Author Topic: David Hungate with an Alembic...? (Read 592 times)

JuancarlinBass · « **on:** May 03, 2013, 10:49:16 PM »

The question rises again (It was previously dealt with on http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/17820.html?1113927709) as I was watching Toto's Past to Present DVD -nice way to spend Friday's night at home-, when it came the videoclip of Africa, there is this image of David Hungate playing what seems (at least for a glimpse) to be some kind of Alembic bass (At least the oval inlays suggest it strongly) which I (nor other club members on the aforementioned thread) could not identify. Then I decided to put the DVD on the laptop and make some screen captures, and got a couple interesting ones. On the second one, where the body can be seen a little better, I found the bridge is not what I would normally associate with Alembic. Maybe (as someone suggested before) is it a Turner bass? Anyone has more input on this? Just curious...

(Message edited by jcdlc72 on May 03, 2013) [moderator's edit for picture alignment] (Message edited by adriaan on May 04, 2013)

JimmyJ · « **Reply #1 on:** May 04, 2013, 02:20:14 AM »

First, I think that's a young Mike Porcaro who took over for Hungate in '82.

I don't recognize the instrument but Turner is a good guess because of how the pickups look. Keep in mind that sometimes an interesting looking bass would be used for the video shoot only. (It doesn't appear to be plugged in...)

Jimmy J

that_sustain · « **Reply #2 on:** May 04, 2013, 02:29:13 AM »

Ron Jeremy is waiting there for you.

JuancarlinBass · « **Reply #3 on:** May 04, 2013, 09:16:46 AM »

So it was Porcaro already then? Wow... and also I'm SO bad with faces....

pace · « **Reply #4 on:** May 04, 2013, 11:34:31 AM »

Thanks for taking the time to get those stills! The bridge looks like a Gibson three-bolt style, but I'm not sure what is behind it... Set neck.... Verdict is still out on this one

dela217 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 04, 2013, 11:44:16 AM »

That looks like some of Gary Cooper's work. Perhaps it is an early Oasis.

sonicus · « **Reply #6 on:** May 04, 2013, 11:53:14 AM »

I was thinking that as well , Oasis

dela217 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 04, 2013, 12:26:18 PM »

By the way, I would love to find a bass like that!!

lbpesq · « **Reply #8 on:** May 04, 2013, 04:12:59 PM »

The oval pickup surrounds are a characteristic of Cooper's Oasis instruments.

Bill, tgo

hifiguy · « **Reply #9 on:** May 04, 2013, 07:03:27 PM »

Definitely not an Alembic. Quite possibly a Rick Turner. Not David Hungate, either.

flpete1uw · « **Reply #10 on:** May 05, 2013, 09:57:30 AM »

The Bass he's playing looks like a Hollow Body?

sonicus · « **Reply #11 on:** May 05, 2013, 10:15:55 AM »

JA !, You betcha ! ____ Hollow body __________

JimmyJ · « **Reply #12 on:** May 05, 2013, 01:20:39 PM »

A bit more on this, just because.

It is indeed David Hungate playing bass on the original recording released in '82 / '83. But by the time they shot this video Mike was in the band so he had to mime along to Hungate's track... And again, no microphones, amps, or instrument cables, so this mystery bass was strictly a prop. I can't find any live vids of Steve Mike playing this bass so it's hard to say if he owned it or just borrowed it from West LA Music or Valley Arts Guitars... I've got one more source to ask and will let you know if I learn anything.

Jimmy J

(Message edited by davehouck on May 05, 2013)

JimmyJ · « **Reply #13 on:** May 05, 2013, 03:39:05 PM »

Excuse me, typed Steve meant Mike... Got my Porcaro brothers mixed up again...
Jimmy J

bigredbass · « **Reply #14 on:** May 06, 2013, 11:56:46 PM »

Actually, I was getting a laugh seeing Lukather in the background of the shot with a 'redneck' Strat: Maybe a VA-built version, but I always remember those Tokai Strats from the early 80's where they took a normal alder or ash-bodied Strat with a maple/maple neck, and shot the whole thing, fingerboard and all, in a see-thru red tint. What a hoot! I also remember they made a three-pickup Jazz, with the three JBass pickups splayed in the same layout as a Strat. Never got my hands on one of those, either . . .

J o e y