Author Topic: "typical" Alembic sound on recordings (Read 919 times)

suatie · « **on:** January 30, 2013, 08:40:35 AM »

I am a new member and thrilled that I just got my first Alembic, a 92 Essence in sunburst quilted maple.

The tone is everything I thought it might be and even more.

Can anybody recommend any mainstream rock or r&b recordings that the bass player is using an Essence?

I don't mean youtube covers but actual original hits.

Thanks

hifiguy · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2013, 11:32:05 AM »

Hmmm. I can't think of any Essence-specific recordings, but any recording of James Taylor featuring the Club's own Jimmy Flim Johnson will give you a superb representation of the Alembic sound as presented by one of the finest bassists on the planet.

For a more old-school approach there is Jefferson Airplane's Thirty Seconds Over Winterland where The Great Jack Casady brings the inimitable and overpowering thunder of Alembic Number One (literally).

lbpesq · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2013, 01:25:48 PM »

Most 70's Grateful Dead recordings feature Phil Lesh on The Godfather, an Alembic modded Guild Starfire, or Mission Control, his quadraphonic Alembic. And, of course, John Entwhistle played Alembics for many years with The Who.

Bill, tgo

terrace · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2013, 02:35:04 PM »

John MacVie in FleetwoodMac,John Paul Jones in later Led Zepplin,the guy in Nazareth,Bros. Johnson,Tiran Porter in the Doobies......to name some more.

FC Bass · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2013, 03:43:59 PM »

Not really mainstream rock, but I've been practicing a lot of Sepultura lately. Mainly guitar, but I also tried with my '83 Spoiler and it struck me how it sounded exactly the same as the bass on Chaos AD (through my Line 6 Ampeg simulation)
I'm pretty sure Paulo used a classic SVT combi and either a 5 string Essence or a 4 string Spoiler. Good example: Click here (try @ very low volume first)

Even more extreme: Click here (turn volume more down) :-) That's an all Maple (except Ebony fretboard) Elan through an SVT

Now the next seems more like mainstream :-) (though I guess it actually is mainstream today)
'tallica! :-) I'm pretty sure this is recorded with an Alembic (JPJ Elan, Spoiler or Exploiter Spoiler) through an SVT: Breadfan
Live recordings with Series II basses through SVT's: (lots of 'em) San Diego 1992

For more mainstream look also into Level 42 and Prince, should be a lot Alembic there. I have now clue what on which song, there might be someone here that can be more helpful on those.

The only Essence I know of for sure is on the Sepultura album, It looks like a quite standard 5 string model with a Vermillion top (or something that looks familiar)
The Elan on the Gorefest Album is specswise almost identical to the Essence, it has another body/headstock shape and slightly more versatile electronics (probably extra trimpot for individual pickup gain settings and a Q switch, last not being a factor in this case (I'm pretty sure the Q is on in the recording, as is on the Essence electronics package)

sonicus · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2013, 04:34:21 PM »

If you want to hear Alembic 72-01 , Jack Casady with the Jefferson Airplane plays Alembic #1 on the Album Thirty Seconds Over Winterland .
Monster Alembic Tone !

that_sustain · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2013, 04:46:17 PM »

I just recently saw a maple Essence 4 string in a 90's country vid. Diamond Rio maybe?? Sawyer Brown..one of those kind of bands. I'll find it later.

suatie · « **Reply #7 on:** January 30, 2013, 06:15:51 PM »

I've got some listening to do...

I am pleasantly surprised about John McVie, I have always loved the Fleetwood Mac sound, so clean.

hieronymous · « **Reply #8 on:** January 30, 2013, 07:14:30 PM »

Don't forget Stanley Clarke! Or how about John Entwistle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80dsyo2Ox-0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96TjWtm7kSQ

You have to wait a bit for it to come in, but it's worth it!

hifiguy · « **Reply #9 on:** January 30, 2013, 07:40:17 PM »

The Ox clip posted by Hieronymous is pretty much definitive Alembic tone. It sounds like anvils being dropped on high-tension electric lines or the inside of The Great Piano In The Sky. In other words unbelievably huge and _absolutely_ Alembic. No other bass can begin to sound like that. Play it through a real stereo - not just computer speakers - and there's your target.

jacko · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2013, 06:55:14 AM »

Jeff Langston, bassist with Anthony and the Johnsons plays an epic. There's a thread about hin in the showcase section
The music is a bit of an acquired taste though.

graeme

suatie · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2013, 09:26:32 AM »

I love the image of 'anvils being dropped on high tension electric lines' it would make a great 70's album cover or, ( iTunes album art as it is called now I think)

I have to ask a friend who is good with photoshop to give it a shot

oujeebass · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2013, 02:31:15 PM »

I have always thought Alembics sound like pianos, really nice pianos.

pauldo · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2013, 04:06:59 PM »

I uploaded a new song called Uecker's Revenge here:
http://soundcloud.com/pdrapeau
It is a 1984 Alembic Distillate played with a pick w/ neck pickup. I don't use a pick often but it works well on this song (especially around 2:47).

Play it LOUD!

p.s. all the other songs on that page have the same bass used on them.

Enjoy! :-D

pauldo · « **Reply #14 on:** January 31, 2013, 04:10:28 PM »

oops - sorry - the OP asked for Mainstream - the above link really isn't very mainstream.

But it IS an Alembic sounding pretty darn nice.