Nathan East And His Series I ???

[sonofa_lembic]

I have to say, I am amazed that these photos of Nathan East, and a testimonial by Nate have recently shown up.  Back in the early 1980's, I used to go to Nathan's house in Burbank every Saturday morning to hang out and play for 3-4 hours.  He was so generous with his time, and was always encouraging to young players.  In all the years I have known Nathan, I never saw him with an Alembic, and back in the 1980's, he was in love with a Roland Synth bass which  he played exclusively to my knowledge.  I was playing an Alembic, but he never mentioned to me that he had one that I recall.  Later in the eighties, he signed up with Yamaha, and the rest is history.  Anyway, the photos don't lie, and knowing Nathan as I do, he wouldn't either.  You will never meet a more generous and gentle soul than Nathan, and I am overjoyed to find out he was part of the Alembic family at one time.

[jazzyvee]

I have met him a couple of times over here in the UK and as you say he is a real gentleman.

[hieronymous]

jazzyvee posted this a few minutes ago on the Facebook page:
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281801970119
 
Wow - he played it on Forever Man!
 
This Alembic Bass is a very special instrument and carries with it many fond memories!  Inspired by the likes of Stanley Clarke and Jimmy Johnson this was my go to bass when I first moved to Los Angeles in the early 1980s.  I played it on many gigs and sessions including Eric Clapton's 'Behind The Sun' album which was my very first ever recording with him.  Jeff Procaro played drums and you can hear the punchy sound of this bass on the song 'Forever Man', one of the singles from that album. This is the bass I played lead melody on my song 'Wildfire' with Hubert Laws on his hit album 'Family'. I love it because of the variety of tones that you can get on this instrument.  When I signed with Yamaha and started developing instruments with them, this baby went in its case and didn't get played much in the years to follow. I admit I felt guilty for not playing it so much after that and have finally come to grips with letting it go to someone who will hopefully appreciate it and play it.  Instruments are meant to be played and for that reason I hope this one ends up in good hands.
If that player is you, may you enjoy playing it as much as I have and I hope that we can keep in touch as I would feel comfortable knowing that she is being well looked after.  Also, somewhere in my archive of photos there are slides of me playing this bass on those gigs and sessions but as that was more than three decades ago, it will take me a while to find those images. However, they do remain captured in my mind and in my heart forever.

[David Houck]

Cool!

[malthumb]

Wow!!  Would love to park that baby right next to 87-4431.  Along with Stanley, Nathan is one of my all time favorite bassists.  I picked up the 5-string after trying to play some of his FourPlay lines.
 
But if I were looking to spend 20K, it would have to be a brand new 5-string Series II Balance K with Heart Omega and a whole lot more.
 
Couldn't help but notice that this one has a non adjustable nut, which would usually mean very early build, but it has a plate at the end of the fingerboard, which would usually mean late 80's at the earliest.  Wonder what the build year is.

[FC Bass]

The adjustable nut came in the early eighties ('82/'83?)
My '79 also has the non adjustable nut. :-)

[s_wood]

This bass is currently for sale at Reverb. Nathan East wrote the ad copy!https://reverb.com/item/1289499-alembic-series-1-bass-guitar-owned-by-nathan-east-bassist-for-eric-clapton

[hieronymous]

Looks like the same text as in the original eBay ad - still available there too!
 
I was never a Nathan East fan until I heard his playing on Daft Punk's Random Access Memories - a great album with some amazing drumming, bass playing and guitar pickin!

[jazzyvee]

Here is where his alembic is now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFN9XeF9-0E

[David Houck]

Cool video!