.

If anyone is thinking of that kind of design, you owe it to yourself to check out his work. It's simply exquisite!

I think he would probably use more Alembic guts if his customers wanted to pay the premium.

Edwin

haddimudd · « **Reply #22 on:** November 19, 2006, 07:08:04 AM »

It is a question floating around in my head for a while, too. Obviously Mark King had his Status designed after the SC Alembic. Personally I like the looks of the SC shape much better and surely I would prefer the Alembic electronics, not to forget the Alembic quality craftsmanship.

But when I fancy about a short scale bass, it is because I would want it to be as compact and managable as possible, so any way of keeping the size of the instrument at a minimum is worth a thought. I was curious if there was any way of having a headless Alembic still look good. It surely would have to be a design yet to be found.

I think it took me many years to get used to the headless looks of Status, but today I like them better than the headstock Status models.

And while it is me dreaming for now, I am sure I will bring up the issue whenever I am a rich enough bastard again to discuss my next Alembic project (and be it only to find out that I don't like it that way in the end).

Hartmut

jsaylor · « **Reply #23 on:** November 22, 2006, 04:34:17 PM »

Just found that. I'm not sure if it's an Alembic or not, but with the leds it could quite possibly be one. I'm not loving it, but I guess it would look better in person. I want to know if thats an Alembic.
-Jordan

somatic · « **Reply #24 on:** November 22, 2006, 04:46:09 PM »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMzXtizKcXY

Just found that. I'm not sure if it's an Alembic or not, but with the leds it could quite possibly be one. I'm not loving it, but I guess it would look better in person. I want to know if thats an Alembic.

It's a Status Kingbass, probably the only other instrument to rival my GAS for Alembics.
http://www.status-graphite.com/

jsaylor · « **Reply #25 on:** November 22, 2006, 04:52:23 PM »

Oh thank G-d. A headless Alembic would be...possibly horrible. Theres just something about the Alembic logo on the headstock.

foth · « **Reply #26 on:** November 23, 2006, 06:38:52 PM »

Keavin's ol' #12 is occasionally headless, so he's put the Alembic logo on the body.

jsaylor · « **Reply #27 on:** November 23, 2006, 06:47:16 PM »

What do you mean occasionaly headless?

tbrannon · « **Reply #28 on:** November 23, 2006, 07:52:48 PM »

If I recall correctly, #12 has been decapitated several times in accidents.

Good thing his owner is good with repairs. I'm sure Keavin will chime in with some stories....

haddimudd · « **Reply #29 on:** November 24, 2006, 01:35:28 AM »

Maybe he can post a pic of the entire bass without the headstock. That would give us an idea of a potential headless look on an Alembic. Paul, I like your occasional headless ...